Chapter 183:
Elyse inhaled deeply, her heart racing dizzily. Determined not to let her nerves jeopardize her chance, she tried to compose herself. Cody, observing from the side of the stage, leaned casually against a table, watching her with a calm demeanor. Though she appeared fine, Cody, familiar with such situations, noticed a shift in her mental state.
Richie approached Cody and whispered, “Why haven’t you publicly acknowledged Elyse as your new apprentice? And why involve her in this competition? Is that really necessary?”
Cody averted his gaze, glared at Richie, and responded irritably, “You’re not the one to dictate my actions.” Undeterred, Richie stepped closer and murmured, “Uncle Cody, make the announcement now so I can impress Elyse.”
“Why must you show off? Do you see me merely as a means to flaunt yourself?” retorted Cody, dismissing him with a firm shake of his shoulder and a stern, “Don’t disturb me.”
Richie, rebuffed, moved away and watched Elyse with concern. Abram announced, his gaze cutting through the crowd to Elyse, “The piece selected for you is ‘Por Una Cabeza.’” Feeling his intense scrutiny, Elyse shuddered, her anxiety peaking. She took another deep breath.
Ultimately, Abram decided Vicky would close the show, assigning Elyse to perform first. Elyse quelled her inner turmoil as she approached the orchestra’s forefront, standing poised. She nodded at Abram to signal readiness and lifted her violin to begin.
Word of the concertmaster competition had spread quickly, drawing a large crowd—other orchestra members, Rebekah, and even Wanda. Noticing the audience's size, Elyse's heart fluttered anxiously. She faltered during her performance, an error not missed by the judges or Cody. Despite quickly regaining her focus and composure, the damage was done.
Nearby, Vicky couldn't hide her satisfaction; a smug smile spread across her face as she watched Elyse's slip. Elyse performed moderately well. Richie, unfamiliar with musical nuances, noticed Freddy's concerned expression and asked, “What’s wrong? Didn’t she play well?”
Frowning, Freddy paused before replying, “Her performance was generally good, but not flawless. There were several errors.” Darren joined them, adding in a subdued tone, “She’s yet to become accustomed to the stage. Her nervousness led to the same errors I’ve made myself. Stage fright is notoriously challenging to master.”
Wanda, perceptive of the flaws in Elyse’s execution, whispered to a nearby instructor, “After the competition, she needs more rehearsal time. How else will she manage live performances under such pressure?”
Overhearing the conversation, Rebekah, positioned behind Wanda, smirked. Elyse had been so arrogant, and now she had faltered significantly. Delighted, Rebekah turned to her friend with a grin. “I’m in such a good mood today; dinner’s on me.”
Her friend, puzzled, asked, “Really? What’s got you in such high spirits?”
Rebekah's elation was clear; Elyse had blundered. Rebekah managed to contain her mirth as she and her friend left. For her, the competition's outcome was already clear; she felt no need to watch what she considered a foregone conclusion.
At the performance's end, Elyse looked visibly disheartened. Without glancing at her, the vice head informed Vicky, “Your piece will be ‘Bilionera.’”
Vicky looked up, her expression unwavering, and declared, “No problem.” As she began her performance, it was evident she outshone Elyse considerably.
Elyse’s complexion grew pale as she remained onstage, her dismay apparent as she listened to Vicky. In stark contrast to her own performance, Vicky’s dazzled, rendering Elyse’s efforts negligible.
Darren, intimately familiar with Vicky’s capabilities, knew of her longstanding role as concertmaster and her seasoned stage presence. Despite Elyse’s talent, she simply couldn’t match Vicky’s experience.