A Beautiful Instrument

47: Listen & Respond

The next several weeks go by in a blur. Friedrich pleads not guilty to assault charges, but between his history, my earlier HR complaint, and the evidence that night, including fabric burns where he tore my garment from me, he doesn't stand a chance of winning his case.

He is put on leave indefinitely from the orchestra. If he is found guilty, he will be fired and likely banned from the industry. The media were in a frenzy for the first week, hounding everyone affiliated with the orchestra for the inside scoop. Bart stepped into Friedrich's role again so the classical series could continue and Derek was pulling every stop to convince him to make it a long-term commitment.

Ivy's first series, Suburbia, was a success and a good distraction. We are now practicing for Halloween and will finish the year with a full orchestra holiday showcase. Her and Bart will work collaboratively and she seems oddly excited about that.

Jeremy had actually won my auction that night. As he started to tell me, he had come prepared to empty his accounts, but between Amar and Keith the dollar amounts soon got out of hand. Derek told Jeremy to keep bidding. He felt responsible for pressuring me into this and would cover the costs. His only request was that it come from Jeremy to preserve the illusion of our unbridled romance and avoid the scandal of Derek bidding himself.

We agreed later - no more auctions.

Things were tense about our featured duet for Valentine's. Ivy tried several composed pieces against Jeremy's protests, but she admitted they all felt forced. Despite our trouble in pinpointing a song, Derek loved the idea of the publicity photoshoot and wanted the campaign released before the Halloween series so that's where Jeremy and I are headed today instead of practice. To let a stranger photograph us in sexually suggestive poses.

Jeremy smirks at me. "So what are you wearing? I know Derek said to dress like we're headed to perform, but I feel like that means one thing for me and another for you."

"Well I need something I can spread my legs in." I tease seductively.

"That's it. This is stupid. We're not going." Jeremy scoffs.

"Jeremy, I'm kidding. How about this?" I have on a lacy top with a light colored crop underneath and black dress pants with heels.

"Fine." He huffs.

"Hey, we don't have to do anything we don't want to, okay? But I think we should have fun. It'll be like our own little boudoir photoshoot. Maybe I'll even have a little look-book put together just for us." I suggest.

Jeremy lifts an eyebrow. "You said Monica knew the photographer by name?"

"Apparently he has done some racy shots for an animal-awareness campaign they did. She volunteered to be here today, but I think that's because she thinks this guy's hot." I comment.

Jeremy rolls his eyes. "Great."

"I told her to come as my personal assistant." I share.

"Leigh! The last thing I want is my sister seeing me half-naked as a grown man." Jeremy exclaims.

I chuckle at his worry. "First, something tells me her eyes won't spend much time on you. Second, only half-naked? No fun! Now let's go. We're going to be late."

When we walk into the private studio where this is going to be shot, Monica is already there. I see she put a little extra oomph into her look. She greets us with kisses and hugs.

"Hi you two! You ready for this?"

Jeremy looks at his sister with a critical eye. "Where's the rest of your dress, Monica?"