CHAPTER 276: PERFORMANCE.

Leo and Snow played the song with their outmost sincerity. They expressed the emotions with their music and the notes created an illusion for all those who were present. It was as if they were sitting beside a lake where Leo was playing the piano and Snow was basking in the sunlight as she ran her bow across the strings of the violin and her fingers ran across them.

The crowd was mesmerized to hear the sound, and the picture just kept evolving with every note. Flowers began to bloom at the edge of the lake, followed by various kinds of birds flying around the two people.

None of the spectators imagined that the Cardinal Couple had such a talent at their command. As they savored the music, they failed to notice that Angelo Garcia, the man they have been looking forward to listening had come over to stand in front of the stage and was listening with his eyes closed, completely transfixed.

...

Leo and Snow were playing as if they both didn’t care about the world at all. The level of their performance didn’t increase because they had a godly skill at their disposal, but it was because of their harmony with each other. The couple lived for each other and would understand what the other was thinking without needing a single word to communicate.

How could the two of them together fall behind someone who was using the path of music to chase fame and wealth?

Lily was also enjoying the performance as she stood between Cherry and Elvin. Anastasia had gone to socialize with the rich people and seek potential donors who would like to earn some fame by riding the coattails of the Cardinal Foundation.

However, as mesmerizing the performance was, it came to an end. What seemed like hours to the people was actually just a few minutes of fantastic music. The people woke up after the song ended, and they were all dazed. Only a few moments, a man standing closest to the stage began to clap and just like a stone breaking the tranquility of the river surface, it was followed by ripples.

After the excitement came to an end, the people were shocked when they noticed Angelo standing at the front and clapping enthusiastically. His impression as a true artist among the folks gained a few more points after this. Vienna saw this scene and she stepped up to greet Angelo.

"Greetings, Mister Garcia, I am Vienna, and..."

After the introduction was finished, she was about to ask him for the performance when Angelo asked, "Miss Vienna, who are these two artists? I have never seen them before. Can you introduce us?"

This question made Vienna’s lips twitch, she wanted to yell, ’I called you over to beat these people, yet you wish to be friends with them.’

At this moment, Cherry stepped in with a smile that wasn’t a smile, and she said, "Hello, Mister Angelo, I am Cherry, this is my fiancée, Elvin Rao. Firstly, thank you for coming and secondly, the people that you wish to befriend, they are my friends. Actually, I think Vienna called you over to out perform them in a friendly exhibition."

Angelo raised his brow and asked, "Oh, I didn’t know there was something like this. I charge a different amount for competitions."

Vienna was shocked but then Angelo chuckled and replied, "I am joking. I came here to perform normally, but listening to the two of them my blood is boiling. Well, how about you do me the favor of introducing them after I am done with my performance?"

The lady nodded and then they watched Angelo get on the stage with his crew. They carried his equipment and Angelo personally supervised the set up, before he picked up his guitar, tuned it and walked up to the microphone and tapped on it for a couple of times with his fingers, and said, "Hello, ladies and gents, I hope you all are having fun this evening?"

As he said this, he strummed the guitar a few times and the people cheered. The mood had shifted, from the subtle poignant romance, it was now pro rock and roll vibe in the garden.

Angelo began to strum the strings and his voice echoed through the place, the people began to dance and sway to the song, Angelo didn’t stop after one song, he sang three, and at the end of the third song, he said, "Every time I perform on stage I call over a lucky person to exchange some guitar notes with me. I wonder if anyone here would be interested in helping me with the continuation of the ritual?"

The people were excited but when they recalled their own guitar skills they all simmered down. At this moment a soft and melodic voice sounded, "My Baba can play the guitar."

All eyes turned and locked onto the charismatic little speaker. Lily brushed her hair to the side and with a gentle smile she looked at Angelo as she said, "My Baba can exchange the guitar notes with you, if you want to Mister Angelo."

Her confident speech and straight mannerism surprised the people, but this was something that was natural in the children of affluent families. After a slight daze, Angelo smiled and asked, "Young lady, who is your father?"

Lily walked up to Leo Cardinal and gestured toward him and said, "This is my father, Mister Leo Cardinal."

The people realized why Lily was so confident. Angelo was surprised and then he said, "It would be my honor to share the stage with you, Mister Cardinal, please come over."

Leo nodded and then he took off his jacket and handed it to Snow before he undid his cuff links and folded his sleeves and walked away but not before passing a cheeky wink to the lady. Snow smiled at him and said, "Go get them tiger."

...

Leo and Angelo stood on the stage, and the latter asked, "Mister Cardinal, do you know any of my songs?"

Leo nodded with a smile and replied truthfully, "As a matter of fact I was asked by my daughter to practice a few of your songs."

Angelo thought it was because Lily was his fan and smiled as he looked at Lily and said, "Thank you for all your support, young lady."

Lily smiled and turned to look at her mother, who could see scorn hidden behind the smile. Snow patted Lily’s head and thanked the stars for the fact that this young lady didn’t directly yell back at Angelo, ’Stay in your limit, you ignorant pleb, who do you think you are for me to support you? Are you worthy? Clown, know your place.’

Snow was exaggerating but Lily could totally do something similar.

Back on the stage, Angelo began to play a few notes, and Leo followed him with ease. Angelo nodded and then he picked up the pace. Leo didn’t falter even for a second and kept the pace.

The people were surprised to see that Leo could match Angelo with such ease and finesse. After a while, Angelo found Leo stopping and gesturing for the former to go ahead and increase the pace even more.

Angelo raised his brow and then he began to play a solo leading section from one of his songs. After two minutes when he was about to end it on a high note, Leo started playing a sequence of his own. The intensity of his sequence was even higher than what Angelo had played.

However, that was not all, Leo began to increase the tempo. It was to the level where he was hammering the strings and then pulling them back with both hands. It was not just one hand on the sword but Leo was wielding his guitar as a weapon and the target was Angelo.

Sensing the challenge, the rock star placed his hand back on the string and the two of them were having a show down. The crowd was going mad, and they were all recording the situation on their mobiles. However, even a rookie could tell that Leo was superior in skills.

The people were shocked, and Angelo was the same, he was sweating profusely and his fingers were beginning to lock up. However, Leo was unaffected, his fingers were moving in a blur.

The people thought it was a brawl and Leo beat Angelo brutally. After the music came to a stop, the people were surprised to see them looking at each other, and Angelo was shocked. After a few minutes, he walked up to Leo and said, "I never expected that I would meet a rival like you, here, Mister Cardinal. You surely gave me one of the best surprises."

Leo smiled and replied, "I am thankful for the opportunity, Mister Garcia."

They both shook their hands and Angelo said, "Folks, that would be all from my side, and I accept my defeat today, at the hands of Mister Cardinal. However, I promise to practice more and challenge him once more."