Unfinished Sympathy (Absolution Book 1)

by Amélie S. Duncan

  Paul didn’t even look at him.

  “I mean, I had other musical ideas we could’ve used if someone had asked me,” Daniel added.

  “Like what?” I pressed.

  Daniel glared at me. “Ryan?”

  “I’m sure we can present Daniel’s ideas later,” Ryan said, smiling at his protégé, who sat up taller. “Aubrey has an academic view of the poem. I still believe it doesn’t work well with the game. We’d need to change the song. Logan?”

  All of us stared at Logan, waiting for him to give the final word. Like all things with Logan, I prepared for the worse.

  “Sorry, Ryan, but I have to agree with Aubrey. The mood and tone of the music are respectful and fit perfectly with the game. The poem shows consideration and thought, and I doubt the casual gamer will look deep into the song.”

  I pressed my lips together. They wouldn’t, unless a pompous think-piece by a pathetic nerd highlighted it.

  “My only concern is that this song stands out from the rest,” Logan continued. “I know you told us before you performed that it is a work-in-progress, but it feels much more mainstream than the other songs which blend well with the brand.”

  “Every game needs to compete with the rest,” I pointed out. “There has to be something that compliments the scenes without taking the player away from the game. That’s the rest of the accompaniment so far. However, the goal is to use Paul’s popularity to sell more games and draw mass attention to the release. This song has a commercial appeal and would be a great showpiece for advertising and marketing to the public.”

  “It complements scenes, I suppose,” Daniel spoke out. “But I believe, like Ryan, something else would be better.”

  “You have ideas?” I took out my notepad. “Please, share.”

  “This isn’t the time for it,” Ryan said, his eyes narrowing.

  “But this is our focus group on the music and game,” I pointed out. “Crane Productions is ready to take any necessary changes we at Emono want to make to satisfy your directive. Please continue, Daniel.”

  Daniel’s face turned red. “I don’t have the notes with me now, but I can bring them later.”

  “That’ll work,” Logan said and frowned at me.

  I jutted my chin. “If that is acceptable to Mr. Crane to wait on another focus meeting on the project.”

  Paul beamed at me. “Well, I see I don’t have to say a word. Aubrey is spot on.”

  “I agree,” Gary said, his eyes shifting between Paul and me. “She sounds more and more like you, Paul. I believe this experience has been an influence on your work, Aubrey.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek. Although Gary’s tone was calm, it brought back what Ryan had said in the meeting with Yasmine in Human Resources about my relationship to Paul. While HR hadn’t called for another meeting after they’d found out I went to the hospital with him, I wouldn’t give them cause to criticize Paul.

  “Since Logan is aboard, I think we will leave the soundtrack as it stands, for now, leaving it open for more input from Daniel. Thank you, Paul. Phenomenal work,” Gary said.

  My pulse jumped, and I glanced over at Paul. The only irritation I could find was in the tightness of his smile. He wasn’t pleased.

  Ryan cleared his throat. “I have something else to add. Since everything is well in hand, I believe we can move to the second phase of the work with Crane Productions. It appears things are well ahead of our schedule. Aubrey and Daniel can cut their time here; we sure could use them back at Emono. Though I understand Aubrey is taking leave for all of next week?”

  “I’ll be out four days,” I confirmed. The first time I’d taken off since I’d started.

  “I’ll divide my time while she’s gone,” Daniel said.

  “I’d prefer you worked at Emono,” Paul told him. “We’ll be fine while Aubrey is on vacation.”

  “Is this because I didn’t like the song you and Aubrey spent all the time in the practice room for?” Daniel said. His tone implied there was more going on between us. A Hail Mary to save himself because he’d done none of the work. He was and would remain firmly in my don’t-like-at-all column.

  “Putting in the time to perfect a song is what it takes for it to sell millions,” Paul said icily. “Time management wasn’t something I thought you’d bring up, but now that you have, I had issues with you abandoning every task I gave you except the ones where you could hang out with the artists. We could also discuss how you spent most of your time at the gym and on lunch. Should I go on?”

  “No,” Daniel said, clenching his jaw some more. “I felt you only wanted to work with Aubrey. I tried to work with you, but you spent every day with her.”

  Daniel blaming the client wasn’t a good look, and I masked the pleasure I felt at Paul burning Daniel to cinders. However, as usual, Ryan had to give his spin.

  “Sorry, Paul,” Ryan said. “It was my fault. I needed Daniel to work on the game, and I may have made him divide his time more than Aubrey. I’ve never had problems with Daniel’s work, and I wish you’d have brought your issues to us. I’d have rectified things and helped Daniel meet your needs, but classical music isn’t a forte for most of us. He was right to take a step back for what could become the title track.”

  Gary frowned. “I hadn’t been informed your issues weren’t being addressed. There seems to have been a miscommunication between HR and the team. You were all to follow our agreement with Crane Productions on time and management. Apologies to you, Paul.”

  “We’re sorry, Mr. Crane,” Logan added. “Since Daniel isn’t working out, I’ll come over personally to oversee whatever task Aubrey was working on with you so that her absence won’t leave you behind.”

  I frowned. The problem had become my time off and not Daniel.

  “You’re needed at Emono, Logan,” Ryan said to him, and smiled. “I’d be more than happy to help out here. Please, Aubrey, if you’d just leave one of your work lists? I’ll see to it.”

  “I believe the staff would have a list of what’s pressing,” I said.

  Ryan looked more and more puzzled. “So, you don’t have work assigned here? Okay.”

  “I do,” I said. “It’s led by what’s needed and set by the audio and sound department.”

  “Since we are ahead, I think we can do without for four days,” Paul announced. “If there’s an issue, I’ll have my staff place you as our first contact, Ryan.”

  “Thank you, Paul,” Gary said, putting on a smile. “If it’s all right, I’d like Aubrey and Daniel to sit in on the next meeting I have today. Congratulations. I’m really excited about our team and Absolution.”

  The meeting was over, and they broke into small discussions before the next meeting started. It was a meeting with business representatives, shareholders, and investors. I didn’t have much to share, but Gary referred to me enough to make me feel like I was a prop more than valued for my feedback. He was selling the game more than the soundtrack. Daniel sat cool as a cucumber, not being asked a thing. I felt deflated and went to my office to pack up my things.

  Paul came inside and closed the door. His presence still brought on a lurch of excitement. There was an intensity that was intimate now. I’d lost track of how many times we had sex the night I couldn’t go through with my date. Every time I reached for him, he was right there to take me in his arms and fulfill my every need. I was happy to see him, but not as confident in our presentation with the team.

  “I’m so proud of you,” he said.

  “Why? They were being nice, but they’ll probably cut the song,” I said gloomily.

  “If they do, it’ll be fine,” he said hugging me. “I still love it, and so do Cara and Recon. We’ve each sold millions of songs. So, what does that tell you?”

  “That Emono is playing politics,” I said, and he squeezed me.

  “I accept my clients wishes, good or bad. Just because they pass on a song doesn’t mean it’s not good,” he said. “You made it good.”

&n
bsp; I sighed heavily. “I really want to win.”

  “You’re upset, but I assure you that you did,” he said, and let me go. “They tried to break you, but you were a mountain.”

  I smiled. I had surprised myself with my determination. If I had prepared, I’d have overthought and been less forthright. “Thank you.”

  He touched my chin. “I can’t wait to see you tonight. I’ll ride with you and Regan to the airport.”

  “Should I still go?” I pushed my hair back. “It’s not a job anymore, and now that Emono warned me about our relationship and the way Gary acted today….”

  “I’ve listed this job through a private company,” he said. “No one can link you to it, and before you tell me how bad this all is, we fly separate and meet up in Prague. You’re covered. And if anything should happen, I’ll settle it with Gary Sato himself.”

  “Gary seems less keen on the soundtrack, and on you,” I said, and bit my lip.

  He smirked. “He hasn’t canceled, and you can’t live always preparing for things to fall apart. I’m not letting Gary or Emono spoil my time with you playing Beethoven in Prague.”

  He kissed my worried brow and winked at me before he left.

  A few minutes later, I packed up and left the office. On the street, I saw Logan, Daniel, and Gary taking a cab back to Emono without me. They hadn’t even asked if I wanted to ride back with them.

  I’d won, but what had I lost?

  Aubrey

  “Why haven’t you packed?” Destiny asked, eyeing my empty suitcases from the hallway. “Isn’t Paul picking you up soon?”

  “I don’t know,” I said, and pulled my legs up under me.

  “Is it because you’re worried about someone finding out at Emono?” she asked. “It sounds like you’re covered, but then, it’s Emono.”

  “I am worried, but not just about that,” I replied. “The presentation went well, but Ryan and Daniel were asses. Gary was suspicious of Paul and me. I don’t know…Paul doesn’t seem worried. All he wants to do is go to Prague.”

  “You mean all he wants to do is spend time with you?” Destiny said, the corner of her lips turned upward.

  “Yeah, it’s as if he doesn’t care anymore about the project.” I blew out my breath in frustration.

  Destiny shook her head. “No, I’m sure Paul does. I don’t believe a man of Paul’s caliber would risk his name or his powerful clientele if he wasn’t a hundred percent behind the soundtrack. He’s focused on what he believes is more important.” She poked my side.

  I went quiet for a minute. She had a point. “Okay, maybe he wants to just spend time with me, but he keeps pushing me with the violin. It’s as if he wants to turn me into something I don’t want to be anymore.”

  I heard the lie in what I told her and stopped speaking. I wanted to play, and the more I did, the deeper I fell in love with the violin again.

  “Then tell him you don’t want to play anymore,” she said. “Refuse.”

  I shook my head. “That’s the problem, I can’t. I can’t stop wanting to please him. I care about what he feels and thinks. In some ways, I feel I know him well, but in other ways, I don’t, but I really want to know everything about him. He keeps changing my world and I keep running after him. He keeps pushing deeper into my life, and he scares me. The sex didn’t feel like just sex, and now the thought of him leaving my life makes me feel… sick.” So utterly alone and empty.

  Destiny’s expression switched from concerned to blissful. Something I’d seen before after watching a romance movie with her.

  I shook my head. “It’s much too soon for anything other than him driving me crazy. I’m worried that he has an expectation I can’t fulfill, and he’ll move on.”

  “Or could it be that you’re afraid you’ll fall in love and he’ll leave you? We all have the same fear. I bet he’s scared you’ll do the same,” she said.

  “I wouldn’t.” I laid back on my bed. “Maybe we should agree not to fall in love. I don’t want to be hurt, and I don’t want to hurt him.”

  “That’s like asking the sun not to shine,” she said. “You want to put up walls to protect yourself. It will push you two further apart and you’ll lose him.”

  Destiny’s melancholic tone made me sit up to look at her. For the first time in forever, she wasn’t smiling.

  I hugged her. “What’s wrong? Let me help.”

  “I’m fine but trust me when I say I understand what you’re going through,” she said when she released me. “I will tell you what I wish I had told myself: Go all in with him, don’t hold back. Anything less you’ll regret forever. Think of the trip as outside of time. All your baggage is back here. It’s why I love my job and traveling. Every place is an adventure. I’ll probably move abroad soon.”

  My heart ached, and I instantly felt nauseated. “Please, not too soon.”

  “Not yet,” she replied and hugged my shoulder. “Prague is high on my list of places to live. It’s fairytale-like in its beauty. You’ll make love all day.”

  Destiny snuck in the “love” word, but her expression was wistful. I wasn’t sure if she was talking about Enzo. Though, whoever she was thinking about was her special secret, and respecting our ways with each other, I wouldn’t push. However, I decided that I couldn’t put off packing any longer and haphazardly threw clothes into my suitcase. She was right. I’d regret not going away with Paul. Though, having wasted time brooding, I didn’t have enough to pack at leisure.

  “Paul will be here in forty minutes,” I said. “I’d better hurry.”

  “Hurry doesn’t mean wearing mom pants,” she said, snatching the first pair of jeans I’d put into the suitcase. “Your dark jeans look much better than these frumpy things.”

  We rushed between closets until Destiny had me coordinated for day and evening wear. When we finished, she said, “If you decide to come home, call me. I’ll have you booked back without question.”

  I was so full of emotion that my eyes stung with unshed tears. We hugged each other after the bell sounded, alerting us that Paul and Regan had arrived. I was more or less ready for our trip.

  Through the glass, I could see Paul standing out front when I reached the lobby. He was a striking force that attracted stares from those around him, though he remained impassive. That is, until he saw me. The air electrified and my heart thudded as I watched his face transform into what I could only describe as pure joy. It brought back the swell of emotion I had felt upstairs. With his keen awareness, he instantly picked up on it.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, gently cupping my chin.

  “Destiny may move away. She’s like a sister…. The sister I wished I had. Mu sister Faith and I have never been close,” I said, and sighed. “How is your dad?”

  “Recovering, and we’re all grateful for that,” He said, and kissed my forehead. “I’m sorry about your friend. Seeing your sad face had me worried you were having second thoughts about the trip. If you are, we can talk about it.”

  “Actually, I am nervous. I never went on a trip before with someone I’m dating—or are we dating? I mean I know I’m taking your assistant’s place….” I jabbered, or was I fishing? What I needed was his reassurance.

  His lips spread into a smile that made me weak. “I didn’t invite you only for work. I invited you so we can spend uninterrupted time alone. There was no one else I wanted with me but you.”

  A shiver of delight went through me. He was being romantic. I greeted Regan and handed my luggage to him, and Paul and I slid into the back seat.

  “All you want to do is visit the tourist sites?” I teased him playfully.

  “Not the whole time,” he squeezed my knee. “We’ll enjoy each other. We haven’t discussed this before, but are you on birth control? I’ve been medically screened. I’ve no diseases.”

  “Yes, I am,” I said. “I’m also clear. I want to…” My body clenched in lust at the thought of feeling Paul inside me with nothing on.

  “I do,
too,” he said, and kissed me.

  “I still have the film to work on. It’ll take up two days and involve rehearsals for a performance reenactment. I’d love for you to be a part of it if you can.”

  “Will I get to dress up in corsets and powdered wigs?” I asked.

  “Eighteenth-century costumes,” he replied. “It’s a reenactment of Beethoven’s private performance for Prince Karl Lichnowsky. Historians will complain about accuracy, but Sophie, the director, is a romantic and music rebel. She’s not only interested in tradition. What she wants is originality. What’s old is new.”

  “You’re an original, like all the great composers,” I said. “I couldn’t think of anyone better.”

  “I love how highly you esteem me. I think highly of you, too. There’s no other music that captivates me like yours. I told her I’ll only perform with my muse.” He kissed my wrist.

  My heart turned over. How he could make me happy and sad, I didn’t know. I didn’t understand his obsession with my violin or where I came in, if the violin was no longer between us and I didn’t play, but I let him tuck me into his side for the ride. Perhaps we felt differently. When I thought of Paul, it wasn’t only his music and its production that came to mind. It was the driven multi-talented man I talked and joked with. The wonderful, loving man who was protective, who championed my work, and who touched my body as if he cherished it.

  We had to separate at the airport as part of our cover. Paul kissed me deeply and instructed Regan what to do when we arrived in Prague. We were flying separately, and I missed him when I had to let him go.

  If I’d thought ahead of time, I’d worry how I’d handle such a long flight. However, Regan had a box full of books Paul had picked for me from his library along with Dead Pool 1 and 2. His attention to detail was charming, and even though I sat back in the comfort of the private plane and reclined on the plush chairs, I missed him. My nerves and excitement kept me awake for a while, though I fell asleep just before landing. Regan roused me, and we touched down on the tarmac, early in the morning of the next day. Paul was there when we landed, waiting with his arms open, which I instantly rushed forward to fill. After collecting my luggage, we rode on the highway until we reached the center of town close to dawn.