Love in the Minor Key

Chapter One: London

Dan walked into the real estate office, knowing exactly what he wanted in a new house. He wrote in his notebook, writing a new poem about the new city. He was waiting for the next person available and wrote until he ran out of ideas. He pulled his phone out and began to compose a new song, not impressed with what was coming out. Pretty soon, the petite receptionist took the man to the office where a well dressed woman sat at the desk. Dan shook her hand and sat down across from her.

"I am Eloise Jones," she spoke sweetly. "I will be helping you until we have found you the perfect home. What are you looking for in a home?"

"It needs to be pretty big for parties," Dan started, "and it needs a lockable and soundproof basement. I teach... special... classes... and I don't want my neighbors assuming the worst. It needs to be near campus, as I am going to be going back to school to become a music professor. I also want an indoor and outdoor pool, along with a spa. I want all of the walls to be white so it'll be a blank canvas for me."

"I think I actually have the perfect place for you," she smiled, typing something on the computer. "They just sold us the house the other day. They wanted it out there quick so it's available. It's six stories, has everything you wanted, and is about five miles from campus. It'll be beautiful. I can take you to see it if you'd like."

Dan nodded and went back to his car, following the woman to a beautiful but private house. The shades perfectly kept unwanted people from looking in and he was instantly happy about that. He went into the house which opened into a hallway, the dining room and kitchen to one side and the living room, office, and library on the other. In the back, there was a gym, with an indoor pool, and a spa, with multiple hot tubs, the door to the back yard between those rooms. In the center of the room, there were stairs to the second floor, the giant metal door to the basement on one side of the steps.

"The second and third floor are entertainment floors," Eloise spoke up. "There's a movie theater, actual theatre, bowling alley, arcade, a music room, another library, which is much bigger than the one downstairs, an art room, and a museum for the art that is created in the house. The third and fourth floor are full of rooms for people to sleep. The final floor would be your quarters. The room is locked by a key pad, which you can edit whenever you'd like."

"I'd like to see the basement," Dan smiled sweetly, the woman nodded.

When they went down the stairs, he was greeted by about eight rooms on both sides, which could easily be turned into prison quarters. When they got to the end of the rooms, there was a door which led to a giant room, making the man excited to see what kind of torture devices he could put in it. He put his speakers in the room and turned them to the same volume as a typical person screaming, closing the door and turning on the music. He went upstairs and out into the back yard. When he heard nothing, he knew it was beyond perfect.

"How much is this place?" Dan asked curiously.

"We're selling it for 65 million," she bit her lip flirtatiously, "but I am sure I can always shave 20 million off for you."

"What would I have to do to get forty shaved off?" Dan raised an eyebrow, getting closer to the blonde.

"You're such a dirty boy," she laughed, "but I like that. I remember you saying something about 'special' classes. I want to know what's so special about them."

"It'll cost you 40 million," Dan shrugged.

"I will just have to take it off of your house," she pulled him even closer. "Just give me an address and we'll go."

"Sounds like a plan," he smirked, giving her an address before driving off.
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"Aren't you gonna shave the price like you promised?" Dan asked as they discussed expenses.

"Did you think I was stupid enough to actually give in like that?" She laughed.

"You were stupid enough for me to do this," he joined in laughter, playing video of what seemed to be porn, but it was Eloise and it was on full volume.

"Shut that off!" She demanded, receiving looks.

"I'm pretty sure you don't want your posh ass bosses to know just how much of a freak you are," he sighed. "They'd love to know that one of their 'well kept' employees are an amateur pornstar."

"Fine!" She gave in. "I will shave off the forty million."

"Once the deal is done," he turned the video off, "then I will delete it. But I won't until the place is mine at 25 million. Also, if you try any bullshit, it will be sent. I promise you."

"Fine," she growled, finishing off the deal.
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Dan sat in his new home, it had only taken three hours to completely furnish the rooms, as he made calls and looked online for workers for his home. He finally found an app that helped him find workers and control their pay. He hired roughly eighty workers, planning to add more. He sighed and decided to tour the campus before his workers arrived to meet him. He grabbed his phone, keys, and wallet before heading into the university. He drove around to get acquainted before going to the hiring office. He got out of the car and went into the building, following the instructions from the receptionist.

"Hello sir," Dan greeted, walking into the office and shaking my hand.

"Call me Mark," the man returned, them both sitting down. "Miss Nicole told me that your name is Dan Howell."

"Yes," Dan nodded, hanging Mark his degree, identification, application, and resume. "I'm from Wokingham, and I started uni when I was fourteen. My family moved all of us to Manchester so I could go there. I lived in the same house for years, up until yesterday when someone burnt my house down. I have come to London to start new. The first thing, though is to get a job, and I love nothing more than to teach people the importance of music."

"Well we do need a music professor,"  Mark nodded. "It'll be mostly composition and creation, but the basic classics start with the basics that you'd learn in high school. Are you up for that?"

"I've been composing since I was four," Dan shrugged. "I think I've got this."

"Well I will give you a week to put together a syllabus based on our typical curriculum," he clapped his hands together. "If you do it properly and precisely, then you'll have the job."

"Thank you, sir," Dan thanked, shaking the man's hand before walking out the door. He got in his car and drove around, finding a small cafe to begin his class syllabus.