Chapter 1

It's my first night as the opening act at Harlem's Paradise. I'm not nervous. This is my dream job. I have always wanted to be a lounge singer and now I am. Getting up on the stage, the music starts and I start singing a song called Every Little Thing by Carly Pearce. The song flows out of my mouth and I feel every note. Looking around, I can see all of the faces in the crowd and look up to the VIP area and see a man with dark sunglasses on and I can feel his eyes on me even through the glasses. I finish the song and move to the next one. Once my set is done, I am lead off the stage and to my dressing room. Taking off my dress behind the dressing shade, I hear a knock on the door. Putting my robe on, I move to the door and crack it opened to see the man from the VIP area standing there. I open up a little more and ask "Can I help you?" He smirks and says "Can I come in?" For some reason, I move and let him in. "You have an amazing voice, Sophia." he says. "Thank you." I say as I pull my robe tighter around me. "Do you want to have a drink?" he asks. I look at him and say "I don't drink but thank you for the offer. Now if you'll excuse me." I say as I move towards the door to open it. He nods and heads towards the door. "What's your name?" I ask. "Shades." he says. "Have a good evening, Shades." I say. He nods and heads out the door.

I get dressed and get my things to leave and as I walk out the door of the club, I see a man standing beside an SUV and he opens the door as I walk out onto the sidewalk. "Miss Sophia, Shades wanted me to make sure you made it home safe." he says. "He did, did he?" I ask. "Yes Ma'am." he says. "Please tell him I appreciate it but I don't live very far. Have a nice night." I say. "He would really rather me take you home. Too much going on out here to risk anything happening." he says. "Fine." I say, getting into the SUV. I give him the address and he takes me to my apartment building. He opens my door and says "Good night Miss Sophia." he says. "Good night and please tell Shades thank you for the ride." I say as I head into the building. Walking into my apartment, I pour a glass of wine and sit on the couch thinking about tonight. First, watching me from the VIP area, then coming to my dressing room and then having a car waiting for me. I wonder what his game is?

The next night, I am back at Harlem's Paradise and we start tonight's set. I start it off with Just a Fool by Christina Aguilera. I look up and see Shades standing in the VIP area, watching me. I belt out the song and move to the next song. Once we get to the last song, I say "This one goes out to my knight in shining armor." as I look up to the VIP area where Shades is standing. The song starts and I belt out If You Ask Me To by Celine Dion and I see Shades leaning on the rails listening with a smirk on his face.

After the set is done, I am lead off the stage and to my dressing room where Shades is waiting for me. I open the door and he follows me in. "Knight in shining armor, huh?" he asks with a smirk. "Thought I should thank you for the ride last night." I tell him. "You could let me take you to dinner. There's a diner open all night." He tells me. I look at him for a minute and say "Let me get changed and I'll meet you out front." He nods and kisses my cheek before leaving me to get changed.

Once I get changed, I head out to the front where he's waiting at the SUV with the door open for me. I get in and he gets in behind me. "Where to boss?" the driver asks. "Louie's." he says. Turning to me as we pull away from the curve he says "They have the best pancakes in Harlem." I nod. Once we get to Louie's, we head into the diner and he holds the door for me. Walking to a booth, I sit on one side and he sits on the other. We order pancakes and bacon with coffee and juice and as the waitress walks away he asks "So, what's your last name Sophia?" I look at him and say "James. I know Shades isn't your real name." He looks at me and says "Hernan Alvarez." I nod and we talk a little more once our food gets to us. After eating, he takes me home and walks me to my apartment door. "Thanks for the diner...and the ride." I say. "Anytime. When do you work again?" he asks. "I perform every Friday and Saturday. Rehearsals during the week." I say. "Let me see your phone." he says and I hand him my phone. He enters his number and says "You need a ride, you call me." I smile and kiss his cheek before saying "Goodnight Hernan." before walking into my apartment and locking the door.