Page 77 of Love Deep

“Can we talk?” I ask him.

“Can I eat while I listen?” He orders breakfast from a waitress who’s standing nearby, and we go and grab a table in the corner of the room. I explain that Gerry’s coming to stay at the Colorado Club.

Before he says anything in response, he picks up his phone, taps out a message, presses send and turns back to me. “No one comes to the Club without full details being provided. It’s possible he’s staying with a member. They’reallowed to bring a limited number of guests per year, but we’ll have full details.”

The manager of the Club, Hart, heads toward our table and greets us with a relaxed smile. “Can I invite you gentlemen to our private dining suite?” he says.

Byron stands, and we follow Hart to the other end of the restaurant, through a door I’ve never noticed, and then through a second door into a small dining room with an oval table with twelve chairs. It overlooks the same view as Blossom, with the same floor-to-ceiling windows. Byron takes a seat at the head of the table and the manager and I sit opposite each other.

“We’re aware that Mr. Banks will be arriving in two days,” Hart says. “He’s a guest of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin.”

Byron nods his head. “They were one of the first members to sign up, is that right?”

“Correct. They’ve never brought a guest before.”

“And was Mr. Banks always due to be one of their party on this trip?” Byron asks.

There’s a knock at the door and the three of us fall silent. One of the waitresses from Blossom arrives with Byron’s breakfast and sets it in front of him, complete with coffee and orange juice.

“Do you want anything?” Byron asks me.

My appetite died as soon as Vivian mentioned Gerry. I shake my head.

The waitress leaves.

“He was added two days ago,” Hart says. “Provided all the details we asked for and we ran him through all the normal checks. Everything cleared, so we proceeded as usual.”

“Two days ago. So that’s when he found out where she was staying.”

“Security around Ms. Cross has been watertight,” Hart says.

“Yes, I’ve been in contact with her manager, who’s delighted there’s nothing leaked to the press about her whereabouts or even that she’s away recording.”

“I don’t think the Club has leaked anything,” Byron says.

I think about whether Vivian coming to see Riley after she’d been sick had been a wise move. But honestly, if it had leaked that way, the press would have it. It wouldn’t just be Gerry Banks.

“This is Gerry digging,” I say. “He probably bribed someone. It doesn’t really matter who. I don’t think he’d target the Club. He wouldn’t know this is the place to start. It’s probably someone on her team. These things get out.”

“So what do you want us to do about it?” Byron asks. “We can inform him he’s no longer able to be accommodated.”

Hart nearly chokes. “Obviously, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin won’t be happy.”

“Then I’ll give them a refund of their membership. The important thing is you get what you need, Fisher.”

I sigh, grateful to Byron for his loyalty. The problem is, it doesn’t solve the issue with Gerry. He’ll just find Vivian when she leaves this place. He’s going to keep coming after her. “I don’t knowwhatI need.”

Byron glances at Hart. “I’ll let you know my decision.”

With that, the manager excuses himself.

“I’m happy to uninvite him,” Byron says. “But you’re just putting off the inevitable. If he doesn’t meet with Vivian here, it will be somewhere else. Better he wastes his time where we can all witness it rather than back in New York.”

I nod. “I know. This isn’t about Vivian. At least, I don’t think it is.”

“You don’t think the CEO of one of the biggest record labels in the business wants to sign the biggest star in the business?” Byron asks, like I’m an idiot.

“Well, of course he does, but it’s more than that. It’s the fact that she’s signed with Right Records. Withme. That’s the issue for Gerry.”