Chapter 282:
Elyse mused, "Maybe if I were more confident, such mishaps wouldn't occur."
"Nonsense!" Abram's sudden outburst startled Elyse. He gestured emphatically toward her. "With so many members in our orchestra, few have composed original pieces. Yet you've penned four on your own. Are you a musical prodigy?"
Caught off guard, Elyse struggled to articulate her creative process. After a moment's hesitation, she replied, "I simply draw inspiration. Melodies come to mind, and I jot them down."
Abram's frustration mounted. Wasn't she essentially admitting to musical genius? A melody effortlessly materialized in her mind and translated into music. Was that not genius?
Merlin intervened, raising a calming hand. "Do you have more original compositions? Beyond the four?"
"I do, but they're yet to be transcribed. They exist solely in my mind," Elyse admitted, shaking her head.
"Don't fret. We have a violin here. Choose a piece and perform it for us," Merlin suggested kindly.
Elyse, warming to Merlin's approach and developing a newfound respect for him, willingly heeded his advice. She approached the violin, lifted it, and paused, lost in thought.
Abram observed, chin propped on one hand, and sneered, "No need to feign musical genius. They're a rare breed. Now that you've confessed to lying, we can let you off the hook."
Unperturbed by Abram's taunts, Elyse delved into her mind, finding the melody she sought. As she played, the melancholic notes filled the room. This particular melody had emerged during a heated argument with Jayden, born from the pain of feeling unable to reach his heart.
Unaccustomed to performing her original compositions publicly, she halted after only thirty seconds, feeling exposed. "I only developed the climax and haven't written the rest. I apologize," she admitted, scratching her head in embarrassment.
Merlin's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Is this truly your creation?" he asked eagerly.
Elyse nodded firmly. "There's no reason for me to deceive. Doesn't my performance just now attest to my sincerity?" She believed her ability to play the melody she had crafted was evidence enough of her creative prowess.
Her admission brought satisfaction to Merlin and the others. Having a musical genius among their ranks was a source of pride. However, Abram's demeanor remained icy, his gaze brimming with hostility. He finally spoke.
"What's your take on this?" Merlin placed a reassuring hand on Abram's shoulder. "What are your thoughts on this issue?"
Abram's gaze was sharp as he relentlessly pressed the crucial point. "You may clear your name in our presence, but can you do the same in front of all the netizens online?"
Elyse was rendered speechless, caught off guard by Abram's probing question.
Abram slammed his hand on the table, his tone turning grave. "Do you grasp the gravity of the online comments? They accuse the Celestial Sounds Symphony of shielding a jealous concertmaster who undermined her sister's stellar performance. You've not only tarnished the orchestra's reputation but also embarrassed other members. With the upcoming performances, I fear ticket sales may suffer because of you."
His voice rising with intensity, Abram continued, "Are you prepared to shoulder our losses?"
Elyse felt a surge of fear. She had no desire to jeopardize the orchestra's future; it held too much promise.
Merlin cast a disapproving glance at Abram. While he knew of Abram's disdain for Elyse, the severity of his words surprised even him.
After a moment of contemplation, Merlin spoke. "We understand you're unjustly accused. However, the rumors stem from your actions. Until this matter is resolved, it's best for you to step away from the orchestra. Focus solely on addressing the online allegations."
Elyse's nerves were frayed. "Mr. Reynolds, are you firing me? I can prove my innocence. Please don't terminate my employment."
Merlin chuckled softly. "No, I'm not firing you. Let's discuss the next steps once you've completely resolved the issue."
He valued Elyse's talent and had no intention of parting ways with her. However, they couldn't ignore the impact of the situation on the orchestra's image. Temporarily suspending her involvement was necessary to ensure the smooth continuation of the upcoming tour and to pacify public dissatisfaction.
.noveldrama . .