‘Well, everyone who’s anyone is here,’ Janey stated. ‘Most people rearranged their whole schedules to make it. Blu-Daddy’s here, all the press you asked for, plus some you didn’t. Jason Statham and his wife. J Lo said she would try to attend. The function room is full, and canapés and champagne are going around.’
‘Great!’ Nathan took hold of Autumn’s hand. ‘Well, let’s go. Introduce me to your friends.’
‘Where’s Juan?’ Autumn’s voice wavered as she spoke his name.
‘He’s in the function room. Last time I saw him, he was talking to Blu-Daddy about remixing and making some special editions of your songs,’ Janey informed with a smile.
‘Let’s get you a drink. Nice to meet you, Janey,’ Nathan said, directing Autumn toward the function room.
When they were out of Janey’s earshot, Nathan spoke.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes, absolutely fine, apart from wanting to grab hold of her mangy neck and squeeze.’ Autumn toyed with the clasp on her purse. ‘And what do I say to Juan? He’s cheated on me, and he’s just in there, discussing my music career with my record producer.’
Nathan tipped her face up to meet his. ‘Listen, tonight isn’t about that dipshit. He’s not important in the grand scheme of things. He’s just some loser who treated you like crap.’
Autumn stiffened. ‘I know that.’
‘Then let’s go in there. I’ll work the room and see what I can find out, and you can tell him exactly what you think of him.’
‘I don’t know what to say to him. I don’t know if I can even face him,’ she said, her body trembling.
‘Come with me.’ With Autumn trailing behind, he strode off toward the door.
‘Nathan, please,’ Autumn begged. She tried to balance on her too-high shoes as he moved at pace.
They entered the function room, and he hurried her toward the grand piano on stage, through the crowd of people sipping Cristal and eating finger food. There was a four-piece jazz band providing the entertainment. Nathan urged them to stop playing.
Ordinarily used to the limelight, Autumn stood on the stage feeling like a plain-clothed person at a fancy-dress party. As soon as the band ceased, all attention was on her. The eyes were friendly though. The faces had broken out in smiles, and their adoration of her was plain to see.
‘Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention. I won’t talk for long,’ Nathan said. ‘Now, I know this event was a little rushed in being put together, but I think you’ll agree, what Autumn has to showcase for you tonight will be worth the alteration to your plans. In preparation for her appearance at the IMAs, she’s giving you all an exclusive. This is the very first performance of her new song “Broken Pieces”.’
He began vigorously clapping his hands, and the crowd of guests joined in as Autumn sat down on the piano stool and willed life into her fingers.
‘You play that song. They’ll love it. You’ll get your confidence back. Then I’ll let you go and slap the slaphead,’ Nathan whispered.
Autumn looked at him, nodded, then cleared her throat.
‘Thank you for coming, everyone,’ she announced. ‘I really appreciate it. This is “Broken Pieces”.’
*
As Autumn began to play the first bars of the song she had composed the night before, Nathan scanned the room. He didn’t know exactly what he was looking for, but he would know it when he saw it. He spotted Juan and Blu-Daddy as soon as they had entered the hall. Both wore gold chains that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a mayor or Mr T. Oblivious to anything else, their eyes were fixed on Autumn as she performed on stage.
Someone who wasn’t looking at the stage was Janey. She’d come into the function room after them and stood at the back of the hall on her mobile phone. Her eyes were everywhere but the stage. She’d been a privileged confidante of the singer for quite some time. She would have the means to pass on information if she were involved. But was she clever enough for that? And if she was, what was motivating her? Money? A political agenda? Juan? He didn’t look capable of motivating a monkey, let alone an attractive, adept personal assistant. But then love, or even lust, was sometimes blind.
Nathan turned his attention back to Autumn. She was in her element now. Hammering at the piano keys, losing herself in the music. This was the professional. This was the entertainer he had watched on his laptop.
What she didn’t know was that Jazz, Teo, and a team of their men had all the exits covered and would be looking out for anything remotely suspicious. He wasn’t taking any chances. He didn’t believe the story he was getting from the powers in London, and no one was going to make him a scapegoat in a botched operation. He knew how it worked, and he wasn’t about to offer up his neck for the block.
*
She felt tears brimming in her eyes, but she held them in as she concluded the song with a crescendo then a final solo low note with her left hand. As Nathan predicted, the entire room erupted into applause, cheers, and stamps of appreciation. She stood up. Nathan took hold of her arm and led her into the center of the stage to greet her audience.
It was then, while smiling at her appreciative crowd, that she saw him. Juan was just yards away. He pumped his hands together and smiled up at her. His gold tooth and sunglasses glinted in unison.
Looking at him, she was filled with rage. He had used her to further his career. He was discussing records with Blu-Daddy, no doubt trying to convince him her songs needed a rap section plus extra drum and bass.
She took hold of the microphone and prepared to speak. But before she opened her mouth,
