Chapter 21
#21 “I was Wondering the Same Thing.”
Emily, having been closely watching the exchange between Benjamin and Alexander, brushed
Alexander’s hand to nab his attention.
“Alex, thank you foring here with me tonight,” Emily said, trying to keep his attention. “I know my
parents can be a bit much, so I really am grateful.”
Slowly shifting his eyes from Sophia to Emily, Alexander takes a deep breath and sits back in his chair.
Turning to meet Emily’s gaze fully, Alexander replies, “Of course. This is a greatworking
opportunity.”
Catching the edge still in Alexander’s voice, Emily leans in closer to him, hoping to draw him nearer to
her. “I have to admit I am excited but also nervous about my performance tonight, Emily whispers.
Taking a sip of his champagne, Alex mutters, “Yes, I am sure it will be lovely.” His eyes never divert
from closely watching Sophia and Benjamin, but it was obvious he had put the confrontation on hold for
the time being. Meanwhile, Benjamin and Sophia had their heads bent close in lighthearted banter.
“I am so impressed that they were able to get a student of Marcus Paus to perform tonight,” Benjamin
eximed. “The Williams is certainly a lot of things, and connoisseurs of fine music appear to be one,”
Finishing his ss of champagne, he adds, “and fine champagne, too.”
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“Yes,” Sophia agrees, “this is quite an impressive aplishment of the Williams. Their taste in
everything is… fine.” Sophia shes a curt smile at Benjamin, and they both giggle.
“Tell me, do you think Barbara knows your rtionship with Maestro Paus?” Benjamin smirks. The
combination of the champagne and his and Sophia’s shared secret has made him a bit giddy.
Sophia takes a sip of her champagne and offers a knowing look to Ben. ” Absolutely not. I would be
shocked if she did. I am not sure anyone knows that I y the violin, at least stateside.’
“I don’t know,” Benughs, “Barbara is pretty slippery. She seems the type ofdy who always wants to
have the upper hand in everything. I would not put it past her to have some sort of spectacle set up.”
“No,” Sophia answers quickly, “first, Maestro Paus would not stand for any nonsense. He is one of the
most professional people I have ever met.”
“Sure he is,” Benjamin teases as the waiter brings him another ss of champagne.
Sophia smiles, knowing her friend is only razzing her. “I have been a student under him since I was a
teenager. He has been working on this piece for over two years. I cannot count how many times I have
flown to London to help him finish it. His work is everything to him. He would never allow someone like
Barbara Williams to exploit it.”
Benjamin smiles. Sophia’s talents are immeasurable, and he is always in awe of her. “So wait, does
that mean you know the piece well? Like, can you y it?”
“Of course! I know it extremely. I can perform it just as well as the student who is ying tonight.”
Sophia replies without a hint of boasting or gloating in her voice.
“So, do you know this talented protege that is performing?” Ben questions. “Yes, in fact, I am actually a
close friend with the soloist.”
“Of course, you are, my dear,” Benjaminughs. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Alexander
watching the two of them intensely. Benjamin can’t help but torment him, cing his hand on top of
Sophia’s.
“Did you see what I donated to the charitable auction that is happening after the concert?” Sophia asks.
“No, what, tell me,” Ben replies, leaning closer to Sophia. Alexander’s body bes more tense the
closer Benjamin moves to Sophia.
“Well, I wanted to make sure it was something extraordinary. So from my own personal collection, I
donated a Stradivari’s violin.” Sophia beams.
Unaware of the prestige of the violin, Benjamin simply grins back. Leaning closer, Sophia replies, “It is
a very treasured violin.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” the tense voice of the orchestra conductor echoes through the ballroom. “At
this time, please join me in weing a very special performance. Ms. Emily Williams has graciously
agreed to provide us with a taste of her brilliance on the violin.”
There is a faint round of apuse from the crowd as Emily proceeds to take the stage. She performs
Tchaikovsky’s Concerto, ying well but not overly memorable. The audience responds with a soft
round of polite apuse as she finishes the piece.
Emily eagerly embraces her parents aftering offstage and returning to the table. “Wonderful
darling! Simply wonderful, Emily’s father muses. Emily peeks at Alexander, anxiously waiting for his
response.
“Well?” she questions timidly.
“Oh, it was fine. Lovely job, Emily,” Alexander replies. “Do you think I could get another ss of
champagne? “Alex asks as a waiter walks by the table.
Emily’s heart plunges as she takes her seat back at the table. It is evident that he is absent-minded.
The concert continues from the stage, but there is a buzz of anxious anticipation among the audience
as they wait for the pinnacle performance of the evening.
“I simply cannot wait to hear Maestro Paus’s new piece” can be heard among the edgy guests. Sophia
grows progressively more bored as the concert continues. She knows the new piece that would be
yed, and while it is incredible, it is not new to her. Stifling a yawn, Sophia notices an older man
approach Barbara. He quickly whispers something in Barbara’s ear, and they both hurriedly leave the
table.
“Well, that was intriguing,” Sophia states more to herself than anyone in particr.
“What was that?” Benjamin asks.
“Oh, nothing.”
“Has your friend arrived yet? The surprise guest performer?” Benjamin questions.
“I was wondering the same thing,” Sophia answers as she surveys the room. She also notices that she
and Benjamin are not the only ones who seem to have noticed the absence of the musician.
“Certainly, if he were here, he would have stopped by to say hello,” Sophia remarks.
As Sophia continues to nce around the room, the orchestra music swells. As the audience breaks
into a standing ovation and the conductor takes a much -deserved bow, Sophia can’t help but wonder
why the violinist had not shown up.