Liv is still talking, and I realize I better pay attention. I used to zone out during Lucy’s meetings at Do-Re-Mi and Ash was always the first one to call me out. I don’t need her to start doing that again, so I try to focus on what Liv is saying.
“So, now that I’ve given you a rundown of my ideas, I would like to go around the table and have each of you explain what you think you can bring to the company,” Liv says excitedly.
Now this could be interesting. I for one am very interested in hearing what these girls have to say.
“I will be happy to start,” Ash says eagerly. Hmmm . . . well, it’s nice to see that some things never change. Ash was constantly kissing up to Lucy and it became a running joke around studio.
“Okay, Ash, please go on,” Liv says happily. There’s a point for Ash. Not that I’m keeping score, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she is.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Ash. I specialize in vocal and piano. I taught at a very prestigious school for several years, and many of my students went on to very reputable performing arts institutes and one has even appeared on a popular singing TV show.” She pauses before continuing her spiel. “I’m here because I’m ready to broaden my very lengthy repertoire. I know I will be an asset to the company, and I look forward to working with you . . . all of you.”
She looks at me when she says that last part and I’m not buying it. I think it’s safe to say that neither of us is looking forward to working with the other.
Miranda speaks up next and gives her introduction. Of course, we know that Miranda is here to recruit and work the business side of things. If I do decide to join the team, I really look forward to working with Miranda. She knows her stuff and I think I could learn a lot from her as well.
“Um . . . I will go next,” I say, raising my hand. Of course, now I feel stupid for raising my hand. I’m not in school.
“My name is Maris Forrester. Last year I had the absolute privilege of meeting both you, Miranda, and you, Liv. This chance meeting led to me fulfilling my long-time dream of moving here and following in my grandmother’s footsteps of performing. In my career, I have been able to share my gift with many others who are aspiring to do this very thing. My students mean the world to me, so making this decision is difficult, but I know if I join this team I will learn a lot from all of you.”
Truthfully, I’m not a great public speaker. I’ve always expressed myself through my music, but I must have made a good impression because Liv has tears in her eyes. I certainly wasn’t trying to make her cry, but I meant every word I said. Granted, I left out a few small details like how I really dread having to work with Ash again. And I don’t even know where to start on Giselle.
“If you join the team?” Liv exclaims. “How about when you join the team.”
I smile and nod. But I don’t respond because I have no idea what I’m going to do at this point.
“My turn,” Giselle announces loudly.
Oh, here we go.
“As you know, I’m Giselle Le Bon. Livie and I have been good friends for a very long time. She’s had this vision for as long as I can remember and I want to be by her side. Everything Liv touches turns to gold, so I knew I had to join her on this endeavor.”
I listen to her go on and on about herself, but I still don’t know what she can bring to make this company thrive. Other than getting the perks of hanging with her friend and traveling, I’m not really sure why she’s here.
After Giselle finishes her monologue about herself, the remainder of the evening is uneventful. I’m relatively quiet as I sit back and try to take it all in. One thing I really appreciate about Liv is that she’s very open to all questions and concerns.
Before leaving, I thank Liv for the dinner.
“Thank you for coming,” she says, giving me a hug. “I will be sending you over a contract and everything explained in detail. Take your time looking it over and let me know.”
I say a quick good night to the other girls and wave down a cab. I’m so emotionally exhausted, and I’m beyond ready to get home.
Chapter 13
Saturday is definitely my favorite day of the week, and this Saturday is especially wonderful. It was so nice to sleep in and not have to be anywhere. After the last few weeks, I need a day to relax and unwind.
Layla is already gone when I finally drag myself out of bed. No doubt she’s at a yoga or Pilates class. I haven’t been to that yoga class in weeks, and honestly, I’m really not sad about it. I curl up on the couch with a cup of coffee and my laptop. Sure enough, there’s an email waiting for me from Liv. I wonder if that woman ever sleeps.
Her email explains everything we discussed in detail and the contracts are attached. I forward the contracts over to my father just like I promised and read through her notes. This doesn’t mean that I’m taking the position for sure, but I want to be prepared when I make my decision. I decide to make a detailed list of the pros and cons of taking the position versus staying at Selena’s.
Every time I think I’ve made up my mind, something makes me doubt my decision.
I text both Cassie and Georgie, letting them know I need to talk. I appreciate both of their opinions, even though Cassie can get on my nerves. I’m sure Georgie is on shift, so it may take some time for her to get back to me, and Cassie is probably teaching a yoga class of her own.
If I still lived at home I would definitely be singing in my park, but today I’m going to do something that I haven’t done in a while and that’s work on writing my own music. I started writing music a few years ago, but as always, other things seem to take precedence over that. I sang my first own original song in my final performance with Do-Re-Mi. I know it was that song that ultimately got Miranda’s attention, and the rest is history.
I play around with a few notes when my phone starts ringing. Yes! It’s Cassie. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy to be getting a call from her.
“I have a problem,” I say, before giving her a chance to say hello.
“Hi to you, too,” she says, sounding annoyed.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. So, what’s the problem now?”
Now? She acts like I’m always having some sort of crisis. Okay, maybe I do. But, I still don’t need to be reminded of it, and since when is she so rude?
I tell her everything about Liv’s plan for the performing company.
“Wait, that sounds like an amazing opportunity,” she interrupts. “I’m not understanding what the problem is.”
“Ugh.” I throw my head back in frustration. “I’m not done yet.” I take a deep breath. “Liv has a partner. And you’re never going to believe who it is.”
“Who?”
“Think about who would be my biggest nightmare. She was with Trevor at the funeral?”
Cassie doesn’t say anything for a few seconds. “No.”
“Yes.”
I can tell by Cassie’s silence that she’s thinking the same thing I am. As awesome as this opportunity is, working with Giselle is not ideal . . . and then there’s Ash. Crap, I’ve been so focused on Giselle.
“Oh wait, it gets better,” I exclaim.
I tell her about Ash joining the company also.
“Oh wow,” she says. “I can definitely see why you’re struggling with this decision . . . but.”
But?
“Maybe this is what you’re supposed to do,” she says. “Sometimes the biggest challenges lead to the best opportunities. You can’t let other people hold you back.”
She has a point . . . but.
“And if you decide not to take this opportunity that Liv has given you for the wrong reasons . . .” She pauses. “Then you may miss out on something so big that it could change your life.”
Crap. I should have known Cassie would respond this way. She always has to be the voice of reason, and even though she has a point, I don’t want to hear it.
“I guess you’re right.”
“I am right,” she insis
ts. “What does Trevor say?”
Seriously?
“Trevor? What does he have to do with this?” I shout.
I can almost hear her rolling her eyes.
“Don’t get defensive, Maris,” she snaps. “You called me wanting my advice and I’m giving it to you. I figured you would talk to Trevor about it because of his connection to Giselle.”
I know she’s trying to help, but I don’t want to talk to Trevor right now, especially not about Giselle.
“I haven’t spoken to Trevor since the day of the funeral.” As soon as I blurt that out, I regret it.
“What?” she exclaims. “You haven’t even checked on him following the death of his grandmother?”
Ugh. It’s not as bad as she’s making it sound, right? It’s only been a few days.
“I’ve been busy. Besides, I’m sure he’s getting plenty of comfort elsewhere,” I say sarcastically.
Cassie obviously isn’t amused by my sarcasm.
“I’m disappointed in you, Maris. Are you really that selfish?”
Is she kidding? She’s mad at me?
“I don’t need your lectures, Cassie. I’m a grown woman, and I certainly don’t need you hovering over my every move,” I say, raising my voice.
“Oh really,” she says in her annoyingly calm tone. “Then why is it you called me for help with your problem? You probably called Georgie, too.”
I’m just going to ignore that comment.
“Maybe you should act like the grown-up you claim to be and make a decision on your own for once,” she continues. “And let me say that I’m sure Beatrice would be very disappointed that you aren’t being a friend to Trevor like you promised.”
Okay, that was a low blow.
“You’ve made your point, Cassie, and don’t worry, I won’t be calling for your advice any more. You can count on that,” I yell before ending the call.
I’m so mad right now I can’t stand it. She really had the nerve to call me selfish. Trevor is a big boy, and he certainly doesn’t need me holding his hand. She has no right to make me feel guilty about it.
Why do I always let Cassie get in my head? Now those last few words she said keep repeating over and over in my mind. I’m sure Beatrice would be upset with me, but what am I supposed to do? When I saw Trevor before the funeral, we had another one of those moments with each other. In fact, we had several of them during the time I was home. I can’t deny that I was starting to fall for him all over again. I was even willing to give our “relationship” another chance. But then he had Giselle at his side, how am I supposed to feel?
I hear my phone buzz. I’m sure it’s Cassie; she hates when I hang up on her. Except it’s not a message from Cassie, it’s from Trevor.
Hope everything is okay. Haven’t heard from you.
I groan. Cassie must have reached out to him after I hung up on her. If she did, I’m never speaking to her again.
Or maybe Giselle told him she had dinner with me and that there’s a chance we will be working together. I hesitate as I decide if I want to call him back. All of a sudden, Beatrice’s smile flashes in my mind. Her words play over and over, asking me to look after him. I made her a promise that I would be his friend and I need to do just that. I begin to text him back, changing the message several times before sending it.
Everything is fine. How are you doing?
My phone rings a few seconds later. My pulse speeds up when I see Trevor’s calling me.
“Hello.”
“Hi. I just got a text message from this number, but I don’t recognize it,” he says sarcastically.
I scowl.
“Very funny.”
“So, are you saying you haven’t been avoiding me?”
Crap.
“I haven’t been avoiding you on purpose,” I lie. “There’s just been a lot happening since I got home. But, I guess you probably already know that.” I cringe because that kind of just slipped out.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asks defensively.
“Nothing.”
“What’s up with you? Are you mad at me for some reason?”
What am I supposed to say to him? Do I just suck it up and tell him how much it bothered me that he tossed me aside at the funeral for Giselle?
“So tell me, was it Cassie who told you to contact me?” I ask rudely. “Or Giselle?”
I’m not trying to be this rude but it’s just coming out that way.
“What? Why would either of them ask me to call you?”
Okay, so he genuinely sounds surprised. Maybe he just texted me on his own?
“Did Giselle tell you we had dinner last night?”
Silence.
“Hello? Trevor?”
“I’m here,” he says finally. “I’m sorry, but I’m really confused. Why would you think I talked to Cassie or Giselle about you? And why would you have dinner with Giselle?”
Hmmm . . . maybe he doesn’t know about it after all.
“I had dinner with Giselle and Liv,” I add. “Did you know they’re going into business together?”
Trevor groans.
“Yes, I knew that. But, Liv asked that I not say anything until everything was finalized. I promise I wasn’t trying to keep it from you. I would have told you, but she begged me not to say anything.”
Really? He thinks I’m mad at him because he didn’t tell me about Liv’s company. I don’t get him. Doesn’t he realize how much it bothered me seeing Giselle with him at the funeral?
“No, I totally understand about that,” I insist.
“Okay, so why are you avoiding me?” he asks again. “I looked for you after the funeral but you had left. I thought we were going to meet.”
He’s so infuriating I want to scream right now.
I start to laugh nervously. “Are you serious right now? Were you really planning on pulling yourself away from Giselle long enough to talk to me? What the hell did you expect me to say? Did you want me to follow you around all day, too? Or did you want me to tell you that I was falling for you all over again?”
I cringe as soon as I say those words. Unfortunately, it just slipped out because for some reason I can’t seem to keep my mouth shut today.
“Wait . . . Maris,” he interrupts.
“I’m not finished,” I yell into the phone. I’m not exactly sure what comes over me, but all of a sudden I have complete throw up of the mouth. “I’ve already been down this road with you, Trevor, except this time everything felt different, at least I thought it did. I’m not doing this again. I loved Beatrice like she was my own grandmother, and I told her I’d be a friend to you if you needed me. Clearly you don’t, so I’m ending this once and for all. I sincerely wish you all the best. Good-bye, Trevor.”
I end the call and sit frozen on my couch. I turn off my phone since it’s quite obvious by my conversations with Cassie and Trevor that I shouldn’t talk to anyone else for the remainder of the day.
Chapter 14
“Maris? Are you okay?”
I’m staring out the window when Selena comes in my office. I quickly turn around.
“Sorry,” I say absently. “I’m afraid I’m a little distracted today.”
“I can see that. Do you have a few minutes to talk before your next lesson?”
I nod. “Oh yes, Reagan canceled today.”
She sits down in one of the chairs I have next to my desk.
“I wanted to talk to you about our summer class schedule. I should already have this done but I’ve been so busy.”
Suddenly, I’m plagued with tremendous guilt. How can I sit here and allow her to add my name to her summer schedule when I don’t even know if I’m staying? I’m sure she would understand when I tell her about this new opportunity, but I still feel horrible. Then again maybe she won’t, I thought Lucy was going to understand when I moved here but she completely freaked out.
“It sounds like we’re going to have a pretty full schedule, which is great for that time of ye
ar,” she adds.
Ugh. I can’t let this go on much longer. I owe it to Selena, Liv, and myself to make a decision. Liv has been really patient. So patient that she hasn’t even tried to contact me since she sent the email and contract. Of course, she did tell me to take the time I needed to decide. When I think about it, I know it sounds like a no-brainer but it’s still taking a chance on the unknown. This company could fail, and then I will be back a square one, except then I will be living in New York without a job. I can see it now, if it does fail, I will have no choice but to move into Cassie’s guestroom and be forced to do meditation and eat kale chips every day. No thank you.
See You Later Broadway (Broadway Series Book 2) Page 8
