Encore! (Tudor Saga Book 1) (6 page)

"Yes, and you do realize you answered my question with a question?"

He laughed into the phone. "So I did. I was merely curious. Do you think I could steal you away for a few hours this evening? Its work related, trust me."

"Sure. I'm about through and I could use a break away from the computer. What do you have in mind?"

He gave me an address. "Meet me there, say around eight this evening? And bring your violin."

"Am I getting a lesson, Maestro?"

"Something like that," he replied. "Are we on?"

"Yes, of course. I'll see you then."

I arrived promptly at eight. Before hanging up, he had mentioned it was his personal rehearsal space adjacent to his apartment. Made perfect sense to me. With my violin case in one hand and my purse in the other, I waited to be admitted.

A young fellow with long, stringy blond hair opened the door. He took me off guard completely, but he never uttered a word, except perhaps an unintelligible hello or something.

Peering slowly around the large room, I let my eyes adjust to the low light. I noted some umbrella lighting and spots throughout the room, and there was video equipment and computers in one area. I didn't think a thing about it, thinking Daniel probably taped himself playing all the time.

Then I saw him off to one side, a dark haired young girl clinging to him. Funny thing, he wasn't acting like he didn't enjoy her affection. He was laughing with her, their heads together, over something she obviously thought was terribly funny.

Looking up, I caught his eye. He strode across the room, the female firmly attached to his arm.
Liar. No girlfriend, huh?

"Mary! You made it and you brought your violin. Good!"

"I didn't realize this was going to be a party," I replied sarcastically, standing my ground and waiting for his reply.

"Come, let's get started. I want to hear you play some, first. Then we'll try something, together." He stretched out his free hand, the bimbo still attached to the other. And he didn't introduce her, either. I felt my blood begin to get hot. I said nothing, just followed, trying not to notice the smug look on his face, which I wanted to knock off.

He showed me to a table against a wall and left me to myself. I took my instrument out of the case. Peering around, I noted a few more guys had come in. Or, maybe they’d been somewhere in the room and I simply hadn't noticed them. Whatever the case, I was feeling quite uneasy.

Daniel approached, taking my violin from me. He began to play it, stopping to make adjustments in the tuning. I might not have had an ultra expensive instrument, but he could make it sound every bit as good as a Stradivarius. I was beginning to enjoy listening to him bring my violin to life when she had to ruin it all.

"It's not nearly as nice sounding as yours, Daniel."

Oh really, and you would know this how?
I was definitely in a bitch slap mood, now.

"Perhaps, but it is still an exquisite instrument." He replied, as he gingerly drew the bow across the strings. He flicked a grin my way. "Come, Mary, play for me."

I took the instrument out of his hands. He walked back over to her and she proceeded to wrap herself all over his arm, rubbing his chest with one hand.

At that moment, I noticed he was wearing a white shirt, unbuttoned almost all the way to his belt buckle, showing every bit of his chest. I put the instrument under my chin, trying to remember everything I could about the piece I had chosen to play for him. While I wanted to play for him, I did not want my anger to cause me to make any movement that might, well, remind Daniel of my alter ego.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye.
Damn! She’s fondling his nipple! Does she have no sense of decency or does he lack it and I am just now seeing it?
Whatever, the look on my face did not go unnoticed because he covered her hand with his and whispered something in her ear. The next thing I saw was him removing her hand from his body.
Smart man. Good choice.

But my mood was ruined. There was no way I could do this for him in front of other people. In order for me to perform for him for the first time, it would have to be just the two of us. No one else.

Time to leave.

I walked back over to my things and placed my violin and bow back into its case and closed it. Picking it up, I reached down and retrieved my purse off the floor beside the table.

"Mary, what's wrong?" I vaguely remembered him asking.

"I'm sorry, Daniel. I'm not ready to do this. Not with all these people around. I misunderstood. This was a bad idea, okay?"

He followed on my heels, his bimbo left behind. "Mary please. Don't leave. Not now." He came around to get between me and the door.

"I'm sorry, Daniel. I'll see you tomorrow. Big day, remember? And please, leave your girlfriend at home."

"She's not my girlfriend!" He hissed as I walked past him and out the door.

"Tell her that. She might be confused with the way you allow her to hang all over and fondle you. If you want a private showing before we meet with your label and management guys, be at my studio at nine sharp. Good night, Daniel, and thank you for a most interesting and insightful evening."

I pivoted on my heel as best I could, in spite of my seething anger, and walked away. I dared not look back—even when, after a few seconds, I thought I heard the sound of his door being slammed.
Good! I got my point across.

I fumbled in my pocket and retrieved my cell phone. I found the number I was after on speed dial and waited for the person on the other end to answer.

"What can I do for you this evening, Archangel?" The deep baritone boomed.

"Archangel wants to play. Can you fit me in tonight, Jake? I really need to let some steam off."

"For you? Tell me when and I'll make the time for you, darlin'."

I peered down at my cell phone for the time. "Midnight. Will that work?"

"Absolutely. See you soon."

"Yeah, see you soon." I disconnected the call and hailed a cab. There was no way in hell I was going home to sit and stew.
Screw Daniel Kennedy! I knew he was too good to be true. Just another client who, because we had known each other in the past, thinks my services should come with fringe benefits. If I didn't make my point clear tonight… Yeah, I'm furious and I'm going to bust down crying if I don't get my mind off of him.

Tonight Archangel will play. My music is always well received, crowds always cry for more.
But for me it was nothing more than an emotional release—like tonight, to get Daniel Kennedy off my mind, though deep down inside that was the last thing I wanted to do.

****

After a night of nearly no sleep, I managed to drag myself out of the bed and get myself ready. When I had slept, damn dreams of Daniel Kennedy kept easing into my psyche. The sort of dreams that left my sheets in knots and damp. Daniel had left numerous texts. I scanned them all. Ah yes, apologizing for the misunderstanding. Blah, blah, blah.

Then I read a final one from about three in the morning. The video shoot for my idea. That's what was going on. He had arranged for a video shoot. The one we talked about. And I ruined it, my chance to oversee it ruined by the damn feelings I obviously had for this man.
Still didn't explain that girl, though.

He strode right over to the six mounted black and white enlargements, just like I wanted him to. He stood there in awe, not moving, his eyes going from one image to the next. Then he moved in closer for a better look.

"Mary, these are phenomenal. I can't find the words to describe my emotions."

"That's good enough. It means you like them. These are the six best. I'll show you the rest in a minute. I also have a video clip I put together."

"Mary, about last night…"

"Please, don't ruin my moment here, Daniel."

"I need to apologize. Obviously you had no idea we were shooting the video that you had suggested during the photo shoot."

Pretend you haven't seen his text
. "What? What the hell? All of that was…Then why the hell did you have me bring my violin? Obviously you led me to the wrong conclusions about why I was there last night."

"And how did I do that?"

"You were acting so, so weird in front of those other folks, your girlfriend I take it? I'd have never come if I'd known I was going to be humiliated like that."

"That was never my intention. And Penny is not my girlfriend. She works at the label offices. She was there to observe."

"Observe what? Because the way I saw her hanging all over you, that is not the impression I got. Observe my ass!" I whispered under my breath.

"Okay, okay. Truce? I handled the situation wrong. I should not have suggested you bring your violin to practice with me with others around the first time. And, I should have been more upfront about what was going on, as well as being more sensitive."

"Yes, you should have. I'll let you slide this time."

"Thank you. I promise I won't let it happen, again. Are you ready for this afternoon, my lioness?"

I nodded my head. "Yes, I am more than ready, Daniel. If they don't like what I present, well then they are all blind. This has to be some of my best work ever, if I do say so myself."

"You have something better?" he chided.

I stared straight ahead at the image directly in front of me. I dared not look at him.

"Video. How did the video portion come out?" He asked after the awkward silence.

"Come, let me show you. I won't offer my opinion one way or the other until after you've seen it."

Leading him over to my laptop, I sat down on one of the stools. He followed my lead and waited as I clicked the mouse and brought it up. As he was watching the thirty second clip, I couldn't help but steal a glimpse of his face. He approved. The corners of his mouth were curved up ever so slightly.

"Amazing! And I like the fact that you put everything in black and white."

"I do, too. Much more dramatic; and I think it captures the mood of this body of work, don't you? I have one in sepia tones, which is nice; but for now, let's stick with the black and white."

"Yes, yes it does. I can't wait to see what you come up with once you start shooting me actually performing."

"Yes," I replied. "We need to sit down and schedule some dates where I can shoot you in action. Unless you have something else in mind."

"Such as?"

"Well, you work with students and young people. Perhaps I could catch you doing something like that."

"Hmmmm. You do know, Mary Queen of Scots, you are going to need to hire an assistant at some point. Especially if you're going to start filming video."

"Yes, I know. For now, though, just let me live the moment. Oh, and by the way, I do have everything in color should you want it."

"Perfect. Well, would you like for me to accompany you to the meeting or would you be more comfortable arriving on your own and just meeting there?"

I stared at the mounted images before me and grinned. I had made and  mounted three copies of everything—one for my gallery, one for Daniel and the other for the label. "I think I can manage on my own, this one time. But thanks for offering. I've got some other clients to get back to before the meeting."

He chuckled. "Other clients? Mary, soon I will be your primary client."

"Really? And you, sir, are quite cocky."

"That I am. So, I guess I shall see you this afternoon then?"

"Yes. Are you going straight home?" I asked.

"Yes, why? Would you like to come?"

Ignoring his comment, I walked over to one of the brick walls and picked up a wrapped package. I placed it in front of him. "It's best if you do go directly home. These are for you. Copies of what you’ve see here."

He glanced down at the large bundle, then at the photos he'd just looked at, and finally at me. I had overwhelmed him and he was looking for words to describe how he felt. "Thank you," he whispered.

"My pleasure," I replied. "I hope you enjoy them."

Chapter Five

With Daniel's tour in Europe underway and the new video and other marketing tools in place, his new CD dropped. It soared up the classical, and even some cross over charts, to where he was more in demand when he was home than when he was on the road. Requests came in for magazine interviews as well as television time.

I threw myself back into my work. Word was getting around that I was the one responsible for Daniel's new images. I had to admit though, they were pretty freakin' awesome. My best work, ever.

I began to wonder if he was simply no more than a blip on the radar of my life. He still texted me from the road and called when he had a free minute—either from the road or home, but there was something different. He was completely focused on what was going on around him. He’d been right; a serious relationship had no place in his life. Not now. He'd warned me.

Then one night, late, I received a phone call from him. He was in London, a night off before embarking on several dates in the U.K. I glanced at the clock as I peered down at the phone and saw his name blaring back at me.

"Hello?" I feigned a sleepy sound in my voice, but it went right over his head.

"Mary Queen of Scots! What are you doing, sweet?" His normally quiet voice boomed.

"Sleeping, I think, Daniel."

"Well, put on a robe or something. I've just arrived in front of your building."

"You've what? Daniel, do you know what time it is?"

"Yes, now grab your robe or whatever and open the door. Unless you'd rather greet me in the nude. Actually, I think I'd rather like that."

"Perv! I'm on my way." I disconnected and pulled myself out of bed.
How did he know I was sleeping nude? Lucky guess.
Throwing on my silk, red robe, I hurried down the hall to let him in.

I undid the locks to his knocking, opened the door and pulled him inside, shutting the door behind him. The locks were barely redone when Daniel turned me around to face him. Before I had a chance to blink, he had my robe untied, my nude body on display.