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The song continued, and I was riveted. Her hair was down. It was like she was covering as much of herself as she could to let the dance shine through. Like she had to prove to herself one last time that she wasn’t what her shitty ex had pigeonholed her into. She was an artist. Her work was to be enjoyed, not used.
I knew the show would be over soon, but I told myself I’d get to see more of this.
As the song wound down, a heavy, slow clap started at the back. Tova slowed her spin, her gaze following the direction of the clap. Because she was looking, we all did.
“Bravo,” said a man I’d never seen before. He was wearing a black suit with a light-colored shirt. I couldn’t make out the color in the dark, but everything about him screamed money from head to toe. “Bravo,” he said again and ceased his hard clap.
Anger kindled inside me at what I expected was meant to be an insulting interruption. I glanced back at Tova. She stopped, her foot that had been lifted behind her hitting the stage with a dull thud. Her mouth was hanging open, fear in her eyes.
I rose, upset that she was bothered, but the man barely noticed me. His gaze was on her.
“When do you take off your clothes?” he asked, loud enough there was no mistaking what he said.
Her mouth snapped shut, and her eyes gleamed with unshed tears. “Frederick. How did you find me?”
* * *
Tova
Oh, god. Ohgodohgodohgod. What was happening?
“How did I find the woman who flaked on her performance, leaving me on the hook for thousands and ultimately costing me millions?” He tipped his head, arrogant as always, and let a piece of paper flutter to the floor. One of the announcements Vienne hung around town. “Tova, my dear. You aren’t exactly a mastermind. And your mom’s ex was very free with his information.” He spread his hands out. The button of his suit coat strained as the flaps spread apart. He’d found me, and he’d worn a suit while doing it. An extra rub to prove he was better than me. “Are you aware you’re letting a cheap stripper teach the children of your community?”
“I was not cheap,” I insisted, as if the defense would help. As soon as the words had left his mouth, I was back to being that insecure girl who was afraid that, deep down, she couldn’t make anything out of herself.
Kids’ faces were peering out from behind the backstage curtains. I waved them back, but they didn’t move. Shivers racked my body, like I was about to sob or scream or sprint out of the building.
Cody was already standing, but he stepped out from the seats. “You need to leave.”
Frederick’s face contorted with his sneer. He eyed Cody, judging his jeans and the polo shirt he usually wore for his non-video meeting days. When his gaze landed on the cowboy boots, the smugness in his expression bloomed. “Did she get to you with the promise of sex? You do realize making men think they could have sex with her was how she used to make a living.”
“It doesn’t matter how she used to make a living. You’re an insulting jackass, and you need to go.” Cody’s tone was hard, sending delicious shivers through me.
Frederick laughed. He goddamn laughed.
I fisted my hands. “I danced burlesque, but Cody’s right. It shouldn’t matter how I made a living. You’re insulting, disrespectful, and you tried to pimp me out.” I lowered my voice and internally apologized to the parents and grandparents who’d be asked what a pimp was tonight.
The gasps in the audience were an acute reminder that we weren’t alone. Half the town was witnessing my humiliation.
I’d have to leave. I’d never be welcome here. It didn’t matter how good I was with kids, no one would want me working with them after the way Frederick made me sound.
He ruined my chance. He was robbing me of my future once again.
“Tova, Tova, Tova.” He tsked. “You were the one using me for my name and my money.”
This time, I wasn’t going to run. The damage was done, and if the kids and everyone here were going to see me get torn down, I would show them I wasn’t a willing participant. “I might’ve done burlesque, which for some reason you think should be beneath contempt, but I didn’t manipulate someone into turning over their financial information. Nor did I steal all their money after they refused to be given out to their highest investors like a free travel bag when someone opens an account.” I clapped my hands to my chest and feigned innocence. “Oh, you want to invest a hundred million with me? How about my girlfriend for an hour?”
“I stole nothing,” Frederick said calmly. “In fact, you owe me for what you did.”
I clenched my fists at my sides. “I did nothing but protect myself. You’re not welcome here, and you need to leave.”
“Before you go,” Cody said, folding his arms and standing in front of me, the only physical barrier between me and Frederick. “Give the lady back her money.”
“I’m not going to listen to a trollop’s man candy,” Frederick sneered.
“You can listen to the man candy’s lawyer, then,” Cody replied calmly. “I’m sure a guy such as yourself doesn’t want the details of such a lawsuit spread to the press.”
Today was the first time I witnessed Frederick turn pale. The first time uncertainty was in his eyes.
