Chapter 208: A Perfect Show.

The loan shark grabbed the briefcase, clutching it against his chest like a lifesaver, while his goons scrambled to their feet and practically dragged their wheezing, gut-punched buddy off the driveway. They didn’t even look back, kicking up a cloud of dust as they sprinted into the dark country road.

I stood on the porch for a second, watching the tail lights vanish in the distance, before turning to my team.

"Good job, guys," I said, giving the guards a satisfied nod. "Keep a quiet perimeter outside."

"Yes, sir," the head guard replied, seamlessly blending back into the shadows of the building.

I picked up my smoothie, smoothed out my jacket, and pushed open the heavy glass doors. Stepping back inside, the warm air, glowing lights, and smooth live music washed over me, making the violent mess outside feel like a distant memory.

Ruby was right in the middle of a killer chorus, her voice soaring through the room, while Emiliana hit the backup harmonies perfectly. Chloe and Patricia looked up from the table as I slid back into my seat beside them.

"All taken care of?" Chloe whispered with a knowing, sly smile, leaning her head against my shoulder.

"Signed and settled," I murmured back with a wink, wrapping my arm around her waist. "Now let’s enjoy the show."

Hours flew by in a blur of pure music and incredible energy. By the time the session finally wrapped, Ruby had pushed through 12 full tracks. They still needed mixing, mastering, and the final polish before officially dropping, but the raw live recordings were nothing short of magic.

Ruby slumped onto the lounge couch, completely drained, her forehead lightly glistening with sweat, but she had the biggest, most radiant smile on her face. Emiliana was sitting right beside her, practically glowing with excitement and disbelief.

"You were amazing tonight, Emiliana," I said, walking over to them. "When this album drops, your name is going right there in the official credits as backup vocalist."

Emiliana’s eyes went wide, and she clutched her chest, beaming with overwhelming gratitude. "Ethan... thank you so much! I—I don’t even know what to say!"

I turned my attention to our exhausting pop star. Ruby looked up at me with heavy, sleepy eyelids, her energy completely spent after pouring her soul into every single song.

"Time to get you off your feet, sunshine," I murmured with a soft smirk.

Before she could object, I leaned down, scooped one arm under her knees, the other around her back, and lifted her into a comfortable princess carry. Ruby let out a cozy little gasp, her arms instinctively wrapping around my neck as her head immediately sank into the crook of my shoulder.

"Is our star hungry?" Patricia asked warmly, stepping over with a soft smile. "I can whip up a quick, late-night meal for her in the kitchen before she goes to sleep."

"Mmm... maybe later..." Ruby mumbled sleepily into my neck, her grip tightening around my shoulders as she practically melted into my chest.

Chloe stood nearby, resting her hip against the counter as she took in the sight. She just shook her head with a fond, affectionate smile, her eyes sparkling as she watched how completely safe and comfortable Ruby looked curled up in my arms.

"She’s completely wiped," Chloe chuckled softly, walking ahead to hold the door open for us. "Let’s get her back to the ranch and into bed."

We headed back to the ranch under the blanket of a star-filled country sky. Once we got inside, I tucked Ruby into bed, and the rest of us settled in to enjoy a peaceful, quiet night after all the chaos.

The next morning, the bright sun broke over the fields. I found Sarah on the porch, already reviewing schedules on her tablet, and gave her a fresh set of directives.

"Sarah, I need you to hire the best architectural renovators in the area for the diner," I instructed. "I want it transformed into a top-tier live music hub with high-end acoustic paneling, a proper stage, and a sleek aesthetic, while still keeping that cozy country soul."

"On it, boss," Sarah replied, taking down the notes without missing a beat. "I’ll have a design team on site by tomorrow morning."

Ruby wandered out shortly after, sipping a fresh cup of coffee. She stretched lazily, a fully satisfied smile on her face. With 12 incredible live tracks locked down in the vault, she was officially done with her countryside session and ready to head back to the city. We decided we would pack up and leave later in the day.

While the girls started gathering their things, I found Patricia setting down a tray of fresh breakfast rolls in the kitchen. I leaned against the counter, suddenly remembering her errand from yesterday.

"How did things go with Emiliana’s mother?" I asked. "Did she agree to join Lumen? Her pastries are incredible, and having her head up the baking department at your restaurant would be a massive hit."

Patricia let out a soft sigh, resting her hands on the counter as a conflicted expression washed over her face.

"Honestly, Ethan... I had a really hard time talking to her," Patricia admitted, looking up at me helplessly. "She’s so stubbornly tied down to the farm and extremely traditional. She barely listened to my offer, no matter how good the pay or opportunity at Lumen was. I didn’t want to push her too hard and make things awkward, but... maybe you could try speaking with her before we head out? I think your vision and authority might actually get through to her."

"Fine, I’ll go have a talk with her before we head out," I said, giving Patricia a reassuring nod.

I grabbed my keys, jumped into my SUV, and drove down the quiet dirt road leading to Emiliana’s family farm.

When I pulled up to the house, everything seemed peaceful and quiet. The front door was swinging wide open to let the morning breeze in, but out of basic respect, I stood at the porch and gave a firm knock on the wooden frame.

A moment later, Emiliana appeared around the corner. Her face lit up the second she saw me standing there. "Ethan! Hi!" she beamed, opening the screen door wide. "I was just telling my mom about the recording session last night! Please, come on in.