Chapter sixteen

Sophia didn't practice at home because she didn't want extra worries. Right now her family didn't know she was still performing. She would keep it that way as long as possible. The gown, accessories, the spa treatment - all this was not because she was performing. No, no. This was because they would attend the dinner party later on to meet other patrons of music.

The charity 'Hope by music' which was Ms Evans' pet project had several collaborations with the academy. This time's concert was the same. To take money from rich, you have to make them feel well spent. Thus there was a dinner party arranged after the concert. While people were still feeling great about meeting others, they would strike and request donations for the charity. Maximum donations possible, everytime.

Even people who didn't get the tickets for the concert, could attend the party. Majority of Harts would only attend party unless Sophia was performing.

Sophia knew for the fact that they hadn't realised that she was still performing tomorrow evening. Else the plans would have included all of them sitting as audience, showing family solidarity.

As to how she would come to the concert early to perform, she hadn't planned yet. To be precise, she had many plans but she hadn't decided which one to implement. One thing for sure, there would be a huge explosion at Hart's home tomorrow.

The academy was busy. Last minute preparations. As she was not handed any job, Sophia didn't volunteer but went on to practice in one of the empty rooms.

She was failing in the last part of the song. She understood love, pain, revenge. She could convey those. She didn't understand what that mother felt as she lay next to her child's grave and take the last breath. What was she feeling? Pain? Joy? Acceptance? Satisfaction?Grief?

"Still practicing?" Ms Evans asked. She noticed her practicing through the security footage. "You are better than before." Complement when necessary, push down when needed. Ms Evans was a good teacher.

Sophia needed to nail this performance. This well might be her last if she had to stay with Harts. Even without the threat of Harts, the chances of her having a flourishing career in music was doubtful.

"I just... can't understand why she did that. What was she thinking and feeling when she died?"

What Ms Evans felt that a young child from a rich family knowing about pain, loss, revenge etc, she didn't let others know.

"Well, that's the beauty of the music. You can interpret however you want it. You are a loving mother before the fiasco began. You turned into vengeful ghost due to it. Now, at the end, how do you want to be- a loving mother, vengeful ghost or are you just tired of all of it?"

Sophia pondered. But before she could think for long, Ms Evans was called to handle some problems. This concert was bigger than any concert handled by the academy before.

Sophia felt a glimpse of answer but she was disturbed by the call. Time for shopping and getting ready.

As still young girls, Sophia and Shirley could only wear shades of white or pastels. Shirley looked beautiful in the palest icy blue gown. After refitting, the gown took it to another level.

Sophia had chosen a creamy white strapless gown with vintage vibes. She had chosen many gowns from here, mostly for performances. The colour remained the same every time but other things changed. Else, there would be no need to buy new gown at all. The older ladies had lots of options from pale colours to bold ones. But as they were family, they didn't choose too different colours, to appear harmonious in the family photo. However they fought at home, outside they were a big happy family.

Sophia didn't even pretend to listen to gossip. She was busy in her phone. Brian was updating her about the coffee shop.

The craze for the shop had started by late morning. It didn't ease up even a bit. What Brian didn't tell Sophia was that he ordered more items to be prepped, after he saw the crowd.

He pulled all the part time workers to work. He himself had to serve few times. Sophia's idea was good. They recommended platter to taste and brought it to table first. Even if they didn't have time to eat pastries, they ordered quite a few on the go.

Brian even pulled few extra chairs. For those who were waiting. The customers, even waiting outside were offered menu. So they could decide their orders faster. So where did he put the chairs? He removed the couple 's tables and chairs. Anyway, the lovebirds would come by late afternoon or evening.

A bit extra work to put away furniture only to put them back in their place later. But customer retention was high when they could sit and chat, while waiting. It's not like they were hungry and wanted food urgently. Inspite of it being a saturday, the coffee shop was doing a phenomenal business.

Sophia was giving some advice, if she had any. Or else she kept her mouth shut. She could help only that much. The ladies day out ended rather early as each needed beauty sleep.

Sunday morning, as soon as the breakfast was over, Sophia changed to her gown, got ready and left. The reason - needed to be on site for any emergency work. She escaped before they processed what she said.

The concert was happening in Mila Ali Entertainment complex. They had huge theatre for such occasions. The party afterwards would be in the next building.

MAE complex was also where rich spent their money and time. The complex provided various entertainment options from chic to bohemian, from karokee stations to dancing clubs, from pubs to ...you get the idea. Oh, this party is boring. I'll just take a turn to see what new things are happening. Oh, the party is already winding up? Whatare looking at? I just took a glance through few shops here and bought few. Impulse buyers contributed much to sales. The hotels and restaurants were always full. They too catered to various types.

Harts in good because they didn't let the kids know what happened in such places. They were bad because they used such places to do a lot of business.

After escaping to MAE complex, Sophia didn't have to anything though. The professionals did not need a bumbling kid in their way.

She just say and saw the program brochure for the first time. Indeed, Lexia Windsor was the chief guest of honour.

Woah! So many performances! And only half of them were students of Ms Evans. Looks like many had brought 'incredible talents' to enrich the concert. Wonder how much Ms Evans scalped them? But this is good. There was not much talk in between and the music was different each time. This was more like guest appearance instead of actual performance. She checked the performers. Few were good. Few she had not heard at all. Few more were famous, either through their talent or otherwise. No one would remember a small Sophia Hart in this group.