Ivan had to stop and think again. He said, “I just try to stick to the numbers, to tell you the truth. And if it don’t add up, I tell them I can’t do it. But I always let them know that I’m still here to make more opportunities for them.”

He started thinking about Christina when he said that. Maybe it hadn’t been the best idea for her to give in to him. Outside of being able to spend private time with Ivan, she hadn’t benefited much from his personal touch. But at least she hadn’t been tossed out in the street in a jealous rage from Lucina. Ivan had kept their relationship under wraps, and he and Chris continued to do business as usual.

He told Emilio, “The truth is, you just can’t get caught up with it, man. Everybody wants something…even us. So you get what you can get, give what you give, and you move on. Just try to make sure that most of the things you choose to do will benefit you in some way.”

Emilio heard him out and nodded. “Thanks, man. I really needed this talk.”

Ivan looked at him and felt good about it himself. He nodded and thought, Yeah, maybe you’ll get rid of that damn girl now. That was all my fault.

LUCINA MAY HAVE gone along with Ivan’s small cow party idea while it made them money at the end of the year, but she definitely didn’t plan on continuing his idea in 2004, if she could help it. She had much bigger plans for them, namely full-fledged concert promotions. So she set up a meeting with one of the veteran San Diego promoters that she had worked with in the past, to see what kind of interest she could drum up for the future.

However, she felt apprehension after being forced to endure a longer-than-usual wait to set up the meeting. It took her five followup phone calls. Even when she showed up on time for their agreed-upon appointment at the three-story office building that housed Randy & Ralph Entertainment, Lucina found herself still waiting inside the reception area with the secretary.

She looked down at her watch. It was fast approaching two-thirty.

“Would you like anything to drink?” the secretary asked her while she waited. She could tell that their guest was a little perturbed by the wait.

Lucina shook it off. “No, I’m okay. I’m just being very patient right now. Very patient,” she emphasized.

The secretary nodded. “I understand. And I apologize. But Randy should be out any minute now.”

Lucina didn’t respond to her. Instead she thought, It’s amusing how even old business partners can make you play the humility game when they believe they have the upper hand.

Finally, Randy Sterling rang his secretary.

“Yes, I’ll send her right in.”