Page 28 of The Second Ending
On the night of the concert, it soared.
The soloists were wonderful, and all the pieces fit together in that musical Gestalt where the entirety of the piece far outreaches each part of it. Their performance was met with waves of applause, and after the concert was over, crowds of well-wishers flooded into the green room to congratulate the musicians.
It was a crowd, indeed. They had performed not only with the four professional soloists, but also with an orchestra, whose instrument cases and bags took up every surface in the room. Everywhere Ashleigh looked, her view was blocked by people walking this way and that, milling about and hugging loved ones. It was impossible not to be buoyed by the exultant atmosphere in the space.
Marcus hadn’t promised to be there. He said he had some important meetings with his investors that were impossible to put off. He apologised up and down and backwards. But still she looked for him, just in case. She knew she wouldn’t see him, but how could she not hope?
And then she heard her name and she spun around, and the room stood still.
CHAPTER 16
TROUBLE
Bloody hell.What was he doing here?
Marcus waded through the morass of bodies that clogged the room until he spotted her, there in the corner where she preferred to be, near the window. He’d moved heaven and earth to come to this concert, and had likely ticked off one of his main investors, who was already a thorn in his side over the delayed sale. People like that didn’t cherish being told that someone else’s girlfriend’s concert was more important than his calendar. Even if it was true.
Sure, they’d had this meeting scheduled for months, but that was before Marcus knew when Ash would be singing. And damn, he wanted to hear her sing.
Also… girlfriend? Is that how he thought of her? What did you call the person you used to live with, but broke up with badly, and are now sort-of seeing, but only in a very cautious way, and haven’t even kissed yet? This time.The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, probably didn’t have a word for that. So, yeah, ‘girlfriend’ would probably do as well as anything.
Except, what the hell was his girlfriend doing hugginghim? Sebastian bloody Vera. Hadn’t he disappeared off the face of the earth yet?
He stopped still and watched. Perhaps Sebastian was unwelcome. Perhaps Ashleigh didn’t want to see him. Was she about to tell him to sod off or something? Marcus watched and waited.
But she didn’t slap Sebastian, or scowl at him, or anything else that would suggest she’d finished with him. Instead, she gave a huge smile that lit up her face and put her hand on his forearm before turning to introduce him to someone else in that little corner, that was now much too small for the people occupying it.
Is that what she thought of everything? Was that the extent of her commitment to this new fledgeling relationship with Marcus? Was she just spending time with him to fill the gaps when she wasn’t out with someone else? Her bloody parents were right…
Except, they weren’t. Not then, and not now. This wasn’t Ashleigh. She wasn’t the sort to string two guys along. Except, they’d never spoken about exclusivity or commitment or any of that. They were just trying to get to know each other again.
Except…
Damned ‘excepts’. There were too many ‘excepts.’
He needed to leave, before she saw him.
But it was too late.
“Marcus!” Her voice carried over the din of the crowd. She almost sounded surprised. No wonder—he’d told her he couldn’t make it. Was she upset that he was there? Angry?
Her face gave nothing away. She was still smiling, of course, but was it for show? She was surrounded by her friends, and Sebastian was right there. She could hardly turn on him. Her eyes seemed bright and clear, with no warning in them, but what could he really tell, in this poorly-lit room.
There was nothing to do but paste on his own smile and pretend to be friendly. Definitely be friendly. Some womenmight like the surly, jealous type, but not Ash. She wasn’t someone’s possession to be fought over. He knew that, and it was part of what made him love her.
“Ashleigh, it was wonderful.” He hoped his voice was enthusiastic enough. “Congratulations, everyone. Brilliant concert. I didn’t know that piece before, and I’m kicking myself, because it’s terrific. Sebastian,” he turned to the other man, “nice to see you. You’ve also come out to cheer on our favourite singer?”
If he couldn’t read Ashleigh’s eyes, Sebastian’s were an open book to him, and they didn’t like this plot twist.
“Marcus,” the other man greeted him with a curt nod. “I’m glad you enjoyed the performance.”
“What a surprise to see you here.” Ashleigh must have sensed the tension, because she sounded somewhat desperate. “I didn’t think you could make it. I’m so pleased. Really pleased.”
No, she didn’t seem upset at all. Maybe she genuinely was happy to see him.
“I, er, managed to move my meetings. Clear the time, you know. I didn’t know if it would be possible until the last minute, but Shelley is a wizard when she sets her mind to things. I think I might owe Harville’s EA a diamond bracelet or something for her end of the plans, but it all worked out. I made it.”
He beamed, and she beamed back at him. Sebastian and the others faded into the background, and the chaos of chatter around them dimmed. It was just Marcus and Ash, Ash and Marcus. Looking into her eyes like this made every headache he’d have from Harville worthwhile. He was here, and she was pleased.
