Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“Thanks.”
Soon, she lifted her cello from the hard industrial case and stationed herself in a chair from the table. She added another chair for Jeremiah a small distance from hers and one more to hold music if he brought something he wanted to work on.
Phoenix got one kiss before she tried to shoo him out of the conference room so she could warm up before the young boy arrived with his parents. “Be careful,” he growled before leaving.
“Always, Daddy.”
Chapter Ten
Lyra stretched after Jeremiah’s parents guided the excited young man out of the room. He had been as talented as she’d expected. With a focus that was rare in a five-year-old, Jeremiah had absorbed her suggestions and immediately made subtle and big changes to how he played. They’d ended by playing a piece completely through together.
To her surprise, she’d enjoyed working with the child more than she’d ever thought she would. Perhaps if she weren’t traveling so much, she’d have time to work sporadically with talented students like Jeremiah. His parents would certainly love that and be willing to pay her fees.
Caught up in her thoughts, Lyra stowed her cello in the large travel case. Inspired, she wanted to play more. A look out the windows told her it was a beautiful day outside. She could play under the trees in an open space. Would Phoenix allow that?
Stiffening her spine, Lyra pushed that thought out of her mind. She’d allowed Boyd to make all the decisions about her life. Lyra wouldn’t allow another to step into his place. She shuddered at the memory of being locked in the hotel room. That skyrocketed her desire to escape outside.
Lyra lifted her cello and rolled it into the lobby.
“Hey, Lyra,” Sadie greeted her as she hurried out from behind the desk to join her.
“Hi, Sadie. Do you mind if I play outside under one of those big trees?”
Sadie’s face lit up. “That would be amazing.” She glanced around as if to make sure no one was listening. “But I’m not sure the Daddies would approve.”
Lyra drew in a breath. “I don’t see why not. I mean, they kicked Boyd off the property last night. He left, right?”
“Yeah, but…” Sadie chewed on her bottom lip, obviously concerned.
Lyra stood taller. She wanted to take her life back. She’d been under Boyd’s thumb for far too many years. “I fired him. I even put it in writing. He left. Hopefully, he won’t come back. Besides, even if he did, it’s not like he would walk up to me in the middle of a crowd and kidnap me so he can force me to play music in Japan. That’s going too far. He’s just going to have to cancel the concerts he set up and make his own excuses. He dug that hole when he didn’t ask me first. I’m not his toy.”
Lyra felt stronger by the moment as she verbalized her feelings. She was so totally done with Boyd. She needed to call her accountant, Tracy, and tell her to take Boyd off the payroll immediately. Boyd needed to move on with his life. Lyra was done with him.
Sadie looked around. “I guess you’re right. Let me get someone to help at the front desk, and I’ll come outside with you. I bet if you set up under a tree, people will flock over to listen. Maybe I should find some blankets they can sit on. It’s a beautiful day out.” Sadie turned and hurried back to the reception area.
Lyra grinned. She was loving this idea. She couldn’t remember when she’d been able to play under such carefree circumstances. Maybe never. She loved the cello, and she had since before she’d been large enough to get her arms around it.
For years, Lyra had been tethered to a tight schedule, playing all over the world with very few breaks. Because she loved to play, she’d never put up a fight to assert her independence. But enough was enough. She needed to reclaim her life.
Making her feel even more secure about her decision was the addition of Phoenix and the rest of his makeshift family. They were all so happy and cheerful. She found herself jealous of their life and wanting a piece of it.
It would seem she could have this life, too. Phoenix was adamant that she was his. Could it really be true? Could she have a new life here with him? What about her music? Where would she play if she stayed here?
It was too soon to be thinking that far ahead. She hadn’t even been here two full days. Still, so much had changed in that time.
Sadie returned a few minutes later, yanking Lyra out of her thoughts. “Okay, I got someone to handle the front desk and found someone else to bring out some blankets. Let’s go outside.”