Diarmuid had initially been indifferent toward the entire event, but looked upstage when Mark prompted him.
Beneath the chandelier, a gorgeous figure sat elegantly before the piano.
He raised his brow in surprise.
To think that Abigail would show up at a place like this… and to think that she could play the piano!
“Ms. Bernstein is really multi-talented,” Mark added. “My wife’s been telling me that she is a fine dancer too.”
At the same time, Diarmuid’s gaze was glued to the stage.
As Abigail placed her long, thin fingers gently atop the piano keys, she seemed to relax her entire body. Her fingertips pressed down ever so slightly, and with the ring of the first key, a comforting rhythm quickly followed with perfect harmony…
Mark was not well-versed with the piano, but he was eager to share his delight with Diarmuid. “I’ve really worked so hard to develop the medicine, and things would not have been done so quickly if not for the huge investment you put into the later phases!”
Naturally, Diarmuid was in attendance because he was an investor in Dorime Pharmaceuticals, owning both a vote. and company shares.
“There will be further discussions on the pricing of our anti-cancer medicine… I wonder if you can make some time the day after tomorrow?”
Diarmuid, however, had no interest in his ramblings —both his heart and eyes were fixed on the stage.
While Mark could not tell, Diarmuid knew that Abigail was playing Variations on the Kanon, which happens to fit the night’s event.
The rhythm almost seemed bewitching, as if telling the audience that nothing was impossible-that perseverance would eventually realize dreams.
It was also the first time Diarmuid was looking directly at her, and he must admit that she was talented.
She was certainly not just a pretty face–she was a doctor, a dancer, and a pianist.
If Diarmuid was not listening with his own ears, he would not have believed she could play the piano so immaculately.
Soon, however, her performance was over, and the audience applauded her warmly… though there were not that many who truly enjoyed it, since the advanced understanding of music might require a better mind.
Still, there was a man in glasses who clapped especially enthusiastically for Abigail, seemingly because he understood her performance.
He then approached Mark and asked, “Hey boss, is the pianist one of the dance instructors at your wife’s studio?
“She used to be, but she left,” Mark replied. “She just came by today as a stand-in.”
“Does she have a boyfriend?” The man in glasses then pressed.
Diarmuid turned to the man right then, and his expression darkened—the man was adjusting his glasses, and he clearly looked interested in Abigail.
Before Mark could answer, however, Diarmuid said, “She’s married.”
Mark was shocked. “Could you have been mistaken, Mr. Althoff? She told my wife that she did not have a boyfriend when she asked… So how could she be married?
On the other hand, the man in glasses appeared utterly infatuated. “She’s not only beautiful… but she’s also perfect with the piano.”
Then, he straightened himself, seemingly ready to head backstage and ask Abigail for her number.
As a man himself, Diarmuid knew very well what the man was planning.
He sprang to his feet. “Something came up. I’m leaving.”
“But we’re just starting…” Mark began, and abruptly noticed the icy look on Diarmuid’s face, and promptly stopped himself. “I will walk you out.”
“Is that man with glasses an employee of yours?” Diarmuid asked as they headed outside.
“He’s a technician,” Mark replied. “He graduated with honors, and I had to poach him with a high salary from another pharmaceutical company. In the research effort, he-”
“That’s enough,” Diarmuid growled.
He was not actually in the mood to listen.
At the same time, Mark also realized that he had been exceedingly talkative because of the day’s excitements, and hence stayed silent.
As Diarmuid stepped out of the building, he called Zachary and asked for Abigail’s number, before calling her from his car.
Abigail changed out of her gown and stepped out of the dressing room when a man in glasses appeared out of nowhere, saying, “You played very well.”
“Thank you.” She smiled politely.
As she headed outside, the man followed and asked, “Are you free for the night? Would you like to catch a movie with me?”
That was when Abigail’s phone rang.
When she answered, a deep voice growled from the other end, “Stay away from that man-do not give him your number or agree to going on a date with him. And get out of the building right now.”
Abigail was utterly confused. What was going on here?
Still, she left the building and found Diarmuid’s car waiting.
It was only then that Abigail suddenly remembered that Diarmuid was an investor in Mark‘s business, and it was natural that he would be present today.
She massaged her temples. How could she have forgotten about that?
“Get over here!” Diarmuid barked over the phone.
“Got it,” she said, and put away the phone while telling the man with glasses, “I‘m sorry, but I have something else to do– I have to go.”
With that, she hurried to the car waiting by the road, but just as she reached the handle for the rear door, Diarmuid snapped, “Ride shotgun.”
Abigail reluctantly got in the front passenger seat, and she barely sat down when Diarmuid asked impatiently, “Can‘t you quit messing around, Abigail Bernstein?”
Abigail frowned, thinking once again that he was crazy.
How was she messing around? How did she manage to upset him again?
Putting on her seatbelt , she simply said, “Please don‘t create an argument out of nothing.”
In truth, Diarmuid himself did not know what was happening just then–he was quick to anger whenever he was around her.
He never had peace ever since he met her!
Still, he restrained his anger and said, “Don‘t tell others that you‘re not married.”
Abigail did not want to upset him, and since she was running away anyway, she did not mind leaving a good impression.
“Fine. Whatever you say goes.”
Diarmuid‘s frown eased right then, and delight showed on his face.
For once, they were coexisting peacefully as they headed back to the mansion.
However, when the car stopped and Abigail was about to get off, Diarmuid suddenly caught her wrist.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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