Chapter 5
"No way, you look really pale. I'm not letting you out of my sight," Lily insisted.
She spun around and barked at Michael.
"Go clean up the guest room. Mia's all mine tonight."
But tomorrow was the last day of the holiday.
It was also our wedding anniversary.
He'd promised me a surprise.
Now, I wasn't even sure if that surprise was just for me.
Maybe Lily would be part of it too.
*****
The next day, Michael was already dressed in a suit.
He gave me a mysterious look.
"The band's got a special show tonight. Don't be late," he said.
Lily poked her head out of the bathroom, toothpaste foam was all over her mouth, and then she called out, her words a little muffled.
"Mia, I'll help you pick out an outfit later!"
She was obviously in on it too.
By evening, we'd made it to the theater.
On our way in, we bumped into a bunch of the band's staff.
Lily went down the line, greeting each person with her trademark enthusiasm.
Honestly, it felt like she was the main character tonight.
She pulled me right up to the front row.
The show hadn't started yet.
She leaned in close to me.
"Do you know why Michael scheduled the show for today?" Lily asked, with her eyes sparkling with mischief.
With that teasing glint in her eyes, I couldn't keep my cool, I felt a little on edge.
"Yeah, I know. It's our third wedding anniversary," I replied.
She froze for a moment, then whispered with a playful pout.
"Ugh, he really can't keep a secret to save his life," she muttered.
Just then, the show kicked off.
The orchestra was playing Sergei Rachmaninoff on stage.
But I couldn't focus on the music at all.
The final piece came to an end.
The conductor bowed, then gestured toward the side of the stage.
"Please welcome our orchestra's director, Mr. Michael Reed," the conductor announced.
Michael straightened his tie and strode onto the stage.
He looked every bit the star in his crisp suit, with his smile confident and flawless.
"Thanks, everyone. Tonight isn't just the end of our tour, it's also my third wedding anniversary, with my wife," Michael said, with his voice ringing out across the stage.
The audience burst into applause and cheers.
He then went on giving his speech.
"So, on this special day, I want to give my wife a gift."
He paused and looked right at me.
And then he took out an official appointment letter and held it up for everyone to see.
Michael's voice echoed through the theater.
"Lily will officially join our orchestra's operations team next month. Mia was the one who really pushed for this. Lily has been working behind the scenes for me and the orchestra all year, helping out in so many ways," Michael said.
"When the orchestra goes on tour abroad in the second half of the year, Lily will be joining us. I hope we can let more people see what our orchestra is all about," he added.
Lily couldn't hold back her tears.
And she threw her arms around my neck and hugged me tight.
"Mia, thank you," she said.
She let go of me, stood up, and walked toward the stage.
"Thank you, Mia and Michael, for giving me this opportunity. I promise I'll give it my all and won't let you down," she said.
The applause from the audience grew even louder.
"I'm gonna cry for their friendship. It is just too good," someone in the audience whispered.
"Hold on, wasn't this supposed to be a gift for his wife?" another person asked.
"Didn't he say his wife always wanted this?" someone else chimed in.
"But his wife looked pretty unimpressed. If it were me, I'd be pissed. Seriously, no woman will like it be like this." someone else muttered.
The whispers and murmurs from the audience kept drifting over to me.
I got up from my seat with a calm look on my face.
The spotlight followed me step by step as I walked toward the two of them on stage.
I stepped onto the stage, walking past Michael.
He smiled and handed me the microphone.
I locked eyes with him and spoke slowly.
"Michael, I've got a surprise for you and Lily too," I said.
Lily's smile hadn't completely faded from her face.
I turned on the projector.
"Everyone, please look at the screen," I said.