The Tchaikovsky Affair Read Online Free

“you are just one part of this ensemble. Yes, you are concertmaster, and yes, you are the soloist, but it is not all about you, and it is high time you realized that.”
    “But this is my career, my life , we’re talking about!”
    “And if no one comes to this concert because they’re tired of hearing the same old concert, then you won’t have a career! So stop being so selfish and remember what is at stake here!”
    Melissa’s voice cut through the tension and effectively ended all debate. Shannon realized how pathetic she sounded.
    “Ms. McClintock,” Michael finally spoke softly and deliberately, “I can understand why you’re upset. I know you must have worked extremely hard to get to this position as a woman at your age, and I know it must have been hard to hear today during rehearsal, but I can assure you that if done right, this will be something spectacular, and you will get the recognition you deserve.”
    Shannon smiled at him, grateful that he was so understanding when she had been less than kind about his work.
    “Now that this has been settled, I trust that you will continue to act professionally with Michael, Maestro Gallo, and Jackie to work on this. You were chosen to be concertmaster, because we believe in you, Shannon. I assure you we only want what’s best for you. Now why don’t you head home and relax. We’ll talk about the press another day.”
    When Robert finished, Shannon felt a blush inch up her neck as she realized how far from professional her behavior had been. She knew apologizing was useless at this point, so she said simply, “yes, of course”.
    Jackie had been sitting outside the producers’ office, waiting for her turn. She had heard the raised muffled voices behind the door, but couldn’t quite make out the words, something for which she was very grateful. She tried to avoid drama at all costs, though she always seemed to find herself in the middle of it.
    Moments later, Shannon came bursting out the door, tears just barely at the surface of her eyes.
    “Oh, um, you can go in now.”
     
    “Are you okay?” Jackie asked gently.
    “What? Yeah, yeah I’m fine ,” Shannon replied dismissively, before asking, “how long have you been here?”
    “Just got here,” Jackie said to appease Shannon’s nerves, but wondered what the blonde must have been saying to motivate that question.
    Shannon nodded and began to move away. As she waited for her elevator, she heard Jackie entering the room, saying “Thank you so much for this opportunity!” and the tears she was holding back began to flow freely.
     
    *              *              *
     
    Shannon wanted to throw the metronome out the window. Jackie, Shannon, Maestro Gallo, and Michael Mulroney had been in the tiny, windowless room with no breaks for three hours now and it was an understatement to say that they were off to a rocky start. The offensive item ticking an impossibly fast beat next to Shannon was doing nothing for her mood, or her already bruised ego. Her fingers were moving at a breakneck speed, sliding higher and unbelievably higher up the neck of her instrument. Eventually, the pace was too much, her fingers tripped over themselves, and she lost momentum entirely.
    Groaning she dropped her violin to her side and said, “Sorry, can we take it from the top of five again?”
    Shaking his head in the negative, Gallo responded with a question, “What is with you today? First, you’re zoning out and missing your cue to come in and now you’re unable to keep up to a pace that isn’t even concert tempo. This is unusual for you.”
    For once, Gallo wasn’t angry, but concerned. Shannon knew he was right; she shouldn’t be having this much trouble, but she wasn’t about to admit that she’d missed her cue because she’d been utterly transfixed by the brunette practically making love to her cello in the previous passage.
    “I’m sorry. Just nerves I guess,” Shannon