Chapter 1
"Sold! Your number Sir? Thank you."
As Nadir walked through the grand hall, he shook his head. Another lot of auctions going on in the great house. There would be nothing left!
He made his way down the winding staircase into the dimly lit basement. This term is used loosely, as in reality it was a music room, full of instruments from every corner of the world. There were two small chandeliers and deep burgundy fabric lining the walls, which along with the minimal light made it seem like some sort of cave.
The music that surrounded Nadir as he walked through the door was intense and dark, much like the man sat behind the piano. As his fingers flew across the keys, he softly swayed keeping his eyes closed, but tilted his head to acknowledge the Persian.
"Erik, as much I enjoy your music, I must insist that you remember your responsibilities. You have a business to run and correspondences will not answer themselves." Nadir scolded.
Without missing a beat his eyes snapped open and Erik Claudin gazed into the eyes of his right hand man.
"Nadir, the only reason you are here to lecture me every day is because I have more than enough money without pretending to like those who feel the need to pester me with their letters. And concerning the business, I re-designed it to be self-sufficient, requiring little input." He said, still playing, and maintaining eye contact as if to dare him to carry on.
"Yes, I've heard this all before you insufferable man! I accept that you are the richest arse in the world, but I'm not talking about those wittering women that swoon over you." Heavens knows why, Nadir thought, he has the emotional range of a teaspoon. "I only ask that you consider paying a visit to the orphanage you insisted we give money to. All other trustees make a visit, and you have yet to."
Erik stopped playing and sighed running his hands over his face. "What in heavens name are they going to think when I turn up looking as I do? How many so called kind, generous rich men do you know with the need to cover half of their face? They would turn me away before I reach the door."
Nadir looked over the man in front of him. He was extremely tall, and so thin he may be mistaken for a stick insect. His shock of jet black hair, flecked with silver strands, was slicked back onto his head away from his long gaunt face. From what could be seen, he had high, sharp cheekbones that jutted out like most of his body, although this was covered by his signature white dress shirt and matching black waistcoat and trousers. His eyes were different colours. The left one was a pale green with flecks of brown making it appear almost golden, and the right was a pale grey nearing the same colour of his white mask gracing the same side.
"Just half an hour. That's all I ask Erik, and you don't even have to meet any children." The Persian said hopefully.
The man closed his eyes, and let out a deep breath through his nose. Keep up appearances. Half an hour.
"Fine, but only if you agree to answer all those twittering women who want my money so much, in a way that will stop them calling on me again. Then we have a deal." Erik said, smirking at the defeated look on Nadir's face.
"Insufferable twit."
A/N Hi! This is my first fanfiction so any comments are welcome. It came to me after watching Daddy Long Legs, with Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron. I would highly recommend watching it as it is a touching film!
I know this is a short chapter, but I wrote it on a whim and just wanted to get it up! Hopefully I will be updating regularly, so keep an eye out! Thanks :)