Chapter seven: revenge gone wrong

Alexia's eyes dilated as she bowed her face to the floor and then brushed down her hair to her sides. "What do I do?" She whispered with her heart racing, and while pattering she felt the weight of someone on the chair beside her. She looked through the side of her hair at Richard whose eyes were still up front with a serious face.

Is it that he is not seeing me or what? she wondered a bit offended but slightly relieved. Even now I hate him more than ever. She thought to herself while the mc took on the event again. 

“Excuse me young lady but are you supposed to be here?” the wealthy woman sitting by her left asked.

“Yes. Actually I was hired to play the guitar,” Alexia answered in a low tone and the lady frowned. “What is wrong?” 

“Nothing, it's just that I was expecting to see someone more...” 

“Popular?” She raised my eyebrows and before the lady could answer she laughed. “Ma'am I assure you that just because your face is on every poster doesn't mean that you are the most talented,” she said and all the lady could do was stare curiously at her.

“I like your confidence but I hope that you are as talented as you can speak because Richard takes the guitar very seriously and you don’t want to get on his bad side,” the lady replied and then straightened up again.

How does she know him so well? Alexia thought to herself but again she was fascinated to know that there were some rich people who were easy to talk to.

She was still lost in her thoughts when the sound of applause erupted in the auditorium and she looked around wondering why they were all clapping.

Richard was still sitting down with a serious face and there was no one else getting on the stage.

“Alexia Cheney, where are you?” the mc called again and she immediately jerked up from the chair. She grabbed her guitar, and with a surge of electricity running through her veins she walked up to meet the mc on stage.

“Welcome on board Alexia, this is my first time seeing you so make us proud,” the mc said in a friendly manner but thankfully he didn’t say those words while wearing the mic.

As he walked down from the platform she looked up front at the crowd again. She could see Richard giving her a cold gaze and the other rich folks around. She had played beautifully on several occasions but not in something as big as this.

Her heart was beating loudly but not until she met the gaze of the woman who spoke to her earlier. Her father always said that whenever she gets nervous or intimidated, all she has to do is strike the first chord and no matter what happens she must continue hitting those notes until she owns the stage.

She took the advice as she hit the string again and again and as she began to play she lost touch with everyone in the room. She played with all her heart while thinking of how her father died. In the middle of the music she stole glances at Richard whose eyes lit in amusement. There were also clusters of tears in his eyes and even though she had no idea why he was sober she continued to play.

She played for some minutes more and as soon as she struck the last chord the entire building erupted with sounds of applause.

The lady who was sitting beside her earlier also seemed happy but when she checked she realized that Richard was no longer on his seat. She looked around but he was nowhere in the auditorium. Where could he have gone? she wondered.

She walked down stage as she gently sat back on the chair.

“Well done young lady. You were more than impressive, and I am sure Richard loved that performance,” the lady said.

“Thank you,” Alexia answered before looking around again.

“What's wrong? Why do you look restless?” 

“I am sorry, I was looking around for someone.” 

“You mean Richard?” the lady asked and Alexia paused. She nodded awkwardly and the lady smiled.

“He left a while ago but I am sure he will be back anytime soon.” She replied and then leaned away.

Alexia looked forward at the mc who took over the event, but still she couldn't stop thinking about Richard. She still had plans on getting her revenge but it would only be successful if Richard was pleased with her performance.

She waited impatiently. Tapping her fingers on the handle of the chair. Her eyes drifted back and forth to the watch on her wrist. Minutes passed and yet Richard was nowhere to be found.

She endured a while longer until one of Richard's body guards walked up to her. “The boss will like to see you,'' the bodyguard whispered in her ear and she immediately followed him out of the hall.

A smile played on her face as she walked into one of the rooms only to find out that it was not Richard, but Travis, the man who had helped her get her brother inside. 

He was sitting on a chair and having a conversation with her brother. They seemed to enjoy the talk which was not new to Alexia, because she had always known Max to be good at starting a conversation with strangers.

“Sir our guest is here,” the guard interrupted and Travis fastened his eyes on them.

“Okay, I am so sorry,” he stood up from the chair. He grabbed an envelope from the table and then walked up to Alexia. “I am really sorry that the boss isn't here to give this to you himself, but he was really pleased with your performance,” he said cheerfully as he handed the envelope to her. 

“Inside the envelope is the payment for tonight's performance, and also there is a ride waiting for you outside. They will take you home safely.” 

“Okay,” she answered. She was a bit upset but Travis had been great to her all these while and she could not lash out on him. If only all rich folks were as kind and humble as Travis, the world would have been a better place. He was dressed casually in a way that no one will notice that he held a great position in the SBE company. But even now she was more upset that she didn't get her revenge on Richard. 

Maybe some other time, I'd pay him for ruining my life. She thought and then beckoned on her brother. “Come on Max, we should get going now,” she said and he followed her out of the room.