Love or Die CEO’s Daily Dose of Swoon

Chapter 41

Stanton was practically buzzing with excitement as he addressed the room. “Look at that. Even this girl thinks I’ve got screws loose! What kind of shrink are you, not taking your buddy’s headcase seriously?”

Louie just stood there, silent

Knowing Cordelia’s easygoing nature, he didn’t immediately argue with Stanton. And sure enough, after a brief pause, Cordelia spoke up unhurriedly. “It’s not your head. It’s your playing that’s off.”

The room fell into a hush

As a world–renowned piano virtuoso, Stanton was not used to such criticism. It was the first time anyone had dared suggest his playing was flawless.

After a moment, Stanton asked, “What’s off?”

Cordelia shook her head. “I don’t know exactly.”

Stanton raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “Are you kidding me?” he thought inwardly.

Louie’s voice, ever calm, broke the silence. “Why would you say that?”

Standing straight as an arrow, Cordelia answered like a diligent student responding to a teacher’s question. “There was a part that just didn’t sound right”

Raised in an orphanage, Cordelia had never had formal training She had taught herself everything she knew about music

Unable to articulate Stantons mistake in technical terms, she offered. Let me play it for you.”

Stanton was about to snort dismissively at the thought of a young girl identifying an error in his performance, but Louie gently pushed him aside to clear the way to the piano “Go ahead”

Cordelia sat down, her hands finding their place on the keys. She didn’t play the entire piece from start to finish but zeroed in on the segment that Stanton had botched

As she played, the smirk on Stantons face faded, replaced by an expression of deep concentration and, eventually, amazement

Stanton had played this signature piece for years, habitually glossing over a wrong note that had become ingrained in his muscle memory. The tempo was so fast, the mistake so well–embedded. It was nearly undetected

When Cordelia finished playing. Stanton stood there, dazed, his mind racing “So, that’s how it is That’s how it

He stepped forward, eager to shake her hand. “Who are you?”

This girl who could detect such a subtle error on a single listening couldn’t be a nobody could she?

Cordelia stepped back, avoiding his grasp

of introducing her to you as a potential student, you see

Louie could finish his thought, Stanton stood up and declared emphatically, “No

Louie was puzzled.

practically shouted, “How can I teach her? I should ask her for lessons! From now!

thought she could play the piano How was the supposed to

phone “Cordelia, what’s your number? Let’s swap digits? We

to learn some music scores and piano techniques I

Chapter

of learning had attracted

her phone and, after they exchanged numbers, she saved his contact as Piano

Piano Man‘ sent her a link

was Pioneers

Piano Man added, “Cordelia, this group’s full of aces. Louie’s in

So, she looked

down her baseball cap, ruffled her hair, and said with a smile. “Join it. You’ve been too isolated. It’s

eyes lit up, and she

you’re an admin. Approve it, will

Cordelia was in the “Pioneers Club.”

also an admin.

through the list of twenty

so many professions. She asked, “Are they all as skilled as they

his chin proudly. “They’re known as I am, I guess. Just your

nodded, “Oh.”

who couldn’t even nail

pointed to a profile with a solid black picture. “Lia, listen up. You can mess with anyone else in here. Louie’s got your back. But don’t ever cross this

puzzled. The profile picture looked vaguely familiar.

the

name had a chill, like a frosty “keep out‘

it,

real deal and got a short fuse. But don’t worry. He never chats. Don’t badmouth him in here, and you’ll be

Her curiosity was

rest were indeed pseudo–big shots? No, except for Louie. He was internationally known as a stellar

they chatted, a message popped

Sullivan asked, [Newbie?]

message came through.

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