Chapter 9
The first man had a classic surfer look—untanned skin and a laid-back grin—while his brother exuded a cooler, more understated vibe. Dressed impeccably in their rocker attire, both sported long hair and stylish ear piercings.
"Hey, you must be Selina. I'm Thomas Cooper, lead singer and guitarist. And that's my younger brother, Luke, on bass. Lydia's told us all about you, so let's see what you've got. We're all rooting for you," Thomas said, his smile illuminating the room. Luke offered a subtle nod.
Selina shot back a nod. "Cool to meet you both. I'm all in. Let's get this show on the road."
Lydia clapped for attention. "Right, let's rock it, people! We've got twenty minutes to bring it all together, so let's make it count and blow the roof off this place, got it!"
The opening act's set concluded, leaving a fifteen-minute break before The Rose's performance. The Starlight Club buzzed with energy after the killer opener.
Ashley, nursing an orange juice beside Timothy, grew anxious. "Hey, what's taking Kevin so long? And where the heck is Selina? I'm so worried. You think we should check on them?" Timothy casually sipped his drink. "Nah, they're fine. No worries."
Ashley remained uneasy. If Kevin had succeeded, he would have returned by now.
But then, as The Rose hit the stage, the club erupted in cheers. At first, Ashley and Timothy, chatting with those around them, couldn't clearly see who was who in the dim light. But when the stage lights brightened, Ashley gasped, "What? Selina?"
Timothy followed her gaze, his brow furrowing at the sight of Selina playing lead guitar. "What's going on? Since when does Selina play with The Rose?" He'd seen The Rose perform before; Selina was never the guitarist. Perhaps the regular guitarist had an emergency, and Selina was filling in. It seemed unlikely she could genuinely play with a band like The Rose.
"Timothy, this is insane—we have to stop Selina! She can't embarrass herself like this," Ashley said, her concern laced with insincerity. It all made sense now. Selina had severed ties with the Harvey family and frequented the Starlight Club because she'd joined The Rose, a rising band that could provide for her.
"I used to think the band was good," Timothy said with a smirk, "but I can't believe Thomas and Luke were tricked into letting Selina play guitar. I can't wait for them to mess up. If they're bad tonight at the Starlight Club, no one will book them again." He doubted Selina's ability; she was, in his view, all looks and no talent. The thought of marrying her repulsed him. If forced to choose from the family circle, it would be Ashley every time. Selina should have simply stayed away. He'd been stressed about Selina causing drama with her return, but Ashley's assurance that Selina was leaving the Harvey family eased his concerns. If Selina failed tonight and people perceived her relationship with Thomas and Luke as solely for financial gain, the Harvey and Clark families would abandon her.
"What? No, Timothy, we can't let this happen. I can't watch Selina mess up again. Now she's with two guys for money?" Ashley's voice was loud enough for others to overhear. Timothy's friends looked amused and began whispering. The Harvey family's heiress, gone for twenty-one years, now with rock stars for money? That was significant news.
The band's set exploded with electric guitar riffs that filled the room. Selina, her head bowed, was lost in the music, each note electrifying her.
In the audience, Elaine prayed silently. But seeing Selina command the stage, she couldn't help but scream with joy. Thomas and Luke were astonished. Once Selina found her rhythm, she owned the stage, outshining the twins and matching Lydia's intensity. During rehearsal, she'd been adequate, but now, she was on fire—a natural performer rising to the occasion. Lydia, with a knowing smile, watched as the drums kicked in, perfectly synchronized with Selina's guitar, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
"Wow, Ashley, your sister's killing it!" the crowd shouted, their opinion shifting dramatically after Ashley's earlier disparaging remarks. Everyone could now see that Selina wasn't holding the band back; she was leading it with the confidence of a superstar. Ashley seethed. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. She'd planned to film Selina's failure and show it to the Harvey family, to definitively remove Selina and solidify her own position as their favored child. But Selina was excelling, thwarting Ashley's scheme.
Timothy stood, stunned, watching Selina, who radiated an aura of royalty under the stage lights.
Upstairs in the VIP section, Trevon returned with a cryptic expression. Having reviewed the security tapes and confirmed the timestamps matched Cham's appearance, he wondered if it was truly Selina.
Charley was exhilarated. "Trevon, man, where have you been? Did you see that? The band's amazing!"
Trevon didn't respond. He simply walked to Charley's side and focused on the stage. He saw Selina and his expression shifted to one of shock. He mused, "Why is Selina performing during The Rose's set? I've seen the lineup, and her name isn't on it."