AVERY
Three hours later, the plane touches down in Nashville, and I’ve never been more sure that I’ve made the right decision. Will has confirmed that when we land, I’ll need to sign a few documents, but other than that, I’ll be free to go back to Coldwater and Grayson for the next week.
The only thing left to do is confront Penelope. There isn’t a chance of her walking away from this after lying to me, and for my own peace of mind, I want to know why. Why she thought she could get away with it. What else has she lied to me about? What was she hoping to achieve?
Unbuckling my seat belt, I stand, my focus on Penelope as she gathers up her things and prepares to leave the plane. There isn’t a hint of her betrayal in the way she’s carrying herself, and that infuriates me even more. For hours, I’ve sat in my silence, watching her, remembering what I left behind and the time she tried to steal from me. But this is it, the final hurdle. I’m barely halfway through the race.
I’m so angry, my hand trembles as I hold it out for the flight attendant. “Thank you.”
She shakes my hand, her smile remaining in place as she inclines her head. “Enjoy Nashville, Miss Blake.”
I step out onto the steps, hit by the humid heat. Penelope is climbing into the back of a waiting SUV, her phone pressed to her ear as per usual. When she sees me standing on the threshold of the plane, she disconnects the call.
“We don’t have time for this, Avery. They’re waiting for us at the studio, and we can’t run over.” Her tone is laced with impatience, as if I’m the problem.
I roll my lips together. Grayson’s face, beaming with pride as he took my picture with the lady at dinner last night, flickers through my mind, and I draw strength from it.
When I left Coldwater for the first time, I let other people tell me who I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to do. Well, not anymore. This time, I’m choosing for myself. And I choose Grayson.
Striding toward the car, I come to a stop next to her open door. My heart thrashes around, but I hold my ground. There’s no way that I’m going to risk losing myself again. I have to do this. I want to do this. “I’m going back to Coldwater.” She doesn’t need to know that I’ll be back next week because she won’t be around.
Penelope laughs, rolling her eyes and pulling at the door, but I hold it open. “Very funny, Avery. Now get in.”
Narrowing my eyes, I tilt my head and say, “There’s nothing funny about this. You’re fired, Penelope.”
Panic flashes in her gaze, and she climbs out of the car, slamming the door as she forces me back. “You can’t fire me. I made you what you are today. You wouldn’t be anywhere without me,” she yells, her voice rising with each word.
I fold my arms across my chest, standing firm. “I’m going home, and you no longer get a say in what I do or who I am.” My voice shakes, but I don’t look away.
Malice fills her gaze, and she bares her teeth. “I should never have let you go back there. He tried to drag you back ten years ago, but I put a stop to that. I know what’s best for you, Avery. So, get in the car and get that ridiculous notion out of your head.”
I step back, confusion twisting my features. “What do you mean he tried to drag me back?”
Penelope rolls her eyes, shaking her head. “He said he needed you, but he was only ever going to hold you back.”
Is she… No. It can’t be.
I wrap my arms around my waist to keep my body whole, certain that I’ll fall apart right here if I don’t. “What did you do, Penelope?” I demand, doing the math of exactly when Grayson would have reached out.
Ten years ago, Grayson’s father died.
I thought he didn’t need me anymore; that doing more than sending a floral arrangement would be overstepping. For weeks, during every sleepless night, I stared at my phone wanting to tell him how sorry I was for his loss, but I didn’t because I was certain that I’d be adding to his stress when he was grieving. Penelope let him think I didn’t care, that he couldn’t count on me.
“I deleted his message and blocked his number, okay?” She huffs, rubbing her thumb and forefinger over her forehead.
Her gaze flicks over my shoulder. She’s seen Will, and now she knows we have an audience. That’s her one weakness. Penelope will treat her talent like shit behind closed doors, but the second someone else is around, she’s as sweet as pie.
Stepping closer, she keeps her voice low for only me to hear. “None of that matters because you’re forgetting about the millions of dollars, Avery. I know you don’t have that kind of liquid cash lying around.”
I step closer until we’re inches apart, grinding my back teeth as I look her in the eye. “I know there is no penalty that would put us on the hook for that much money. You lied to me, and any trust I had in you is gone.”
Penelope stumbles back, her eyes wide and panicked, before she composes herself. “Look, just come and record the songs you have left to do, then we can talk about the future.” She grabs hold of my arm, but I yank it away.
“Do. Not. Touch me. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
I dart my gaze to the two security guys standing by the front of the SUV, nodding for them to approach.
“These men will escort you to the lounge while you figure out a ride.” I fold my arms across my chest and move out of her reach.
