My mouth drops and I let out an astonished laugh. “What?” I shake my head, waving her off, “Oh, big deal, he was probably looking for me...”
“Nah-ah, you’re missing the point.” Nicoletta leans forward, her eyes shining like she’s about to drop some serious tea. “He was in here, holding your ballet shoes in his hands.”
I stop laughing, rolling my eyes because this story is starting to feel weird. “What?” I say again.
She rolls her eyes right back at me. “Are you just going to keep saying what? Do you even get what I’m telling you? He was rubbing the ribbons of your shoes all over his face.” Nicoletta lets out a cackle. “He’s got some Laura fetish or something that one.”
In the mirror I see my own face distort in shock and Nicoletta leans back, all pleased with herself.
This can’t be true. This is a lie. Trevor would never act like a creep like that. He’s never been anything but a friend to me. He wouldn’t cross boundaries, creep around in here and...
Giving myself an inward shake, I breathe firmly, “I don’t believe you. I don’t think that ever happened. You’re just being over the top as always.”
“Hey!” Nicoletta yaps aggressively. “You watch what you say about me, Laura.”
My eyes bore into hers. “It’s Lyla. And you watch what you say about myfriend. Don’t you have anything better to do than spread malicious gossip?”
“You’re so annoying,” Nicoletta sighs. “If I were you, I don’t think I’d want Trevor to come back.” She ruffles her hair, then jumps down from the chair. “The guy seems like such a creep.”
Creep. Creep. Creep.
Trevor? There’s no way, just no way. It’s impossible.
But the icky feeling lingers until Nicoletta finally leaves and I take a deep breath. She’s lying, I know she is. And guilt floods me when I think that for just a second I believed what she said was true. It’s not, I know it’s not.
I’m just sensitive right now and easily influenced. My focus is on trying to help Trevor. Not turning against him and allowing him to...
Rot.
Bile reaches my throat and I grow lightheaded. Don’t think about that now. You have a performance tonight. But my knees aren’t sturdy and my sight is dim as I get up from my chair. Get it together, Lyla.
Stay strong. Just stay strong.
An image of Dolohov’s hard face transforms before me and I shudder. How can I be thinking about him right now? He’s not worth my time. He rejected me. I shouldn’t want him. I don’t want him. Do I? Biting my lip, I shake my head, walking out of the dressing room, still peacefully unaware that a certain mobster just entered the building and is about to turn my life upside down.
6
Alec
I detest wearing suits. Wear them rarely, other than when I have to.And tonight I had to dress up but I still pull at my tie. I dislike environments like these but I am not unused to them. Sometimes, business deals are struck in unexpected places just like this one.
And tonight, the little ballerina and I are indeed going to strike a deal. One where I will get what I want and in return, I won’t kill her friend. She asked for me to be merciful and is that not merciful? That’s as far as my generosity goes and I am being pretty generous, if I may say so myself.
“Drinks, sir?” a nervous voice says, coming from a little man dressed in a tuxedo and I look down at him, frowning.
“What is it?”
“Eh...” his eyes dart, “white wine, sir.”
I drag an annoyed breath, putting my hands in my pockets. “Do you not have anything stronger?”
He shakes his head. “No, I’m afraid not.”
Releasing a hard sigh, I think fuck it, grab the wine glass and swipe it one go and the waiter quickly darts out of my way. I grimace, remembering how much I dislike the taste of wine and I put the glass in the outstretched palm of a marble statue that has the shape of a naked nymph.
Dragging a hand down my blazer, I make my way through the crowd that’s gathering in the foyer and women in foot long dresses, throw distressed glances my way, clinging to their men for protection. I smile politely, trying to come across as harmless, as if I’m one of them.
I’m not. After all, I have a human chained down in my basement. The same human who says that the woman I want cares about him. I scoff inwardly, trying to ignore the agitated feelings the reminder gives me.