Of Course, It's You

Chapter 35

Hannah

She realized probably way too late at how long Carmen had been gone. It was almost two entire artists that she had missed. But, Hannah was so enthralled and in awe at the moment, she hadn't even realized. The shows were spectacular. Everything she always thought these things would be like.

This was always something she watched on her tv, not anything she would have ever dreamed she would be able to attend. Before she had the chance to get up and go look for Carmen though, her attention was snagged by Robert Mills walking across the stage.

This must be his big speech.

"I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone that could make it here tonight, and everyone else watching from home. If you are wondering why some old guy is up here saying hello and thank you," a generous laugh from the audience bubbled up, "let me introduce myself. My name is Robert Mills of Mills Record Label, and it is so exciting that most of the artists and everyone that joins in the collaborations with our releases have chosen to join me and my company in bringing such wonderful music and talent to light. This has always been my passion and being able to help create music, no matter how small of an effort that I make with that exact process," another laugh from the audience, "is humbling beyond measure. When I chose to merge with a record label location here in this wonderfully talented city, it was for my late son to take over and thrive. And it is in his memory and honor, that I continue these efforts."

Him? Hannah's brow furrowed and she leaned forward in her seat. She understood the honor and memory of Viktor, but she assumed it was for Carmen. Carmen was to be continuing the efforts of the new location, wasn't it?

With the quiet of the audience, and the only sound of Robert's voice, she heard and felt something going off in her pocket. She pulled out the phone that was there, but it wasn't hers that was going off, it was Carmen's.

Over thirty missed calls and almost twice that in texts. Dani's name was lit on the screen, but the call ended before she could even choose whether or not to answer in place of Carmen.

A text popped up on the screen from Dani. And even without knowing the passcode, she could see the first two lines of the message.

Dani: Hannah, answer the phone!!!

Dani: Dammit. Just answer please!

Wait. What the hell? How did she know Hannah was looking at the screen of Carmen's phone?

Another text came through.

Dani: Carmen is with me. Please answer the phone.

Dani: I know you have her phone, she needs to talk to you...

Hannah got up and started to walk to the back doors from the audience, but she stopped when she heard Robert continue his speech. She hadn't realized that while she was holding the phone, it rang and her thumb accidentally accepted the call.

"I feel it is my duty to uphold my promise to my son, and continue this work and new venture myself. And, I want to maintain the positive upturn in new as well as current clients and business holders within. This town and everything it has to offer is of such great value, and I find myself falling in love with it every day that I have been here."

In Robert's pause, she could hear a small voice from her hand and looked down to the ongoing call.

She lifted the phone to her ear, and without even needing to say hello, she could hear Dani, or so she believed it to be Dani's voice, complaining about Robert.

"That slimy, misogynistic, asshole and his toxic masculinity can go rot in hell for this. I can't believe he would do that. Only talking about fucking Viktor. Not even using his name! This was all for Carmen. Carmen should be getting the credit for all of this. That stubborn old asshole–"