HER

Chapter 43

It was Friday night and Dana made her way into The Fin. She was nervous about what was going to happen in the hour but she knew it was now or never and lately she was all about living in the moment.

She walked past the sea of people and took a seat at the bar which was the first vacant spot she found as all the tables and most of the seats at the bar was taken.

"What can I get you, lady?" The good-looking bartender asked.

"Hmm, anything strong."

He smiled.
"Coming right up."

She watched him mix a couple of things, a little shake here and a shaky-shake there, he poured the mixture into a champagne glass and slid it towards her with a smile.
"Thanks." She said as she lifted the glass to her mouth and tasted the mixture, it was unlike anything she's ever had before. She was used to champagne, wine and beer. But anything outside that, she hadn't had. "This is really good."

"Slow and deadly." He said. "First time here?"

She nodded.
"That obvious?"

"Yea. I would know everyone since my brother and I run things."

"Your brother."

"Yea, that burly dude at there." He pointed at the other end of the bar to the other man who was bartending.

"Wait, you own The Fin?"

"We both own The Fin."

"Wow. Your place is amazing. I've been heard a lot of the place and decided to check it. Also, I'm here to meet one of your performers."

"Let me guess, Catherine Summers?"

Dana froze.
"How do you know?"

He laughed.
"Because everyone here tonight is here because of her. That one is gonna go places. She's tripled our customers and that's saying a lot since the house is usually full every night. We're looking to expand." He said the last bit in a whisper.

"That would be amazing."

"It would, except we don't have enough to do that."

"Hmm..." She sipped on her drink and the decision came like a light-bulb and a smile formed on her face. "What if I can help with that?"

"Sorry?" He asked, confused.

"I'm thinking of starting something of my own and asides that, I could invest in yours. Help out financially anyway I can, kind of like a silent partner."

He looked at her, stunned.
"Who the hell are you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry." She reached a hand over the counter. "I'm Dana Reed."

His eyes went wide after a moment.
"No shit. You're Richard Reed's daughter and Kevin Young's wife."

She didn't like being known through the success of someone she was related to. She wanted to be known for her own success.
"I guess."

"Are you serious about the silent partner thing, because it would be fucking great."

She nodded.
"I'm serious."

"Oh boy." He said. "Ok, how about we talk about this later." He slid his card across the counter. "Call me tomorrow, we'll talk more."

She picked his card with the name Frank Fin and nodded.
"Ok."

"I have to get back to work."

She smiled before he got back to mixing drinks for other customers non-stop.

Half an hour later, she was on her third drink when Frank went on stage just as the previous performer was getting off.
"Alright, alright." He said and there were some hoots and whistles. "Next, we have the artist everyone is here tonight to see - Catherine Summers." The entire bar went bat shit crazy as Catherine came on stage. Dana's heart skipped a beat as she recognized her.

But from where?

Dana shifted in her seat so she was directly facing the stage with her drink in her hand.

"Hello everyone." Catherine greeted the crowd with a smile. "It's good to be here. Tonight, we're going country." She strummed her guitar as the band behind her followed her lead.

"Couldn't take my eyes off you
Even if I wanted to
I got a feeling that you're feeling like you want me to move
A little bit closer to you, I want you closer to me
Got all the makings of a this could be a good thing

Whatcha wanna do about it
Baby how's it gonna be
Ain't no need to dance around what's going on between you and me
We got the where and the want to
Baby and the night is young
Couldn't get any better I doubt it
Whatcha wanna do about it
The midnight moonlight starlight shining down
Everything coming together, yeah, right now
We're here and our hearts are pounding Whatcha wanna do about it

All I can think about is I can't think about anything else
How bad I want you know it ain't like nothing I've ever felt
You've got the kisses I need
We got some memories to make
Would be a shame to let 'em all go to waste

Whatcha wanna do about it,
Baby how's it gonna be
Ain't no need to dance around what's going on between you and me
We got the where and the want to
Baby and the night is young
couldn't get any better I doubt it
Whatcha wanna do about it
The midnight moonlight starlight shining down
Everything coming together, yeah, right now
We're here and our hearts are pounding Whatcha wanna do about it

Whatcha wanna do about it,
Baby how's it gonna be
Ain't no need to dance around what's going on between you and me
We got the where and the want to
Baby and the night is young
couldn't get any better I doubt it
Whatcha wanna do about it
The midnight moonlight starlight shining down
Everything coming together, yeah, right now
We're here and our hearts are pounding Whatcha wanna do about it

Whatcha wanna do about it
Whatcha wanna do about it"

The crowd went crazy after she strummed the last chord.
"Thank you." She said before she went off stage.

Dana waited in her seat, panicking a little bit. She scanned the crowd for Catherine as she had been surrounded by a couple of people. Frank introduced the next performance before he went off stage to Catherine, said something into her ear as they both turned in her direction. Dana shifted to the edge of her seat as Catherine excused herself from the group and made her way towards her.

"Oh boy." Dana let out a breath as she placed her glass back on the counter.

"Hey." Dana turned to find Catherine right in front of her. "I know you."

"I know you too but I don't remember where."

"You're Kaylie's friend." Catherine said with a smile. "I work at Marco's."

Dana immediately remembered.
"That's right. I'm sorry, I only remember a handful of people in my life."

"That's ok." She said. "Frank said you're here to see me."

"Hmm, yea." Dana felt her heart in her mouth. "This is really hard for me to say."

Catherine frowned.
"Is everything ok?"

"Depends on how you take it." Dana said. "Do you want to go somewhere quite because I think you need to be seated for this."

Catherine stared at her for a moment.
"What's this about?"

"I really think you need to be seated for this."

Catherine nodded.
"Ok." She looked at Frank. "Hey, I'm heading out, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes sure. Bye." Frank said to Catherine. "Talk to you soon lady." He said to Dana.

Dana slid some bills across the counter with a nod.
"Thanks for the drinks."

He smiled as she slid off her seat with her bag across her shoulder.
"Ready?" Dana asked Catherine.

"Got everything right here." Catherine patted her guitar case. "C'mon, I know this diner just two blocks away from here."

"We'll take my car."

"Alright."

Oh shit!
Dana thought as she and Catherine left The Fin just a moment before Ian and his new colleagues dragged him into The Fin to celebrate his first week on the job.