The Bolton Concert (1)

“Ah…”
Theron Cox probably heard my moan from across the phone line.
However, instead of pointing it out, Theron let out a more quickened breath.
Therefore, Selene’s hand gestures also became bolder.
She hadn’t intended to do this when she first called, but once she started, she couldn’t stop.
In the end, Selene reached climax on her own.
Theron also seemed to have undergone a change, as his breathing, which she had been hearing over the receiver, gradually subsided.
Theron muttered in a voice simmering with excitement.
-Damn it. I should have seen you go.
Selene, who had been opening her eyes in a daze, straightened her back again at Theron’s nonsense.
“Hang up.”
-Ah, wait!
Selene’s hand, which was about to put down the receiver, stopped.
Although she had already wasted a lot of time, Selene decided to listen just one more time.
Of course, if Theron started talking nonsense again, she would hang up immediately.
-…It’s nothing much, I just want to see you soon. I’d like to meet one more time before the concert next week, but the circumstances don’t allow it. So, think of me often, not just my chest…
Click.
Selene, who had been silently listening to Theron, hung up before he could finish his sentence.

The weekend of the salon concert arrived.
Theron, who had said he wanted to meet one more time before then, had called every night, as if his wish were real.
Although Selene couldn’t answer half of the calls because she was in the piano room late into the evening as the international competition drew closer.
Perhaps because of that, Theron arrived swiftly in front of the ducal estate’s main gate on the day of the appointment.
He had arrived 30 minutes early, not the usual 10, and had to wait idly in the drawing-room for Selene, who had not yet finished preparing.
“Theron.”
Selene, dressed appropriately for the occasion, descended the stairs and called him in the drawing-room.
At her call, Theron lifted his gaze.
She saw a man with his blonde hair neatly combed back, dressed smartly in a suit.
Whether it was because she hadn’t seen him in a long time, or because he was dressed much more formally than usual, Theron looked particularly handsome today.
No, strictly speaking, Selene had always been fond of his appearance.
Even in her past days when she considered men to be no more than stones rolling on the street, she had given him a chance simply because his appearance was decent.
“…”
Selene was not the only one who was looking at his attire intently.
Theron was examining Selene from head to toe.
Then, he slowly stood up and kissed the back of Selene’s hand.
Theron’s gaze swept down Selene’s exposed collarbone, neck, and calves in turn.
“Can’t you wear more clothes?”
‘What a strange thing to say all of a sudden.’
“This is the most.”
If she wore any more clothes, she would look ridiculous.
Besides, it wasn’t even appropriate for the occasion.
“Damn it. I don’t know why they make women’s clothes as if they’re half-finished.”
Theron muttered as if he didn’t like it.
At the same time, he squeezed the hand he was holding and led her.
“Well, whatever. Since your partner is me, I guess it doesn’t matter.”
Theron, who had finally torn his gaze away from Selene, who had placed her hand on his arm, led her to the prepared car.
The car with the two of them departed for the venue of the salon concert.

After driving for a long time on a road dyed in deep darkness, she saw a mansion that was glittering, unbefitting of the silent winter night.
It was the mansion of Neil Bolton, the host of today’s salon concert.
He was the second son of a count’s family and had been interested in music and art since ancient times.
He sponsored several musicians and was also very interested in business, so he consistently invested in piano manufacturing companies.
Although he and Selene had common interests in this way, he was not Selene’s type because he was very cheerful and meddlesome.
Especially his insistence on performing.
So, it would be better to tell Theron in advance.
“The host of today’s concert, Mr. Neil Bolton, has a hobby of recommending everyone to perform. He’ll persistently persuade you if you show even a slight opening, so it’s better to cut him off firmly.”
“I’m just a businessman, would he ask me to perform?”
“I’m just telling you in case.”
Theron, who was turning the steering wheel, glanced at Selene.
“You once said you wanted to see me play the piano.”
‘Yes, I did. But.’
“I want to see you enjoy playing. Not playing reluctantly because you were forced to.”
There was a big difference.
In the first place, the reason she wanted to hear Theron’s piano performance was because she was curious what kind of expression this man, who clearly liked the piano even though he denied it, would make when he was seriously immersed in it.
But if he played unwillingly, it would be neither here nor there.
Theron asked Selene, “Will you play if he asks you?”
“I don’t feel like playing right now.”
“Right now?”
“Because I might change my mind.”
Although such a thing rarely happened, if someone gave a wonderful performance that stimulated her, she might step up out of a desire to win, wouldn’t she?
Even though such a thing had never happened before, Selene secretly hoped to hear such a performance today.
A performance that would make her heart pound and her chest flutter.
“Miss Selene! It is a great honor to have you attend my concert this time!”
Selene, who had gotten out of the car with Theron’s escort, was immediately greeted by Neil Bolton.
Theron had one eyebrow raised, as if he didn’t like the welcome.
However, Neil Bolton, who liked everyone in the world, nonchalantly struck up a conversation with the crookedly standing Theron as well.
“Mr. Cox, you must have attended as a partner, right? Hehehe. It seems the rumors are true. You are a truly well-matched couple. My eyes are feasting.”
Selene once again felt how people viewed her relationship with Theron.
Even though nothing was decided between them, people reacted as if they were a couple who would soon get married.
“Please come in. Many people have already arrived.”
Selene and Theron walked into the mansion, guided by Neil Bolton.
In the meantime, Theron lowered his body and whispered in Selene’s ear, “Selene, that man seems like a pervert. Who gave him the right to feast his eyes? Does he think you’re his eye candy? Anyway, I didn’t like it from the moment he called you by your first name.”
Theron seemed to have misunderstood the definition of a pervert.
Although Neil Bolton was a bit clueless and had a light mouth, he was not a person who deserved to be called a pervert.
If anything, he, who had been panting on the phone, would have suited that word better.
However, before she could look at Theron as if he were strange, people swarmed around the two of them as soon as they appeared, like a swarm of bees.
In particular, since the purpose of today’s gathering was a piano concert, people were more interested in Selene.
“Miss Ashcombe! Congratulations on winning the Velora Music Competition, although it’s a bit late. In fact, there was no one else who could have received it but you, Miss Ashcombe.”
“Still, it’s really wonderful that you won so confidently, even overcoming the Velora bias! How proud they are of being a country of music.”
Selene gave a gentle nod.
The noncommittal gesture, neither affirming nor denying, seemed to be a moderate response while also looking elegant.
“But I heard that you’re not stopping at winning the Velora Competition and are taking on a new challenge, Miss Ashcombe. Are you participating in the International Piano Competition?”
This time, Selene couldn’t just give a moderate nod.
Because she had planned to finally bring up the topic of studying abroad, which she had been postponing, to Theron today.
Although it wasn’t a big deal, she was bothered that the topic had come up before she could bring it up herself.
“I believe you can win, Miss Ashcombe. Don’t mind Jean Gabin’s critique. It’s widely said that his sense is not what it used to be these days.”
It was a name she hadn’t heard in a long time.
Jean Gabin.
His sharp critique in the music journal had started her relationship with Theron.
Because the critique had pointed out her lack of sensitivity, she had chosen ‘The Age of Love and Romance’ and had decided to observe Theron.
“Hehe, it seems the concert is about to begin. Many excellent performers are participating today, so I hope you enjoy yourself, Miss Ashcombe. Ah, and you too, Mr. Cox.”
Fortunately, before the conversation about the international competition could get any longer, people started to pick up their cocktail glasses and take their seats one by one.
As the surroundings became less crowded, Theron was finally able to talk to Selene.
“The International Competition? Was the competition you were preparing for that big?”
“Yes.”
Selene answered naturally, now accustomed to Theron’s occasional informal speech.
“I see…”
Theron, as if he didn’t know much about that competition, didn’t ask any more questions and kept his mouth shut.
And the concert began in earnest.
The first person to take the piano was Katrina Hitchcock.
A pretty young lady, she had majored in piano at university.
But that was it.
Having grown up in a wealthy family, she was closer to the type of person who used the piano as an accessory to make herself shine, as Evelyn sometimes said.
Still, it was true that it was a pleasant sight, like a masterpiece, to see her dressed up so prettily and tapping the piano keys.
Selene liked to watch people play the piano, regardless of their skill or intention.
As she was engrossed in watching the people who were taking turns showing off their performances, Selene’s eyes began to shine with interest as a small murmur was heard from the surroundings.
“It seems they’re going to play jazz.”
“Mr. Cooper is the one among us who understands jazz the best, I suppose.”
Ramon Cooper.
Selene had also heard his name.
Although jazz was a minority in such a sophisticated gathering, he was said to be a person who showed off his jazz skills quite well for someone with royal blonde hair and dressed from head to toe in department store clothes.
Ramon Cooper, who had lightly warmed up his hands, began to play as the audience fell silent.
People were quickly drawn in by the free tempo and swing rhythm.
People who usually only had to act prim and proper were lightly swaying their bodies or tapping their toes.
Selene, who had never seen a jazz performance in person, also listened with concentration.
Although she ended up staring at Ramon Cooper a little too intently because of her habit of approaching things analytically rather than just enjoying them.
“I don’t know who taught him, but he’s just full of himself.”
Just then, a grumbling voice was heard from the side.
Selene, whose concentration was broken, turned her head.
Theron was watching Ramon Cooper with his arms crossed.
“Don’t you like jazz, Theron?”
“I like well-played jazz.”
Theron had that expression again.
An ambiguous expression, as if he were envious yet disliked it.
“Look closely, Selene. The way he artificially shrugs his shoulders. He’s not immersed in the piece at all. It’s just a pathetic effort to look good to the women gathered here.”
On top of that, there was an inexplicable envy plastered all over him today.
So, Selene thought for a moment.
That she might be able to hear Theron’s performance today.
“I don’t think it’s bad.”
Selene casually threw out a single remark.
As expected, Theron’s eyes instantly lit up.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Because a person playing the piano looks cool. I especially like the way that blonde hair flutters.”
“I have blonde hair too.”
“It doesn’t flutter.”
Theron’s lips closed tightly.
It seemed as if a vein had popped out on his forehead.