The doorbell ring was nearly as annoying and pompous as the house itself. Warner simply gritted his teeth, tucked his thumbs into his worn out—but clean—jeans, and rocked back on his heels as Patricia opened the front door.

“Warner, what a delight to see you.”

“Really?” He fought the million curses running through his head. “So why’d you kick me out of my house?”

“Strictly business, honey. Come in. Come in.”

There wasn’t an opportunity to refuse. She turned and walked into the house only leaving the option to follow if he wanted to continue his conversation with her.

Warner shut the door behind him and kicked off his old boots. He hated being there. He hated the woman. So why did he always hear his father’s voice nagging him to keep things clean for her and not make a mess.

When he caught up with Patricia she was in the kitchen pouring him a sweet tea and even balancing a sprig of mint on the side.

“Come. I have a guest you know.”

Warner took the glass and followed her to the back porch. He could have thrown the glass against the wall. There sat Jordan Farr, owner of Master Records and the only man who hadn’t ever completely laughed Warner out of his office.

Damn!

“Warner,” Jordan said as he rose to his feet and extended his hand toward him. “It’s nice to see you. Hasn’t been but a few weeks has it?”

“Just a few, sir.”

“Did you find someone to help you record those songs of yours?”

Warner shifted a glance toward Patricia who had a painted cherry red grin on her lips.

“I’m working on that,” Warner said. He was sure Patricia already knew too much. No need to fuel her fire.

“Warner, sit, honey.” Patricia pointed to a chair next to Jordan. “Jordan and I go way back, don’t we sweetheart?”

“Sure do,” Jordan confirmed and Warner’s stomach churned.

Had she just called him sweetheart?

“So, Warner,” Patricia tapped her long nails on the side of her glass, “what brings you by? You never visit me.”

Oh, she was good at this. If Warner started in on her in front of Jordan then it would be Warner that looked like an idiot. If he pretended to act as if he’d stopped by to visit, he’d look like a fraud, especially if Jordan ever watched her show.

What he wanted was some answers. That apartment building held no real estate value, so why buy it up and kick everyone out? Seriously, there had to be some legal recourse, though no one in the building could have afforded that and she knew it.

Warner stood. “Mr. Farr, it was nice to see you again. I think I’ll come back again sometime. But I really should be going.”

He set his glass of tea on the coffee table and headed back into the house. As quickly as he could he slipped his feet back into his boots, but he wasn’t fast enough. There was the witch standing before him with her arms across her chest.

“Too afraid to yell at me in front of a record producer?”

“Not worth killing my career to let you hear what’s on my mind.”

“Career? Oh, you don’t have a career. What you do isn’t called music. It’s called crap and no one, not even your new little girlfriend can sing your crap.”

He instinctively took a step toward her. “You leave her out of this.”

“Do you think she’s a threat to me? Honey, I could, and will, crush her career too. Do you really think the papers will be nice to her for her portrayal of Maria? I don’t think so.”

“Don’t do that. She’s perfect in that part. Don’t go messing with her just because you hate me.”

“She’s too good for you, Warner. When will you realize that you’re trash just like your momma and no good just like your daddy?”

He fisted his hands to his side. “I still can’t seem to understand why you even care what I do with my life. I’m not your son.”

“No, but it’s so much fun making you pay for that horrible marriage to your daddy where I got nothing. He did everything for you and forgot all about me.”

Warner let out a disgruntled laugh. “Forgot about you? If that had been the case I’m sure he wouldn’t have found the need to end his life.”

“It was for the best. I suppose it’s just too bad you woke up.” The fake smile on her lips was gone and hate and heat burned in her eyes.

The woman actually hated him that much she’d wish him death. All the more reason, Warner thought, she should just forget him.

He turned and walked through the door. “You kicked all of those people out of their homes just to spite me, didn’t you?”

“Business is business. I’d rethink that performance you have this weekend too. I’m just not sure it’ll go well for you.”

The door slammed in his face and he stood there on the front porch alone.

How did she know everything about his life? This was ridiculous!

He meant nothing to her. She’d wished him dead and yet she did all she could, for the past eighteen years, to make his life a living hell.

Warner turned and hurried back to his truck. He climbed in and enjoyed the horrible noises the engine made in her quiet neighborhood.

I’d rethink that performance you have this weekend too. What could she possibly do? Do you really think the papers will be nice to her for her portrayal of Maria? That comment still sizzled under his skin. What was she planning? What could she possibly do to Clara?

The only way to stop her attack on Clara was to not be with Clara.

He slammed his hand against the steering wheel. That was exactly what Patricia wanted. If he left Clara over her asinine review then he’d have lost the woman of his dreams.

The air in the cab of the truck was suffocating him. He cranked down the window and tried to suck in as much fresh air as he could as he drove out of the gated community.

Something had to be done.

Arianna. He had to talk to Arianna. Maybe she could field the reviewers. He didn’t want anything bad to happen to Clara because of him. And he certainly didn’t want to lose her either.

But there really wasn’t much of a choice.

Chapter Nine

Clara affixed her wig and let it fall long over her shoulders. She then took the white ribbon and tied it with a bow atop of her head.

Her makeup was heavy and the hair, oh the hair would always make her laugh. But it transformed her into Maria and for the next two hours that would be who she was. Maria, the girl in love with Tony.