Chapter 2 Private service
1364 Words
Avani's cousin, Mia, whispered mysteriously to the manager for a while and came back to pat Avani on the back. "Done."
"Hmm?"
"Go pick up your birthday gift in half an hour. This time, we can't say we've neglected you for men again." Avani raised an eyebrow, her intuition telling her that Mia had done more than just request a song.
"Aren't you fond of that cute guy? I just splurged on getting the manager to arrange for him to perform here, giving you some alone time with him. How's that? Pretty thoughtful, huh?" Without waiting for Avani's response, Joey mercilessly criticized, "Mateo is your business partner. How could you help his fiancée find another man? Isn't that immoral?"
"Oh, I just invited him to play the piano. Whether there will be any further development depends on whether our Avani can handle it," Mia retorted casually.
"What, do you think I can't handle him?" Avani hummed softly.
Initially, she had only admired the pianist's appearance and talent, not intending to have any adventures. But being provoked by her cousin, she felt inclined to try it out. After all, she wasn't married yet, so why not have some fun?
"How could I!" Mia grinned mischievously, completely eager to see Avani's feedback the next morning.
Before establishing a relationship with Mateo, Avani had been in several short-lived romances. She knew exactly how to use her beauty to make men fall for her quickly. So, she didn't take the pianist seriously at all, thinking of it as an unchallenging little game, just for amusement.
Half an hour later, as the crowd dispersed, she walked alone to the presidential suite that Mia had booked for her.
Opening the door, she was greeted by a delicate fragrance. Rose petals were laid out on the luxurious carpet, leading to a grand piano in the center of the living room. Everything seemed meticulously arranged. The interior lighting was dimmed, creating a romantic ambiance.
Indeed, in such an environment, it was hard not to expect something to happen between a man and a woman.
While surveying the surroundings, Avani received a text from Mia. "How's the room? Satisfied?"
"You're quite the player," Avani replied.
Despite being distant relatives, Avani and Mia still had significant differences in their family backgrounds. Mia, as an heiress to a conglomerate, could freely choose the best partners and lavish money for fleeting romance. Avani, on the other hand, couldn't afford such luxuries. Despite the decent status of the her family in the business world, her overall strength couldn't compare to a true aristocratic family. Hence, her father forced her to marry someone she didn't like for the sake of the family's interests.
"Enjoy your night~!" Mia ended the conversation.
As the conversation ended, the doorbell rang right on time.
"Hello," a cold male voice came through the door. "I'm here to perform."
Avani put down her phone and opened the door. "Please come in."
The man nodded and stepped inside, his gaze scanning the room. He furrowed his brows slightly, sensing something amiss.
This room seemed off.
As he took in the decorations, he suddenly froze in place, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Um..." Avani cleared her throat, about to explain, but the man interrupted her.
"Sorry." His face serious, he took a step back. "I think I've come to the wrong place."
Avani saw the man's guarded expression and couldn't help feeling a mix of amusement and annoyance. Even though she hadn't done anything, she felt like a rejected client. "No, it's here."
"I..." The man clenched his teeth, his tone becoming more forceful. "I'm a legitimate pianist."
He turned away, as if he didn't want to stay for even a second longer.
"Wait!" Avani grabbed the man's sleeve, speaking up to detain him. "You've got it wrong."
The man's sharp gaze shifted from her slender hand to her beautiful face, as if silently questioning.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Avani let go of his sleeve and blurted out, "I'm a legitimate audience too."
"...," the man remained silent.
"Come in," Avani smiled at him, seeming unconcerned about the misunderstanding just now. "If you leave now, there will be no payment."
In the art industry, there were plenty of eccentric people. Avani was used to it and found it best to discuss payment upfront. And besides, a person with such a highbrow personality willing to offer private service was definitely in need of money.
After Avani uttered these words, the man pursed his lips, clearly wavering. Initially, he found the request to perform alone a bit odd, but the amount offered could allow him to play at the bar for a week. Thus, he glanced at his watch awkwardly and said, "Let's start at twelve. I'll tune the piano first, and you can think about what you want to hear."
"Okay." Avani nodded, smiling as she watched him walk mechanically to the piano. She thought to herself that this guy had stumbled upon a great opportunity but seemed reluctant. Perhaps he used to be a pampered young master, and only after his family's decline was he forced to work. Although he worked in a bar, he didn't exude the vulgarity commonly found in such places, which was quite rare.
While waiting for the man to tune the piano, Avani mixed two glasses of whiskey at the bar. She leisurely approached, leaning against the piano and offering him a glass.
She didn't speak, but the sound of the ice cubes hitting the glass caught the man's sharp attention. He raised his head slightly, meeting her seductive eyes. She was now leaning on the piano like a lazy cat, a faint blush on her cheeks due to the alcohol, making her even more enchanting.
In fact, when they first met at the bar, he noticed her beauty but didn't pay much attention to her. However, now...
"No need." The man quickly averted his gaze, adjusting the music score and carefully wiping the dust off the keys.
"Isn't it more enjoyable to listen to music when you're slightly tipsy?" Avani shook the glass, gazing through it at his handsome face.
He was indeed very handsome, but... too serious.
The man contemplated for a moment, seemingly agreeing with her statement, but due to some concerns, he didn't take the glass.
"Forget it if you don't want to." Avani set the glass down, muttering under her breath, "A grown man who can't even drink, how boring..."
"I'm afraid drinking will affect my piano playing," the man explained, clearly not wanting to be underestimated.
"Oh, really?" Avani couldn't be bothered to delve into the issue. Downing her own drink in one gulp, she lazily walked back to the bar. When she returned, her small jacket was nowhere to be seen. She was wearing only a champagne-colored strapless dress, blending with the warm light behind her. The man only saw her curvaceous figure and snow-white shoulders.
A few seconds later, the air was filled with her delicate perfume, and his clear eyes reflected her radiant beauty. She sat beside him, staring intently at him, lightly moving her tempting red lips. "I've decided what I want to hear."
"You're too close," he would have said if it were any other time. But now, his voice suddenly stuck in his throat, unable to come out.
Avani raised her hand and turned the music score to a certain page, saying lightly, "Let's go with this piece."
The man took a deep breath but said nothing. Then, he closed his eyes and began playing the first note.
Avani noticed the man's subtle reaction and moved even closer to him, her eyes flickering with a hint of ambiguity.
As the melodious melody filled the spacious room, the man opened his eyes. Normally, when he played the piano, he didn't pay attention to others. But at this moment, he keenly felt the woman's unwavering gaze and the faintly teasing smile on her lips.
Does she really want to seduce me? He couldn't help but ponder this question.
But when this thought came to mind, he felt even worse. Because he suddenly realized that it wasn't alcohol that would affect his piano playing.
- Writer
