They were interrupted by an agitated Anthony.
‘Play on dear,play on,’ he hissed at Emma.
Bunty glared at him. She had an overwhelming urge to empty the contents of her glass in his face.
‘I think you’re wanted, Anthony.’ Perry gestured with his chin towards the entrance, where a tall man wearing sunglasses stood waiting.
Turning sharply, Anthony gripped his clipboard and sped off, leaving the others to swap grins.
‘What a man,’ Jasmine muttered with mirth.
‘I know!’ giggled Emma, then dutifully did as he’d instructed and chose another sheet of music.
‘Ah, my favourite,’ remarked Perry at hearing her choice, ‘Pink Champagne’.
‘Cheers, here’s to new beginnings,’ toasted Jasmine raising her flute.
‘And second chances,’ added Bunty gazing warmly at Perry.
After clinking glasses, they separated to mingle. Jasmine particularly wanted to see how the kitchen looked.
Emma’s playing was drawing to an end, when the late arrival wearing dark sunglasses sidled over to her.
‘You play well,’ he drawled in a deep smooth voice, which resonated with Emma immediately. He lent on the side of the piano.
‘Thank you,’ she replied, then added a little self-consciously, ‘“Pink Champagne” is my dad’s favourite.’
He gave a dazzling smile, showing perfect white teeth. His face was tanned, but hard to see properly hidden behind the black shades. He had short, black hair, which was greying at the temples.
‘Do you know “Champagne Problems”?’ he asked.
‘Taylor Swift’s song?’
‘Yeah,’ he nodded with a slow grin.
‘Er… I’ll try…’ stammered Emma, taken off guard. Fortunately, she had played it several times before when gigging and felt pretty confident remembering it. ‘Do you want the lyrics too?’ she asked.
‘That would be lovely,’ he answered looking straight into her eyes.
That voice, where had she heard it before? thought Emma. She was just about to start the song when Anthony interrupted them.
‘If you allow me, Mr Sinclair, I’ll show you—’
‘Just a minute,’ the man cut him short, raising his hand. ‘This lady is about to sing.’
‘Oh… er… right,’ spluttered Anthony blinking.
Emma cleared her throat and began to sing.
Everybody in the hall stopped still at hearing her voice, even Anthony. Jasmine, Perry and Bunty re-entered and were mesmerised by her voice. The acoustics in the marbled hall were superb.
As Emma finished the last line, a round of applause erupted, reverberating round the room. Perry’s eyes misted over, he gulped with pride. Anthony seized the moment.
‘Well, if that can’t persuade you to buy the place nothing will!’ he trilled to the mystery man. The veryrichmystery man. The very rich mystery man, who could earn him a whopping, big, fat commission.
He turned, his dark shades fixed on Anthony.
‘I’ll take it, on one condition,’ he stated.
