Jasper rubbed his damp palms on his jeans. “Okay. What kind of news?”
Fitz gave him his CEO look—direct, confident, a little smug. “I’ve been talking to some people and sharing your business plan.” He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers in front of him. “I’ve gotten a lot of noes.”
Jasper’s heart sank, his worst fears confirmed. “Fuck.”
“However.” Fitz smiled a smile like a guy with a secret. “I also got some yeses.”
“Wait, what?” Jasper sat forward in the chair, gripping the arms. “Seriously?”
Fitz laughed and leaned in, putting his elbows on the desk and looking more like the kid Jasper used to know. “Yes, asshole. I can’t believe you doubted me. You should’ve seen the hangdog face you just gave me. Where’s the confidence, man?”
Jasper groaned. “You’re a sadistic shithead.”
He made a smooching sound, then sipped his coffee, enjoying Jasper’s torture way too much. “Yes, but an effective shithead. I’ve got three potential investors on the hook and interested in what you’re trying to do with the theater. They loved your business plan and pitch. And the performance videos really won them over.”
Jasper couldn’t quite process the words—particularly loved and business plan. “Holy shit.”
“Don’t look so surprised. Own that shit. You’ve got a good idea, and your group is talented. Other people want in,” Fitz said, reaching for a legal pad full of notes. “Now, one’s a tech guy who loves comedy and is looking to diversify his portfolio. Another is a woman who made her money flipping properties. She likes that the neighborhood is on the upswing. If she can get in early and the theater goes well, I see her buying up more property around there and revitalizing it as an entertainment district. The last one is a bored rich kid playing with inheritance money, but he’s smart and has a killer social-media presence so can send influencers your way.”
Jasper linked his hands behind his neck and let out a breath, taking all of the information in. “Wow.”
“Now,” Fitz said, flipping through the pages. “They need to see one of your live shows since they’ve only seen videos thus far, but I need you to pick a date that you think you can get a full crowd. I don’t want these investors showing up to a half-empty bar. Your show needs to look like hip shit, like they’ve found a pearl in the oyster. Investors like to feel like they’re getting in on a secret right before the world knows about it.”
Jasper leaned back in the chair, his mind spinning. “Fitz, I’m thrilled to have them see a show, but I can’t predict how the crowd is going to be. It varies from night to night. I mean, weekends are better, but I can’t guarantee a packed house. If I could do that, I wouldn’t be looking for investors in the first place.”
Fitz looked unmoved. “Figure it out. Promote. Offer a discount. Plan a special event or special guest that will draw more people in. Get your show’s name in front of people and fast. Plant friends in the audience if that’s what it takes. You need a full room and a loud, engaged crowd. You have a week. I don’t want to leave these investors twisting on the line long. They’re like magpies and will get distracted by the next shiny thing.”
Jasper’s heart had picked up speed. He didn’t want to lose the opportunity, but that schedule gave him no time to plan. If he could get a packed house every night, he would. But their location sucked. They had only just started doing shows again, so word of mouth had stayed very local and in the neighborhood. He needed… Wait. “I’ll take care of it.”
Fitz’s eyebrows arched. “Yeah?”
“I can get us a review from Miz Poppy on the NOLA Vibe site. She can talk us up and mention that next weekend, there will be a discounted show.”
“How are you going to do that?” he asked, frowning. “I read that blog. Miz Poppy isn’t pay to play. She reviews what she wants. That’s her thing. You can’t guarantee she’ll give you coverage.”
“I can guarantee it,” he said, his stomach flipping over that he was going to have to ask Hollyn not just to review him but to make sure it was an ultra-positive one. “I…know her.”
Fitz stared at him for a moment. “Seriously? Why haven’t you used that connection before then?”
“It’s…relatively new,” Jasper said carefully.
“Wait.” Fitz leaned onto his forearms and lowered his voice. “Does she work here?”
He shook his head.
Fitz’s gaze scanned Jasper’s face, searching, then he broke into a big grin. “She does. Holy shit. Holy shit.”
“What?”
“You only have one new person in your life besides me. It’s your girl,” Fitz declared. “Hollyn. You’re hooking up with the woman who can get you press, you sly bastard.”
Jasper froze. “I—”
Fitz waved a hand. “Don’t freak out, Jas. I’ve got you. I won’t tell anyone. But damn, you really are an ambitious fucker.”
Jasper’s jaw clenched. “It’s not like that.”
Fitz gave him a patient look. “You’re telling me that you just happened to start giving lessons to and hooking up with Hollyn, and then you just happened to find out that she could hold the key to helping your local show break out?”
Frustration was building in Jasper, making his mouth go sour. “That’s not what this is.”
Fitz snorted. “You told me when you moved in that you weren’t looking to hook up with anyone. Plus, your last girlfriend was a loud-mouthed comedy actress. Hollyn’s cool and seems nice enough, but she hardly talks. She’s a project. No guy looking to steer clear of the dating game wants a project.”
Jasper stood, fully pissed now. “She’s not a fucking project. She’s a person. Who’s actually fantastic when you get to know her.”
Fitz lifted his palms. “Don’t get all puffed up about it, Jas. All I’m saying is that if she wasn’t Miz Poppy, would you be hanging out with her?”
Jasper opened his mouth but then shut it again. Technically, he wouldn’t have been. That connection was what had brought them together. And technically, they were doing an exchange of sorts. But damn if he was going to let it sound like he was using her. They were helping each other out. Benefits on both sides. He was giving her lessons. She could get him a review. They were both enjoying spending time together. Neither had gone in with any expectations beyond that.
Except he was about to ask her for a good review. He was about to lay an expectation at her feet.