Michael could feel her presence. With the audience to his back, and over one thousand pair of eyes on him, he could only see her. She stood on the fringes of his vision, hidden backstage, and he looked at her once again just to make sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him.
She stood with her arms folded, watching calmly. She rested her weight on one leg, hips fulling out her jeans perfectly and her sharply cut hair surrounding her face like a cape. Even so, he could see the softness underneath the cold exterior, even if she herself didn’t see it, and that softness made his shoulders relax, the fright oozing from his body.
Every performance started out the same. After years and years of doing it, it never got any easier, not until the music began and he could lose himself within it. But Liz—she made it easier. That woman, with those cynical green eyes, made him relax.
When the first note began, Michael was ready for it. Music filled the theater, the start to the result of long, sleepless nights and a lot of tears. His baby. His project, which he had poured his very soul into. It felt even heavier tonight, somehow weighing down on him. He wondered if it had anything to do with the woman who watched him from the corner.
He looked at her again and noticed her cheeks redden slightly. He couldn’t restrain his grin before returning his gaze back to the orchestra. With every flick of his hand, the music rose and fell, instruments chipped in and out at his instructions, mere actors to the scene he created. This tale was happier, more upbeat. It spoke of chasing dreams and finding love. It was borne out of that place inside him that hadn’t been completely diminished, that tiny piece of him that still had hope in the concept of love. In the idea of sharing your soul with someone else. Even after all he’d been through, that piece of him lingered and grew.
It swelled now, when he looked back at Liz. Her eyes were on him, intense. She didn’t move or blink. Only stared. That tiny piece of him didn’t feel so tiny anymore.
Then he was gone, floating along with the music. He seemed to bob in and out of the audience, feeling their emotion rise, their heartbeat thunder. When he was brought back to himself, the applause was dull, fading in from the background. It grew until it became deafening. Michael looked at Liz again.
She wasn’t clapping. She wasn’t smiling. She wasn’t even looking at him. She was looking at the audience, at the people who were now on their feet giving him a standing ovation. He turned to them, dragging his gaze away from her, and he bowed. When he turned to face her again, she was gone.
Michael rushed up to Marcus who was grinning from ear to ear. “What did you think?”
“As much as you drive me insane, I’m not too angry to tell you that that might have been your best performance yet.”
“Where did Liz go?”
Marcus frowned. “The woman who was on the bus with us? She was just here a minute ago.”
“You didn’t see where she turned?”
“No idea.” Michael was off before he even finished his statement. He had another set to perform and only had ten minutes before he had to be on the stage again. He wanted to find her, to ask her what she thought of his performance.
Maybe she was in his room waiting for him. He headed there now, his eager steps eating up the distance. When he went inside and spotted black hair, his heart soared. “Liz—”
The woman turned. It wasn’t Liz. Instead, it was the last person on earth he wanted to see.
She smiled softly at him. “Hello, Michael.”
Liz didn’t know why she had run off. It was too much, too overwhelming and she needed air. She needed to breathe.
His music was mesmerizing. It captured her every sense, her very being, until she felt she was right there with him. As if it all had been written for her. She supposed it was true magnificence to be able to create something like that, similar to Alessandro and his paintings. She envied the gift of such talent, and felt small in comparison. As she stared at the audience, watching the women lean forward and grasp their partner’s hands, she knew she wasn’t the only one feeling the effects.
She might be the only one who hated it though.
Sex was one thing, but this, whatever this was, was something else entirely. Surely it was just the music. It was confusing her, making her feel things, making her want things she shouldn’t want. So, she’d walked away while he was acknowledging the applause. She didn’t want to see him.
She overheard one of the stagehands saying that there were only five minutes left before he was meant to resume performing. She had caught every moment he had looked at her, so she knew he was probably scouring the area trying to find her right now. She didn’t want to see him. Not after what his music just stirred in her. But her feet turned in the direction of his room nonetheless.
The door was slightly ajar when she approached. She was about to push it open, but the sound of his voice on the other end made her pause.
“You shouldn’t be here, Melody,” he was saying. The tone of his voice made her freeze. She couldn’t believe the utter coldness and anger she heard in that sentence. Who was Melody?
“I shouldn’t?” The voice was flirtatious and haughty. “I find that hard to believe since they let me back here, anyway. It seemed you didn’t tell anyone about what happened to us.”
“It wasn’t anyone’s business. And I didn’t expect to see you around here again.”
“Did you miss me?” Melody laughed, the sound light. “Michael, stop glaring at me like that. You know how sexy I find it when you’re angry.”
Liz’s brows shot into the air.
“What do you want, Melody?” Michael demanded. “Are you here to pick up the pieces of the mess you made the last time?”
“I don’t clean up my own messes, dear. You know that. But I am here to make amends.”
“Save it. I don’t want your apologies.”
“Are you sure?” There was a short pause, then her voice was closer and lower. Softer. “What happened between us was a mistake. I admit I was wrong. And this time, I won’t let it happen again.”
“You won’t get a chance to because this isn’t happening again. Get away from me and get out.”
“Michael, you don’t mean that. You’re just angry. I understand that honestly, since I sprang this meeting on you. I shouldn’t have tried to surprise you like this. We’ll meet another time to hash this out properly.”
“Don’t come near me again, Melody.”
“Also,” Melody went on, clearly ignoring him. “Your performance was spectacular. Truly beautiful. I wonder what your inspiration was.”
Michael decided not to respond to that. Liz didn’t hear anything else, but she knew the woman was making her way to the door. Even so, she didn’t move, didn’t even blink when the door opened to reveal a tall, gorgeous woman draped in pearls. She was a dark-haired beauty, with blue eyes that looked down at Liz. Liz met her curious gaze.
“Why, hello,” Melody greeted. “Are you new here? I haven’t seen you working around here before.”
Michael whirled at that. His eyes widened as she took in Liz standing at the doorway, but she hardly spared him another glance. Liz only stared at the woman, drinking in the expensive dress, the designer shawl around her shoulders, and the pearls around her neck that must have cost a fortune.
Liz felt slightly embarrassed in her jeans. But she didn’t show it.
She ignored the woman and only looked at Michael. “You’re supposed to be on stage any minute now.”
“Liz …”
“Michael?” Melody didn’t look away from her, though she angled her head at Michael. “Who is this woman?”
“That isn’t any of your business,” Liz said before Michael could answer. Melody gasped. She was about to say something again, but Liz dismissed her. “Michael,” she commanded. “Stage.”
“Liz, wait…”
But she was already walking away, feeling Melody’s glare burning into her back. She half expected Michael to rush after her, but when she didn’t hear his footsteps behind her, she told herself that she should stop expecting things from that man. Like most others, he wasn’t all that he seemed.