Chapter 412 Someone Else in the Room
The passage of years had blurred in Abella's memory, yet one constant remained - the piano. It had been her faithful companion, a solace during her most challenging times. "Such depth, achieved in a mere handful of years? You possess a truly rare gift," the lady complimented her.To the lady's surprise and delight, the renowned piano maestro, Anika Moses, was not the seasoned veteran she had imagined, but a young woman of seventeen or eighteen. "Is this the piece you just performed?" the striking lady inquired, her fingers dancing over the music sheets with a mixture of admiration and nostalgia. "I heard it took you less than a day to compose..."The melody had exceeded her expectations, a captivating symphony that justified the billion-dollar investment she had made."It was merely a spark of inspiration," Abella responded modestly, ever cautious of appearing to earn her wealth too effortlessly."You have an extraordinary talent. Would you consider signing with an agency? I could arrange annual performances, promote your music, and elevate your success to new heights...""Thank you for the offer, but I must decline," Abella replied. Her private life was already chaotic, and with certain forces doggedly pursuing her, stepping into the limelight was akin to painting a target on her back.Escaping unnoticed was one thing, but drawing attention at a concert with thousands of spectators could put innocent lives at risk."That's a shame," the lady sighed, a hint of regret tingeing her voice. "Could I at least add you on WhatsApp? It would make future communication easier.""Of course." Abella retrieved her phone and displayed the QR code.Throughout their encounter, the lady had maintained a warm smile, her lips curved like a crescent moon against a star-studded sky – the embodiment of positivity and optimism.After scanning the QR code, she entered a contact name: "Young Anika Moses."She was clearly taken with the girl. It was such a pity..."If there's nothing else, I should be going," Abella said, preparing to depart."Wait a moment," the elegant lady implored, "Won't you stay for some tea?"She brewed the tea with a mesmerizing grace, her eyes sparkling with life. Despite being in her late thirties or early forties, she radiated a youthful charm, her beauty and sophistication undiminished by time.Abella settled at the coffee table, watching the lady prepare the tea, finding the scene unexpectedly enchanting."Try this," the lady offered, extending a cup of tea on a forked saucer towards Abella.As Abella lifted the cup, a rich aroma enveloped her senses. It was unmistakably a high-quality tea."Can you identify this tea?" the lady asked with a playful smile, anticipation dancing in her eyes."Ceylon – from Sri Lanka," Abella replied. "Sri Lankan Ceylon tea is famous for its golden hue and rich fragrance."The lady was visibly impressed, taken aback that Abella could discern the tea's variety and origin without even tasting it. This was not a common tea – it was a rare commodity, with perhaps a pound produced annually. How could this young woman know, and with such certainty?Such a tea was seldom found in the market, let alone in the possession of a young woman like Abella.The lady's gaze intensified, admiration etched in her eyes."So young, yet so knowledgeable and talented," she mused, "It's just a shame...""That I'm already spoken for," Abella finished for her.
Surprise flickered in the woman's eyes. She hadn't anticipated that the girl would guess her thoughts."We've met before," Abella said, a faint smile playing on her lips. "At the warehouse."
The lady was taken aback. She had been hiding on the second floor of the warehouse, yet somehow Abella had detected her presence. "There is a distinctive fragrance about you," Abella revealed, her voice steady. "Top notes of aldehyde and jasmine, heart notes of rose, ylang-ylang, and iris, with a base of cedarwood and bellflower. If I'm not mistaken, your perfume is a complex blend of no less than a hundred ingredients, none of which are commercially available. This suggests to me that you are someone quite extraordinary."The lady was taken aback, her astonishment evident. The young woman had not only identified her scent but had done so with such precision."You're full of surprises," the lady confessed, her eyes gleaming with admiration and a newfound fondness. "Tell me, what else have you discerned?""The gentleman in the warehouse who was purchasing art was wearing a men's cologne," Abella explained. "Top notes of lavender and geranium, heart notes of mint and crane's-bill, with a base of cedarwood and sandalwood. His scent bore traces of yours, leading me to conclude that he must be your husband. If I'm not mistaken, he is in that room right now."A second door in the room led to an inner chamber. The lady was impressed by Abella's astute deductions regarding their relationship and the presence of a hidden person."When did you realize there was someone in there?" the lady asked, her curiosity piqued."The moment I walked in," Abella responded with confidence.From the moment she had entered the tea room, she had picked up on the mingling fragrances of delicate floral essence and men's cologne."Darling, come out," the lady beckoned softly.At her words, the door to the inner chamber opened, and a middle-aged man, the art buyer, emerged."I never would have guessed that Miss Yan Mo had an alter ego as the renowned Anika Moses," the man admitted, his eyes gleaming with admiration and surprise. "And to think, so young and yet so perceptive.""I suspect she's made quite a name for herself in the world of perfumery, and her understanding and appreciation of tea far surpass the average connoisseur," the elegant lady shared with her husband before turning to Abella, lavishing her with praise, "You truly are exceptional. Far beyond your peers in so many ways.""You flatter me too much," Abella responded, bowing her head slightly. Her pride remained unaffected by the compliments. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to such flattery."The one you're with is fortunate to have such a remarkable girlfriend," the lady remarked, her gaze lingering on the beautiful and talented young woman before her. A pang of regret filled her at the thought that she couldn't secure such a catch for a daughter-in-law. What a shame."My significant other isn't too shabby either," Abella mentioned casually. As her phone vibrated, possibly signaling a message from her partner, her gaze softened, and her aura retracted, transforming her into a gentle girl-next-door."Excuse me, I should be going," she said, her tone polite yet firm.She still had the hairpin locator Phillipe had given her, which hadn't shown any movement while she stayed in the tea room—no doubt Phillipe must be growing anxious for her safety.The lady noted Abella's shift in demeanor. Likely her other half was summoning her home. Such a family-oriented girl, so sensible, so endearing... She lamented inwardly, wondering why the good ones always seemed to belong to someone else's family.Meanwhile, back at home, Phillipe was growing increasingly convinced that the locator was malfunctioning, as Abella's location remained at the tea house. Now under his ownership, and with no reply to his messages or change in location, he obtained the club manager's number from his secretary and made the call himself.The club manager was taken aback by Phillipe's call and took a moment to process who was on the line. "An especially beautiful girl? There have been many tonight, but if you're asking about the one who stood out, it can only be Abella..."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
