Chapter 177:
After leaving Merlin’s office, Elyse lingered in the corridor, waiting for Darren instead of returning directly to the practice room.
A few minutes later, Darren emerged, looking glum. As soon as the office door closed behind him, Elyse hurried over, her concern evident. “Are you okay?”
Darren shook his head, his expression somber. “I’m fine, but I’ve told the director, and he’s not going to intervene for me anymore.”
Elyse nodded understandingly. “Right now, only a few of us know about this. If it gets out, everyone in the orchestra will demand answers from him.”
Darren sighed with relief. “Yeah, I don’t need my uncle risking his neck for me. It’s a shame, really. I had planned to call him out tomorrow during the selection process for breaking the rules, but you stopped that,” Vicky said regretfully.
They turned to see Vicky leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a mischievous grin on her face. Vicky, whose instructor was the assistant director, had known Darren for years. She laughed unrestrainedly. “Everyone thinks you’re average. If your uncle weren’t so influential, you wouldn’t even be competing against me.”
Darren frowned. “So you know everything?”
Vicky chuckled. “If you don’t want me to know something, don’t do it. There are no secrets where I’m concerned.”
Elyse remained silent. She knew the director and assistant director had been rivals for years, and their apprentices mirrored this rivalry. Vicky sauntered over, casting a disdainful glance at Darren before fixing her gaze on Elyse. Towering over Elyse in her high heels, she looked down with contempt. “And I didn’t expect you to be so soft-hearted, letting your competitors off the hook. You’re the most irritating person in this competition.”
Elyse sneered. “My actions ruined your plans and your instructor’s chances for promotion, didn’t they? Actually, you don’t want fair competition; you only want to benefit from it.”
“Fair competition? You think you can compete fairly with me? The rules only give you the illusion of a chance,” Vicky raised her chin defiantly, especially at Elyse. “You think your little talent is enough to beat me?”
Unhappy with Vicky’s attitude, Darren intervened. “Well, considering she’s tied with you for first place, it seems you’re not that much better than she is.”
Vicky hated this. She shot Darren a venomous look. “Not convinced, are you? Just wait and see. I’ll show you,” she spat before striding away.
Watching Vicky’s arrogant departure, Elyse felt a surge of irritation. “So what if Vicky’s instructor is the assistant director?”
Glancing at Vicky’s retreating figure, Darren shook his head. “Vicky’s always been like this—arrogant and self-absorbed. Even though she’s mellowed slightly, she’s still the same old Vicky.”
Darren explained that he’d first met Vicky at a party Merlin had forced him to attend. Since Merlin and the assistant director were rivals, Darren and Vicky had been pitted against each other in a violin competition. After that party, Darren gained another enemy: Vicky. They’d been secretly competing for years. While Vicky, usually overconfident, always performed well, Darren occasionally underperformed.
Darren rubbed his temples, reflecting on the past. “Even though Vicky has a temper, she’s talented. She might actually beat me tomorrow.”
Elyse looked at him for a moment. “You’re being too hard on yourself. You need more self-belief. I know you’re gifted.”
Darren looked at her thoughtfully. “Do you really think I’m gifted?”
“Think about it. Even when you’re not at your best, you’re still in the top five,” Elyse said. “If you overcome this self-doubt, you’ll do better.”
Darren nodded, deep in thought. “I’ve never looked at it that way.”
Elyse gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder. “Beat Vicky tomorrow. Show her what you’re capable of.”