After Ariel: It started as a game by Diana Hockley

floor.  The canteen ladies greeted me with smiles as I stalked into the dining area. The way I hurled myself at the counter pretty much showed them the way the wind was blowing. A cup of coffee and a slice of iced banana cake were produced in record time. As I sat at a table forcing myself to hold hot, angry tears at bay, footsteps sounded behind me. ‘You needn’t bother oiling your way around here. I want nothing to do with you!’ I snarled.
    ‘Er...Ms Miller, I’m sorry you had to overhear Rezanov...’
    I turned to find one of the combatants, a tall, well built, extremely good-looking, fair-haired man standing behind me. He introduced himself as the Concert Hall manager, Bill Seymour. Conceding he wasn’t to blame, I invited him to sit with me. Looking relieved, he pulled out a chair and sat down. One of the ladies brought him a cup of strong, black tea. We faced each other, neither wanting to be the first to speak. Finally, he sighed, took a sip and grimaced. ‘They always make it too hot, bless them,’ he confided, ‘but they’re so good to me I can’t say anything.’ I remained silent; he could make the first move. ‘Ms Miller – ‘
    ‘Pam.’
    ‘Pam, I heard you’ve overcome your stage fright and I can’t for a moment imagine you’d undertake a concert of this magnitude if you felt you couldn’t perform.’  He smiled and I almost reached over to pat his hand. What he had to put up with would have made me choke the living you-know-what out of most people.
    ‘I used to have a problem with paralysing stage fright, Mr Seymour, but I’m over that now. Oh, I still get nervous, but nowhere near the debilitating terror that used to overcome me.’
    ‘Please call me Bill. I used to have a problem with stage fright – yes, I’m a musician too, pianist actually – though I don’t get much chance to play with an orchestra anymore. Sometimes I play with the Gordon Trio as a quartet.’ He laughed, and blew on the top of his tea to cool it down. ‘I’ve been hearing great things about you. The critics are raving over your work but presumably, Rezanov hasn’t been reading the papers! Unfortunately, you’re contracted to play the Haydn with him, so we have to come to some sort of arrangement. Hopefully, his agent is giving him a good bollocking.’
    I dissolved into giggles. Bill stared at me for a moment and then joined in. It was a few minutes before we could control ourselves. ‘The thought of anyone scolding Rezanov is ridiculous!’ I chortled. ‘He’s a law unto himself! He does speak the language, but I don’t know how fluently. And all that Russian crap is just that. He’s as Australian as you and I, albeit with parents of Russian descent, but someone said he uses his dual nationality when he wants to get his own way.’
    ‘I’ve had some royal battles with performers over the years. We know all about Vlad’s tantrums, but when you get to know him, he’s a pretty good bloke. You’ll get on with him when he’s settled down.’ Bill Seymour eyed me appreciatively. Uh oh, no, down boy!  I’ve no time for dalliances.
    ‘Okay, so what can we do?’ I had to get our relationship on a business-like footing.
    ‘Would you be prepared to go ahead with the item if I can broker a deal with,’ he smiled, ‘the ‘drongo’?’
    ‘Well, I’m being paid for it, so really I have to shut up or put up,’ I replied, ‘and I’ve never reneged on a concert in my whole life, but it did feel good to throw a tantie for once.’
    Bill grinned. ‘I think I know just what to say to that young man. Let’s go and talk to him. Don’t say anything, just follow my lead.’
    Loud voices boomed down the corridor as we neared the dressing-room. It was impossible to tell who had the upper hand, but when we stepped into the room the two men fell silent. Rezanov scowled at me from the easy chair on other side of the room. His agent, an unassuming man with a more than adequate nose, looked enquiringly at