Page 77

"If you'll excuse me," I interrupt, setting down my glass. "I need to collect my instrument."

I walk away before she can respond, my heart pounding in my chest.

I retrieve my cello case from the Green Room, gripping the handle tightly. I played well today—exceptionally well. I know it. The panel knew it. But Barbara Carlton's insinuation has tainted everything, cast a shadow over what should have been a triumph.

As I push through the lobby doors into the bright Seattle morning, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

Charlie:How did it go?

I stare at the screen, emotions warring within me. Pride in my performance. Anger at Barbara's implication. Fear about my future.

I take a deep breath and type:Great! I’ll call you later.

I can’t get into it right now and I definitely don’t want to explain what happened on a text.

I slide my phone back into my pocket, walk to my truck, and when I get in I close my eyes against the sudden burn of tears. Whatever Barbara Carlton thinks, I know the truth: I played my heart out today.

Chapter 24

Charlie

Inventory reports swim before my eyes, numbers blurring as my mind drifts back to Tess. Her text earlier was frustratingly brief and I’m dying to hear the details of her audition.

Seattle's skyline gleams behind me, afternoon sun bouncing off glass and steel. Usually, this view from my corner office at Emerald City Coffee headquarters energizes me and then helps me focus better, but today it’s not doing it’s magic. I've reread the same paragraph three times when my phone finally buzzes.

Tess's name lights up the screen, and I snatch it up before it can ring twice.

"Hey," I say, leaning back in my leather chair. "I've been waiting to hear how it went."

"Hi." Her voice sounds thin, distant. Not the voice of someone who nailed an audition.

"You okay?" I straighten up, alert now.

"The audition itself went really well," she says. "Honestly, they loved it. Maestro Cortez said I was exceptional."

I exhale, relief flooding through me. "That's fantastic. I knew you'd kill it."

"Yeah." A pause. "But there was this reception afterward."

Something in her tone makes my stomach tighten. "What happened?"

"There was this woman. Barbara Carlton? Apparently, she's on the board or a major donor or something." Tess's voice catches. "Cortez introduced us, and she..." Another pause, longer this time. "She basically said I only got the audition because of my connection to you."

White hot rage rushes through my body. "She said what?"

"She implied I wouldn’t be there if you hadn’t personally made a call to make it happen." Tess's voice breaks on my name. "God, Charlie, it was so humiliating. Everyone heard. She completely dismissed my talent, my years at PacWest, everything."

I close my eyes, trying to control the anger building in my chest. Barbara Carlton. I know her—a trust fund baby whose family has been in Seattle high society for generations. She sits on half a dozen boards, flaunting her inherited money and acting like she earned it herself.

"I'm so sorry," I say, keeping my voice even. "That's completely unacceptable."

"Did you?" Tess asks suddenly. "Make a call about my audition, I mean?"

The question stings, though I understand why she's asking. "No. Absolutely not. I mentioned to Cortez at the charity gala that PacWest was having financial issues and that you were one of their most talented musicians. That's it. He asked if you might be interested in auditioning if a position opened up, and I said probably. That was three weeks ago." I take a breath. "I would never try to influence the process, Tess. I know how important it is for you to earn this on your own merit."

I hear her exhale shakily. "I didn't think you would do that, but...the way she said it made me doubt myself. Like maybe I didn't deserve to be there."

"That's exactly what people like Barbara want," I say, anger threading through my words. "They want you to question yourself because they feel the need to tear people down." I take my sportscoat off, suddenly feeling constricted. "Listen to me, Tess. Nobody on that board cares what she says."