“Hold on and I’ll pull the slips from the date of the withdrawal.” The teller left her alone.
Riley should have told her not to bother checking. It had to be her mom. Riley had mentioned a bonus, the loan guy had complimented her on good money management. Her mom must have figured out she’d been saving money. She covered her mouth to prevent a sob from coming.
What was she going to do? Not only could she not make the car payments for the crashed car, but she couldn’t even begin to pay the insurance company back for the bagel shop damage. Looking around the bank, she wondered if anyone else could see her world crumbling, but they all went about their business without a care in the world.
The teller returned with a piece of paper. “Here is the withdrawal slip. Is this your mother’s signature?”
Riley nodded, anger and despair burning through her.
“I’m sorry, but she was within her legal rights to the money.”
Riley swiped at her eyes. “I understand. Could I withdraw the rest of the money?” No reason to let her mom come back for the last little bit.
“Of course.” The teller nodded in sympathy.
Outside, with the two hundred dollars in her wallet, Riley walked in a daze. What had she done to make her mother act so cruel?
Riley sniffed and refused to let her mother hurt her anymore. If she didn’t let her in, she couldn’t cause her pain.
She called Erika. “My mom took all my money.”
“No!”
“I’m not even shocked anymore. I’m a fool for not thinking it was a possibility.”
“Oh, Riley, I’m so sorry. What are you going to do? Are you going to go ask for it back?”
“It wouldn’t do any good. I’m sure she already spent it. I need to cut her out of my life. All she does is hurt me over and over, and I let her.”
“I’m so sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”
“Having you to talk to helps. Thanks for dealing with me and my constant drama.”
“I was supposed to go out with Chad tonight, but I can cancel and we can binge on ice cream and pizza. His friend Bennett keeps asking about you.”
“He does? That’s surprising considering the lousy first impression I made. Thanks, but I have to work late tonight. Jamie Halloway keeps late hours. I have to go celebrate frickin’ Christmas every day for the next month. Any idea where I can find poinsettias in July?”
“No. God, this sucks so bad.”
“Yeah, but what is it they say? What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
“Well, you’re the strongest person I know.”
Riley frowned. “I don’t feel strong. I feel like the world’s biggest idiot.”
“Stop it. As soon as you have time off, I’m taking you somewhere to cheer you up. How about the Navy Pier? We’ll get the funnel cake with the whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and peanuts on top.”
A smile tugged at Riley’s mouth. “You’re the best. Thanks.”
“Wait a minute. I have an idea! I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. But I think there is some rule about your old insurance carrying over for a new car.”
“What do you mean?”
“My uncle bought a new car last year and then got in a fender bender before he called his insurance agent to switch over the insurance. The insurance company covered it. There’s some rule, I don’t exactly know, but it’s worth checking out. If the car is still insured, then maybe that would cover the building damages, too.”
“Thank you! I love you! I’ll call you later.”
Finally, the break she needed.
29
As soon as Riley arrived at work, she borrowed the dented company car. She used the excuse that she was shopping for more Christmas decor for Jamie, but instead drove straight to the hotel where her mom worked.
Her mom had better be there and have the answers Riley needed. Her hands began to sweat as she entered the chain hotel.
She walked up to the marble reception counter. A large bowl of shiny green apples sat on top, making her suddenly hungry. A guy with a large forehead and sporting a navy jacket greeted her.
“Good afternoon, may I help you?”
“Hi, I’m looking for Shelly Parks. She’s my mom.” Her heart pounded with anger and adrenaline. Her mom was the last person she wanted to see right now, but she was the only person who might be able to save her.
“Oh sure, I should have recognized you by your hair. I’ll get her. Hang on a sec.”
Riley forced a flat smile as high-forehead dude disappeared around the corner. Her eyes traveled over the gleaming hotel logo on the wall behind the counter, and the ice water with cucumbers floating in it on a table nearby. Her stomach growled.
“Hi, honey, what are you doing here?” Her mom appeared from around the corner wearing a brilliant smile, and a jacket similar to the guy’s. Her name tag was pinned to the front. Apparently Mom didn’t need new clothes for this job after all. The guy returned to his station.
Riley approached the counter, her eyes never leaving her mother’s. She meant to ask about the insurance but instead said in a quiet voice, “You took all my money.” Tears of hurt and defeat threatened, but she forced them back.
Her mother’s smile dimmed. “That’s not true. I left some.”
Her coworker’s eyes darted uncomfortably. He disappeared into the back.
Riley stared at her mom, waiting for her explanation.
“I had to. My purse was stolen, the rent was overdue, and I didn’t have a car. You can imagine my surprise when I found out that you had all that money stashed. You always were such a good saver.”
Riley refused to speak, afraid of what she might say.
Her mother shifted uncomfortably. “I was only checking your account for enough to help with the rent, but when I saw how much you had, I borrowed some to get a new car. Well, not a new car. Not even a nice car for that little money, but now I have wheels again. Yay!” she said enthusiastically. “I’ll pay it back starting with my next paycheck.”
“Stop lying,” Riley said in a steely voice.
“Listen,” her mother said in a quiet voice, matching Riley’s. “You cannot come into my work and talk to me like this. I will not allow it.”
“I just need to know one thing. Did you have insurance on your old car? The one that you traded in?” Riley held her breath, waiting for her answer.
“Why would I insure a car that wasn’t worth anything?”
“But the other kind. The kind of insurance in case you get into an accident and someone has to go to the hospital. Or to pay for damage to a building if your car is stolen and someone drives it into a bagel shop at four a.m. on July fifth.”
“What are you saying? Was there some kind of accident?”
“Tell me, Mom. Did your old car have insurance?”
Her mother looked at her with disdain. “No.”
Why wasn’t Riley surprised? She had known the answer before she drove all the way over here. What a waste of time. She left the lobby and climbed into the car, noticing an old beater in the spot next to her. That was probably the car her mother bought with the stolen money.
Why did her mother hate her so much? As Riley started the car another idea popped into her head, like a tiny flicker of light in a dark tunnel. It made her stomach tighten into a big knot, but it was her only option left.
30
Riley found Garrett alone in Studio D, listening to tracks. Was she really going to do this? She had to. She didn’t know where else to turn.
“Did you need something?” he asked, distracted.
This was a bad idea.
“It’s okay. I can wait.” She backed away.
“Are you okay? You look upset.” Garrett stood and came toward her.
Upset didn’t begin to explain her complicated emotions. She thought about what she needed to ask him and changed her mind.
“You know what? I’ll figure something out. Don’t worry about it
.” She opened the outer door.
“Wait. Don’t go. Come in and let’s talk.”
This was new. She was used to his combative side that always led to an ulterior motive. “I don’t know. You look busy.”
He guided her over to the sound board, held out the producer’s chair for her, and then sat next to it. She sat down hesitantly. This chair was for the producer, the person in charge of a studio album.
“So what did you want to talk to me about?”
She sighed. “It’s dumb. No. It’s more than dumb. It’s the stupidest problem on the planet and I can’t believe it’s my problem. And I can’t believe I’m actually asking you for this favor. But it’s more than a favor. It’s huge. It’s saving my life.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Sounds important.”
“It is.” She stared at her shoes, and her stomach churned again.
“Are you going to tell me or make me guess?”
“I don’t think you’d ever guess this.”
“Unless you’re asking me for money, you’re right. I have no idea.”
Her face fell, and she saw the realization dawn on Garrett’s face.
“You are asking for money?”
She sensed his disappointment and flushed with guilt. “You know what, never mind. I’ll figure something out.” She stood to leave.
“Wait.” He captured her hand, preventing her from running away. “Sit down and tell me what’s going on. It must be bad if you’re coming to me.”
Her heart raced. She didn’t know if it was from the warm strength of his hand or her fear of asking for help. More than anything, she wanted to evaporate into thin air from the shame of it all.
She sucked in a breath and explained it in the plainest terms possible, including the stolen car, the crash into the bagel shop, and her lack of insurance.
Garrett stared at her, dumbstruck. “Your mom had you take out a loan on a car she couldn’t afford?”
“That’s what you got from all that? I thought for sure you’d be more weirded out by someone not insuring their car and then having it stolen.”
“That’s pretty bad, too.” He shook his head. “That sucks. What about the money you got from the Graphite Angels?”
“I used a bunch of it so my brother could get a broken tooth fixed. Helped pay some back rent. It’s all gone. I’m going to have to pay for damages to the bagel shop, and there’s no way I can pay for that by myself. Plus, I have the ticket to pay.”
He stared at her. “I still can’t believe your mom would do that to you.”
Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she dashed them away. “That’s what my mom does. She’s not exactly Mother of the Year.”
“So, how much do you need?”
“I haven’t gotten the final bill yet, but at least ten grand.”
Garrett whistled low.
“I know. I’m so sorry to even ask, but I didn’t know who else might have that kind of money. I’ll pay it all back. I promise.”
“You don’t have any other family you can go to? Your dad, maybe?”
“No. He’s been out of the picture since my sister was little. I wouldn’t know how to find him even if I wanted to. There’s my grandma, my mom’s mom, but she wouldn’t have anything and even if she did, she’d never help. She’s more of a figure-it-out-yourself kinda person.”
“I see.” He leaned back and stared at the wall.
“I’m so sorry to ask.” She really wanted to curl up and die rather than ask him for help, but it had to be done.
“No, I understand why you’d think to ask me.” He blew out his breath and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear, despite the fact that they were alone. “But I don’t give people money.”
Riley’s heart froze in her chest. He wasn’t going to help.
Garrett looked straight into her eyes and she wished he hadn’t. She wanted to forget the whole thing, but she’d put him on the spot and now she had to listen to him make excuses about why he wouldn’t help her.
“I wish I could, but my brothers and I came up with a strict policy a long time ago not to casually give away money. Not unless it was for a charity or non-profit for needy or ill children, an organization with a proven track record for making a difference in helping the less fortunate.”
Couldn’t he see her desperation? If he wouldn’t help her, who would? And why wouldn’t he look away?
“You see, we get asked for handouts constantly. Our manager, Mom, and Dad screen them for us.”
“I understand. It’s fine. Really. Don’t worry about it.” She stood to flee and hide, but he stood, too. The mistletoe hung directly above them. She looked away.
“Don’t go. Maybe there’s another way we can work this out,” he said.
“Really?”
“Of course. I want to help, I do. You’d have to earn the money.”
“Doing what? Cleaning your apartment or something? Do you even have an apartment?”
“That’s not what I had in mind.” Garrett laughed, and it reached all the way to his eyes, making him appear relaxed and unguarded. He slid a hand in his front pocket. “I was thinking you could sign a contract with me to record an album.”
Of course, it always came back to that. Hadn’t he figured out yet that singing was the last thing she planned to do with her life? No. He’d want to take full advantage of her need for cash to get what he wanted.
“You asshole.”
“What? You came to me asking for more than ten thousand dollars. You think I’d just hand it over? Here you go, have a nice day? You want money from me, and I want you to record. It’s a pretty obvious trade-off.”
She looked at the candy canes taped around the control room window. There was no escape from her bizarre world. He was offering an out. It came at a huge cost, but it would save her from all her legal woes. “You love this, don’t you? Me having to beg?”
“No. I’m offering you a deal. Did I ever imagine things would work out so nicely? No. But your situation sure is convenient.”
“I hate you. You do know that.”
He smiled, showing off a dimple in his cheek, and his eyes glittered. “Yeah, and I’m okay with that.”
Could she do it? Record with Garrett, work with him, and even worse, let him make the decisions? Put herself out there again to be judged by the public? God, with every fiber of her being she didn’t want to.
“So do we have a deal?” he asked with a smug look.
Riley glared at him. She either had to face years of legal problems and bad credit, or make a deal with the devil.
She weighed her options. If she recorded with him, that was it. It would be painful, but if she sucked it up, she could find a way to suffer through and get it over with quickly.
Then again, could she even trust Garrett after the episode at Wrigley Field?
He stood and walked to the door to leave. “I’ve got other issues to deal with. I’m not going to wait around all day for you to make up your mind.”
“Wait,” she called out.
He turned.
“I’ll do it.”
31
“Can I borrow Riley for a bit?” Garrett asked Ron later that day.
Riley looked up from recording notes for Jamie Halloway’s Christmas album. So this was it.
“Sure. We’re good for a while,” Ron said.
Riley blew out a breath and followed Garrett. He stopped outside Barry’s office, where prestigious gold records and recording awards were prominently displayed on the wall.
“Before we go any further, I want to know if you’re sure about our deal. About recording an album,” Garrett asked with a businesslike tone.
His personal consideration caught her off guard. She expected him to be gloating that he won. Instead a flicker of humanity shone in his eyes.
“I told you I am.”
“No. I want you to take a minute and be sure you know what you’re doing. Up until this morning, yo
u were adamant that you were done singing. I don’t want you making a rash decision and regretting it later.”
“I’m not,” she said, praying it was true.
Garrett looked her straight in the eye. “Recording an album is a huge decision. Once you do this, you can’t change your mind.”
“It’ll be fine.” She looked away, her eyes landing on a gold record for Jamieson’s Triple Threat album. And here was one of the band members wanting to record her.
He dipped his head and recaptured her gaze. Flecks of light in his gray eyes caught her attention. “This is going to be a lot of hard work and long hours.”
Riley swallowed and nodded. She had no other choice. She couldn’t live buried by all this debt. She’d worked hard and for so long to avoid singing again. There had been so much criticism from the judges and producers on the show, and ridicule from the kids at school, that singing professionally had been ruined for her. She prayed this time would be different.
“I’m good. Let’s do this.” She offered a brief smile.
Garrett grinned. “Now that that’s settled, come into Barry’s office. I want you to meet someone.”
She took a deep breath and followed. Here we go.
“Riley, I’d like you to meet Craig Johnston. He’s an entertainment lawyer who specializes in the music industry. I’ve been meeting with Craig since I first arrived in Chicago.”
Craig stood and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Riley.” He wore a dark business suit, his dark brown hair neatly trimmed and his sideburns graying. His handshake was firm and formal.
“Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Johnston,” she said, suddenly out of her league. “I didn’t expect a lawyer and everything.”
“Call me Craig. Please take a seat.”
Once they were all seated, Garrett said, “You told me to give you a contract. I would never enter into a contract without a lawyer drawing it up.”
“That’s right. Working by only a handshake is always a bad idea.” Craig smiled.
“Okay, where do I sign?” Riley asked.
Craig opened a folder and started pulling out papers. “Here you go. This is a general music recording contract.”
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