Milo's POV:

"Would you stop pacing?" Owen asked, hunched over the table in my office writing notes.

"Where is she? I don't have time for this," I grumbled. Emery was supposed to be here in half an hour and more than thirty minutes had passed.

"Relax, it's only been a little more than thirty minutes and we don't know where she's coming from," Owen reasoned, tapping his pen on the table thoughtfully.

"Can't you do your work in your own office?" I scowled, pausing in front of him with crossed arms.

"And leave your poor assistant to deal with you alone?" Owen scoffed, rolling his eyes and scribbling on the paper in front of him.

I glared at him then continued pacing. It seemed like an eternity before my phone rang. Owen and I glanced at each other briefly before I picked up the phone, already seeing it was my assistant from the caller ID.

"Yes?" I answered.

"Sir, there's a woman on the phone for you..." she started.

"Is it the girl that's supposed to show up?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even. I didn't have time for this shit. I had endless meetings ahead of me today.

"No sir, it's a woman claiming to be family," she said uncertainly. Family. Fuck no. I would not fall for her bullshit again. "She said her name is Hele-" I fucking know her name and she's not welcome.

"I have no interest," I interrupted. "You know I have no family, just hang up on her and block the number."

"I'm sorry sir, it's just that she knew an awful lot of information about you so-"

"I said hang up and block the number," I snapped. "If she calls again, block it again."

"Yes, sir," Mary said, hanging up the phone.

"What was that about?" Owen asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing," I said quickly, straightening out my suit. "You know how people are always looking for handouts. Just some psycho pretending we have a family connection when we don't."

"I can't stand people like that," Owen said, shaking his head. "Fucking gold-diggers."

He had noidea.

There was a knock on my door. I paused and stared at the door for a moment before glancing at Owen.

"Well? Answer it," he said with urgency, standing from the table and buttoning his suit jacket. "It's probably Emery."

I strode to the door and opened it a crack. "What?" I asked, finding Mary on the other side.

"Sir, the girl you were expect— " she started.

"Yes, yes, send her in," I said, opening the door wider.

As I opened the door she came into view. She smiled nervously. "Hi, I-" she began

"You're late," I interrupted, opening the door wider and gesturing for her to come through.

"Sorry, it was kind of last minute," she responded with annoyance, stepping through the door.

"If," I started, placing my arm out to block her advancement. "It was too soon, you should say so. I don't have all day."

"If you don't have all day perhaps we shouldn't spend so much time on you wasting time telling me you have no time. Shall we get started?" She shot back, pushing my arm out of the way and moving forward.

I remained in place, momentarily stunned by her response. No one talked back to me. I turned on my heels and saw Owen quietly chortling. I narrowed my eyes and sighed, giving him a look that said don't. He threw his arms up in surrender and greeted Emery with a smile.

"So glad to see you again, Emery," he said, clasping both hands around hers. "I apologize for the late notice," he gave me a pointed look and I rolled my eyes. "But as you can see, we are anxious to be working with you. Please, have a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair at the table and pushing his papers into a disorganized pile.

Emery sat and Owen made his way to my bar cart. He glared at me and nodded his head towards the table where Emery sat. I groaned internally and made my way over, taking the seat across from her and resting my hand on the table. I absently tapped on the surface while reanalyzing her. She had her legs crossed and it drew attention to the shoes she was wearing. I outwardly sighed and shook my head. How could she think that was appropriate attire if she was going to be a professional musician? The people she'd be dealing with would be too petty to even consider her dressed like that.

"Emery, a drink?" Owen asked.

"A drink?" Emery asked in surprise.

"Perhaps if Miss Barner doesn't understand the concept of a day drink we could just skip ahead to the heart of the matter. A matter which also includes discussing what we are going to do about this," I said, sitting forward in my chair and gesturing to her shoes then her dress, both of which would never pass in a professional setting in front of a director.

"Milo," Owen scolded.

Emery laid her eyes on me and settled on a glare, squaring her shoulders and turning in her seat until she faced me head on. "Perhaps if you're incapable of being a decent human being I should just go. I was merely surprised that two supposed professionals would have a drink at an hour where they're so busy they can't wait an extra three minutes for someone. Yet here you are, having enough extra time to not only be insulting, but drink away your rich troubles and be a total ass," she finished, rising from her seat and maintaining eye contact. "Good day, Mr. Merker," she addressed Owen but never broke eye contact with me.

It wasn't until she turned and headed towards the door that the eye contact broke. I rolled my eyes at her response. "Sit down," I ordered.

She paid no attention and kept walking towards the door.

"I said, sit down Miss Barner," I repeated, rising from my chair.

"I'm not a lapdog," she snapped, opening the door then slamming it shut once on the other side.

"Milo, come on!" Owen groaned, throwing his arms up in exasperation.

"She was wasting time," I argued. "And she's incredibly disrespectful," I added, moving towards the bar cart.

"She was disrespectful? That's hilarious, Milo, really," Owen laughed without humor and moved to the table, piling his papers up.

"How was I disrespectful? You have to know she couldn't get away wearing clothes like that if we got her an audition," I said, shaking my head as he picked up his papers. "Where are you going? We have to figure this out, now," I said, frowning.

"No, Milo. I'm sorry the assistant I hired screwed up. But Emery was gold, and you screwed that up. You're not going to find someone like her. You're just mad she doesn't cower like everyone else does around you. Grow the fuck up," Owen snapped.

He went towards the door and in the same manner as Emery slammed it shut once he was out. I stared at the slammed door and tried to be angry. The truth was Owen didn't get really mad at me unless he was in the right. And that irritated the hell out of me. Maybe there was merit to what he said but there had to be someone just as good as Emery that was more submissive, knew how to dress to impress and had less attitude.

"Mary!" I yelled.

It was only a few seconds before the door opened and my assistant, Mary, peaked her head around the corner.

"Yes, sir?" She asked.

"Get Henry on the phone. Tell him it's an emergency," I said, making my way to the bar cart.

Mary nodded and exited. I barely finished pouring a drink when my office phone rang. I sat at my desk and picked it up.

"Henry?" I questioned.

"What can I do for you Mr. Sanders?" Henry answered.

"I need a quiet audition for cellists. Only good ones. For an hour ago," I explained, sipping my scotch.

"That's not going to be easy, but... give me an hour. Absolutely no explanation here?" He asked.

"Nothing that could possibly link this back to me," I answered. The last thing I needed was the press talking about how I had no one to perform at the charity event.

"You got it. See you in about an hour," he responded.

"Less," I answered.

"... Yes, sir," he responded after a pause.

We hung up and I finished off my drink then stood. Owen would get over his heartbreak from losing Emery. I would find someone better. There had to be another gem out there.

Or at least, I hoped there was. A couple hours and several awful auditions later, I sat in my seat at the theater with my head in my hands and my patience slipping. This was bullshit. Damn Owen's assistant for fucking this up. My work was piling up while I was wasting time on this shit.

"I thought Odette was lovely," Henry tried.

"She was pitiful. You can't just have mechanics or just heart. There needs to be both," I explained, slamming my hands on the table.

Henry jumped slightly and adjusted his chair just a little farther away from me. "Okay, Mr. Sanders. I think you'll really like this next one. His name i- "

"I don't give a shit what his name is. I give a shit if he's any good," I interrupted.

Henry cleared his throat and called out "next" while I placed my head in my hands again and waited for the music to start. As soon as it did I groaned and shook my head.

"He's barely begun, give him a chance," Henry whispered cautiously.

"I've heard enough," I hissed. I could feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. It had barely stopped. The amount of calls I had to return and emails and texts... I just didn't have time for this. "No, that's all we need. Next," I called out.

The man on stage grumbled and Henry apologized but I paid no attention. After a few moments the next person started. As if fate had cursed me, it was the very song Emery played at the restaurant. All the notes were correct but it was lacking. It was lacking the heart and soul that Emery had.

"Enough," I mumbled, shaking my head.

"Mr. Sanders, this is the last person I have for you," Henry stated nervously.

"Doesn't matter. I have someone better," I stood and adjusted the sleeves on my suit jacket. "I have to go... Do something I loathe," I sighed.

I made my way out of the theater while Henry apologized to the cellists he had lined up. I hated to admit it but Owen was right. There wasn't going to be another Emery and trying to find a replacement was wasting more time that I didn't have.

I made it outside and had my driver take me to the restaurant I saw Emery play. I figured there was a good chance she would be working and I was hoping I was wrong about her. Maybe I had imagined how good she was. Maybe I would arrive and find her playing just as mediocre as the performances I had to suffer through tonight.

I arrived at the restaurant and requested a table next to the live music but as isolate as possible. They seated me in a corner that was darker than most the others which was preferable, she may not notice me here.

I ordered a glass of wine and sat up straighter as the pianist made his way towards the piano. Then I saw her, dressed in the same black dress and heels as the first time I saw her. Her hair was down tonight, pushed to one side. I ignored the part of my brain that noticed how lovely her hands were as she sat and placed them on the cello.

Emery began to play Chopin's Nocturne No. 2 with the piano accompanying and that was it. All hopes I had of being mistaken by her talent were shattered the moment she started to play. I listened to several people in the last few hours and not one of them had an ounce of what she had. It was as if every feeling she had was communicated through the way she worked the cello. The music flowed through her as if they were one being, nothing had every sounded so enchanting.

I sat in the chair for what felt like seconds but couldn't have been with the amount of songs she played. All ones I recognized, all ones I loved. She had made her way through some of my favorites – Bach, Debussy, Brahms, more Saint-Saëns. It wasn't until the peeved waiter tried harder to get my attention that I realized the restaurant was about to close. I didn't mean to completely ignore the server, I just couldn't help but get lost in her music. Classical music was my favorite thing in the world and she played it annoyingly well.

I watched as she stood and said goodbyes to the pianist which meant I had to act quickly, no more putting it off. I stood and had a thousand and one things float through my mind but it all pointed to the same conclusion: she was going to be a pain to work with, but dammit she was worth it.

A/N:

Heyyy loves! Here's the bonus chapter as promised. Let me know what you thought and also thanks for 3k reads!!!

Ooof, Milo and Emery are NOT off to a great start 😅 how long before you think they'll start getting along?

Well, Milo's plan to find someone else backfired pretty quick 😂 He deserved it tho 🤷‍♀️

How do you think this next conversation will go?

See you Saturday, loves! ❤