Only when everyone is satisfied do I bid farewell and quickly make my way to the car. Accompanied by the city lights, I traverse the evening streets of Vienna until I reach the driveway of the villa I've been living in since last autumn.
My house lies before me, deserted. The exterior lighting enhances the intricate decorative elements and the bright whiteness of the facade, giving it an exquisite look. I've always liked Art Nouveau, and today, I have the privilege of living in such a magnificent estate.
I open the dark green wooden door and step into the entrance area, tiled in a checkered pattern. The key lands with a clink in the tray on the antique cabinet. The bright sound reverberates through the vast space, in stark contrast to my footsteps, barely audible despite the silence.
Like a ghost, I wander through the kitchen, the living room, and the dining room in semi-darkness.
In just a few days, the house will be filled with life. I look forward to it. Yet I can't help but wonder how I will manage to establish a connection with Sophia. My God, I should have figured it out by now. After all, she's my daughter!
The worries drive me farther into the music room. Once a library, this room still houses books, sheet music, and scores, reaching up to the high ceiling of theold building. I've removed the furniture, leaving only the piano and a leather seating group in the style of the thirties within the grand expanse of the room.
I lift the lid of the grand piano, sit down, and begin to play.
But before I can fully immerse myself in the most beautiful of my worlds, the doorbell rings.
It must be Tamika. No one else would pay me a visit at this hour.
As expected, my manager stands at the front door. She wears a mysterious grin on her bright red lips.
"Do we have an appointment?" I ask, confused as she bustles past me in her midnight-blue jumpsuit, making her way into the house.
She brushes back her perfectly smoothed platinum blond hair. "No."
"Please, come in," I say, even though she's already in the hallway. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Champagne, please." She'll be turning forty next year, but she looks like a mischievous little girl right now. "Come on, don't just stand there. Where are the glasses?"
"Kitchen," I say as I watch her practically float through the foyer. I follow her, and when I arrive, I see her standing in front of the open refrigerator. The light from inside makes her diamond-studded necklace shimmer.
"Perfect," she says, taking out a magnum bottle of champagne. "You could at least help me."
Even though I don't know why, I walk over to the glass cabinet and take two champagne flutes. "Will you tell me what's going on?"
Skillfully, Tamika pops the cork and fills the glasses.She hands one to me, and I can see that she's practically bursting with excitement.
I raise my glass. "What are we toasting to?" I scrutinize her.
"To you," she returns. "And..."
Raising my eyebrows in question, I urge her, "Enough now. Spit it out."
"And to your nomination for the International Music Award!" With an elegant gesture, she pulls a piece of paper out of the pocket of her jumpsuit and waves it in front of my face. Her cheeks are glowing. "You did it!"
I stare at her in disbelief. Did she really just say that, or am I dreaming? "You mean..."
She nods, her head bobbing wildly up and down and back again. Deep laugh lines form around her eyes. It's real. The radiance, the joy, the triumphant clenched fist. Everything is real.
The nomination. It's real!
In a trance-like state, I lower my glass and take the letter. Indeed. In the upper right corner, the logo of the International Music Awards proudly shines. And in the subject line are the words I've been reading in my dreams every night.
"Congratulations! You are one of the ten nominees for this year’s Best Newcomer category."
I don't need to read further, and it's not necessary. I know the process and rules of the most important music industry awards by heart. I know a shortlist of three contenders will be selected by mid-July. And that ultimately, in early September, during a magnificent show, the audience will decide who receives the award.
This prize means the world to me.
One day, I will be the greatest pianist of them all. Count on it. I made that promise to my father, but he just laughed at me.
