‘This is the piano bar, as you might have guessed.’ Mikail introduces me to the resident pianist. ‘People like to relax here after dinner and listen to some music, which, of course, is why you are here.’
Could I seriously be hired to sing in a place like this, over the summer? Even the thought of it has me pinching myself.
‘We have a set of songs we can suggest, but if you have anything in particular, we could take a listen,’ says Mikail.
‘Okay,’ I say.
‘In the meantime, we would be happy to hear you sing today, if that’s okay?’
‘Yes, and I would be happy to go with your suggestion for a song today,’ I tell the pianist, who is introduced as Nicos.
He suggests ‘The Long and Winding Road’ by The Beatles, which is thankfully a song I have sung several times before and suits my voice perfectly.
The piano man plays his intro, and I can feel the adrenaline kick in. As I begin to sing, I feel as though I am soaring above the mountains as I give the vocals everything I have.
The three men in the room are silent for a moment when I finish, and I think I see Andreas wipe away a tear from his eye.
A slow smile spreads across the face of Mikail as he slowly applauds me.
‘You were not joking when you told me she was good.’ He turns to Andreas, before shaking me warmly by the hand. ‘That was wonderful. The question now is surely, when can you start? I think you could work with Mia, yes?’ He turns to Nicos the piano man.
‘It would be my honour,’ he replies kindly.
‘Wow, really? That’s it? I’m hired?’ I ask, my heart thumping.
‘You are. That is okay, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, of course, it’s more than okay, it’s wonderful, thank you! So am I right in thinking that the post will start in July?’ I ask.
‘Yes, it does,’ Mikail replies with a smile. ‘I suppose I was being impulsive when I thought of firing our current singer so you could start sooner,’ he says to my surprise.
‘Are you not happy with him?’ I find myself asking.
‘Not always, but not because of his singing,’ he explains. ‘He has the voice of Michael Bublé, but unfortunately the drinking habits of a drunken sailor,’ he reveals. ‘He has me on edge, turning up late and sometimes has me wondering if he will turnup at all.’ He sighs in frustration. ‘But, yes, you can start one month from now if it suits you?’
He tells me I will appear four nights a week, between nine and midnight, with a break in between. The salary he suggests is far more than I was expecting.
‘Oh and, of course, accommodation is included if you need it,’ he tells me.
‘I’m sorry, what?’ I say, hardly able to believe my ears.
‘Staff accommodation. Literally just down the slope,’ he says. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mention it to Andreas at the time, but a room has only just become available. One of the restaurant staff has had to return home earlier than expected,’ he explains.
‘I can’t believe it,’ I say, genuinely shocked by the offer of free accommodation. ‘To tell you the truth, I think that paying for a place to stay might have been a stumbling block,’ I tell him.
In fact, it would have been highly unlikely despite the very generous payment I am to receive for my performances.
‘Then now you have nothing to worry about.’ He smiles. ‘That is assuming you would like the job?’
‘Yes. Yes, I would love to perform here, thank you so much,’ I tell him, my head spinning. Have I really just accepted a job here in Santorini?
‘Perfect,’ he says. ‘Welcome on board. I will email details of your contract. And if you arrive a couple of days before you start work, you can go through some songs with Nicos.’
‘Yes, of course, and thank you,’ I say, hardly able to believe what is happening to me right now.
I head outside with Andreas in a complete daze.
‘My gosh what just happened?’ I say, realising I am shaking slightly.
