His expression was devoid of emotion but his heart was tied in a knot. He had a crush on Merri when they were in High School. She was a freshman and he was a senior at the time. "I thought you were going to University." He heard her family situation wasn't good after her father died. Maybe she had to drop out.
She stood up, "I am. But I need money so I work here playing the piano. Are you going to the hospital in the morning?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, I will see you there."
He watched Merri leave and took out his phone, the veins on his neck were bulging thinking about the type of men that frequent The Black Swan. "Meet me at my apartment."
The man heard an announcement in the background and he had a faint smile, "K...Are you on a bus?"
"Yeah. I didn't want to see my brother so I didn't go by the mansion to grab a car."
The man threw a dart at a dartboard on his office wall."Why didn't you take a taxi? Or call me?"
I was going to take a taxi then I saw Merri Winslow running for the bus and impulsively hopped on behind her. Merri Winslow...
Merri was still a little apprehensive even after being reassured by Ivan. She also didn't want to see Danny thinking she had gone to his apartment. On the way to the Club she rehearsed what she would say when she saw Danny. Holding onto the door she took a deep breath then walked into the Club.
After walking to the staff room she opened her locker and put her purse inside. She took off her coat and scarf. As she hung them up one of the hostesses opened the locker next to her, "Hi Merri."
"Hi."
"One of my customers asked you to play Unforgettable. He is kind of shy and didn't want to ask you. Do you think you could? He gave me this to give you." She had a stack of money in her hand and pushed it towards Merri.
"I can't accept that much money. I am supposed to take requests from customers. Give it back to him and just tell him I would be happy to play any song he requests."
The voluptuous woman put her hand on Merri's shoulder. "He can afford it, believe me. Take it."
"No. I wouldn't feel right."
Darlene closed the locker, "Don't be foolish! It is a tip! Same as if he put it in your tip jar." He really enjoys listening to you play the piano. Sometimes I don't even have to serve him. He closes his eyes and falls asleep, muttering your fucking name!
"..."
Darlene puts the stack of bills into her hand, "He will be happy you accepted it."
"Well, okay. Be sure and tell him I said thank you. Or I could tell him myself if you point him out to me."
"Like I said, he is shy. I will tell him."
Merri opened her locker and put the money into her purse. I'm glad I came to work today. That looks like enough money to pay Myles tuition next semester.
Darlene had a strange gleam in her eyes as she left the staff room. Out of spite she kept half the money because to her Merri was an eyesore. Every time she served the handsome man he called out "Merri...Merri..." At first it bothered Darlene but she got used to it. She loved and hated him at the same time because he was gentle and treated her well, but was out of her reach.
She wrinkled her thin eyebrows together thinking about Merri. To think the heir to the Colton Group has such a pathetic side holding a secret crush on a girl that plays the piano for a bunch of drunks... I read he is going to marry Blair Pennington soon...I wonder if he will still come to the Club?
Merri walked out into the bar and sat at the piano. The first song she played was the one Darlene requested, Unforgettable...she smiled because that was one of the songs she played at a talent show in High School.
As she played she had a sweet smile on her face and upstairs, Zach Colton stood leaning on the railing outside his private room. Darlene walked over to him and held his arm, "Merri said to tell you thank you."
His deep blue eyes flickered, "You didn't tell her who gave the money did you?"
"Of course not. I know you are shy."
Zach kissed her forehead, "You know me so well."
Downstairs Alexi arrived with Bella and four of his bodyguards. He hesitated gazing at Merri then took long strides up the stairs. When he passed Zach Colton he saw the young heir to the Colton Group staring at Merri with an infatuated expression. and for some reason he was unhappy.
He entered the private room then called Ivan. "Don't you have a private room with a piano?"
"I do. Right now it is in use."
"Kick them out and send the woman downstairs to play for me."
Ivan usually will cater to Alexi but replied, "Can't. There is a private party for Hector Sanchez's birthday."
"So what. Do I need to clear them out myself?"
"Be reasonable for fuck's sake!" I don't need to provoke that little shit. He will run and tell his father and there will be problems.
"Forget it. I will take care of it myself."
"Alexi! I don't need any trouble!"
Ivan was pissed knowing Alexi would ignore him and do what he wanted. He set down the glass of wine he was sampling then dashed up the stairs but was too late. Alexi had already burst into the room with his bodyguards. The men and women were half naked, their bodies tangled together on the couches. The tables were littered with empty wine bottles and traces of white powder.
Alexi lazily waved the silver gun in his hand, "Party's over. Get out."
A pretty man tossed a woman whose breasts were exposed off his lap and stood up. He wasn't wearing a shirt, his belt was undone and his pants unzipped. The drunken man's eyes were glassy and his pupils dilated. He wiped the white powder off his nose with his finger then puffed put his chest as he sauntered over to Alexi.
Hector Sanchez snarled, "Do you know who I am?"
With the gun aimed at the man's crotch Alexi sneered, "A piss ant that needs to leave if he wants to keep his little dick."
The man's bodyguards rushed forward but were subdued by Alexi's men.
Hector Sanches snorted, then laughed, "You wouldn't dare unless you want your entire family exterminated."
"Since I have no family, your threat doesn't carry much weight. You have thirty seconds before I start shooting."
Several half clothed men stumbled in a group towards the door and Hector Sanchez raised his hand, glaring at them he bellowed,"You assholes take one more step towards the door I will fucking kill you myself."
Hector picked up a glass of wine on the table. He swirled it around while thinking where he had seen Alexi before. Suddenly his face lost color, "You..you are Alexi Baranov."
"En."
At the mention of his name the other people in the room the other people panicked. They didn't care about Hector and fled tripping over each other on the way to the door.
Hector's face was white as a sheet knowing Alexi's ruthless reputation. He was a King and someone he couldn't mess with at the moment. He fumbled with shaky hands to zip his pants then staggered to the door of the private room. As he left he kicked a man who was waiting for him, "Useless asshole."
Alexi turned to Ivan. "Have the room cleaned, then send up the little piano player."
"..." Aren't you here with that Mayor's daughter?
Merri was on break and sitting in the staff room. She was exhausted and resting her head on the table when the manager came into the room.
Nadia shook her shoulders, ""Merri...Merri."
Merri opened her eyes and lifted her head. She stretched her arms above her head. "Is my break over already?"
"Yes. I came to tell you Ivan wants you to go to a private room upstairs."
"Why?"
"To play the piano of course."
"Alright. I will freshen up and go upstairs."
Merri took her purse and went into the employee bathroom and looked in the mirror. Merri, you look absolutely terrible.
She took out a compact and dabbed concealer under her eyes. After applying a thin coat of pink lip gloss she took off a pink rhinestone hair clip then brushed her long black hair.
Once she neatly pinned her hair into a fluffy bun, she fixed the pink and gray silk scarf around her neck that she wore to cover the unsightly red marks.
Merri gazed in the mirror and shook her head. How am I going to face Danny? Thank God he isn't working tonight, I wouldn't know what to say!
Her phone rang and she took it out of her purse. When she answered she smiled, "Hey Claire, I was going to call you after work."
"I ran into your brother at the convenience store. Where the hell were you last night?"
Claire got into her red sports car. She looked at herself in the rearview mirror and brushed her short curly burgundy colored hair behind her ear. "It is a good thing I am quick witted! The brat was going off on how I should have called him if you were staying over. He is like an old man the way he worries about you."
"Sorry."
"Well, where were you?"
Merri blushed, "Umm...long story, do you want to get a drink after I get off work?"
"Sure. Call me when you get off and I will pick you up."
"Okay."
Merri put her purse back into her locker and exited the break room. I could use a drink and my best friend!
Once she was upstairs she stopped a hostess leaving a room and asked, "Lucy, which private room has a piano?"
Lucy was one of the people kicked out of the room by Alexi and she said, "The last one on the left."
She knew Merri's timid personality so in a barely audible voice she leaned down and warned. "Sweetie, be careful, that man is crazy."
"What man?"
Lucy saw Ivan coming out of the private room not far away and quickly clicked her heels down the hallway without answering.
Merri watched her hurry away and had second thoughts. Although she was intimidated by Ivan she approached him, "Mr. Ninski, I have never played for a private party. I...I think you should have Katrina do it."
"Miss Winslow, Katrina had an emergency at home and left." He noticed her squeamishness, "There is nothing to be worried about and the pay is much higher." Alexi has Bella Fremont with him... the little girl should be safe.
Looking at her innocent appearance he felt a little guilty about drugging her and sending her to Alexi's bed. He probed her earlier and she seemed not to have any memory of last night.
Merri had no choice but to agree and walked down to the last room. When she entered the room her eyes lit up because the piano was of extraordinary quality. When she was a High School student she a similar piano in her practice room at her family's mansion.
The private room was luxuriously decorated and there were expensive looking paintings hanging on the walls. Filled with nostalgia she lifted the cover and happily ran her fingers across the keys.
Excited, she sat down on the piano bench and began to play. She was in her own world and didn't notice Alexi and Bella come into the room. Her eyes were sparkling as her fingers glided over the keys reminiscing about the past. Infusing her soul into the melody she had a slight smile which was captivating.
The music was a composition she wrote shortly after her father died. The melody evoked a sense of desolation and loneliness; which was incongruent with her ethereal appearance and the smile on her beautiful face.
Alexi stood frozen in place, bewitched by Merri's tranquil beauty and the stirring song. His heart felt heavy and his heartbeat was erratic listening to the dark and oppressive music.
It reminded him of the orphanage he grew up in and the death of his only brother. His eyes darkened and he clenched his fist in his pocket. He stormed over to the piano then slammed his hand down. "How dare you!"
He startled Merri and she trembled, "I..I'm sorry I didn't realize you were here."
Bella was worried Alexi would be attracted to Merri and was happy he was enraged. She had a malicious smile as she walked over and held Alexi's arm. From the ugly expression on his handsome face he was furious "Such a depressing song. It is ruining my mood."
Alexi glared at Merri then wrapped his arm around Bella's waist and walked over to the luxurious white leather couch.
Merri desperately wanted to escape. She thought with Alexi's volatile temper she could be in danger at any moment. She stood up and walked towards the door without saying anything.
Alexi barked, "Where the hell do you think you are going?"
"Since I am spoiling the mood, I will ask Mr. Ninski to replace me."
"I didn't say you could leave."
Merri clutched the sides of her skirt and puffed out her cheeks. She was tired and in a bad mood because he was the customer. Mr. Ninski is well aware that I am afraid of him. and still sent me to this room!