My beautiful billionaire player

CHAPTER 3

A drunken cheer breaks out from the crowd, and I can make out a man's voice shouting "It's better now, sweet thing!" over the din of the celebration.

She flashes a grin before adjusting the microphone. "I'm not originally from this area. Tonight is the first night I've spent in Canada."

An individual can be heard yelling from the far corner of the room, "Leave with me, and I'll make you feel right at home!"

She pays no attention to the fat, ugly jerk who is yelling at her. Since I can remember, this has always been one of my go-to songs whenever I need a pick-me-up. I'm not sure what kind of music is popular in Canada. She plays a few more chords on the guitar. This is the Dave Matthews Band performing their song titled "Crash Into Me."

She adds her own spin to the song by singing it slower than the original version did. Her eyes are closed, and she has a raspy, seductive voice. She exudes an air of seductiveness. When she starts singing the chorus, she opens her eyes and tilts her head slightly to the side. It almost seems as though she is looking directly in my direction while she is singing. "Oh, and you're going to run into me, right? And this is where I come into... you... And I come into you... in a boy's dream... in a boy's dream. And I come into you..."

Even though it's obvious that she can't see me because the lights from the stage are shining on her face, and I'm sitting in a dim corner at the back of the club, I still want to believe that she can see me there.

After the chorus is over, she returns her focus to the music and closes her eyes. Because of her long legs, she keeps the rhythm by bouncing them against the rail of the stool, and I give in to the allure of her seductive voice. She has me under her spell. And I wish to have her. It's got to be her.

She slowly opens her eyes and casts another look in my direction. "Oh, and you come crashing... into me, baby... yeah... And this is where I come into... you... Oh, you should pull your skirt up even higher, so you can show the world to me... Raise your slit a little higher... and unveil your world to me... If a boy could dream... if a boy could dream."

The waitress comes back to my table, but I don't even bother to look in her direction when she's talking to me. Even for a split second, I find it impossible to take my eyes off the stunning brunette who is performing on stage. "Would you like me to bring you another bottle of Shiraz?"

The plans I had have been altered. "Could you please accept my yes?"

The song by the girl comes to an end, and the audience responds by cheering and whistling. As she pulls the guitar strap over her head and then leans forward to the mic, she flashes a grin to the audience. "Thank you."

I watch as she exits the stage and makes her way back to the table where she is seated with a blonde woman, two men, and another man. Damn! A boyfriend, are you thinking?

My wine has been brought back to the table by the waitress, and she sets it down in front of me. "Excuse me, but are you familiar with the young lady who just sang?"

“No." She revealed that it was her very first evening in Canada.

I remove a one hundred dollar bill from my wallet, which was stored in the interior pocket of my jacket. I slide it across the table in her direction so that she can grab it. "What about the other individuals that she is seated with?"

She notices the money lying on the table, so she picks it up and places it in the pocket of the black apron she is wearing before turning to check on who my songstress is seated. "The gentleman with the blonde hair is named Mike Winston, and his pal's name is Alan James. They come in at least twice or three times a week, making them regulars."

Why is this American in the same room as those other guys? "She speaks with an American accent. Do you have any idea why she would be hanging out with them?"

"Mike is a Yank. While he is in this city to study wine at the university, his parents run a vineyard in the state of California. I believe that she would have to be someone that he knows from around the house."

I am displaying a second one hundred dollar bill by holding it between my fingers here. "Do you see this? If you can find out what she's doing here and how long she'll be in Victoria, you can have it if you're successful in your investigation. Find out if she is seeing either of those guys and let me know what you find out."

I catch her smiling, and I can tell that she's considering taking part in my little game. "Give me a moment, and I'll be there to pick that up for you."

While the waitress investigates, I relax with a glass of Shiraz and enjoy the show. A tourist from the United States would be an excellent choice for my next companion. When our relationship is over, she will be on a completely different continent, so there is no chance that we will ever accidentally run into each other again in the future.

My time here in Victoria is shaping up to be quite enjoyable.

As the waitress comes back, I polish off the rest of my glass of Shiraz. "Her name is ..."

I didn't let her finish her sentence before I interrupted her. "No, I have no interest in learning her name."

It's obvious that she doesn't understand, but money is money. They've traveled all the way here to spend the summer with him because her best friend is Mike's sister. Today was the first time she had the opportunity to meet Mike and Alan.

Good. This indicates that she is not dating either of them at the moment.

If the gentlemen are enrolled in the university's wine science program, then I have a strong suspicion that they will be present at the vintage dinner that will be held at the institution on Friday evening. They are going to be very eager to show off their wines. I am curious whether she will be attending as a guest.

I reach into my wallet and take out another bill, which I then display for Blondie to see. "Take this if you can find out what their plans are for the vintage dinner that will be held at the university on Friday evening. I need to know whether the dark-haired woman will be there."

The grin returns to her face. "I could play this game until the wee hours of the morning."

After waiting ten minutes, she eventually came back with another glass of Shiraz and an update. "At the dinner, the guys will be presenting their wines, and both of the girls will be in attendance as guests," she said.

I carefully place the bill on the opposite side of the table. “Perfect. Thank you."

"It's been my pleasure to help you. Would you like me to continue pouring the Shiraz for you?"

“Yes.”

The next hour is spent with me sneaking looks at the stunning American woman despite the fact that there is a crowd of people between us, and they are constantly shifting. When the four of them get up to leave, I'm disappointed, but when she walks toward the restrooms, I see the perfect opportunity for a convenient face-to-face encounter.

I head in that direction and wait for her to come out of the room so that we can have our chance encounter in the hallway. I start walking toward her as soon as the door to the ladies' room opens, but she's got her head buried in her purse the whole time. I follow her lead and evade to the right as she makes her move. "Pardon me."

Her pronunciation is completely unique. And endearing.

I follow her lead and step to the left as she does. We are a mirror image of each other. I'm sorry to bother you, Miss.

Take a good look at me.

"Wanna dance?" As she pulls her gaze away from her purse, she lets out a chuckle.

"I'd love to." Her grin broadens as a result of my response. We look at each other, and I try to determine what color her eyes are, but I can't do it. The hallway is very dim despite its relatively small size.

I was correct. It's got to be her.

It seems as though she is embarrassed. "I'm sorry. A request to someone to do the chicken dance is a common expression where I come from. You are aware? As in the situation where two people try to maneuver around each other like we just did."

"I've heard that expression before, but there is always a reason for optimism." I skirt around her as I make my way to the door leading to the men's room. "I believe that I would have enjoyed dancing with you."

Mandy Eliot POV

How are you supposed to choose what to wear to a vintage dinner at a Canadian university when you have no idea what a vintage dinner even is?

While Sasha is getting ready for her shower, I stand at the sink and brush my teeth. The fact that you have to share a bathroom with two other people, especially when one of those people is as high maintenance as Sasha, is no laughing matter.

I then wipe my mouth clean with a tissue. "You have never once explained to me what it is that we will be doing later on tonight."

"This dinner will take you back in time." Awesome. That clarifies everything for me that I wanted to know.

I pull out my makeup bag and start by applying some foundation to my face. Who am I to complain when I'm staying here as a non-paying guest? The lighting in our bedroom is terrible, and the lighting in the bathroom isn't much better. On top of that, Sasha mutters enough complaints for both of us. "Could you provide me with a bit more information to work with? Such as, what exactly is going to take place, and what exactly should I put on?"

Since it will not be appropriate to dress too formally for an event that is being hosted by a university, I believe that a sundress will suffice. What do you think of that one-shouldered black dress that has a wide white band around the waist? It's a chameleon, so even if this party is on the dressier side, it won't look out of place. "Didn't you bring it?"

When we first started unpacking, I remember hanging it in one of the closets. "I did."

"Mike says that the event will start off with hors d'oeuvres and a tasting of the first round of new vintages outside in the garden. As soon as we're done with that, we'll head back inside for dinner and continue drinking wine. There will probably be a band, so get ready to get your groove on."

Eating, drinking, and dancing. Dancing at a slow pace. It seems like a good time, and nothing sinister is going on, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Mike sees me as more than just a visitor.

As soon as I've finished doing my hair and makeup, I change into the black strapless dress. When Sasha enters our bedroom, she gives me a whistle and instructs me to perform a full spin before she blows it. "Getting positive feedback from the neighbors."

“Thanks.”