..your mother will have a stroke!"She took my hand in both of hers. "My mother passed away a month ago.That's when I started coming here, to this club... I was lucky enough tomeet you. My parents had money...a lot of money! There were no heirsbesides me. I inherited their entire estate. The truth is I can affordbuy anything I want, to go anywhere I want, and to take anyone I wantwith me. I could take everyone here with me. I could buy this club if Iwanted."I wasn't thinking very clearly. I. Not hard anyway," Hailey teased her suddenly self-conscious friend.Don smiled as she sat. He definitely had both girls' attention. He studied Candy for a moment. She and Hailey were almost complete opposites physically. Candy had short brown hair and a narrow face. She was thinner and shorter than her friend."So what can we do for you, Axe?" Hailey said, smiling at the obvious hero worship of her band mate."I'm in need of a keyboard player for Barrier Riff's upcoming tour." I didn't think Key. I was about to check out more people across the room when I noticed she was now walking towards me. Did I look for too long? What would she say. Hopefully not much. Hello she said softly. Hey I replied. Not sure what else to say as I looked back at her for a second. She asked me over for a drink.I wasn't sure what to say. How to respond. How to say no. I just stood open mothed and silent. I looked into her eyes, her face between long dark hair. I was looking at a young woman's face. My mind. There's no blackmail going on here. So don't worry about me. I can only hope that you will give me the same courtesy."We nodded again, as we watched him turn towards the door and ride off in his golf cart. We walked back into the barn and closed the door. And that's when it hit me…literally. Shay took a handful of my hair in her hand, spun me around, and slapped me twice in the face: first with her forehand and then backhanded. She let go of my hair and pushed me so hard I lurched forward.