Page 22 of Forever Country (Forever Bluegrass #24)

“ H ow are you not more shaken up right now?” Maddie asked as they left Holt’s little apartment an hour later. Annaleigh’s X-rays had been clear. She’d gotten a shower, changed clothes, and put her arm in the sling Dr. Davies had given her, all with Holt’s help.

Maddie had also changed clothes and one of the firemen, Conley, had given her a ride to the apartment. Holt had moved his meeting with Morgan to the same building as Annaleigh’s appointment and was now escorting both of the ladies down the sidewalk on Main Street.

“I’m sure I’ll be shaken up when this is over, but right now I’m too focused on getting what I need to have done before my parents pull another stupid move that further isolates me and before they figure out my business plan.

I want all my clients in hand before we even announce it.

My parents, brother, and Benton have been calling me all day.

I’ve sent them back a picture of me in the sling and said I’ve been at the doctor and that I’ll call them later to buy us some time. ”

“You really think this Miles guy can help us get a business set up quickly? Don’t we need lawyers and business permits and stuff?” Maddie asked.

“You can use my lawyers,” Holt offered. He’d been their silent guard as he walked behind them watching out as if he were a professional bodyguard, which he’d wanted to hire for her, but she’d said no.

“Would they meet us today if we need them?” Annaleigh asked, excited since she knew his attorneys had done a kick ass job for Holt.

“Neely Grace is visiting her daughter and her family, but trust me. Henry is always up for meeting new people.” Holt stopped walking. “Here it is, ladies.” He opened the door and Annaleigh and Maddie turned back around and entered the lobby.

Maddie stopped in her tracks and grabbed Annaleigh’s arm. “Why does the wall say SA Tech Headquarters ?

“Because this became my U.S.-based headquarters upon marrying my wife.”

Maddie’s grip tightened. “Annaleigh, you need to take me to the doctor’s because I’m hallucinating that Sebastian Abel, the business hero of my dreams, is standing here.”

Annaleigh saw Sebastian’s lips twitch with amusement before he turned professional once again. “You know who I am, but I don’t know who you are.” Sebastian stood waiting for an introduction.

Annaleigh held out her good hand to Sebastian as Miles came into the room with Morgan.

“Annaleigh Astore, “she said, shaking his hand. “My best friend and business partner, Madeline Underwood. I really appreciate you taking the time to help us.” Annaleigh had to nudge Maddie, who was standing there, staring at Sebastian with an open mouth. The guy was sexy in a powerful and commanding way, but Maddie didn’t care about that. She cared about his quarterly reports. “Sorry about Maddie. She didn’t act like this when she met Dolly, so you should feel very special. Because, come on, it’s Dolly . ”

“It makes the drool at the corner of her mouth even more of an honor,” Sebastian said dryly.

Annaleigh laughed. Sebastian didn’t smile, but his eyes danced with humor. “This is going to be fun,” Annaleigh said with amusement.

“Miles,” Sebastian said, turning to where Miles, Morgan, and Holt were standing. “Why don’t you show them where the conference room is. I’m going to call Greer.”

“Sebastian,” Morgan said with a roll of her eyes. “You called her not even five minutes ago.”

Sebastian looked incredibly serious. “I know, but she might have needed something between then and now.”

“I know my niece, Sebastian,” Morgan said gently, placing a hand on Sebastian’s arm.

“She’ll castrate you if you call her again.

She’s pregnant, not paralyzed. You know how independent Greer is.

You’re going to be a great father. Allow Greer the space to be a great mother, and that includes looking after herself.

She’ll call or text you if she needs something.

You’re her person. She’ll always turn to you first.”

Sebastian let out a slow breath. “Thank you, Morgan,” he said sincerely. “Okay then, let’s get to this meeting. Are you ready, Miss Underwood?” Sebastian held out the crook of his arm for her and Maddie about fainted on the spot.

“I’ll see you after our meetings. I’ll wait for you out here since I’m guessing your meeting will go longer than mine,” Holt whispered to her before placing a sweet kiss on her temple.

“Like Sebastian, I find it hard to leave you. I didn’t think I’d be that guy, but apparently, I am,” he chuckled.

“Text me if you need anything. Love you.”

“I love the guy you are,” Annaleigh whispered as they parted ways at a conference room door.

“Sebastian,” Miles said, taking a seat. “It’s okay for me to say Miss Underwood was rendered mute in awe of my business dealings, right? We don’t know it’s just you she’s in awe of. It could be both of us.”

Sebastian caught himself rolling his eyes and stopped, but that was enough to make Annaleigh laugh out loud as she took her seat. It was also enough to shake Maddie out of her hero worship.

“I am so sorry,” Maddie said, blinking as if coming out of a trance.

“Mr. Davies, your business deals are very impressive. If I hadn’t already done my project on Mr. Abel, I would do it on you.

As Annaleigh told you, I’m Madeline Underwood, but everyone calls me Maddie.

Let me show you what I have put together so far.

This is going to be my final project for graduation, so please go easy on me since I’m being thrown in the deep end here. ”

Maddie handed out binders to everyone. They included Maddie’s employment contract and resignation, the list of Annaleigh’s clients, their current and projected income and expenditures, along with a five-year business plan, the price of insurance, property rental, marketing, and more. Annaleigh was very impressed.

Annaleigh talked them through her client list while Maddie talked them through the business part. At times, Miles or Sebastian would ask questions. It took about an hour to go through everything.

“What do you think?” Annaleigh asked when they finished going through the binder. “Can you offer any suggestions for us?”

Sebastian leaned forward, looking right at Maddie.

“I have a suggestion. Don’t waste your time on an MBA.

” Maddie’s face dropped. “You don’t need it.

Your instincts and grasp of business already surpass what an MBA would give you.

Instead, come shadow me in New York for the next week.

Then count on me to mentor you as you get your business up and running. ”

Maddie’s face went from despair to elation then despair again. “My classes—”

Sebastian scoffed. “I’ll email your professor. You’ll get extra credit for the crash course I’m about to teach you, and you’ll graduate on time.”

“I agree. You’ve done a hell of a job putting together a business plan,” Miles told them.

“I would suggest a lawyer to write up a partnership agreement and a form client agreement. Also, a cease and desist form letter you will inevitably need to send to Astore Entertainment. They aren’t going to take this lightly, but from what I can see, it’s their own fault for treating a daughter like free help instead of a proper employee.

By the way, Annaleigh, your salary is shockingly low compared to the business you bring in. ”

Sebastian nodded his head in agreement. “You’ll be making triple what you both make now by the end of the year. Do you have a location yet for your agency?”

Annaleigh shook her head. “Not yet. Everything’s moved so fast and I have to see how much money I can get my hands on that isn’t controlled by my parents.

My assets, like my car and house technically belong to the agency.

I have a small bank account that I use for food and personal items which is funded by my salary. ”

“I’ve been saving up too,” Maddie said, telling them the money she has saved to buy into the new agency.

Miles frowned. “You’ll need at least a million to get up and running fast enough to be competitive.”

Annaleigh and Maddie both slumped back in their chairs. That was considerably more than the twenty thousand they probably had in cash right now between the two of them.

“Annaleigh, I know you don’t want to hear it,” Maddie said cautiously. “But you could ask Holt.”

“No!” Annaleigh shot up in her chair. “I will not take a dime from him.”

“Would you take a dime from me?” Sebastian asked.

“Country music would diversify my portfolio rather well. Plus, I already have property in Nashville, and I’ve been working on some tech that will change the current way audio recordings are made.

It would be perfect for music producers.

I’ll let your clients beta test it for me.

” Everyone turned to stare at Sebastian.

“You developed new audio technology?” Miles sounded surprised.

Sebastian looked ready to spit nails. “Did you forget I’ve developed things for the government before?

New computers? New programs? A little audio tech is nothing.

It was something fun I was working on. So, yeah, it will revolutionize the music industry—probably film too.

It’s nothing for me because I’m a freaking tech genius. ”

“Yeah, but the last conversation we had was about which diapers were best. I guess you’ve been Keeneston-fied. Totally forget the tech genius part.” Miles paused and then looked at Sebastian again. “Why do you have property in Nashville?”

“I’m a real estate tycoon too.” Sebastian Abel, billionaire tycoon, rolled his eyes. “I have properties all over the world. Some for hotels, resorts, casinos, and large business offices. The one in Nashville is an office building on the edge of Music Row.”

“See why he is my hero?” Maddie whispered.

“What do you want for this investment?” Annaleigh asked instead of answering her friend.

Sebastian smiled. “Now we get to see what kind of agent you really are. Let’s negotiate.”