Chapter 85 The Girl Who Secretly Played the Piano
Chapter 85 The Girl Who Secretly Played the Piano
The girl appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, dressed in a poorly fitting maid outfit.
Her face looked plain, but panic and confusion were written all over it, her eyes red as if tears were on the brink.
"Sorry, Mr. Bales, I... I couldn't help but play the piano when I saw it..." The girl's voice was barely above a whisper, tinged with grievance.
Frank scrunched his brow, his voice deep and quick, "What's the harm in playing the piano? Why the tough act? Don't scare her!"
Victoria and Adrian exchanged a knowing smile. Men of their age always liked to play the hero in front of young women.
The head manager of Gaya Music Hall, Gary Bales, spun around to face Frank and Adrian. The anger on his face melted into a servile smile as he nodded and bowed.
"Mr. Beckett is right, I was too harsh, I'll do better in the future!"
Ignoring him, Frank spoke gently to the girl, "Don't worry, such a beautiful piece of music, it would be a shame not to finish it."
"Why are you just standing there? Keep playing!" Gary urged the girl, noticing her hesitation.
The girl timidly glanced at Frank, then sneakily at Adrian and Victoria beside him, before nervously returning to the piano.
Gary tactfully moved aside, not daring to say another word.
The girl's delicate fingers found the keys, continuing the interrupted melody.
As the piece concluded, Frank led the applause.
Victoria nudged Adrian lightly with her elbow, whispering, "I never knew Mr. Beckett had a soft spot."
Adrian's eyes behind his glasses gleamed with a touch of sarcasm, "Soft spot? He's just eyeing that young girl."
Entering the private room, a lavish feast awaited them.
The girl who had just played the piano returned to serve. She entered with a tray of red wine, keeping her head down as she poured for the three of them.
Frank's eyes lit up instantly, motioning for the girl, "Come here, young lady."
The girl approached, still a bit shy, her head lowered.
"What's your name?" Frank inquired.
"I... I'm Cheryl Griffin," the girl's voice quivered.
"A lovely name," Frank grinned, his eyes narrowing, "Miss Griffin, please pour me another glass."
Cheryl reached for the wine bottle, her hands trembling, causing some wine to spill on the tablecloth.
"Sorry! I'm sorry!" She paled in fear, quickly apologizing.
"It's okay!" Frank not only showed no anger but also took her hand, his large hand enveloping her delicate wrist, "Look at you, your hands are freezing. Are you not dressed warmly enough?"
Cheryl tried to retract her hand, but Frank held on tighter.
Adrian, appearing nonchalant, calmly sliced the steak, occasionally glancing up with an indifferent look as if it didn't faze him.
Victoria subtly furrowed her brow, discreetly taking out her phone and sending a message in her private chat room: [Progress is smooth.]
"Being a waitress here must be tough," Frank continued, "Have you ever considered a different job? I can help you."
"I... I don't need..." Cheryl began.
"Don't be too quick to say no," Frank reassured, patting her hand, "If you impress me tonight and keep me happy, I can ensure you won't have to worry about money in the future."
The implications in his words were crystal clear.
Victoria set down her utensils, picked up her wine glass, and smiled at Frank, "Mr. Beckett, let's talk about our partnership first. Adrian has been gearing up for this collaboration for a while."
She adeptly steered the conversation.
When something is acquired too easily, it's often easily discarded once the initial excitement fades.
Proper groundwork must be laid before moving forward.
"Yes, Mr. Beckett. We touched on this briefly last time, but now we need to dive deeper into it!" Adrian added.
Only then did Frank reluctantly let go of Cheryl's hand and started a casual business conversation with Adrian.
"Mr. Cross, if you want to collaborate with ApexForge Builders, you need to show some sincerity."
"Of course!"
Adrian and Frank's conversation wasn't very detailed; they were both speaking in veiled terms, testing each other's limits. Victoria didn't have much to add and only occasionally chimed in.
Despite this, the rapport between the two men was positive, progressing smoothly, hinting at a genuine opportunity for collaboration.
However, this wasn't the outcome Victoria desired; she needed to secure land for Genesis Corporation and establish herself among the city's elite.
But this required meticulous planning, and she wasn't in a hurry.
While dining with Adrian and Frank, she could accurately assess the advancement of their collaboration, making it easier for her to devise a strategy.
After a satisfying meal, Frank proposed heading downstairs to the spa for relaxation.
"The massages here are fantastic, Miss Chase and Mr. Cross, you have to give them a try."
Victoria and Adrian naturally agreed.
After changing into robes, the three were escorted to a lavish private room.
A uniformed attendant entered, respectfully asking, "Miss, would you prefer a male or female therapist?"
Without hesitation, Victoria responded, "A female therapist."
Frank, on the side, let out a knowing chuckle, "Miss Chase, you're full of surprises. I didn't expect you to have such interesting preferences."
Victoria was puzzled by his remark; wasn't choosing a female therapist perfectly normal?
Turning to the attendant, Frank said, "Female therapist."
Adrian chimed in, "I'll also go with a female therapist."
The attendant then presented a tablet for each of them to select from photos.
Victoria, still perplexed, randomly picked a female therapist.
The room was dimly lit, filled with the soothing scent of aromatherapy that made one feel drowsy.
Victoria settled onto the plush massage bed, and soon, three female therapists entered, greeting her softly and saying, "We're here to take care of you."
Initially, the massage was standard, with just the right amount of pressure and skilled techniques, easing her tense muscles.
As Victoria started to unwind and almost doze off, the therapist's movements took a strange turn.
Her hands, initially on her back, began to slide down deliberately or accidentally, caressing her waistline and lingering in sensitive areas.
The fingertip actions shifted from mere pressure to teasing and suggestive gestures.
Victoria's body tensed up instantly, the drowsiness vanishing.
She snapped her eyes open, realizing the true meaning behind Frank's earlier question.
In this shady setting, the supposed "female therapist service" turned out to be this disgraceful form of erotic service!
Feeling sick to her stomach, Victoria couldn't bear it any longer.
She sat up abruptly, seizing the therapist's inappropriate hand, and asked coldly, "What do you think you're doing?"
Taken aback, the therapist stuttered, "I'm sorry, miss, did I use the wrong technique? Did I hurt you?"
Frank, who had been reclining, chuckled, "What's the matter, Miss Chase? Don't be so uptight, loosen up a bit!"
Victoria had been facing down the whole time and hadn't noticed the room's atmosphere had shifted to something lewd.
Now, she turned her head to see that Frank's robe had somehow come undone, exposing his flabby flesh.
And the young female therapist was kneeling beside him, deftly caressing his private parts.