Phoebe's Performance

The Accident

Chapter 12

The next day it takes everything I've got to smile as I approach Otto's home. With a shudder, I wonder what I've got in store for me considering he threatened to make my life more miserable.

I open the front door of the Arnold mansion and Otto springs from the bottom step like a terrier. He's been waiting. This is new. A gleeful expression slides across his face and sends my insides into a panic.

"Morning," he says.

With every ounce of effort I beam. "Morning." I keep my voice upbeat and pleasant.

"I've recently read your resume."

My stomach clenches. "Excellent, that's great. So next week I've got a meeting with Eve a physical therapist set up. I saw Eve last night at the pool and she's going to be great. She wants you to meet at Highbury Pool first and then there's a possibility of her fitting in sessions here at your house if you ask her nicely." My cheeks hurt because my lips are stretched so tight.

Otto nods his head slowly; again he scrutinizes me. His eyes scanning up and down. "Sounds great...So you went to the Royal College of Music?" he completely ignores my change of topic.

I glance at him warily. "Yes, I did. I thought I told you that the other day at three in the morning, wasn't it?" I raise my eyebrows and pointedly smile. He's acting all nice, a change since the outburst yesterday. I can't forget he wants to make life exceptionally difficult for me. I can not be suckered in.

"You mentioned on the phone that you don't practise anymore. I find that strange."

"I've been writing music though."

"Yes, for a band called Classical Ache. Your resume said you'd written three pieces."

"Yeah, that's right."

"So do you compose on the piano?"

"No," I say quickly, too quickly. "Straight onto manuscript. That's how I was taught you see."

"I'd love to hear one of your compositions or if you're shy just play something for me. From what I can tell you should be of the level to play a little Chopin, Beethoven or Bach..." He watches my reaction intently, maybe he's going to hone in on something I say so I blank my expression.

"Of course," I say carefully as my mind whirs, how will I get out of this? From the way he observes my every move I'm sure there's some type of hidden agenda. He was extremely upset yesterday and I can't help but consider that he's after a piece of revenge. I'm not sure what he's doing exactly, but he's got some sort of plan.

"A pianist of your level should really be performing in some capacity. You admitted to me that you're not performing so I've got to wonder why," he says and there it is, the key to what he's searching for. He's trying to find something to rattle me. So he's started his research with the only thing he has, my resume. Great! And now he wants to delve and probe further. "What did you play for your graduation?"

I stiffen. "I performed a bit of everything, obviously baroque, impressionist and major twentieth century composition." This is an extremely direct question and I shoot him a look.

"I'm hoping to collate a new repertoire."

"A new repertoire?" I raise my eyebrows. He can't play, he thinks his life is over, yet he wants to collate a new repertoire. "Aren't I cancelling your concerts?"

Okay. I admit. My retort was a little mean but I really need him to back off.

"You never know what makes a person tick."