Page 8 of Ms Perfectly Fine
“Sasaki wanted me here early to go through one of the movements alone. I swear I never want to hear Vivaldi’s movement again,” Aimee said as Laurna came up beside her and kissed her cheek, her violin still in hand.
“Once you have your coffee, you’ll love it again.”
Aimee shook her head. “There’s not enough coffee in the world.”
Laurna took her chai tea from the tray. “I think you love caffeine more than me,” she said, and Aimee squinted in consideration.
“Of course I love you more; you supply me with caffeine,” Aimee teased, and Laurna rolled her eyes.
“I know how you feel. Sasaki has been at me about the Winter movement,” Nina began.
They only had a few more moments to chat, but Autumn was thankful for the distraction as they neared the performance. Staring out at the empty audience to the empty boxes, she was looking forward to feeling part of something bigger than herself when they played. She’d been part of Wickford City’s Chamber Orchestra, which comprised about fifty members, for almost six years. She never tired of the theatre that had stood for over one hundred years and would probably still be standing long after they all finished their careers.
Only half the team were in today, and they quickly devoured their coffees and pastries before their conductor, Mr Sasaki, appeared from the wings of the stage in his open waistcoat, glasses perched at the end of his nose.
“Morning, everyone. If we could take our places, we can get started,” he said, taking centre stage.
“Morning, sir,” was echoed in response as everyone dispersed and took their chairs on the tiered stage. Autumn took one final sip of coffee before she sat at the piano and laid out her sheet music.
“Could you lead us in, Autumn?” Sasaki said, and she eagerly obliged, letting her fingers graze the keys. Losing herself in the melody, she was determined to focus and forget all about Elijah Wells and his infuriating smirk.
Chapter Three
Elijah
“THATDIDN’T GO to plan,” Elijah sighed, leaning over the gate, unable to resist the urge to smile as he watched the small, fiery creature storm off down the road.
Tim had assured him Autumn wouldn’t mind sharing the house since it was only for a short while.Then again, she probably wouldn’t be so hostile if she hadn’t found a strange man in her kitchen. How was I to know she wasn’t going on tour?I certainly didn’t plan on sharing with her indefinitely.He hadn’t expected Tim, a stickler for details, to not inform Autumn of his arrival. Could Tim have done this on purpose in a terrible attempt at setting us up? Doesn’t seem like something he would do. Perhaps he simply made a mistake.
He scrubbed his freshly shaved jaw. He was annoyed at himself for reacting to her barbs, but he hadn’t been able to resist. Her temper intrigued him as much as her striking green eyes—how she wasn’t afraid to stare him down.Hopefully, once she calms down, we can talk again, he decided, reaching for his phone as he made his way back to the house.
“You could have warned me I would be sharing a house with a she-demon,” he said when Tim picked up the phone after a few rings.
“Is that any way to greet your father? No ‘Good morning. Thank you for giving me a place to live when you suddenly decided to return home and ask for a healthy investment?’” Tim said.
Elijah dropped the phone to his side for a second to keep calm.Estrangedfather, more like. He was the product of his father’s extra-marital affair, which wasn’t exactly publicised in his social circles. It was why he’d taken his mother’s name, Wells.
“You get as much out of this arrangement as I do. I take it you didn’t tell Autumn about my arrival?” One of the clauses to receiving the investment had been that he had to live in this house. He suspected it was because his father wanted to keep him close even though they had spent their lives at a very comfortable distance.
“I take it that Autumn is the she-demon? She is the daughter of one of my oldest friends. There’s nothing demonic in her nature,” Tim answered.
“Then her being blindsided this morning is a misunderstanding and you did talk to her about my moving?” Elijah asked pointedly, moving to the front room, which was to be his office. It was an absolute mess, half-emptied boxes and clothes everywhere. Two movers, who’d finished putting up the shelves on the grey walls, left him to talk in private. They had also returned Autumn’s couch from the truck since he’d forgotten to order his own. He hoped it would win him some points with her.
Tim cleared his throat, and Elijah waited for the excuse.
“Are you still there?” he asked when it didn’t come, dropping into his desk chair. Turning on the computer, he waited for the screens on the far wall to glow.
“I didn’t get a chance to speak with her. I thought you were moving in next Friday. When we spoke last, you said your flight didn’t get in until next week.”
“Since we last spoke, itisnext week,” Elijah said with a sigh, running his hand through his hair. “It was one of your terms that I stay here, but I can leave…” He did want to get out from under his father’s thumb. However, he was in the process of closing the biggest deal of his life with Nirosoft, and the last thing he needed to be doing was boxing up and searching for another place to live.
His father’s silence was followed by a quick curse. “No, we agreed. I’ll fix this. I’ll call her,” Tim began, then paused. “She’ll be in rehearsals now. If I interrupt her, it will only worsen the situation. I’ll text her later and tell her this was my decision.”
“Fine. I wouldn’t have taken the house if she disagreed to my being here,” Elijah said, and Tim chuckled.
“She’s very passionate about her privacy, and not a fan of people. Give her some time, and she’ll warm up. I think you’ll be good for her.”
“I’m not here to be set up. I’m here to work,” Elijah protested. He supposed it might be fun to wind her up. But his mind drifted to her pressed up against the counter, her eyes staring up at him defiantly, and his body definitely wanted to do more than wind her up.
