Phyllis was kicking herself. Tonight Gramps had brought her to the party with high hopes of becoming protege under the renowned Mr. Albright, but it turned out he already had his eye on soone else.
After a quick huddle with Gramps, they decided to pivot and seek the ntorship of Queena instead.
But they had absolutely no clue that Rosemary was Queena!
Recalling Rosemary’s entrance earlier that evening, Phyllis rembered feeling a pang of jealousy at her beauty. And when Rosemary had solved that chess puzzle, Phyllis couldn’t swallow her pride and had
challenged her to a match, only to be utterly trounced.
Now, she glanced at Gramps, and they both shared a look of regret. They had failed to recognize Rosemary for who she really was, and as a result, they hadn’t made the best impression.
The chances of Rosemary taking on a protege now seed slim to none.
Roxanne was in the sa boat. When Rosemary showed up solo at the birthday bash, Roxanne figured she was a gatecrasher with no real backing and had bombarded her with a string of impolite questions.
Roxanne had even boasted about her granddad being chums with Mr. Albright, claiming she was practically like his granddaughter.
Now, with her cheeks burning in embarrassnt, she realized that title was never hers for the taking, especially given Mr. Albright’s fondness for Rosemary, while she had only t Mr. Albright today, after all.
But he had been teaching Rosemary chess for over a decade.
Madeline was also feeling the sting of regret. When her friend Lindsay had bumped into Rosemary not once but twice, and an altercation ensued, Madeline had tried to diate but inevitably sided with her friend. She worried that she hadn’t made a strong ally in Rosemary, making her own chances of being Rosemary’s protege slim.
The most crestfallen of them all was Lindsay.
Before heading to the shindig, Bluno had made it crystal clear that she should do whatever it took to catch Mr. Albright’s eye as a potential protege.
When Mr. Albright announced he already had his favorite, she and her dad had switched gears, aiming to win over Queena.
Little did she know Rosemary and Queena were one and the sa. Fueled by the desire to avenge Serena, she had deliberately collided with Rosemary twice and picked a fight.
Now, the thought of Rosemary taking her on as a protege was laughable.
"Dad, I kinda had a run-in with Queena." Lindsay confessed to her father in a hushed tone, "It’s a lost cause now. Anyway, my heart’s really in the violin. Let’s see what Leonard or Jamie Noelle think later."
"That’s the only way forward, I guess," Bluno sighed with regret.
"Queena, you’re so young; surely you’re not thinking of taking on any protege yet, right? Maybe you could just give my kid a tip or two? He seems to be hitting a plateau."
"Queena, how co we’ve never seen you in the news before?"
"Yeah, you’ve won so many championships. They’ve been covered a lot, but there’s never a photo of you. It’s our own fault we didn’t recognize you tonight."
"I’m so sorry, Queena. I actually thought that chessboard of yours was just so doodle. I apologize."
"Don’t feel bad; you’re not the only ones. I’ve been in the sa tournants as Queena and never recognized her."
During the preliminary rounds, Rosemary would dispatch her opponents in under two minutes and then leave early.
In the finals, no one could match her, so she was never there long.
Plus, she always wore a mask and a wig, only showing her eyes, which made it tough for anyone to identify her.
And then there were the old friends of Eugene’s - a powerful bunch who didn’t want young Rosemary sward by paparazzi. They feared the more exposure she got, the more danger she’d be in. So even if a journalist snapped a photo of her in disguise, they’d think twice before publishing it.
That was why, in so videos, they’d only see Rosemary’s hands moving the chess pieces, her face never revealed.
"She’s busy, probably doesn’t have ti to coach you guys." Mr. Albright explained for Rosemary, "Even I can barely get her to play a ga of chess with ."
"Mr. Albright, could you introduce so masters to us if possible?"
"Actually those masters in the circle are all pretty good."
anwhile, a different sort of hustle surrounded Regan Jarvis.
"Mr. Jarvis, my na’s Lindsay. I’m in awe of your musical talent. Is there any chance to learn from you?"
"Mr. Jarvis, my kid’s been playing the piano for years, and every ntor has admitted defeat, saying she needs soone better, soone like you. She always admires you. Could she have the honor?"
"Mr. Jarvis, hi! I’m Dolores, and I just like you so much."
"Mr. Jarvis, it is a pleasure to et you. I’m Bob, last year’s Solterra violin competition champion, just turned eighteen. Your music’s inspired since I was four. I would love the opportunity to study with you."
As an increasing amount of guests surrounded him, Regan, with his warm chuckle, said, "I’m sorry, but I’ve already got soone in mind."
The crowd started feeling regretful; so of them couldn’t help but ask, "And who might that be, Mr.Jarvis? Soone we know?"
"There was that duet you played with Jamie Noelle, ’The Life’ - it was exquisite. Might Jamie Noelle be here today?"
"Today’s Mr. Albright’s birthday bash. Any chance we’ll be graced with another performance from you and Jamie Noelle?"
"If so, we’d be the luckiest crowd around."
With a twinkle in his eye, Leonard replied, "I’d be delighted to play a few tunes for Mr. Albright. As for Jamie Noelle, we’ll see if she decides to join us later."
"Does that an Jamie Noelle’s here? Or on her way?"
"Are you suggesting we might be treated to a performance right now, Mr. Jarvis?"
"That’s fantastic! We’re all ears. Thank you, Mr. Jarvis!"
Regan looked to Eugene, "What’ll it be, Mr. Albright? What do you fancy?"
"Do you even have to ask? It’s got to be what everyone’s been waiting for."
"So, ’The Life’ it is?"
Stepping up to the stage, Regan was handed a violin. The lights dimd, and within monts, his unmatched tone filled the room, captivating everyone in a spellbinding trance.
This was the mark of a master - imdiately imrsing the audience, striking a chord with their emotions. The joys and sorrows of life played out in his rendition like a movie flickering through their minds.
The rich and subtle emotions, conveyed through the twists and turns of the lody, tugged at every heartstring.
As the crowd was lost in the enchantnt, another voice joined the symphony, a rapid, whirlwind-like performance that swept through the room.
Could it be Jamie Noelle?
Jamie Noelle had arrived?!
Her violin roared with majestic and powerful rhythm, yet flowed like a gentle stream, reaching into the souls of everyone present.
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