Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
The other cast members flood the stage, and we stand hand in hand and bow before the curtain drops.
“A powerhouse as always!” Julie hugs me from the side.
I timidly smile, exhausted and exhilarated all at once. When I go to leave the stage, I spot Anya in the crowd right at the front. She offers me a nod with no smile as she walks toward the curtain as others make their way to leave. Matthew approaches Anya and escorts her backstage.
I’m surprised to see her but also thrilled and wanting to know what she thinks of the performance. I’m smiling when she comes into view.
“Anya, I didn’t expect to see you here,” I say honestly.
“Why are you smiling?” she asks, which makes me smile more. It was a very Anya thing to say.
“Did you like the show?” I ask.
“No,” she says, and Matthew flinches at her direct honesty. “But your voice is quite magical, and I stayed for that alone.”
“Wow, well, thank you,” I reply, knowing that’s probably as big of compliment as she can give. She turns to look at Matthew, as if shocked he’s still standing there.
“Please walk away now.” She shoos him off. He stutters, then nods as he’s quick to find himself elsewhere.
We both watch him hurry away, then I face her expectantly. Because Anya isn’t the type of woman to simply drop by unless she has something she needs or wants.
“Look, out of the women my brother has come across in life, you are probably the one I least hate.”
I don’t have the heart to tell her that apparently her brother doesn’t seem all that keen on me, since last time he all but ran out of the room after kissing me.
“You and your’ brother aren’t good at this compliment thing, are you?” I smile at her sweetly. She doesn’t smile back.
“As I was saying. River suggested for our birthday we do a small, intimate dinner. Alek hates celebrating our birthday, but we’re turning thirty, so why the hell not.” She puts her hands on her hips, as if it pains her to celebrate a birthday. “So your answer?”
“My answer for what?”
“Will you come?” She huffs, as if I should have known what her question was.
I remind myself I can’t outright laugh at how Anya asks for anything because it’s still an order. But she and her brother are alike in that sense.
“Look, last time I saw Alek, he didn’t seem too impressed about the house thing.”
She seems shocked that I haven’t said yes yet. “He loves it. I know because he hasn’t changed a thing. Twice, I had movers take his furniture out and replace it without his knowing. When he returned, he had everything thrown out and then he purchased the exact items he had before. He hasn’t done that this time.”
How do you kindly tell someone they have weird family dynamics and way too much money?
“So you’re coming,” Anya says, and this time she hasn’t tried for a question at all.
I throw my hands in the air, knowing there isn’t really a way to say no to Anya. It’s either that or I’m smuggled into the back of a car, which I feel is highly possible.
Besides, it’s not like I dislike them. I think.
“I suppose so,” I say, still not sure if it’s the right answer.
“Good. It’s tonight, so please get dressed.” She waves a hand, and I look at her, stunned. Surely not. But she has her serious face on, which is really how she always looks, and is waiting for me like I’m a lost child.
“Dressed? Tonight?”
“Do you have plans?” Anya pops a perfect hip.
“Well, I did.”
“Watching trashy TV and eating popcorn is not plans.” Before I can lie and deny it, she looks around. “Do you have a nicer dress than this?” She waves her hand up and down my body.
“You are really subtle with what you don’t like,” I say sarcastically.
“Oh no, not subtle. What you have on is trashy, and, frankly, it’s something I would have been forced to wear as a teenager who had no money. So, please, move along and get dressed. The restaurant is a five star.”
“I don’t have anything for a five-star restaurant. I literally just got off the stage from a performance.”
“Lucky that your hair and makeup are already done,” she says, glancing around. Just then, Julie walks out in a tight pink dress.
“You,” Anya says. Julie stops automatically, knowing who she is, and her eyes go wide. “Remove that dress now, and I will give you one hundred dollars.” Anya pulls out a hundred-dollar bill from her black clutch.
“It’s good to see you, Miss Ivanov,” Julie says rather formally as she begins to remove her dress.
“Not here, Julie.” I gasp, and Julie looks up at me, then at Anya. She really isn’t fazed as she continues to undress and then holds out the dress to Anya. Anya refuses to grab it, shaking her head.