But then I thought of all those fans out there wanting to support their favorite band and all the work I'd put into making this place the best club in town. Then there were all those bands who made this place what it was. I couldn't walk away from that. I had to fix things. It had to be me. Chuck didn't care and, if he did try to help, he'd just screw everything up.
"We need to do something, I just don't know what. I don't want to be the one to tell those people that tonight has been canceled."
"What about Alex?" said Carlie. "I wonder if we could give them Alex instead."
It was a crazy idea but it might just work. If we could get in touch with him. Hell, he'd probably be coming in to check out the competition anyway.
Then it hit me. He'd won. He'd won by default but he'd won.
The vomit feeling rose up in me again. I didn't want Alex to win. Razer was annoying and crazy and would turn my life upside down but Alex was just a hot body in tight leather pants. Sure, a really hot body, but he could only stir my lust not my heart.
I couldn't be angry with Razer for putting his career ahead of one lousy night. This was the type of opportunity that came along once in a lifetime. If I was him, I'd grab it with both hands. I'd hold it tight and not let it go. Even if it meant sacrificing me and everything here.
I grabbed the vodka bottle off Carlie and took another swig. It burnt like hell going down but it sure took the edge off my panic.
"I'll get my phone," Carlie said.
I nodded, not sure what to say. My heart rate boomed, filling all the space. The buzz of the gathering crowd outside became distant.
When Carlie returned, I grabbed the phone off her and called Razer. The phone rang and rang but he didn't answer.
Of course he didn’t answer. He was probably on a plane right now. He’d said “see you soon” when he left. He wouldn’t have said that if he intended coming back. Surely he wouldn’t have. But maybe those Muff Monkey guys made him an offer too good to refuse. He might’ve intended coming back but had his head turned.
I listened to the phone beeping, not wanting to give up, until his voice mail came on. I left a message telling him to ring me on Carlie’s phone.
"Now call Alex," Carlie said.
"I should wait until Razer calls back."
"Call him now. We need to get this sorted as soon as possible."
I stared at the phone. I didn't want to call Alex. Once I told him that Razer wasn't showing, it'd make everything certain, but I had to think about the quickest way to fix this situation. I had to be professional and push my feelings down so I could get the job done.
"Alex, it's Violet. Are you at the club?" I could hear a lot of background noise so assumed he was nearby.
“Come to my office,” I told him.
“What?”
The noise out there was too loud. I hung up then sent him a text. Minutes later, he walked through the door. I quickly gave him a rundown on the situation.
"I won," he said, his face shining with victory.
"Nothing's certain yet. I haven't heard from Razer."
"What's to hear? Of course, he's not coming. What kind of fool would turn down an offer like that? He's probably forgotten this place even exists." He paced the floor, running his hand through his hair. “Damn him. With a chance like that, even though I’ve won, he hasn’t lost.”
"Can you play in his place? If he doesn't show?" I didn’t want to beg but surely Alex could see how dire the situation was.
Alex put his head to one side.
"You don't get it, do you, Violet? I've won. I'm not doing this for kicks. If he doesn't show up tonight, he'll never show his face around here again. He'll be totally out. This is perfect."
Was Alex saying no? I didn’t want to believe he could be so small-minded but it seemed that’s exactly what he was.
Chapter 35 VIOLET
"BUT ALL THOSE PEOPLE, they're here to see him..."