I can’t stop a chuckle bubbling up at his nickname. Pen’s a bit more relaxed about the whole becoming-an-actress thing than Olivia or me. It’s probably why I’m drawn to her. She tends to defuse the entire competitive situation that Olivia and I often find ourselves caught in.
William’s sharp gaze flicks in our direction and I instantly firm my lips. Not in time, apparently, because his features become rigid.
"Not sure what you’re cackling about, Jeanne, considering your last rehearsal was less than inspiring. If you’d danced with any less energy, you would’ve been mistaken for a wilted duck drifting on the surface of stagnant water."
Next to me, Penny winces.
I school my features into an emotionless mask. I will not let him get me down. Will not let his words hurt me. Part of becoming a dancer is learning to shrug off criticism like water off a duck’s back. No doubt, that’s why he alluded to that animal in his insult.
"Also, you missed rehearsal the last three days," he murmurs.
"It wasn’t compulsory to make it. You gave us a choice."
"A choice which I expected my lead dancer to have made wisely." His lips thin. "And you turn up today, having lost the edge I thought you added."
"Excuse me?" I draw myself up to my full height. "It takes me a little time to warm up. You know that."
"So you should have started stretching much earlier."
"I couldn’t, I—"
He tilts his head, and I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from saying something I might regret later. Asshole needs to vent and get it off his chest. Fine. I’m not going to rise to his bait. As long as I get on that stage tomorrow and—
"It’s why I’ve decided Olivia will be taking your place tomorrow for the premiere show."
"What?" The world seems to tilt. A buzzing sound fills my head and I push it aside. I grip my fingers together in front of me and meet his gaze. "I don’t think I heard you correctly."
"Giving you the option of coming to the rehearsal was a test to see who was the most committed to the musical. A test which Olivia passed with flying colors, unlike you, Jeanne."
"Are you kidding me?" I burst out. "I couldn’t have made it if I wanted. I—"
"You—?" He lowers his chin to his chest, waiting.
I swallow the words that are coiled like a snake in my throat, ready to hiss out at the first possible opportunity. Will it seem too farfetched if I reveal what actually happened? I’m definitely not going to share it in front of everyone, though. I glance around and find the gaze of everyone is riveted on me. I jerk my head in William’s direction again. Asshole probably brought it up in this open forum to put me at a disadvantage.
I shake my head. "I can’t reveal the details." I wince as I hear my words. It sounds so weird, like I have something to hide. Which I do and don’t, really. I mean, I don’t want the rest of the team to know that not only was I kidnapped, but in addition, it was a Mafioso who rescued me. And I’m definitely not sharing those details with Lily-Willy. So, I square my shoulders and meet his gaze. "You could have mentioned it was important to attend the rehearsals."
"Would you have, if I had?" he shoots back.
I glance away.
"That’s what I thought." The triumph in his voice is like a wrecking ball to my aspirations. "The lead has to be a person who is 1000% committed to this role. Someone for whom a personal life doesn’t exist. Someone who’d sacrifice everything and everyone to get to where she wants to be, with laser focus. Someone like…" He turns his gaze on Olivia.
"No." I clench my fingers together. This can’t be happening. He can’t take my role away and give it to someone else. The role I’ve spent months… Years… My entire lifetime, to this date, working toward.
"Olivia." He stretches out his arm.
Olivia glances in my direction. "I’m sorry," she whispers.
"Don’t take the role." I glance at her sideways. It’s wrong of me to ask this of her. Wrong of me to put her on the spot. But I‘m desperate, and honestly, I don’t care that I’m crossing a boundary here. That I might lose her as a friend… That I may have already lost her as a friend.
"Don’t do this. Say you can’t take the role," I hiss.
"Olivia?" William lowers his chin to his chest. "Step forward."
"Olivia don’t," I whisper-scream. "Don’t do this."
She glances at William, then at me again. "Sorry." She steps forward.