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“I see…creative here being akin to corrupt?” she guessed.
He raised his juice glass. “Smart lady.”
Kianti shrugged. “Things aren’t much different in the music world.”
“Yet you remain a faithful contributor?”
It was her turn to mull over a response. “I feel an obligation to continue. There’re a lot of talented kids out there but this is not an easy business to break into. Instrumental performing—piano, orchestra, symphonies—there’s a fair amount of politics at play and getting your shot isn’t always as easy as knowing how to play the hell out of an instrument.” She smiled but there was little humor in the gesture. “Many kids have the raw talent,” she extended her hand, “and nowhere to cultivate it. No proper pedigree, if you get my meaning.”
Therin did.
“Portions of my CD sales go into a fund. I and many of my colleagues hope to open a school based on talent, financed by the artists who’ve made it instead of the ones trying to make it.”
“Admirable.” Therin leaned back in his chair. His smirk held tinges of regret though. “I wish it were so easy to get a group of politicians on the same page like that.”
The two would have delved back into the rest of their meals to further conversation. The laughter and easy mood, however, was interrupted when Vaughn Burgess approached the table.
“Accept my apologies…please.” Momentarily taken aback by Therin’s breakfast partner, Vaughn was undoubtedly captivated.
“Kianti Lawrence, my right arm, Vaughn Burgess.” Therin enjoyed the man’s mesmerized expression.
Vaughn, in fact, seemed to have forgotten all about Therin’s presence. He leaned close to take Kianti’s hand. “I enjoyed your playing very much,” he told her.
Kianti bowed her head graciously. “I appreciate you saying that. I thought I may have sounded a bit rushed last night.”
“Nonsense.” Vaughn’s entranced expression turned woeful. “I do apologize for the interruption. I’m gonna have to steal this guy.” He glanced toward Therin before smiling again at Kianti and stepping back to offer the couple privacy.
Therin took her hand next. “This was nice.”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“This must be important or else he wouldn’t be here. Always on my back for not relaxing more.” Therin spoke the last sentence a bit louder for Vaughn’s benefit.
Kianti bit her lip playfully to stifle her laughter. “It’s okay. I understand, really.”
“When do you leave?” he asked.
“This afternoon.”
He let her see his frown. “I’ll see you before you leave.”
She placed her hand across his. “Handle your business.”
“I promise,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze and standing as the waiter returned. “This is on me.” He tossed several bills to the table and pushed several more into the young man’s hand.
Kianti’s eyes followed Therin until he was gone from the dining room.
“This had better be damned good,” Therin growled to Vaughn as they rounded the corner.
Vaughn’s voice was uncharacteristically hollow. “It’s not. It’s not good at all.”
The weight which had lifted from Therin’s shoulders during the time spent with Kianti fell like an anvil when he and Vaughn returned to the suite. The conversation he’d escaped from earlier, and hoped would be over by the time he returned, seemed to have taken on new life. It wasn’t long before he discovered why.
“Dammit,” Therin growled upon viewing the file on one of his staff assistants, Ruby Loro.
Absolute silence settled in the suite for the first time that morning.
Therin Rucker’s calm demeanor was a constant that his staff respected and thrived in the midst of. Though he often preferred to step back and do more observing, Therin encouraged discussion and debate. He felt they were the greatest tools in running effective campaigns and encouraging loyalty. Witnessing a loss of temper from someone so focused and deliberate was as fascinating as it was disconcerting.
“This is bullshit.” Therin’s voice was a little more than a whisper. He massaged the back of his neck and slanted Vaughn a dark look.
“Agreed.” Vaughn raised his hands defensively. “But it’s still gonna have to be dealt with…on several levels.”
“I should talk to her.” Therin rifled through the file. “Has she seen this mess?”
“No, um…it was uh—stuck inside your complimentary copy of this morning’s USA TODAY,” Morgan Felts explained.
Therin began a pace of the suite’s living area. “Anybody contact the office to confirm that?”
