Cadence turned as a knock came to the door and a man entered with a guitar. He spoke politely and with a calm voice. If he was intimidated, he didn't show it. Cadence knew that some felt intimidated by her even if she didn't understand why. The man introduced himself as Ezvin Marveet. They had literally just been talking about him. The name Marveet struck a bell, and it wasn't long before she remembered that Scion Marveet was a rich and powerful businessman.
Ezvin addressed the room as a whole, but at the end, his gaze was on her, and Cadence met it. Cadence felt Mars move beside her to approach Ezvin. It was the common approach. Cadence often had enough social anxiety that it was the best choice. It was the way things normally went, but today wasn't a normal day. Cadence reached out, stopped Mars with a touch of her hand, gave her a smile and turned back to the newcomer.
As she approached, she could see her band mates collectively raise an eyebrow. She had already surprised them today. This was just another one. She could feel the anxiety building up in her and her fingers went instinctively to the rings on her fingers, twisting gently. Her inner monologue, usually speaking loud and conflicting ideas at once said only one thing.
You did this once, and it was easy. You can do it again.
Cadence got closer, offered her hand for shaking and spoke clearly, "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Marveet." The smile she gave him was genuine and was reflected in her tone. "Some introductions, if I may." She gestured towards the band. "These are the permanent members of my band. This young lady is Casey, our bassist and band leader. That's Matt on guitar, Barry on keys and synths, and Cara on drums. The scary lady in the back is Aline - she's my security detail. She just started, so not sure how she feels about me calling her scary," Cadence gave a playful smirk and the turned up smile on Aline's face said that she enjoyed the banter. "And this is Mars, my agent, who I believe you've already had some contact with. She does all the boring stuff so I can be creative and make her lots of money." She said, earning a chuckle from the band. "And I am Cadence. Vocals and the occasional dalliance on the piano. Now," her attention turned back to Ezvin. "What has Mars told you about our little project?"
Ezvin addressed the room as a whole, but at the end, his gaze was on her, and Cadence met it. Cadence felt Mars move beside her to approach Ezvin. It was the common approach. Cadence often had enough social anxiety that it was the best choice. It was the way things normally went, but today wasn't a normal day. Cadence reached out, stopped Mars with a touch of her hand, gave her a smile and turned back to the newcomer.
As she approached, she could see her band mates collectively raise an eyebrow. She had already surprised them today. This was just another one. She could feel the anxiety building up in her and her fingers went instinctively to the rings on her fingers, twisting gently. Her inner monologue, usually speaking loud and conflicting ideas at once said only one thing.
You did this once, and it was easy. You can do it again.
Cadence got closer, offered her hand for shaking and spoke clearly, "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Marveet." The smile she gave him was genuine and was reflected in her tone. "Some introductions, if I may." She gestured towards the band. "These are the permanent members of my band. This young lady is Casey, our bassist and band leader. That's Matt on guitar, Barry on keys and synths, and Cara on drums. The scary lady in the back is Aline - she's my security detail. She just started, so not sure how she feels about me calling her scary," Cadence gave a playful smirk and the turned up smile on Aline's face said that she enjoyed the banter. "And this is Mars, my agent, who I believe you've already had some contact with. She does all the boring stuff so I can be creative and make her lots of money." She said, earning a chuckle from the band. "And I am Cadence. Vocals and the occasional dalliance on the piano. Now," her attention turned back to Ezvin. "What has Mars told you about our little project?"
Sometimes - People Are The Monsters