Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Hans pulls out a pad. “Of course. Any drinks?”
I look over to Bianca. “Would you like a cocktail or something?”
She shakes her head. “No, thank you. I’m fine with water. Maybe a nice dry white wine with dinner, depending on what the gentleman orders for me.”
Hans grins, turning to me. “And what would you like to start with, sir?”
I give the menu a final onceover. “The lady will have the Emperor’s Flight, the sampler. And I’ll have…the Black Pearl Reserve.”
Hans nods. “Both excellent choices, sir.”
I pick up the wine menu from the center of the table. “Do you have a recommendation of a wine that will pair nicely with those options?”
“Yes, sir.” Hans leans over my shoulder and points. “If you like your wines on the dry side, I recommend the Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine from the Loire Valley in France. It’s quite dry, with a splash of acidity to brighten it back up. Should wash those oysters down with a clean finish.”
“Excellent. We’ll have a bottle of that, served with the oysters.”
“Wonderful.” Hans tucks his notepad into the pocket of his vest. “If you need anything else, please feel free to flag me down.”
“Thank you, Hans.” I nod to him as he whisks away before turning back to Bianca. “While we wait for the oysters, tell me. How did you decide to pursue a singing career?”
Her cheeks pink at my words. “The classic answer to that question is that the career chose me.”
“Is that accurate?” I lean in.
She exhales sharply through her nose. “Not really. With some people in the industry, you hear these stories about how they were discovered by a college professor at an open-mic night, told that they simply had to join their program. For me… I just always enjoyed performing. Ever since I was a little girl.” Her eyes droop slightly. “Taking on a role offered me a chance to escape the real world. Pretend I was someone I wasn’t.”
“I get it. I think that’s why people love to go to the theater, too. It gives them a chance to escape too.”
Come to think of it, I started going to the theater not long after my initiation into The Club. I begged my parents to buy me tickets. I never put two and two together until right now, but I was definitely using it, at least partially, to distract myself from the memories of that horrible day in the Dimpsey house.
I shake the thought from my head.
I’ve gotten pretty good at that.
“When the time came to choose a college major, musical theatre was the only option I found worthwhile,” Bianca continues. “I went to Oklahoma City University, got a BFA there.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Oklahoma City? I wouldn’t think they’d be especially known for Broadway stuff.”
She shakes her head. “Actually, they’re a very well-known school. They have lots of successful alumni. You’ve probably heard of Kristin Chenoweth.”
I scratch my head. “She was the original Glinda in Wicked, right?”
“Correct. And she’s done a host of other stuff. She’s a graduate of OCU. She still comes back every so often to give the students master classes.”
“That’s wonderful.” I reach across the table and cradle her hand in mine. “Truly remarkable that you get to live your dream career.”
She bites her lip. “I mean, I’m not exactly living the dream. But I’m working full-time as a singer, so I can’t complain.”
“Did you live in New York?”
She nods. “For ten years after graduating. Took every audition I could, landed a few gigs with regional companies across the country.” She frowns. “But I never landed Broadway. Not even off-Broadway.”
“Their loss.”
She sighs. “There are a million girls just like me in New York City, all chasing the same dream I was. My story is hardly uncommon.” She fiddles with her napkin. “I had hit… I guess you’d call it a low point when Rouge took control of the club and offered me the position of the singer in Hearts.”
“How long ago was that?”
“Five years this summer. And it was a godsend.” She offers a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Like I said, it’s not exactly the dream I had in mind, but it’s close enough, and it’s steady.”
I return her smile. “And you’re the best singer I’ve ever heard.”
She blushes. “You’re very kind to say that.”
“Bianca, I don’t give people compliments to make them feel good. I only say what’s true. You were fantastic last night. Truly a transcendent performance. I wish I could have stuck around for your later sets.”
“It was just more of the same.” She looks down.
“I’d gladly listen to more of what I heard earlier in the evening.”
She blushes. “Thank you, Harrison.”
“My pleasure.”
I do the math in my head. If she went to New York right after college and then lived there for ten years, and she’s been singing at the club for five years after that, she’s in her late thirties at least.