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Mark raised his eyebrows. “Oh?”
Rafael let out a low growl. “One of my former students has shown up at the conference.”
“Oh?” It was a stupid reply but he couldn’t think of anything else to say. Why would Rafael be upset about the presence of a former student? “Why is that bad news?”
“How would you like someone from your past showing up at an important event without warning you?”
Mark stared at Rafael, trying to figure out why he was angry at the situation, ignoring the faint hope fluttering in his heart. It wasn’t possible Emily had somehow turned up in California... was it? “Were they such a terrible student?”
Rafael shook his head. “My finest. Only she was an ungrateful bitch and walked away from an incredible opportunity without a word.”
Mark kept his face schooled into what he hoped was neutral curiosity. It sounded so much like Emily!
Rafael tilted his head. “I think you were at her audition. At least that was the rumor. Do you remember an Emma Parker a few years back?”
Oh God, itwasEmily! How had she ended up in LA? Had she run away from Geoffrey? Why was she at this conference? Had she reconnected with her family? But still, why here at the conference? He kept his voice calm as he spoke. “I think I may remember her. Long dark hair? Played Tchaikovsky?”
“That’s her.” Rafael frowned. “Stupid bitch shows up out of the blue after five years and dares to lie to her father’s face.” He growled and plucked at his violin. He growled. “She’s going to pay for that.”
Mark’s heart lurched at Rafael’s tone. What would he do to her? He had to warn her!
Rafael straightened and glanced at his watch. “I’ll have to deal with her after. Time to go.” He motioned to Mark and Mark clasped his violin in his hand as he walked toward the stage, tryingto figure out how to warn Emily that Rafael was after her.
At the same time, his mind was whirring. What was she doing here? How had she gotten here? He wanted to ask Rafael, but that would raise questions. If Rafael didn’t know Mark knew Emily, he’d be more likely to share his plans. Maybe. It was a risk he was willing to take.
He needed to calm his mind enough to concentrate on playing in front of a packed concert hall. Emily was safe as long as Rafael was on stage with him.
Would he be able to concentrate, knowing Emily was out there?
He’d play for her. She’d be watching and he’d play for her. Only her.
* * *
Emily settledinto her seat on the left side of the stage, in view of David, who glanced up at her and gave her a reassuring smile. It seemed assistants were given good seats so they could be near their bosses, but not in the spaces their bosses would want to sit. David sat not far from her parents, who sat stiffly in their formal eveningwear, staring straight ahead.
Emily was close enough to the stage to study the individual faces of the symphony members. She couldn’t help but smile and sigh. Yes, she had some not-nice memories of this place, but the anticipation of hearing a live symphony orchestra overrode those memories. She’d seen a poster as she’d walked in indicating the Bach “Double Violin Concerto,” not her favorite, but she’d played it several times.
“So, you really are Mr. Parker’s long-lost daughter?”
Emily looked up. Toby, her father’s assistant, frowned down at her. “I suppose I am.” She shrugged. “Does it matter?”
“Of course it does,” he said with a smug smile, settling in the seat next to her.
Emily pressed her lips together, amused by his arrogance.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’ve known my father to have many assistants.
“I’ve been with him for two years. He says I’m the best he’s ever had.”
“He says that to all his assistants. At least he did in the past.”
Toby narrowed his eyes.
“How often do you let him fuck you?” she asked, smiling when his eyes widened with surprise. He didn’t respond. “Once he gets bored with you, you’ll have to find a new job,” she said matter-of-factly. “The longest he ever kept an assistant was a little over two years.” She leaned toward him, feeling wicked. “He’ll be looking for someone new soon.”
The man’s mouth gaped and her heart twinged with guilt when he turned a longing gaze toward her father. She sighed. “At least you have a warning.” She patted his hand. “He’s not worth it.”
