A Time for Hope (Lexi, #3)(28)
“Lexi, I think the only one who has called into question your ability has been yourself. I’m not sure why you have a chip on your shoulder about proving yourself but it was evident from the first time I met you that you were driven. I get that, I do, and trust me while the band is an investment for me, I do have a somewhat personal connection to them as well. James took a chance, signing with me. It was their account that made me and in turn landed them their contract, so you see we have both mutual respect and friendship because of our earlier struggles in being nobodies. So it’s more than just money.” Chris shifted in her chair. I could tell the personal nature of the conversation was making her slightly uncomfortable. After all, we didn’t do emotional girly chats, well not with each other.
“Don’t repeat this because I will deny it, but I care a great deal for them. All of them. Even Dan, god help me. And I’ve grown rather fond of you too. I enjoy your unique perspective and your work ethic is outstanding. Add to that how happy you make Alex and I’m instantly your biggest fan. So it’s natural for me to be concerned for your well-being.”
“Please Chris, don’t ask me if I am ok. I am OK. I am really and truly OK.” I watched as my earlier perceived notion of not having to reiterate how well I was coping floated out the figurative window. Where was Just Jared with their groupie whore photo distractions when you needed them?
“I won’t ask but what I will ask is that you consider something. An alternative therapy if you will. I have heard really good things about it and a very good friend of mine has given a personal recommendation.”
“Alternative therapy? Please tell me you don’t want me to go to some charlatan? Those weird concoctions they make you drink only provide some strange drug induced hallucination, they don’t actually help you with revelations. I’m also averse to having a witch doctor shake rattlesnake bones at me as well.”
“I’m not talking about voodoo Lexi, though it concerns me that you seem to know about weird concoction-induced hallucinations.”
“I’ve visited New Orleans, trust me there is more to that place than just Beignets at Café Du Monde.” You’d be amazed where you might find yourself after a few hurricanes on Bourbon Street with the help of a friendly local tour guide.
Chris laughed, her face softened and all traces of her tough exterior evaporated. “Perhaps some day we can discuss at length your adventures in the French Quarter, but I think we’d be hard pressed to find a practitioner here in New York wouldn’t you say?”
“So what are you suggesting? Chinese medicine? Acupuncture? Hypnosis?” I can’t say that any of those alternatives appealed to me, I was barely receptive to traditional medicine.
“No, nothing like that. It’s hard to describe. More a kind of boot camp but different. Like I said, it comes highly recommended and I think you would probably benefit from something like this.” Chris pulled out a post-it note from her folder (clearly she had planned to give me this earlier and had been prepared) and handed me the hand written phone number and name Manny Ortiz.
“Please consider it Lexi. Alex hasn’t said as much but I know he is worried about you, we all are. Worst case scenario, you call Manny and tell him to go f*ck himself, surely it’s been awhile?” A smile teased at the outer corners of her lips.
“I’ll call, no promises though.” It had seemed in the last twenty-four hours there had been a lot of people I needed to call. Damn, I’d almost forgotten about mysterious club owner Nick Cass.
“Well, I guess that wraps things up. I’ll forward any additional information to you via email and I’m sure we’ll be in touch over the next few days.” Chris raised herself from the chair and adjusted her jacket.
“Yes, I’ll send you a brief by close of business tomorrow. We will start working on it this afternoon.” I too lifted myself from my seat and placed the post-it safely into my folder where I’d make a decision on its fate later.
“Bye Lexi,” Chris nodded as she strode purposefully to the door. With our little heart-to-heart now over, Chris had locked onto some other objective and was making a beeline for whatever it was that required her attention.
“Bye Chris,” I called out to her as she left, unsure if she’d heard my goodbye before she slipped out of the room and into the hallway.
I picked up my handbag and pulled out Nick’s thick embossed card, what could he possibly want? Did I call him or let it go? He’d seemed insistent that we speak so there must be some reason, he didn’t seem like the type of guy that would go to a lot of effort for nothing. I shoved the card back in my bag. Who was I kidding? I had already made up my mind and now I was just trying to justify the decision. I sighed as I gathered my belongings and made my way to the door. One way or another I was going to get answers.
Chapter 6 - The Offer
I relaxed into the leather seats of the black Lincoln sedan. The tinted windows blocked out most of the noise from the streets as soft music piped through the sound system. I was aware I should have probably told Alex where I was going or at the very least taken DarNell but if I wanted to find anything out about Nick then I would have to go without an entourage. It wasn’t like I was in imminent danger, it was the middle of the day and the only person who had threatened me was safely behind bars in Australia, awaiting his trial. I understood the security measures Alex had undertaken but I found them highly unnecessary.