Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
“Hello?” Addison said cautiously as she stepped off the elevator and approached the door of her condo.
She could tell someone was standing there waiting for her by the shuffle of high heels against the floor and the scent of expensive perfume.
She also thought she caught the hint of a floral scent, slightly at odds with the perfume.
Addison wasn’t particularly in the mood for company, but there wasn’t much she could do if the person was quite literally standing outside her apartment door.
She hoped they lived in the building. It would be just her luck to pick up a third stalker.
“Hi Addison, it’s Claudia Cantore,” said the woman as Addison approached and set her cello case down to dig out her key from her knit purse. “I just wanted to come and see how you’re doing after… after the shooting and bring you these.”
Addison pulled the keys from her purse and sniffed the air. “Tulips?” she asked.
“Oh,” Claudia said blankly then laughed at herself. “Yes, they are. They’re quite lovely actually.”
Addison smiled and unlocked her door. “I’m sure they are. Please come in, I’ll find a vase for them.”
“Thank you,” Claudia said, waiting while Addison picked up her instrument and then following the other woman in.
They made polite conversation while Addison found a vase for the tulips, snipped off the ends and filled a crystal container with water.
Once she arranged them, Addison put her hands on the counter and asked the question that had been burning in her mind for over a week.
The question that she hadn’t dared to ask Daniel.
“Were those men after you, Claudia? Did Daniel save you?”
Addison used her other senses to gauge Claudia’s reaction.
She heard a small but sharp intake of breath and felt the way she involuntarily wrapped her arms protectively around herself.
Claudia didn’t say anything at first. Addison wondered if she shouldn’t have said anything.
She’d been worried about Claudia though, since Tyson King’s girlfriend had gone out of her way to save Addison’s life a week ago in the lobby of their apartment building.
She had tried asking Daniel, but he’d characteristically shut her out, and of course getting into Tyson King’s circle was harder than penetrating Fort Knox.
Finally, Claudia spoke, her voice soft as she confirmed, “Those men were after me. I took something that belonged to them and ran away from my psycho ex-boyfriend. Daniel tried to save me, but Dante, my ex, got in penthouse.”
“Oh my god…” Addison whispered, gripping the counter.
“I’m okay,” Claudia was quick to reassure her. “Tyson and Daniel were able to reach us before…”
Neither woman said anything. They weren’t friends yet, and some of the details were too private to share.
They survived a terrible ordeal together, which bound them.
They would become friends though, Addison felt certain.
Addison felt the moment Claudia decided to let her melancholy go and allow her natural spirit to shine.
The air around her seemed to lift and become lighter.
"Would you play something for me some time? Tyson says you're really amazing,” Claudia asked, her voice sweet and clear.
Addison didn't know what to say at first. She rarely played privately for anyone.
Her instrument had become such a commodity that she was used to monetizing every performance.
Yet, why shouldn't she? She played for the orchestra and she played an occasional jazz set at Chris' bar.
She practiced constantly, why shouldn't she play for a new friend?
She smiled and said, "Of course, if you have time now, I’d love to play for you.”
Waving Claudia toward the sofa, Addison lifted the case and sat opposite in her favourite chair. She opened the case and took her cello out with the ease of someone who had done it thousands of times. "Do you have any requests?"
"No," Claudia said in her slightly husky voice. "I think I'll leave selection up to the musical genius."
Addison smiled, maneuvered a cushion underneath her butt and straightened her back so she could sit comfortably without putting added strain on a back that was already tied up in knots from days with Maestro's relentless rehearsals and nights of Daniel's rough lovemaking.
She rested the neck against her left shoulder and placed the body of the instrument between her spread legs.
She let her thoughts linger on the other woman, conjuring the fragments of Claudia's personality she'd learned so far.
She seemed kind, determined and thoughtful.
She was probably very beautiful to have captured a billionaire's attention.
Which wouldn't take away from her other charms, but Addison was pragmatic enough to know how there had to be a first attraction for the man.
Claudia also seemed funny and savvy in a down to Earth sort of way.
Addison allowed a smile to curve her lips and decided on a compilation for her audience that would determine if she was correct in some of her assumptions.
She reached down and slid her fingers into the cello case until they came into contact with the bow.
Settling into a familiar position, she began to play.
After a few seconds Claudia's rich laughter filled the condo and she clapped delightedly as she recognized the first strains of the Mario Brothers video game score, then Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy.
Addison followed with the Harry Potter theme music, then Ghostbusters and Top Gun.
She finished with a rendition of "I Want You to Want Me,” which Claudia sang along to.
Claudia clapped loudly as Addison finished with a flourish.
"Oh my fucking god!" Claudia yelped, leaping off the couch. "That was so amazing. I bet Tyson doesn't even know the half of what you can do! Thank you so much Addie."
Addison laughed at Claudia’s exuberance. “You're welcome, it’s my pleasure. I actually forgot how much I enjoy just playing for someone who isn't invested in me. And no, your boyfriend definitely didn't get that version of the orchestra's First Chair at Mrs. Channing’s soiree.”
Addison leaned forward, hair swinging to brush against her face as she replaced her bow and cello back in the case. She stood and did a few stretches and twists to relieve some of the usual pressure that built up in her back and neck when she played.
"I bet you get pretty sore after a while," Claudia said sympathetically.
Addison shrugged and moved toward the kitchen.
"I'm used to it and I'm sure its no worse than people who spend a day working in an office at a desk.
It's always worse when we're close to a performance and Maestro wants us to put in ten and twelve hour days, which of course our union objects to, but what does a maestro care about unions? "
"Do you have a performance coming up?" Claudia asked curiously, sitting on a stool at the island while Addison poured them each a glass of ice water.
Addison noted that Claudia wasn't the type of person to take over tasks for her because she was blind. She respected Addison's space, which Addison was grateful for.
"In a few weeks. Sort of practice for our big spring performance that’ll happen in a few months,” Addison answered, taking a large drink of water.
She smiled fondly. "Maestro is definitely starting to put the pressure on.
He has Erica, his assistant, and I working longer hours already.
The past few weeks he was separating sections of the orchestra to work on each instrument as well as with individuals so he could get the best sound.
This week he's working on placement of the instruments.
The next weeks will be fine-tuning and coming together as an orchestra. "
Claudia didn't speak for a moment and then she said, "Wow, that sounds absolutely amazing and completely out of my league. I love it."
Addison laughed. It felt good having a female friend to just chat with. She was sociable and she kept busy, but it'd been a while since she had just relaxed and hung out with someone who didn't need or want something from her.
"It's a job, like any other. It's fun, but it can also have its tedious moments."
"Okay, no," Claudia said laughingly, "Your job is not like any job!
You're some kind of musical genius that gets paid to go to parties.
You call your boss 'Maestro' like he's a classical music god and you get to be a part of something that's just..
. indescribable. If it's anything like what you just treated me to, it must be a privilege for you to go to work every day and be surrounded by such incredible sounds. "
Addison smiled. Claudia had a lovely way of looking at life. "I sit next to Dennis, who may sound lovely when he plays, but after several hours he certainly doesn't smell lovely."
They laughed together. They started discussing a business course that Claudia was interested in taking at the local college.
Apparently she’d always been interested in owning a business and Tyson wanted to give her the opportunity of turning a local underground gambling establishment into a legal profitable business.
Addison encouraged Claudia to take on the opportunity, but Claudia was hesitant because of her lack of education.
"Then you should definitely take the course," Addison said. "Do both at the same time. That way you can apply what you learn in real time. Your boyfriend owns all kinds of businesses, he can help guide you. You’re a smart, energetic woman, you can handle it. And besides, he’s rich. If you screw it up, I’m sure he has other businesses you can practise on. ”