Wicked (Somerset University #2) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,80
band names were written on the tabs.
The Undisturbed. Cana’s Dream. Controlled Chaos.
I slowed down, brows scrunching up. I took some of the documents out and gave it a closer look.
“A covenant not to sue,” I read aloud.
Quickly, it dawned on me. I looked through the other files to be sure and they all held the same.
These were the bands I secretly recorded and their agreements not to sue the label after their hours of hard work leaked onto the internet.
I wanted to be mad at Meyer, but honestly, I was surprised he didn’t order me to stumble on this weeks ago. I messed up and nearly put the label and these bands’ careers in the shitter. I didn’t deserve to act like it never happened.
I paused flipping through Controlled Chaos’s file, picking out a name.
What? It can’t be...
I read the name again, casting my mind back. I wasn’t sure what this meant. Or what I should do in response.
I closed the file, stuffed it in the drawer, and walked out for lunch.
VALENTINA
“A buffet makes more sense.”
Aiden tossed his head. “This is a big event. Alumni are showing up in their bow ties and ball gowns with pockets full of cash to throw down on the auction. You can’t make them wait in line for their gravy.”
“A sit-down dinner is more expensive,” I argued. “The country club insists we use their servers and the fee for that would feed all of Evergreen for a week. This is a charity event—as in the money goes to those in need. Not to us.”
“Treating the alumni to a nice night doesn’t take away from what we’re trying to do.”
“We?” I couldn’t resist saying. “I’m not sure what you mean by we.”
Aiden and I had been arguing back and forth on party details since Mrs. Kessler insisted we work together two weeks before. I couldn’t prove he called her up and got himself assigned to my event, but I bet it happened anyway.
Aiden leaned over the dining room table. “Moon, this matters just as much to me and the brothers as it does to you. We’ve got CEOs, judges, athletes, authors, and business owners on the guest list. The Nu Alphas are looking to make good impressions too.”
“Think how much small talk they can make on the buffet line.”
He blew out a breath, turning his head up to the ceiling as though beseeching help. “We’ve got extra money in our budget,” he said. “I’ll drop the end-of-semester trip with you guys and pay the fee for servers. Deal?”
I pressed my lips together.
“Come on, Moon. What are you saying no to now? It’s coming out of my pocket.”
“Fine. We’ll do a sit-down dinner. Three courses only.”
He sat down, smirking away. “Whatever you want.”
“Great,” Blair spoke up. I’d forgotten she was in the room. “We can finally move on to music.”
Aiden and I spoke at the same time.
“Band.”
“D.J.”
“Here we go again,” my treasurer mumbled.
“We’re not going anywhere,” I said. “The stage will be taken up by the items for auction. We don’t have a place to put an entire band, so we can only do a deejay.”
Aiden inclined his head. “Good point. Deejay it is.”
My council perked up.
“Perfect,” said Blair. “Now for the decorations. We’re doing a Christmas theme, but I was thinking we go classy with white and gold instead of red and green. My mother’s event planner put together a few centerpieces. What do you think?” She pulled photos out of her voluminous binder.
The truth was the event stopped being mine about two days after it got approved. Blair walked into Sofia’s room armed with her binder and that was that.
I couldn’t deny she had great ideas. And her mom’s connections benefited us from all the way in New York. We were getting a discount on linens, the caterer and, apparently, the decorations.
“I love this centerpiece,” I said, tapping the second photo she showed me. A tiny Christmas tree nestled in a bed of ornaments and frosted leaves.
“I love it too,” Blair said. “I was thinking we could wrap the chairs in—”
Jade walked into the dining room. She noticed she caused an interruption and motioned to a chair. “Please, don’t mind me. I’d like to sit in and—” She cut eyes to me. “Speak to you after the meeting, Valentina.”
“Sure.”
We made it through the next hour with only two more disagreements between me and Aiden. It was a relief to close my notebook and watch the backs of my council leave the room.