Even though she said all the right things, her eyes never left Elodie, making her intentions perfectly clear-she wanted Elodie to step aside.


    Esmeralda wasn''t having any of it. She frowned and stood up, arms crossed. "Ms. Jett, if you have something to say, why not juste out with it?"


    It couldn''t be more obvious—they were all determined to prop up Sylvie. And why? Wasn''t it just because Sylvie had Jarrod''s backing? If not for him, she''d be nothing but the other woman. What was so special about her?


    Queenie hadn''t expected Esmeralda to be so blunt and unyielding. For a moment, she looked displeased.


    Maurice, biting into an apple, chuckled. "Come on, Ms. Thorne, is it really worth it? Sylvie likes that ring, and suddenly you want it too. She wants to y the piano, and next thing we know, you''re signing up for lessons?"


    As far as he was concerned, Elodie must have only chosen to perform on the piano after learning Sylvie would be doing the same. It was as if she was determined to go head-to-head with her; as if she was dying to steal Sylvie''s spotlight-just to catch Jarrod''s attention.


    Grady frowned too, thinking Elodie was in way over her head. "Do you even know what Ms. Fielding is capable of? She got her advanced certificatest year and even won an award inpetition. This isn''t some kids'' music ss where you can get by ying ''Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.""


    If she had any sense, she''d back down now.


    At that moment, Jarrod cast a nce across the room-cool, unreadable.


    Elodie wasn''t sure what to make of it. He looked every bit the detached aristocrat, as if none of this mattered to him. But there was something in his eyes-a hint of amusement, maybe even mockery.


    It was the look a husband gives when he''s quietly entertained.


    Elodie pressed her lips together.


    Esmeralda let out a short, sharpugh, arms still folded. "So she''s the only one who can earn an advanced certificate, and no one else? Elodie passed hers at twelve. She''s a natural-has any of you seen real talent before?"


    Her words hung in the air.


    Only then did Sylvie let out a soft, unhurriedugh, herposure unshaken. She looked Elodie up and down, as if sizing her up.


    Elodie? Certified at twelve? Howe she''d never heard of it? If Elodie was so good, why had she never shown it? Was it because she didn''t want to-or because she just couldn''t?


    It wasn''t just Sylvie doubting. Maurice and Grady were both shaking their heads, amused.


    Only Jarrod stayed silent, studying Elodie with a thoughtful, inscrutable gaze. There was no skepticism in his expression, nothing to give him away.


    Then there was Ivan. He nced at Elodie and lowered his eyes, absently tracing his phone with his thumb. The others might not know, but he did. Elodie really had passed her certificate at twelve. He''d been astounded by her talent, once.


    As the center of attention, Elodie''s expression stayed calm and poised. "Since there''s a conflict, let''s get to the point-how are we choosing who performs? What are the criteria?"


    She cut straight to the heart of the matter.


    Everyone here knew the truth: they all favored Sylvie only because of Jarrod. No one would say it out loud, of course that would be embarrassing.


    Upstairs, in a private suite, a man watched the whole scene unfold, turning a ss of wine in his hand. His dark, striking eyes were fixed on Elodie, thoughtful.


    Beside him, Naylor took a drag from his cigarette. "That''s the woman I told you aboutst time-the one who''s always got a move up her sleeve. Funny, isn''t it? She knows all about Sylvie and Jarrod, but pretends she doesn''t and asks straight out. She''s something else."


    Elias''s gaze lingered on the elegant line of Elodie''s neck. Even now, faced with this, she was unruffledposed, dignified.


    He set down his ss. "Did the rules ever say she couldn''t have a chance?"


    Naylor was caught off guard, for once at a loss for words.


    Downstairs, Ivan could see the situation was getting out of hand. He stood up and looked at Elodie, his eyesplicated. In the end, he made the final call. "Ms. Fielding made the biggest contribution tonight and closed the most sales. I think the performance should go to her."


    Elodie nced at him.


    It would be a lie to say she wasn''t disappointed. Ivan had once been the person closest to her. And now just like Jarrod he was siding with the woman who''d wrecked her marriage.


    The room grew tense.


    Then Sylvie rose gracefully, her smile warm and polished. "Excuse me, I forgot to mention something..."


    "I''ve decided to invite Jarrod to y a duet with me."