CHAPTER 29
Theo
By the time Winter finally made her grand entrance, the crew had already finished marking the set top to bottom.
“Afternoon, Ravens,” she greeted without her normal chipper demeanor. She appeared serious. Focused. And clearly still pissed off from yesterday. Winter didn’t like surprises, and neither did I.
What is she up to?
She walked straight to me and handed me a manila folder. “Here. I assigned the features, no thanks to you.”
I ignored her terse tone and held the folder. She hopped up on the speaker box and gestured for me to open it. “Go ahead. Announce the names. I know how important it is to you that we finish choreography next week.”
I turned to the group as I pulled the sheet out. “All right, guys. Winter was generous enough to select the dancers for the three remaining numbers.”
The cheers were present but faint. When I looked down and saw what was written, my blood ran cold then boiled almost immediately. What the fuck? I looked at Winter, appalled at the selections. Her lips curled knowingly at the sides.
“What are you waiting for, Theo? You’re wasting time.” Sugary sweet venom dripped from her words.
I snapped the folder shut and approached her, making sure to lower my voice. “Look, I know you’re pissed at me, but can we at least talk about this?”
She crossed her arms and shook her head. “It’s a done deal. Now smile and read off the names. You don’t want to keep them waiting.”
Turning back to the crew, I stifled my rage, cleared my throat, and read the sheet verbatim. “The ‘Moonlight’ solo will be performed on rotating nights by Contessa, Brenda, and Simone. And the choreography will be your own, not the one showcased by Lex yesterday.” It took everything in me not to look at Lex and apologize in whatever way I could without words, but everyone was watching.
“‘The Cure’ will be performed by Amie and Wayne. Zaira and Nick. And—” I swallowed. That next pill was the hardest to go down. “Lex and Reggie.” This time I did look up, but my eyes didn’t catch Lex’s. They caught the beaming smile of Reggie, who I was now convinced had everything to do with this lineup. I shot a look at Winter, who nodded for me to continue.
“Dancing to ‘What Do You Mean?,’ which is now a male rotating solo, will be Chaz, J.C., and Garrett.” I let my hand fall against my leg as I looked up again. “Congrats to all.”
Everyone applauded as Winter stepped forward, a proud smile on her face. “We felt it was only fair to reward you all with the hard work you’ve put in. You will all have your chance to spotlight in some way.” She laughed and took my arm, as though I had everything to do with this decision. “I went ahead and reserved an extra studio in case you want to split the group up. What do you think, Theo? ‘The Cure’ partners in Studio B and soloists in here?”
I cocked an eye. This is going to be a nightmare. “Sure thing,” I said instead.
She squealed and jumped, still hanging onto my arm. “Perfect. Let’s get started. Oh. Lex, would you be a dear and teach the choreography for ‘The Cure’? You know that one, right?”
What the fuck? “I can do it,” I said.
Winter squeezed my arm in warning. “Don’t be silly. Someone needs to teach ‘What Do You Mean?’”
“But—‘The Cure’ is Theo’s choreography. I just partnered,” Lex said, wearing a confused expression.
I don’t think Lex meant anything by her comment, but Winter sure as hell took offense to it. She drew back her shoulders, released her hold on me, then stepped forward to get in Lex’s face. “I’m aware of whose choreography it is. Clearly, since I sign the checks around here.” She laughed in an attempt to cover up her annoyance. “But Theo needs to be in here with the soloists.” Winter narrowed her eyes. “Is that going to be a problem for you, Alexandra?”
Lex blinked then shook her head. “No, of course not.”
“Great.” Winter’s condescending smile grew big again. “I’d love to see what you two cooked up.” She raised a challenging brow at me. “Mind showing me?”
I stepped forward and clasped Lex’s hand in mine. “Not a problem.”
When we got to the center of the floor I pulled Lex into a hug like it was part of the choreography. “Don’t hold back, Lex.”
With my words, I felt her entire body relax in my arms, and if someone hadn’t already cued up the music, I might have forgotten where we were, and what we were about to do. But now, I was ready to kill it, with Lex in my arms.
The moment the song ended, Reggie was stepping forward and placing his arm around Lex’s shoulders. “Not bad. What do you say we go lead some choreo?” He looked over his shoulder and winked at Winter. “We’ve got this.”
Her eyes flickered as if she’d been in some kind of trance. Then she smiled with pinched lips. “Great. Have fun, you two.”
If the disappointment that crossed Lex’s face told me anything, it was that she felt exactly as I did about the feature assignments. “The Cure” was ours. I didn’t want her partnering with Reggie any more than she did.
I released the group for a fifteen-minute break before turning to Winter with all the rage I’d been feeling since she’d arrived. “How the hell did you make these decisions last night? I thought we were going to try out pairings today. You can’t just throw two dancers together and pray they work.”
She shrugged. “I was ready to make the decisions last night. Since you weren’t able to join me, I had to get creative.”
“How?”
“I might have had some help.”
A ball of fire spun in my chest. “Help from who? Reggie? Is that how he ended up partnering with Lex?”
She let out a laugh. “Calm down. Reggie has been dancing for me almost as long as you’ve been choreographing for me. And right now, I can count on him more than I trust you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What are you trying to prove? Because I’m not following. I thought you gave me this job because you wanted my creative input, yet you’re taking control from me when it matters most.”
“I did give you this job for your input.” She slipped off the speaker box and crossed her arms. “But clearly, your judgment has been lacking lately. Assistants and now backup dancers.” She tsked as she shook her head. “I can’t keep up anymore.”
“That’s not fair, and you know it. Lex is not Mallory. Not even close.”
Winter’s eyes widened before she rolled them. “The fact that you’re so defensive over Lex worries me. You didn’t see it coming with Mallory either.” She released an aggravated breath. “I’m looking out for you. There’s nothing you can do or say that will change my mind about the pairings. You need to be careful with that girl.”
“There’s nothing—”
Her nose flared, halting my lie in my throat. “You were with her last night.”
“How do you—?”
She sighed heavily. “Reggie saw you two drive off in your car.” She looked at me pointedly. “From her apartment.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck. “She doesn’t have a car. I just took her to the studio and we worked on some choreo.”
“I’m sure you did.”
“What the fuck, Winter? Stop being so damn dramatic.”
“Okay.” She shrugged. “Then no more partnering. No more alone time in the studio with Lex, period.” Winter’s eyes dug into mine. “I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you.”
How could I convince her that Lex wasn’t some obsessed psycho stalker? I couldn’t. I knew any further pleading would result in more suspicion, and that was a risk I wouldn’t take. Not for me but for Lex.
Winter patted my arm as she walked past. “You don’t need me today. Get your shit straight, Theo. I’ll be back Monday.”