Chapter 24

I finished performing photograph by Ed Sheeran for the umpteenth time in one night and decided to take a break at the bar. It was finally valentine's day and I was working at a five star restaurant called Courtyard Maine. They had a weird name but I was earning big so it was not my place to comment. I was making money in two ways. The overall payment by the restaurant or the single requests by the patrons that I charged directly. It was a terrible day for a girl to be single but I honestly didn't care as long as I got paid at the of the night.

"Glass of warm water with lemon slices please."I requested the bartender.

He nodded at me and a minute later he pushed a glass my way. I smiled politely and tipped him since I couldn't pay. All my drinks and meals were on the restaurant.

I took a seat on a bar stool deciding to rest my feet from all the standing I'd been doing. The night was still young but I had been working since two in the afternoon so it's had been quite the day for me. I was just glad that valentine's had aligned with my day off otherwise I would have hated to miss such a great opportunity.

The restaurant was beautifully decorated in white, pink and red, the colors of love of course. Everyone was happy and smiling as they should on such a happy day. I'd tried to dress accordingly myself in a red maxi spaghetti strap dress that I'd bought on my shopping spree with Sonie and gold single strap heels. For hair I had on a long black lace wig that I had in curls. I'd also tried to do my make up to fit in better and rack in more money. A girl had to play all her chips after all.

"From the gentleman in the table over there."The bartender informed me placing a glass of red wine infront of me.

I wasn't drinking alcohol so the drink was a waste. I turned to see who had sent the drink over to me and was surprised to see Brian waving at me.

Why did I keep running into Hunter's friends?

It had been two weeks since we'd last seen each other but there was always something to remind me of him no matter how hard I tried to forget him. Like one of his best friends for example.

"Thank you."I said to the bartender as I got off the stool with the wine glass and violin in hand.

I strutted across the restaurant to where Brian was seated alone.

"Monkey."I greeted happily because I was genuinely glad to see him.

"Nala, still using that horrible nickname I see."He lamented getting up to hug me.

"Till my dying day."I grinned at him.

"Better get used to it then. So how've you been beautiful? I haven't seen you since the wedding. It's been a while."He asked me.

Not long enough.

"I've been good, just hustling. Actually I'm working right now so I'm here to give this back and say thank you."I said setting the glass of wine down on the table.

"Didn't your mother teach you not to return gifts?"Brian asked me.

"And didn't your mother teach you that you shouldn't mess with a girl that's looking for her next meal."I retorted.

"Fair enough."Brian relented raising his hands in surrender.

"Thank you. Are you here alone?"I inquired.

"No definitely not. My date is in the bathroom and we're waiting for a couple of friends. You know them actually, they should be getting here soon."Brian replied and I immediately panicked.

Hunter was one of his friends which meant that he was coming too. I didn't want that. We weren't supposed to meet again for the next couple of years. Now here I was two weeks later and about to run into him again.

"Don't worry, he said he wouldn't come."Brian assured me when he saw me freaking out.

I visibly sighed in relief when he told me that.

"So your date? One night stand or the one?"I asked Brian deciding not to discuss the whole Hunter topic all together.

"Still deciding on that."Brian said with a nervous laugh.

"Well the night is still young. You never know."

"Indeed. So will we get to hear a song from you or what?"Brian asked me.

"If you pay me well enough then definitely."I answered him honestly.

"Money is never an issue darling."Brian assured me confidently.

He wasn't even trying to brag, it was just the way he had been raised.

Just then a gorgeous dark beauty joined us and wrapped her arm around Brian possessively.

Calm down tigress, I'm not trying to steal your man.

Before Brian could introduce us, I decided to pitch in before she could start clawing at me.

"Hi you must be the beautiful date Brian won't stop gushing about. I'm Nala, an old acquaintance. It's nice to meet you."I rushed out.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Evelyn."She replied shaking my hand.

"Pleasure is all mine. Can I interest you two in a song?"I asked motioning to my violin.

"You play?"Evelyn asked and I nodded.

"Yeah and she's really good too. She played for Aaron and Veronica at their wedding."Brian added.

"Wow, so you're the famous Nala. Veronica is my cousin and wouldn't stop talking about you after the wedding."Evelyn commented.

It was weird that Veronica was talking about me but I chose to ignore it. I didn't want to get too invested in drama that didn't concern me.

"I didn't see you at the wedding."I commented realizing I was talking to another rich kid.

"I was in China then for work and couldn't make it back in time for the ceremony."She explained making me wish I hadn't asked.

The girl had been to China, across the ocean and I'd never left Kenya not even to cross the border to Uganda.

"Now you're here. How about a song?"I repeated again before it got awkward.

"Yes please. What do you want to hear babe?"Evelyn asked Brian.

"You choose."He smiled at her.

"So many to chose from. How about you surprise us Nala."She suggested.

"Okay, please sit."I directed them.

Both of them sat down and I got ready to play Love Nwantiti by Ckay. I plucked my strings with my fingers to make sure the violin was still properly tuned before I lifted it to my shoulder and started humming the song to get in my groove. Once my bow hit the strings, it was note after note of the beautiful masterpiece I'd practiced relentlessly for this event.

When I was done I opened my eyes and looked at Brian and Evelyn who were smiling at me.

"You really are as good as they say."Evelyn admitted clapping for me.

"Thank you, I'm glad you liked it."I replied proud of myself.

Brian was about to talk when I saw the manager motioning me over.

"I'd like to talk more but duty calls. I hope to see you guys again before the night is over. It was nice to run into you again monkey. You have a lovely lady, take care of her. Nice meeting you Evelyn, have a great night. Happy valentines."I rushed out.

"Pleasure was all mine."Evelyn answered.

"Come say hello to everyone when you're free. We have a reservation in one of the conference rooms."Brian requested me.

"I will."I replied smiling at him.

I bowed playfully and skipped off to see the hotel manager. He informed me that I had two more private table requests then I had to perform a couple of songs for the whole restaurant. I didn't mind that since I'd already had my break.

The couples I was playing for requested Meant To Be by Bebe Rexha and My Person by Spencer Crandall. The songs I was playing weren't random. I didn't know all songs so I'd provided a playlist I could play to all the tables and they chose from it.

For the general performance I decided to go old school by playing All of me by John Legend. I loved that song and it was one of the few first one's I'd ever learnt to play on the violin.

My small make shift stage allowed me a view of the door but those getting in couldn't see me. It was a good vantage point for me to see the new comers. I saw when Max arrived with his girl Yvonne. The manager showed them to the conference room since the maitre'd was busy with another table. A few minutes later after I'd switched to another song, Francis and his wife Louise arrived together with Owen and a beautiful lady on his arm. I didn't recognize her but I assumed she was the woman from his office that he was having a secret relationship with. That made a total of eight which was everyone since Brian had told me that Hunter wouldn't be joining them. I was disappointed since I had the urge see him even if I'd been the once to chase him away. But I was more relieved than happy because seeing him would have complicated things.

I got another table request in the middle of playing Love like This by Ben Rector. I nodded letting them know that I would join them soon and proceeded to finish the song. Just before I could get off the stage the manager walked in with the one person I'd asked the universe to keep away from me.

Hunter.

He looked handsome as always in a three piece charcoal grey suit with a white shirt, red tie and red pocket square. I felt my heart call out and yearn for him but I held back. What threw me off was the beautiful lady on his arm wearing a short red dress with white polka dots. She was smiling at him and he had his hand around her waist. They weren't family, you didn't hold family like that. She was looking at him the same way I had been looking at him a few weeks back, like he was God's greatest creation.