Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Three

The Competition was finally here and Fiona had never felt happier and more nervous in her entire life.

She now sits in the temporary office the school has designated for her. The office is ajar to the changing room behind the stage where the children are kept to prepare themselves.

The dreams she and her sister had meticulously planned and worked for are finally coming to pass. Her life felt full and happy.

She has also been leading a happy life, and she has finally decided to let go of the grievances between her and Max.

She loves him and she doesn’t see why she has to hold him accountable for things he had done in the past and the man has started seeing things differently now.

After the competition, she thought to herself.

You will be called up soon, Matt said from the doorway.

The competition is scheduled to happen for two weeks because of the activities that were put in between.

The sponsors will also have days where they will display what they do. There will be music, stage plays, improvs and market plays on the first day which is the opening ceremony of the show.

Fiona had liaised with the school in order to allow the kids and some students from the arts to use the stage to display all that would be happening for the two weeks.

The students of the school and children from the ballet classes are also helping with the organizing part.

And even the older men and women who had been in session with them also helped in their little way.

For instance, they helped with the articles of clothing, and the designs because some of them have more experience than they do.`

To Fiona’s surprise, they even have enlightening stories. Seeing all of them working together made all her work simple she was glad they were all there.

I will be there shortly, she said to him.

***

“For years, my sister and I have dreamt of a day where the Oakland community will rise and be recognised for something magnificent just like this. We strive to create an avenue for young kids who have no way of learning what they deeply desire.

This today is happening because you all decided to help you. On behalf of this project I say thank you all for your support to us all thus far. Fiona bowed in respect causing everyone to clap and hoot.

For the next two weeks we will all be participating in different activities using the skills we know best and to put your minds at ease, we have decided to put your professors who have always given you long faces in the classrooms to test and see if they can also fit in the art department.

They all laughed at what she just said. But now, let’s give a round of applause to the participants, she said finally and bowed again before leaving the podium”.

That was some speech, Matt commented when she got down. I was worried I would pee my pants when I got up there, she whispered.

They are all too many, and you see those men, she pointed to the VIP area, the way they were all staring at me made me nervous.

You were nervous? He asked in surprise, your voice wasn’t shaking, he pointed out.

You are too free, Fiona retorted. Go and make sure the first opening is in order, she instructed with a smile on her lips.

Okay boss, he said playfully then left her there.

***

Trisha watched them from afar with a sinister smile on her lips. She would give them a taste of what she had passed through in that hell she was in for three months.

Since the school won’t let her back in because of the incident with Matt, she had to join the fun as part of the external pianist they have invited over for the competition.

They really went all out for this childish competition, she snickered.

Focus, she heard him speak to her in that authoritative tone again irking her to no end. This man is too much work.

Trisha could tell from the conversations she’d heard when he was alone that he had been following orders, she wished she could meet the real face behind this guy, maybe she could score a moment with him.

While she was steaming within her, she heard him receive the anonymous call again.

But all she heard was the monotone conversations between him and his caller.

Yes, sir, she is in the position he said to the caller.

Yes,

I will let her know, he said again then hung the call.

Your boss seems to like a serious type she said using a friendly tone so she could bait him.

But all he said was the new instruction that was passed to him.

You will be going under the name of a less accomplished pianist named “Gifted Hands.”

Trisha knew who Gifted Hands was, the girl used a mask everywhere she went making it difficult to know who she was in person.

Trisha had made sure to follow this sensational pianist back in the days, after all, Gifted Hands once bested her in a competition which was why she looked for her.

Alright, Trisha said sourly. Good then, if you are done gawking, let’s go get prepared, he said, sounding irritated.