As I finished playing I looked across to where Niamh and the two men were sitting and the older guy started to clap as he got up from the chair he nodded towards me and then smiled in Niamh’s direction and made his way back across the room to the open doorway, he turned and waved as he left the room. My first thoughts were that the younger man sitting next to Niamh, his face was quite familiar and I couldn’t quite place where I had seen him before, but then I thought that it was Matthew, Niamh’s business partner. How wrong could I have been on that one.
My nerves were beginning to subside, Niamh waved her hand in the air, and she beckoned me over.
‘Bea, this is someone that I would like you to meet. Well, you’re going to be working together later tonight, so I may as well introduce the pair of you to each other before you get started.’
I moved towards the chairs where both Niamh and the younger man were seated. As I did so they both stood up.
‘Bea, this is Riccardo Perrini.’ Niamh spoke to us in a schoolmarmish tone as if we were naughty school children ‘and Riccardo, this is Bea. Bea is going to be replacing Paula at tonight’s show.’
‘Oh my gosh.’ I stammered, now everything fell into place, ‘you’re the actor.’ My mouth was wide open, I think my eyes must have been popping out on stalks.
'Yes,’ he replied. He held his hand out and gently took hold of my own as if to shake it but instead turned it over and gently brushed his lips against the back of it as he raised it towards his lips.
He stood in front of me wearing dark blue jeans and trainers, a marl grey coloured cotton top and a stonewashed blue denim jeans jacket. His dark hair was tousled around his head and his eyes were dark brown with long lashes. Girls would kill to have eyelashes as long as his. His skin was olive coloured and smooth with just a touch of designer stubble around his jawline. His smile was perfect, he was like a model from a magazine. He smiled at me and I just melted inside.
My hands suddenly started to shake and the nerves started to kick in big time. I knew I had a chance to prove myself on this one occasion and I had to try to remain calm, it was a chance that I didn’t want to throw away, but I could feel the muscles in my arms tensing up and my legs felt like lead and jelly all at the same time. I felt as if I was going to faint, but in the back of my mind I was going to throttle Arty for this on Monday morning when I got back to work, he must have been aware of what was going to happen.
Riccardo sat back down on the chair and I went back to the little stage that had been set up for me. I continued playing with a piece entitled “Humoresque” which really is a joy to play and once I relaxed I found that the notes flowed freely and smoothly. My mind was racing, trying to concentrate at that point was almost impossible but somehow I managed to hold myself together when in reality I just wanted to fall apart. As I finished playing, both Niamh and Riccardo raised their hands and applauded me loudly. It was all a bit surreal and I really couldn’t believe what was happening.
I calmly walked across to the table and took a quick swig (well it was more like a rather large gulp) of the champagne from my glass and then prepared myself to play again. I was hoping that the bubble rush from the cool fizzy liquid would give me a bit of Dutch courage so that I could carry on playing because in a strange way as nerve wracking as it was, I was really enjoying myself.
‘Bea, would you play some guitar for us now?’ Niamh asked.
‘Yes, of course’ I replied, ‘What would you like me to play?’
‘Anything of your choosing, would be fine,’ Riccardo said,
I glanced sideways outside the window, ‘It’s such a beautiful day,’ I said. With guitar in place I sat myself down in a comfortable position on the stool and balanced the guitar across my knee and played a medley of popular tunes. Niamh and Riccardo must have enjoyed what I played as they were quietly singing along as I was playing.
As I finished playing I looked up and Riccardo was looking directly into my eyes almost as though he was looking into my soul, making it harder for me to concentrate on what I was supposed to be doing.
I sat and rested my arms across the top of the guitar, although I nearly dropped it when Niamh told me what would happen next, how I stopped my mouth from hitting the deck I will never know. I was completely flabbergasted and speechless for what seemed like ages afterwards even though it was only a few seconds.
When I finally, caught my breath, I hopped off the stool and placed my guitar back into it’s case and fastened the latches.
‘Here let me help you.’ Riccardo said, grabbing the case from me. It was heavier than he had anticipated and his body lurched to catch its weight.
‘Thank you, Riccardo. That’s very kind of you.’ I told him.
‘Not a problem. I’m only too pleased to able to help. Oh, and please call me Ricky, everyone else does, it’s only the Management who refer to me as Riccardo.’ He said nodding his head in Niamh’s direction.
‘Bea,’ Niamh called over to me again and both Ricky and myself walked towards the spot where Niamh was standing.
‘Yes, Niamh.’ I replied.
‘Bea, we’d like you to open Ricky’s show tonight. Do you think you would be able to do that?’ she asked.
I hesitated, as I said earlier on my mind was racing, now it was positively going into overdrive. ‘Erm......yes,’ I replied, ‘Oh my god, but I have nothing to wear, I only have my tatty jeans.’
‘Don’t worry about that you will look great.’ Ricky told me.
I just looked from Ricky to Niamh and back to Ricky, he had an amazing cheek and jaw bone structure and I could see why women of all ages loved him. As for me, he was gorgeous to look at but not really my type. I seem to have an attraction towards guys with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Although I have to say that every time he smiled at me, my heart rate shot up a little higher.
Niamh looked down at her watch.
‘It’s nearly four o’clock, Riccardo. Time to wrap up this session because the time is getting on and we have to go. Your car is waiting to take you up to the television studios.’ She said, she turned towards me and continued, ‘Bea, thank you for coming to play for us this afternoon at such short notice, a car will come to your hotel to collect you at 5.30pm and take you to the Arena for the concert this evening. Security on the gate will issue a pass for you. I look forward to seeing you later this evening.’
‘Thank you for giving me wonderful this opportunity Niamh,’ I said as I carried the violin case back to the reception area and Ricky followed behind us with the guitar case.
When we got back to the hotel lobby, Niamh went to the reception desk and arranged for a taxi to collect me and take me back to my hotel. Ricky placed the guitar case on the floor, grabbed my free hand and pulled me in towards him and brushed his lips gently against my left cheek and I could feel his warm breath on my face.
‘See you later then, Bea.’ he whispered. He let go of my hand and followed Niamh to the car which was waiting outside to whisk him away to the studios for a television interview.
