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He looked indifferent and gave a short nod, but asked instead, “What’s so exciting?”
Who was in his apartment? He never had company. She looked past him and tried to see if she saw anyone. The apartment was quiet again. Then turning her focus back to him, she answered, “Tonight is my first performance.”
He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Right.”
A second sound from the apartment broke the silence between them and even had Daniel shooting a glance over his shoulder.
“Who’s here?” Her interest was truly piqued.
“My intern.”
She immediately became peeved and knew she took him by surprise when she declared, “Jeez, don’t you ever get time off?”
He paused then took his time in responding, as if he were being cautious with his words. Usually, any shop talk would bore her to tears, however at that moment Sonya very much wanted to discuss his work and the ungodly hours they demanded from him.
“Occasionally,” he finally told her. “We thought a change from the drab walls of the Institute would be refreshing.”
“I’d say.” She sliced him a scolding look.
Again he frowned, but continued to add, “Jamie and I didn’t want to miss tonight’s hockey game. It’s the finals in the eastern division.”
Sonya’s head gave a little start. Anything he said after “Jamie” went unheard. Daniel had a woman in his apartment. Daniel had a woman in his apartment? A vision of a certain redhead leaped into mind.
She looked at him again. Closer. His hair was disheveled and his eyes were glassy. As a matter-of-fact, he had looked awfully disorientated when he first opened the door. If she wasn’t mistaken, he almost appeared impatient for her to leave.
This bothered her. She didn’t like getting the brush off. She didn’t like Daniel giving her the brush off. Rooted to the spot, she stared at him. Silently she demanded he fill her in with the sordid details. However, his only response was an inquisitive arch of his brow. Well, if he thought he could brush her off, then he could forget it. She laid out all her relationships. She had a right.
“Well, good luck,” he said, indicating he was going to shut the door.
But she ignored him and continued to stare down into his apartment. Who was there? Was it the redhead she had overheard him having a fervent conversation with that day? Or was it someone else? What did she look like? Was she smart? Did she deserve Daniel? What if she was some hussy? Sonya could screen her out. She could do that for him. Who did he say she was? His intern, that was it.
She sighed. She would be one of his kind. Was it possible that Daniel had finally met someone? Someone as hard-working and dedicated to their similar careers? Someone he could talk to about all those boring computer topics, and she would happily listen with interest. If that was the case, why was their relationship so secretive?
“Well, I can see that you’re busy so I’ll let you get back to whatever it is you’re doing.”
He nodded, puzzled by her attitude. “Okay.”
“All right.” She was hesitant to walk away. At last she gave him and the apartment one last look and headed for the elevators.
“Hey, Sonya.” Daniel stopped her however. When she looked back, he grinned and said, “Break a leg.”
“That’s in theatre, Daniel.” Then she produced a parting smile. “But thanks.”
A feeling of restlessness overcame her as she boarded the elevator. Her big night no longer seemed so significant, her insides never been so dispirited. The shadow casting a wary darkness over her felt heavy and gloomy. Sonya tried to shake it off as stage fright, but knew somehow, her dampened mood had nothing to do with the night ahead for she had not given it one single thought since she left Daniel standing in his entrance. Rather, all she could think about was what this Jamie person was like and if she was worthy of Daniel.
Daniel could have choked on his words of good luck. He knew that as her friend it was his obligation. Not to mention, a person in a chosen career such as Sonya’s needed all the support they could get. The business was difficult enough. It depended so much on others and how much they were willing to give her a chance.
That was why it was so hard to be happy for her. He knew what she needed to do in order to earn tonight’s chance at performing. This Tristan character was a scum who Sonya easily fell under the spell of his manipulation. Daniel wanted nothing more than to rid such trash from the face of the earth and as far away from Sonya as possible. He so badly wanted to protect her from such lowlife. But he knew she would never allow it. Especially from him.
“Who was that?” Jamie asked from the leather sofa.
Daniel forced himself away from the closed door, drawn from his angry musings to supply, “My neighbor.”
“Sonya?”
“Right.” He gave a short nod then came back to the room to occupy the other end of the couch.
There was no sense going over what he had already hashed out in his mind and conscience countless times. Sonya was an independent and carefree woman. She did what she liked and didn’t bother to see if anyone was hurt in the process. He didn’t doubt it wouldn’t be her who would get hurt. Made of rubber she never allowed anything too close. If someone came closer than she felt comfortable she would fling them aside, discarded and unwanted. It was this he feared most. Someday, he knew, she would discard him just as she did every other man in her life. But for now, he held on as long as he could.
