Mallory's Melody

Chapter 5

THE ENTIRE CONGREGATION OF VINTAGE CHURCH drowned in the melodious waters of Mallory's mesmerizing music. At times like this, when she was fully immersed in a world devoid of everything except her and her violin, the tunes of the instrument became her breath; the rhythm, her heartbeat; and the melody, her life itself.

A string of her violin suddenly snapped, belittling the sounds the violin expelled to a single screech. The moment she broke out of her world, a thunderous applause whirled around the church.

The roomful of people yelled and jammed their hands together, stunning her. They were so exhilarated by her performance, they came to a standing ovation. Mallory smiled at the congregation and waved her hand in the air. She ran down the upholstered altar, feeling accomplished.

"That was an awesome performance," Mr. Rossi, the lead-pastor of the Vintage church, praised her. Though Vintage church had a small congregation, it was the world to Mallory. mostly because it was where her love for the violin blossomed.

Mallory strode to him, bursting with a confidence she didn't know she possessed. "Thank you, Mr. Rossi."

"Wow," he breathed. "You never fail to sweep the congregation off their feet." Mr Rossi gestured towards the energetic crowd, some of them pointing towards Mallory in awe.

"Mr. Rossi," Anne, Mr. Rossi's assistant said. She donned an oversized, burgundy dress that almost hid her from existence. She stood beside a tall, somewhat familiar man that stared at Mallory with purposeful eyes.

Mr. Rossi turned to Anne. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Orlando needs to see you urgently." Anne jerked her head towards the familiar man whose identity Mallory was trying to unravel. Why did he seem so familiar? Was it the elegance he possessed or the authority his stance demanded? Whatever it was, he was familiar. Mallory had no doubt about that.

"Actually," the familiar man added. "I wanted to see her." He pointed a sharp finger towards Mallory's direction.

Mallory drew in a sharp breath. Why would he want to see me?

She feigned her confusion with the remnants of confidence she'd accumulated from her earlier performance. But that confidence began dispelling, the minute she glimpsed the man's intimidating husky frame. Large men frightened her. She didn't know why, but they did.

Mr. Rossi exchanged confused glances with Anne, appearing a bit unsettled by the man's authoritative demand. "Very well." He spoke. "Then we must leave you two alone to discuss." He hesitated, shooting a glance at Mallory to ensure she'd be okay with this strange man that demanded to see her.

Mallory shot him an assuring look that said, I'll be okay,

"I'm William Orlando," he introduced himself and stretched out a hand towards Mallory. Mallory hesitated, but then slid her palm into William's palm, shaking it for an inordinate amount of time, assessing it for weapons.

She retracted her hand. "I'm Mallory Trent."

The man smiled knowingly and pulled out a small card from a small compartment in his blue blazer jacket. "I'm fully aware of that. I've searched for you for a while."

Mallory's confidence had dissipated and in its place was confusion. "For what reason?" she asked whilst rubbing her nape shyly.

"I've kept a very close watch on you miss and I've seen how talented you are in playing the violin." He handed her his card. She scanned it for clues that would show her why she thought William was familiar. Then her eyes found the words, written elegantly against the smooth surface of the card. Starlight Academy, it read.

Then the man's identity immediately struck her. He wasn't just William Orlando. He was William Orlando, the proprietor of the most renowned Starlight Academy, an art academy that turned people from mediocre to exceptional overnight. She'd been an avid fan of the academy since she was young, often watching most of the auditions on Tv. How could she have been stupid enough to not know that this was William Orlando?

Mallory hoped stupidity wasn't blatant in her expression. She cleared her throat, fighting the intense urge to dig a hole right there in the hall and hide away from the rest of existence, at least from William. He was usually found wanting amongst great personalities and upper-class individuals, not amongst a church full of well...regular people as she would put it. It was the more reason his identity proved hard to unravel when she first sighted him.

"The Academy's having an open contest this summer. We're hoping to find two talented teenagers who would go national, global even." He said 'talented' with extra emphasis, as though trying to make her aware that he was in search of exceptional individuals, not just sheer amateurs like Mallory was. He needed people who were serious, passionate about what they did and because of the high standards of those requirements, Mallory doubted she was the person he was looking for.

"I think you just might be what we're looking for."

Mallory almost staggered at the hearing of those words. They were words she didn't come to terms with. She was an amateur for goodness' sake. Why would Starlight Academy have an interest in her?

"I'm giving you a chance to audition your way to become a star. All It Takes is a simple Yes or No," William concluded, waiting for her response.

There was nothing simple about those two words, they were in all the way complexities, at least in a situation like this.

William was giving her the opportunity of a lifetime. She should be ecstatic, exhilarated even, but all she felt was tension, fear, uncertainty.

If she said yes, what did she have to lose? Risking embarrassing herself on Broadway and local television, getting mocked by the more competent opponents for being an amateur contestant and most important of all, losing her sanity.

And if she took the other alternative? She'd be remorseful that she declined such an offer for the rest of her life.

Mallory's mind twisted into knots, and then words she hadn't heard for a long time wove themselves into her mind. When you're in doubt, just remember, Mallory, that you're were born to be a star. Her father's words reverberated in her head, urging her to say yes. But then her hostile, inner voice interfered with her father's. You're just not good enough, Mallory. You will never be.

One thing was certain though. Saying yes wasn't an option, and neither was no

"I need some time to think about it, "she concluded. Her words came out heavy and somewhat insincere.

William nodded as though he understood her, but the wrinkles of confusion that formed against his forehead defied that. "I hope you make the right choice Miss Trent," he said and sauntered away.

I hope I'll make the right choice too.