AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Nadia, yes, to the fabric. And good for you, expanding your sexual horizons. It’ll only become weird if you make it weird.”
I pulled the fabric down from the shelf and asked Laurence to translate four yards and thanked him. “I’ll see them tonight. What should I say?”
“Nothing. Play it cool. I’m surprised you’re not jealous.”
“Why should I be? They’re married. It was more of a turn on for the both of us.”
“No, you shouldn’t…so, you liked it?”
I touched my hot neck. “I did, very much,” I whispered into the phone. Watching Bianca and Lorenzo heightened our own passion.Paul and I were so desperate to fuck. I’ve never felt so wild.I even liked that they watched us.But I would keep that last thought to myself.
“Ah, sookie sookie now. Paul’s creating a nympho,” Xander joked, and we laughed.
Laurence pointed to his watch, indicating that we had to leave if I wanted to see Paul during his break. I ended the call with Xander, paid for the fabric, and left. I checked over my sketches and took them inside Santa Cecilia Hall with me because Paul enjoyed seeing my work. Walking inside, I understood right away why Paul chose this location. It was elegant and stylish with a suspended cherrywood ceiling and a tiered rise that gave a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view. That made it possible to see the stage from any seat. Paul would want everyone attending to fully enjoy his performance.
We quietly took seats in the front while Paul continued his practice on the piano with an orchestra.
Laurence leaned over and told me it was Chopin’sPiano Concerto No. 2. I wasn’t familiar with it. Still, I could appreciate how beautifully Paul played the piano. He was fully in his element, and the orchestra roused with him in what had to be an immaculate performance. And I wasn’t the only one who believed it; a small group with press badges immediately climbed to their feet to clap at Paul’s exclusive preview.
A staff member provided Paul with a towel and water as he went over some points with the conductor before going over to the small crowd for their interviews. When he spotted me, an exuberant smile lit his face, and my heart skipped a beat. His arms opened, and that was my clue to go to him. I stood with my sketchpad and climbed the short flight to the stage.
“See you all tonight,” Paul called out to the orchestra members as they cleared out. He received a lot of enthusiasm from everyone as they stored their instruments for the night.
“You’re amazing,” I enthused.
He kissed me lightly on the lips. “Thank you.”
Paul took my sketchpad and flipped through the pages. “Are you going to make a sun fabric?”
I nodded and clasped my hands. “Yes. It’s what’s coming to me. I’ve been struggling, but the joy and sun worship is everywhere.” I did a spin on the circular stage. “I don’t know how I’d feel up here.”
“I’ve played here before, and I find the setup with the audience is intimate.”
“Intimate with an audience of thousands and much more online. Don’t you ever get nervous with so many people watching you?”
He handed me the sketchpad back, and I put it away.
“I’ve been giving recitals all my life. You become used to it. As an artist, you’ll need to come to terms with the public. I’m glad you’re getting more practice.” He sat at the grand piano again.
It was nothing he hadn’t told me before. A couple of staff members approached Paul.
“Do you want to check the video introduction?”
Paul nodded, and a few minutes later, the screen lit up. It was an advertisement for Lily Salome’s Love Legacy, a charity for students worldwide to study music. The video showed Paul breaking ground in Brazil, Africa, and South Korea. He started to play Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik with the children on the video link. There were also more cuts to Jonas, Lily, Paul, and Darling at the schools. A small section appeared at the end of Aubrey playing violin with them. Paul stopped to watch, but he blanketed his face. In the end, I went behind him and hugged his waist.
“I’m fine, Nadia,” he whispered, then thanked the staff and they cleared out. There were only a few of us left besides Laurence, Paul, and me.
He played Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon.”
“Sing for me, Nadia.”
I grimaced. “No way. I can’t.”
“Please. Sing it for me, baby.”
I grinned. He knew I loved when he called me baby.Sometimes.
I sighed. “What about Joni Mitchell’s ‘Woodstock’? It’s my dad’s favorite.”
