Page 5 of Controlled
If only I could do that in real life.
“Why, of course, sire dictator.” I couldn’t resist, my nasty words bringing a fit of giggles to the others.
He snapped his head in my direction this time, storming toward me as if I was scared of him. He knew better than to challenge me. I wasn’t the kind of girl to take any man’s crap. I stood my ground, able to glare him in the eye given my height. As he breathed in and out, I could swear I smelled alcohol on his breath. It wouldn’t be the first time or the last.
“Do you have something to say to me, Miss Rothschild?” he hissed.
“I think I already did. You’re not worth additional time wasted.” You bet I was pushing my luck. The fucker had actually tried to insist I sleep with him so I could get the lead role in several of the productions. Not only had I refused, but I’d kneed him the balls followed by going to the director of the ballet. I was a little surprised the man hadn’t been fired. His kind of behavior had never been tolerated.
However, I’d seen the terse conversation he’d had with Marcia, the director’s eyes full of fear when their conversation had been finished. Still, Gregor had avoided fucking with me until today. Yes, the performance was important, several of the ballet company’s benefactors supposedly in the audience, but he wasn’t feeling that kind of pressure. Something else was on his mind.
“Don’t let the shithead get to you,” Jonas whispered in my ear before he and I took our places in the center of the practice room. The sexy man was a happy go lucky type of guy I could count on for anything.
Except for sex.
He was gloriously gay, although upon the request of his parents, or maybe I should say demand, he did what he could to hide his sexuality from everyone but his friends. Even Gregor believed him to be a playboy. Given Gregor’s unwanted advances, I’d used Jonas’ various talents and his beefy brawn since developing our friendship. I wouldn’t want to meet the guy in a dark alley as an enemy. That was for certain.
Whether or not Gregor believed we were an on-again, off-again item didn’t matter but it did keep the vulture from cornering me. For that I was thankful.
“I know. I’m just disgusted that Marcia continues to allow this to go on.” We both took our places, waiting for the start of the music.
“You have heard the rumors, right?”
I glanced at Gregor as he continued fuming, but instead of staring at the two of us, he was actively glaring at his phone. “Not sure. What have you heard?”
“That he’s from some powerful cartel out of South America.”
“Don’t believe everything you hear.” I shifted my head to the correct angle as the music started.
“I wouldn’t except I’ve seen the weapon he carries.”
I wasn’t certain if I was surprised or in actual shock, but I wasn’t able to ask him any additional questions for several minutes. Did I think Gregor was a dangerous man? I had since he’d been hired, but not because he was supposedly connected to some mafia group. A tiny shiver coursed through me even as I fell into the music, becoming the butterfly that I was depicting in the modern piece.
The night’s performance was comprised of both classical ballet and modern works, hoping to attract even more benefactors. I was the lead ballerina in three, but this one was my favorite. Maybe because I was dancing with my bestie. As Jonas lifted me off the floor, spinning me around in perfect timing to the beat, I was able to catch another glimpse of Gregor, his demeanor more demented than before. Or perhaps I was reading more into his ugly look because of what my bestie had said.
I also noticed two men lurking in the corridor, both in dark suits. There was no reason a shiver should course down my spine, but it did.
As the music concluded, I felt confident in our performance, eager for the night to transpire. We remained in our finished positions until the music ended. Instead of his usual critique, Gregor simply walked out of the room.
“Did you see the two goons?” Jonas asked, grinning as we high fived each other.
“Yeah. I wonder what that’s about.”
“Who cares. Maybe poor Gregor is about to meet his maker.” He immediately took a giant step back, his booming laughter filling the air. I lunged forward, smacking him in the chest before he could bolt into the hallway.
“You guys looked great!” Grace commented before we could leave the room. I could hear the continued pain in her voice from what Gregor had said to her. Even calling her Gracie, something she’d asked him repeatedly not to use had taken a toll, more so as of late. The man needed to be stopped.
“Do you want to grab a bite?” Jonas asked.
“I gotta check on Mom.” I hated lying to him. Yes, I spent as much time as possible making certain my mother was comfortable and not causing any trouble for the nice nurses at the decent facility I’d managed to get her into, but I couldn’t go to see her today. I’d been coerced into taking a short shift for a pseudo girlfriend who worked alongside me at my second job. She had a casting call for a play she desperately wanted. I understood hopes and dreams, getting into the Joffrey Ballet all I’d thought about for years, but the timing sucked.
Especially since it was going to be a long night.
At least I had a dance routine prepared, a new one I’d been working on. I could debut it in the afternoon, which would allow me to perfect certain points prior to performing them several times in the upcoming days.
“Oh, yeah. I’m sorry for what you’re going through. How’s she doing?”
“As well as can be expected.” While he headed for the door to the changing rooms, I remained in the corridor, noticing that Gregor had stepped outside with the two other men.