Page 55 of Diamonds

I scoff at that.Fate is meaningless.

If there were a just hand guiding all of humanity along a predestined path, we wouldn’t be going to a bloody mortuary right now to learn about what happened to May.

Everything is random.By chance.

I wouldn’t be here tonight if it weren’t for…

If it weren’t for Maddox.

Sweet, sweet Maddox.

The man whose shop I walked into one week ago, completely on a whim.

Because I wanted to do something different.

Wanted to leave my sterile, prepackaged world.The world my mother wanted me to live in.

The last seven days have been some of the best—and worst—of my life.

All because I took a chance.

I had no idea what I was signing up for when I walked into Maddox’s shop.When I descended the mirrored staircase into the technicolor world of Aces Underground.

But because of that, I now have a shot at performing with a world-class orchestra.

It probably won’t amount to anything, but I have a shot.

And if I, a silly little girl from Brixton, raised by an abusive mother and an absentee father, have a shot at this position?If I have a shot with Maddox Hathaway, the most beautiful man—inside and out—that I’ve ever met?

I might just have a shot at achieving justice for May, too.

17

MADDOX

Alissa throws her arms around me.“Thank you.Thank you.”

I break the embrace and caress her cheek.It’s like silk.“For what?”

“For…everything, Maddox.The good and the bad.Everything.But most recently, for bringing me here tonight.For insisting that we take a moment to appreciate something magnificent, despite all the malice we’ve witnessed since Sunday night.If you hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have a shot at that flute chair.”

I smile at her.“Of course, baby.I just want what’s best for you.And from what I’ve seen, you belong in this world.”

She frowns.“Plenty of people belong in this world, but this world doesn’t have a place for all of them.”

“But people who have the passion, the drive, they find a place.Even if it just means we come to Symphony Center more often.”I caress her cheek.“I saw a side of you tonight that really touched me.It really touched me because of how touchedyouwere by what you were hearing.”

She reaches into her handbag, grabs another tissue.“My goodness, you’re going to make me cry again.”

I grab her hand.“Sorry, baby.That wasn’t my intent.”

She shakes her head.“No.It’s crying for a good reason.Just like when the finale of the symphony got me.”

“I’m happy we came.I really enjoyed it, too.”I check my watch.“But we’d better scoot.Bill has those updates for us.”

She nods and tosses her tissue into a nearby trash can.“Of course.You lead the way.”

I lace the fingers of my left hand into her right, and we walk out onto Michigan Avenue.Soon we’re back at my car in the Aces parking garage.The classical station is playing the same symphony we just heard, interspersed with a lecture by the CSO’s resident historian.