Confined Four Years

Sounds of Love

~~~~~Julia~~~~~

            The human sense of smell often affects the flavors of the food they taste, Julia thought, looking across the table at the associates Marcus worked with. Today, they were sitting in a fine dining restaurant, surrounded by aromas that smell wonderful, but taste bland. Since he needed a plus one, her presence was necessary, though she hated it. Honestly, she wanted to stay home with Zachariah and the kids, since he has still not mastered watching them alone yet. She was a little worried they would not be alright, but no matter how many times she tried to step away, someone pulled her back into the conversation.

            She hated events like this, events that made it impossible to even check on her children, but she hated more the people involved in these events. Julia always felt uncomfortable in these settings even though she grew up in it, because there was always unseen pressure from everyone on her. She was the oldest; she was the wife; she was the mother. The list went on and on, and she stood again, only to have someone deflect her attempt, making her stay seated at the table. Her eyes wandered the room before it landed on a piano in the center. If she could make the excuse of playing a tune for the pompous idiots, maybe she could step away enough to send a text.

“Ah, Mrs. Thomas, do you know how to play?” One man in a suit asked with a bright smile. “I would love to hear the piano today.”

“Yes, Sir. I’ve played since I was a child.” Julia replied as she came to a stand, sitting her napkin on the table. “Let me speak with the manager. I will need to see if the piano is tuned properly for me to play a song or two.”

            Julia quickly stepped away before she could get pulled into another conversation and pulled her phone from her clutch. She fired off a quick message to Zachariah, and waited a few moments before sighing, realizing he must not have heard it. She looked around the five-star restaurant to locate the manager again, before her eyes landed on a gentleman with a hand over his chest, a pleasant smile on his lips. Even from there, she could hear the customer he was speaking to yelling at the poor man as though he offended the man’s mother and she hated it. Julia immediately made her way over there, ready to put an end to the man’s misery.

“Excuse me, Sir…” she spoke politely, interrupting the man’s rant about service. “I had a question about the piano in the center of the room.”

“Who do you think you are, woman?! Can’t you see I’m…”

“Putting down a gentleman who has done nothing but smile at you and nod while trying to inform you he would take action to correct the issue? I believe you have already gotten your point across.” She replied, pulling her husband’s business card out of her clutch. “While I understand your points, you are disturbing the other customers and making a scene that is unwanted and unnecessary. I am here with my husband and we are trying to enjoy our evening with a few business associates. If you like, I can involve him…”

            The man mumbled something when he took the card from her hand, but the blood immediately drained from his face when he saw the name. Marcus’s company, Estates Realty, known all over the business world because of the clients they served, was on that card. They also had some of the most powerful lawyers in the country. Most of the people in this restaurant, even the restaurant itself, bought this and other properties from Marcus, and they knew it. It was the reason they could afford such reservations at top spots in the city. Julia did her best to keep her distance from people like this man, opting to stay home and keep quiet at private affairs like this.

“Mister Manager, Sir, I wondered if I could play the piano over there.” She turned her attention back to the manager, who was smiling gratefully at her. “And I would also like to speak with your boss about how well you handled that situation back there.”

            Julia grew up in this environment, and as a result, one could tell in her posture and walk. Her entire pose showed an elegance and kind demeanor most people would not expect, considering the way she acted at home. The manager nodded, and she took his elbow so he could lead her over to the grand piano. One last time, she checked her phone to see if Zachariah got back to her about the kids. Her eyes widened when she saw the picture he sent, and she covered her mouth with the back of her hand to stifle a giggle. On the screen of her phone was a dog piled Zachariah with little Sophia on top, smiling a goofy smile.

‘We’re all okay here, just having fun playing!’ He wrote out to caption the photo. ‘Hope you’re having fun playing Little Miss Proper for Marcus’s clients!’

            Without waiting, she bowed to the manager before taking her place in front of the piano, her fingertips automatically finding purchase against the beautiful white and black keys. Even when she hated her lessons, she still loved the piano. Her instructor used to be quite rude, smacking her fingers with a ruler if she played the wrong note. Thoughts of Zachariah and the children flooded her mind, leaving Julia feeling refreshed as her fingers danced across the keys. The notes flew up into the air, causing the room to fall into silence as they listened to the melody and hope she built with her notes.

Here is where she can always think about how she feels and where she understands herself the best. With each note, she could feel the rising tides of her emotions as they laid themselves bare before her. The song she played spoke of indecision, of hesitant first feelings of love, of making a choice. As she continued to play, she could feel tears forming in her eyes, so she closed them to prevent their fall. For once, she felt outside of her body looking in, and had to take a mental step back before she pushed herself too far. If she examined these emotions for Zachariah outside of this spot, she would know she loved him. For now, she could only push those feelings down.

~~~~~Marcus~~~~~

            When she stepped away, a few of the men at the table leered at her retreating form. Marcus often thought of her as an immensely attractive woman, but nothing more than that. He also knew she wanted to check with Zach on the kids, but every time she tried to step away, one of my associates would pull her into another conversation. Marcus could feel her frustration building, but thankfully, she escaped using the piano as an excuse. He had a piano at their home, but she never played it there, so he often forgot she even knew how to play it.

            She looked elegant in every step she took, her beautiful red formal dress hugging her curves in all the right places. Of course, she asked if she could sit the meeting out when he brought it up, but to win over a few of the Directors, they wanted to see her. This was all in pursuit of winning her freedom, even though it seemed like their marriage would last a few more years. The men continued to gaze at her, though Marcus turned his attention to his food, intent on enjoying the five-course meal his company was paying for. It did not compare to her food, but was delicious all the same.

“One has to wonder how you found such a perfect woman when your personality is like ice, Mister Thomas.” One associate, Leo, said. “Care to share your secrets?”

            Before Marcus could reply, however, the belligerent ranting of a man reached the table. He looked over to see Julia making her way over there and he almost stood to walk over himself when he watched her pass over a business card. That movement made him relax back against his chair with a smirk on his lips. Once again, that infuriating woman proved she did not need him to be her knight. Even the way she carried herself spoke volumes about her confidence and determination that had every man in the restaurant gulping in shock. If she were to become involved in Estates Realty, she would become a forced to be reckoned with.

“My parents introduced us,” He finally replied, closing his eyes as the first notes of her song washed over the room. “And we married.”

            Simple facts, no more, but part of that fact reminded him again of the blackmail. He had to find their proof. Most of the people gathered here, except for Leo, are people he convinced not to listen to his parents. Some are younger members of the Board, who think the old method of running things will spell trouble, and think change needs to happen to the company policies to increase reach in the future. As he listened to Julia’s piano, his gaze traveled to where she sat, her mind focused on the notes. Her melody sounded full of life and love instead of the solemn he heard the last time she played.

            Was this a result of the glimpses of affection he saw her have for Zach? Marcus wondered as he watched her sway with the music, her strawberry-blonde hair falling from her updo beatifically. Jealousy curled through him at the thought, and for the first time, he thought of her as being his wife. He tore his eyes from her and back to the table to continue discussions concerning the business, but everyone in the restaurant seemed to have become entranced by her piano and conversation died in his throat. There was nothing he could say that would gather their attention while she played that piano, he realized.

            This is who she was, her beauty made into sound. Marcus let out an inaudible sigh as he realized it was a bit too late for him to realize she already touched his heart. Far too late, because now he knew he would have to let her go. He pushed his plate away, appetite gone, hoping pushing his feelings away would be just as easy. Her heart was beating for someone, and as much as Marcus hated that, he did not want to step in between the love she gained for herself. Her happiness was far more important than his own, after all.

            She continued to play, her song tapering off sadly at the end, and Marcus realized he was not the only one trying to push away his feelings. Julia would do the same, thinking something was wrong with her falling for a man six years younger than her. For a moment, he felt at peace with that knowledge until he saw her stand from the piano and gratefully accept a handkerchief from the manager at her side to dab at her eyes. No, it would not do for her to push those feelings away. Her feelings, the ones she was starting to develop for Zach, were pure and innocent. Something she should allow herself to pursue.