Page 9 of The Hideout

As she took the remaining stairs, Juliet noted just how perfect the acoustics were down here. Perhaps she could bring in some music for an evening or two through the week. She didn’t know if her clients would be into that, but it wouldn’t hurt to mention it to a few of them. If it entertained them, it would keep them coming back.

But then Juliet stopped before she turned the corner into the bar. She knew this song. It was one of her favourites. Sara Bareilles’ Gravity. Except it wasn’t Sara Bareilles singing it. It seemed…live. Raw.

Then she caught the key change, followed by the clearing of a throat.

Juliet held her breath when the most beautiful sound floated around the bar and out into the corridor. This wasn’t a CD playing. No, it was a person. But who? Nobody knew about this place. She didn’t have any women on her books. And that was definitely a woman’s voice.

She wanted to peer around the corner, but she was fearful that the sound would stop. Whoever this was…she never wanted them to stop. It was too extraordinary. Too meaningful. Too…full of emotion.

So she took a seat on the stairs and quietly lowered her handbag to the floor beside her. As they reached the chorus, Juliet fought back tears. This person…had the voice of an angel. How they held the notes, how their fingers worked so effortlessly with the piano, God…she wanted to sob for them. With them.

Juliet clasped her hands under her chin, resting her elbows on her knees. This…was special. It was enough to tip her entirely over the edge. Paige must have brought someone in who knew how to play, and right now, Juliet wanted to offer her a pay rise just for directing them to this bar. It didn’t matter if she hadn’t run it by Juliet first. Paige clearly had connections.

She allowed her mind to empty of everything and enjoyed the moment. Because soon, it would all be over. That voice, the melody, would be gone and all Juliet would have left to face was a night in an underground bar she’d acquired on a whim.

When the song reached a prolonged high note, Juliet’s breath caught in her throat. How was it possible for another human being to sound so perfect? Juliet knew of many people with incredible voices, but to be faced with it so head-on, so unexpectedly, it had knocked the wind out of her.

Brushing her hand across her cheeks as the song ended, Juliet puffed out her cheeks and fought back a sniffle. Something had been brought out in her this evening. Emotions she didn’t know she had. A love for a voice so beautiful and raw.

Juliet got to her feet and took her bag from the floor. She held it loosely at her side, clearing her throat as she turned the corner into the bar.

But what she found in front of her confused her. Paige sat at the piano, her eyes closed, her cheeks tear-stained.

“Paige?”

Paige’s eyes opened suddenly, and then she got up and stumbled away from the piano. “Sorry. I was just fucking about. Back to work.”

Fucking about? Oh, it was far more than that. Juliet wanted to speak up, to praise Paige for such a performance, but Paige had already left the bar and was in the back. She heard things clattering, and then Paige reappeared.

“You’ve had five calls since I got here. People looking at memberships. I told them you’d call them back. But then I realised I didn’t know if you wanted that, so I took their emails too. It’s easier to let people down that way if you’re not interested in having them here.” Paige busied herself behind the bar, putting drip trays in place as she spaced out her tools where she wanted them. “Oh, and Rachel came by. I let her in, but she left five minutes later when I told her you weren’t here yet.”

Rachel had been here? That was surprising since she had only just texted her and hadn’t mentioned calling into the bar. But she couldn’t focus on Rachel right now. Juliet stared, quite shocked by the sudden change in Paige.

“Can…I get you some coffee? Or a cocktail? Wine?” Paige stood in place, a slight crease to her brow. “Juliet?”

Juliet strode across the floor, stopping at the counter. “Do you have any idea how talented you are?”

Paige frowned further. “I don’t—”

“Was that you? The piano…the voice?”

“Oh, yeah.” Paige laughed, waving Juliet off. “But it’s nothing more than karaoke. It’s a bit of fun when I have a minute to myself.”

“A…bit of fun?” Juliet quirked a brow. Maybe Paige was being humble, but that wouldn’t wash with her. No way. Not in this lifetime. “Is that what they call amazing talent these days?”

“I, uh…I have stuff to do, sorry.” Paige turned and left the bar again, but Juliet followed her this time. Mostly because her office was back here, but also because she wasn’t quite finished yet.

“I’ll make that coffee. What’s yours?”

Paige turned suddenly, holding the cocktail shakers to her chest. “Oh, um…I’m okay, thanks. I don’t get paid to sit around drinking coffee. But thank you.”

“You do in this bar. So, cappuccino? Latte? What’s it to be?”

Paige smiled, lowering her eyes. “I’ll take a black coffee, please.”

Juliet nodded, stepping to the side and offering Paige the exit to the bar. Her subtle perfume wafted towards Juliet, the hairs on the back of her neck standing to attention. “I’ll meet you out there in a second. I’ll just put my things in the office.”

“Cool. Yeah. See you in a few.”

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