The air in the barn turned heavy after the livestream ended, the silence sharp enough to sting.The words Vivian had just spoken still echoed in his head, violating their contractual obligations, personal relationship, and legal action.Each syllable felt like a calculated bullet aimed at Carlene first, him second, and the band somewhere in the crossfire.It was actually the opposite.Summit Sound is who started manipulating things and creating chaos.
Tony’s voice cut through the static.“She’s not holding back anymore.”He raked a hand through his hair, frustration radiating off him.“I say, let's hit her hard and fast.Have our attorney send the breach letter.”
Jami didn’t look away from the screen as the feed faded to Summit’s logo.“Then we don’t give her the stage.”His jaw clenched until it ached.“We take it back.She used this opportunity to call in the entertainment press and whine about us.We already made our statement yesterday.Our fans know what's happening.The media can screw themselves if they take Summit's side.But, if the media spreads lies, we'll sue.”
Carlene stood beside him, quiet but steady.He could see the wheels turning behind her eyes, the PR strategist in her already working out counters and contingencies.He loved that about her, even when he hated the reason she needed to do it.
Sean moved closer, phone in hand.“Social’s blowing up.Half the comments are defending us, half are buying her line.Hashtags are trending already,#HartScandal, #LoveForProfit.”His expression twisted.“It’s ugly.”
Jami forced himself to exhale slowly.“Let it trend.The truth’ll trend louder.”
He crossed to the console and grabbed the remote, powering down the display.The image blinked out, leaving only their reflections in the blank screen, five musicians and one woman who’d somehow become his anchor in the chaos.
Carlene looked pale but determined.“If we stay reactive, she wins.We need to lead with transparency.When is Grant Parks sending the breach notice?”
Tony nodded.“Right now.”
Carlene nodded."Then we wait.They want us scrambling and scared.We're not doing either.Let Grant's notice hit Summit.Maybe we have Grant send another notice about an hour later, demanding a halt to the record release.They won't have time to get their heads on straight after the breach notice.Then, about an hour after that, let's send another notice stating we won't be going on tour for Summit Sound.Prepare to stop the tour.Use the time to write more songs, get Hart Records up and running, and cut another album.They'll likely try to stall you out, thinking you're so desperate for this tour and your first album to go live that you'll do anything.Hold out.Make them scared they're about to lose everything.Even if they get the rights to the album and release it.You'll still get the money you agreed to, but you won't go on tour to promote it.I read your contract.Tony set up that tour before Summit Sound entered the picture.You agreed, verbally, to use that tour as a marketing tool for the record, but Summit can't force you to go."
Jami turned to her, that grin wide on his handsome face."You're brilliant.I'd forgotten about that part."
Tony nodded."She's right.I remember the night we discussed it.”
Jami turned to his bandmates."I think Carlene's right.They're dangling that album in front of us, knowing it's our first, and we're so new to all of this, we'll cave just to get that first album out.But she's wrong.I'm not willing to sacrifice my reputation, Carlene's reputation, or that of the band, for a record.We'll make our own.We can spend a month writing, rehearsing, and recording.Hart & The Hurricanes can drop a new album within a couple of months.But we'll still earn some money from the album Summit has, if they proceed to publish it.What we aren't is green.And we're not desperate."
Carlene studied him, and for a heartbeat, he wondered if she was about to tell him he was out of his mind.Instead, she nodded slowly.“And for the time being, stay neutral on your socials.No attacks, no bitterness.We show people who you really are.Who we are.Quietly do what we do.You all write and record, I'll keep PR fun, positive, and energetic.When you have bits and pieces of a great song, I'll post them.We'll stand united and creative.They won't break us.”
“Exactly,” he said, the tension in his chest easing a fraction.“They can call it a scandal.We’ll call it a turning point.”
Tony grinned faintly.“You sure you weren’t a strategist in another life?”
“Just a man with something worth fighting for,” Jami said, glancing at Carlene.
Her lips curved, the first hint of a smile he’d seen since Vivian’s press conference started.But beneath it, he could still see the tightness around her eyes, the worry she wouldn’t voice.Axel did a drum roll on his thigh, and Maddyn chuckled.
Sean picked up a guitar and strolled to the studio."It's time to write some kick-ass music, boys and girls."
His bandmates followed Sean to the studio.He watched them with pride, then turned to Carlene.“You okay?”
She nodded, but her hands were twisting the hem of her sleeve.“I’ve been through smear campaigns before, Jami.They’re hard to come back from.I just don’t want my mistakes to cost you everything.”
He cupped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.“You didn’t cost me anything.You gave me something real.I’ll take a truth like that over a label’s approval any day.”
She smiled and kissed him briefly."I'm going to get to work myself."She picked up her laptop and strolled to the bar.He liked the view.He waited till she settled, then joined his band.
Tony glanced up at him.“It’s official.Summit’s accusing us of releasing promotional material without their consent and engaging in a conflict of interest.”
“Conflict of interest?”Axel barked out a laugh.“What the hell does that even mean?”
Tony answered quietly.“It means our statements against them are self-serving and not for the benefit of Summit.Much like their statements about us.We ignore it.No one responds in any way."
Jami nodded."Now let's make some music."
ChapterThirty-Two
She claimed a stretch of the bar and opened her laptop, the wood still cool beneath her wrists.Across the room, the band filtered into the studio, strings thrumming, Axel's drums setting the beat.Their noise settled in her chest as proof that they were still themselves.
“Coffee?”Sean called from the end of the bar.
