Page 14 of Royal Bargain

When she was helping Clary, I remember thinking about how much I wished I had someone like her to help me. I guess now, I just need to have the courage to ask.

Swallowing hard, I push down my anxiety and dial her number, waiting as the phone rings.

She answers on the third ring. “This is Miranda Voss. How did you get my private number?” she demands.

“Uh, hello Miranda. This is Clary’s friend, Ana. Uh. Annika Volkov. I got your number from Clary a while ago. I wanted to ask if you had a moment to talk?”

“Annika Volkov?” Miranda asks, putting the pieces together. “I don’t know why you’re calling but I know that you’re the daughter of the Brannagan’s enemy. I don’t know if I can help you.”

“Please,” I beg, closing my eyes as I swallow the bitter emotions inside. “I have no one else to turn to. You helped Clary so much… I was hoping you could do the same for me. I just need a few minutes of your time.”

Miranda sighs. “You have five minutes. What do you want?”

I take a deep breath, the words tumbling out faster than I can think them.

“All my life, I’ve been under my father’s control. I had to get away from him recently, and now I’m stuck without a job or resources. I’m staying with Liam Brannagan, the father of my baby, but I can’t rely on him forever,” I explain. “I just need help finding my own way. I know you have a lot of connections in the business world, and I was hoping you could give me the number of someone in the music industry?”

Miranda is silent as she listens to my story but when I finish, her tone is sharp. “Why should I help a member of the Russian faction?” I can practically see her eyebrows furrowed at my request.

I blow out a breath. “Everyone I care about thinks I’ve betrayed them. I have nowhere to go, no one to turn to.”

“Then tell me,” she asks. “How can I be sure where your loyalties lie?”

A bitter laugh escapes me, and I swallow the bile in my throat. “I can assure you I won’t be running back to them anytime soon.”

I’ve never felt like I belonged in that world. I just want to be part of a world that’s bigger than petty politics and money as a form of coercive control.

“What can I do to prove to you that I’m serious?” I ask, anxiety tinged in my tone.

Miranda is silent for so long that I think she’s hung up, but then she starts speaking. “Anatoly Volkov has been a thorn in the city’s side for a long time now. He’s been undermining the efforts of the Brannagan family at every turn. The Brannagans are close friends of mine, and I want a way to even the playing field for them once more.”

I nod, understanding what she’s asking of me. “What do you want to know?” I ask, my voice soft, tentative.

Inside, my gut is churning. With one little piece of information, I could break free of the tight control my father has always held over me. But telling her anything will make me just as much of a traitor as I’ve been accused of being.

“Has your father been showing any… particular special interest in the Harborview District lately?” Miranda asks, her words casual, but the implied meaning clear.

I rack my brain, trying to recall if Papa might have been making moves on that area, deciding to tell her before I can change my mind. “He’s been trying to acquire some land in that district. A few apartment-type properties, I think. Why?”

Miranda hums. “It might be nothing at all. But it could also be good to know. I appreciate your willingness to prove yourself, Annika. Consider this your first audition, and you’ve passed. I’m going to give you some contact information for Ingrid Gunnerson. She’s a friend of mine and should be able to help you.”

I inhale sharply, shocked that Miranda is willing to help me out. And did I hear that correctly? Ingrid Gunnerson? Theheadof Arctic Records?

“Thank you, Miranda!” I say, excitement spilling into my voice as it cracks. “Thank you! I appreciate this more than you know!”

“Any time you need help, just reach out,” Miranda promises. “You’ve shown me that you can be trusted, and I promise to be there for you. Good luck, dear.”

As we hang up, my heart is racing. I’m on cloud nine. I pick Lily up from her playmat and twirl her carefully around, heart bursting with joy.

I can’t believe I have the chance to make a name for myself with my voice—and on my own terms!

I’d always longed to be a singer but Papa wanted to control when and where I sang, wanting to “protect me” from the “seedy underbelly” of the music industry (which I thought was rich coming from him). But Miranda offered me my dreams on a silver platter just because I asked!

Maybe there’s some good in this world after all.

A few minutes later, I get an email with Ingrid’s contact information and Miranda tells she’s already let Ingrid know to expect me, so I text the number I have for her immediately, explaining who I am and what I want.

Ingrid: I’ll need to see what you can do. Do you have any demos you can send?