Page 35 of Black Mark's Heart

Chapter Six

I took my seat on stage to play the final piece of the concert. I set my cello in place and waited. I didn't really get stage fright. As soon as I started playing, I forgot about the audience. Once I set my bow to the strings, it was just the music. I was merely the instrument it flowed through.

The orchestra started, and the lights slowly came up as I set my bow to the strings and started playing. Les Lames de Jacqueline was composed by Jacques Offenbach and was the last piece I would play tonight at the tribute to Jacqueline Du Pre. It was both joyous and sad; the perfect tribute to an amazing talent whose life and music was cut short by what was still a mysterious disease.

I imagined what it would be like to reach twenty-eight and lose my ability to play my cello, for my body to just slowly stop working how it should, for me to not even be able to hold my five-month-old son and care for him. I poured the fear and grief of that into my playing.

I sat there on stage by myself for the third time tonight and let every emotion I was feeling vibrate through the strings and out into the audience. I wasn't the only cellist playing tonight, but I was the only cellist who played more than once.

The concert was being recorded and would be sold. The profit would all go towards research into Multiple Sclerosis, the illness that struck such a talented woman's career and cut her life short.

I played the final notes, the lights went down, and the audience applauded. I stood up and left. I needed to be home by ten to give Jacob his next feed. He'd started sleeping through the night after two weeks, so I just had the five feeds during the day now. Next week I would be back in the recording studio to start recording with Lana Gayle, an up and coming singer and songwriter that Jeremy just signed.

I packed up my cello and pulled my winter coat on before walking out into the horrible winter weather. Getting a taxi in this weather was going to be a nightmare. I decided just to endure the snow and wind and make my way to the subway station. That would get me home the quickest.

I made my way down the side street of the concert hall, passed the waiting cars of those who could afford drivers to sit and wait at their will, slowly filling with their employers and pulling away from the curb. One of the car doors opened, and a tall figure climbed out of the back seat and stepped into my path.

"Mora," Darius breathed my name. "You were beautiful up there tonight."

I blinked up at Darius. He hadn't changed a bit. I swallowed, unable to talk, or maybe I didn't trust myself to talk.

Darius hesitated when I didn't respond. He gestured to the car. "The weather is atrocious. Let me give you a lift home?"

"I don't..." I started shaking my head.

"Warren told me you wanted to see me, Mora," Darius challenged.

"I asked for a meeting with you, I wasn't asking for..." I stumbled over the words. "For what you want to happen between us," I murmured the last.

"A meeting?" Darius asked, surprised. "A business meeting?"

I nodded.

Darius cocked one of those damned eyebrows, making him look even sexier. I could see the humor cycling through his eyes. He indicated the warm car again. "Then let's meet while I drive you home." Darius gestured with his fingers, and Clark jumped out of the driver’s seat.

"Nice to see you again, Miss Blake," Clark greeted with a sympathetic smile. Taking my cello from me, he went to the boot to put it in. Darius held the back door open for me.

Inhaling deeply to gather myself, I slipped into the backseat and scooted across to allow Darius to hop in. Clark slid back behind the wheel and pulled away from the curb.

"Where are we heading?" Darius asked.

"South end of Saint John Street please, Clark," I answered with a sigh.

Darius's eyebrows went up. "You live only a few blocks from my business?"

"I live a few blocks away from my workplace," I countered.

"The recording studio?"

I nodded. Silence filled the space between us. I took a deep breath when Darius's hand brushed against mine. "I asked Warren to set up a meeting because I have a business proposal for you," I rushed. "I want to take over the Solstice Carnival management."

Darius frowned, "You want to come and work for me again?"

I shook my head, "No, I want to take it away from Lynwood completely. No offense, but while your staff do a great job with all your other events, they suck at organizing a touring event, especially with musicians."

The car was dark. I couldn't see Darius's face to see how he was reacting. The car fell absolutely silent for well over a minute.

"How much would you be looking at for me to take it over, Dare?"

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