Page 28 of American Royalty

“Not yet.”

She was feeling the other woman’s confidence. “Next?”

“Harper Bissette wants you to be the face of their new ad campaign.”

Dani winced. She’d always considered Bissette the epitome of luxury and their signature logo handbag had been her first major purchase. The year her debut EP had dropped, she’d asked her stylist to approach them about borrowing clothes for an awards show, but word had gotten back to her they’d complained they didn’t know how to dress someone so “curvy and ethnic.” She’d sold the bag and never looked back, but now they wanted her curvy, ethnic ass to help sell their shit?

Pass.

“Is that it?”

“For now. I was working on short notice. I have some other calls pending.”

“I’m not ready to sign anything,” Dani warned.

“I understand. Give me a chance to show you what I can do.”

“Nyla can give you my information. I have some time early next week.”

“Perfect.” Bennie opened her mouth to say something else but bit her lip instead.

Dani stared at her warily. “What?”

“I have to ask... You were offered the perfect opportunity to help your cause, but you turned them down. What were you thinking?”

Dani frowned. “Excuse me? If someone had come to me with what I needed to end this situation with Banks, trust and believe it would’ve been handled.”

“The Royal Concert honoring Prince John. I know several acts that would give their right ass cheek for an invite.”

“I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You were invited to perform at the Royal Concert honoring Prince John,” Bennie said, enunciating every word as if Dani didn’t understand English.

“Say what now?” Dani asked, her eyes wide.

Even Nyla straightened. “Prince John as in the British royal family?”

Dani was shook. She would’ve remembered being contacted by the royal family. Her grandmother had been a major fan, especially of Prince John. She used to say he had a kind face and she would buy every supermarket tabloid that featured the royal family. Just thinking about her grandmother’s devotion caused an ache in Dani’s heart.

“The queen is throwing a massive concert to honor Prince John and his work on environmental causes. She’s inviting a number of the prince’s favorite artists.”

A royal concert? Holy shit.

“I haven’t heard anything about a royal concert. No one’s reached out to me.”

“This one is still on the QT. They’ve asked us to keep it in the strictest of confidence until they announce the final list. I onlyknow about it because our agency represents Rock Apple Brigade, and they were approached after you turned them down.”

“I didn’t turn them down! I didn’t know about it!”

“Who would’ve responded on your behalf?”

She knew before Bennie finished the question.

Fucking Cash.

He hadn’t even asked her. Had he been doing this all along? If Bennie hadn’t mentioned it, she never would’ve known. How many other events had she been invited to, how many opportunities had she been offered, only to have Cash dismiss them and not inform her?

“That would’ve been perfect,” Nyla said. “It’s going to get a ton of coverage. But didn’t Prince John die a long time ago? How was he a fan of Duchess’s work?”