Break

I put a hand on her back to signal her away from Marshall, with whom she’s chatting like long-lost BFFs, and ignoring the room. Suddenly, the douche-bot is there, trying to insert himself between Taye and her friend like he’s her date.

“No need, Lance. Natayla can find her way around the apartment she grew up in, thanks.”

Lance turns to me, face long, and looks at me like he hates me with every douche-cell in his body. I get that a lot from guys who can’t dance. It’s not my fault they were born without rhythm and tripping over their own feet.

“I’m her plus-one,” he tells me smugly.

I’d be bitter as hell, too, if the only pussy I was getting belonged to the witch hovering beside us trying to figure out how to get her talons into the situation she’s facing.

“Looks like she’s met an old friend. How about some breathing room?” I tell them both. “Give me a tour. Last time I was here, this place had a slightly outdated décor,” I direct toward Katerina specifically.

The witch takes my arm and guides me into the sunken living room, a fake smile plastered on her face. “If you think you can wield your fifteen minutes of ill-gotten internet fame and use it to influence my daughter’s illustrious career, which I’ve given up my life to build, you’re sadly mistaken,” she spits through gritted teeth. The smile stays in place like a hideous mask on her plastic face.

“You mean which you sacrificed her life for, without consent, to gain some modicum of relevance for yourself?” I bite back. “Listen, that ship has sailed. She signed the papers and the deal is done. If I were you, I’d start thinking about another game plan to hang onto your clout. Lance isn’t it. He comes from a good family, sure, but they won’t let him marry a washed-up octogenarian ballerina with an asymmetrical facelift.”

Katerina really does drop her drink this time. “Why are you so hell-bent on ruining us?” she demands, crocodile tears pricking her already watery eyes.

“I’ll admit, I’ve held a little grudge ever since you got me thrown out of Haverton when we were fucking homeless!” I step away from her before I lose my composure completely.

Tate grabs my arm as I storm away from the blood-sucking hostess. “Trouble in paradise. Cunningham?”

“Will I still have a career if I kill her?”

“Hot mugshot guy did, but I hear prison is bad on your arches,” Donavan quips. “Wait, you’re talking about Katerina, not Natayla, right?”

“Of course, Katerina. Maybe I could push her out a window.”

“Natayla looks ravishing. Anything to do with her new management team?”

“You heard?”

“Rumors are rampant. But then I have to wonder, what the fuck are we doing here?”

“Champagne is free.” I shrug. “I had to get her away from this shit. It’s been borderline abusive her whole fucking life to give it to you straight. Taye’s lucky she didn’t end up in a body bag with how far that bitch takes it. CPS will fuck with my mom, but they won’t fuck with a monster like Katerina cause she’s walking money bags. Taye was about to quit the only thing that brings her joy,” I tell him before slugging back my entire glass.

“Oh, I know. I thought maybe she didn’t realize how coveted spots in studio company are, but then I heard through the grapevine that it ran deeper.”

“Sure does. Katerina got me kicked out of Haverton for trying to help Taye. I fed the fucking kid when she was starving to death and the witch tried to ruin my life.”

Tate nods his chin in Taye’s direction as she comes bounding over, happy to have run into her old friend. She gushes at Tate and thanks him for coming, praises his class and choreography genuinely, letting him know how honored she is to work with him.

We bullshit and drink, work the room, and avoid Lance and Katerina. While the latter knows how to work a room, the douchebot wanders like a sad puppy, making apologetic eyes at Sam every chance he gets. I’d like to toss his ass out the window.

But I ignore them to the best of my ability and get the chance to chat with Mr. Koslova for the first time. The man is an enigma, but I watch his eyes soften when he talks to Taye, and I figure he must not be as bad as his other half. I hope, for his sake, that he’s getting some action on the side. I’m guessing their marriage is too tied up in prenups and the like for them to bother trying to undo it.

“Thanks for coming tonight, Cunningham. I realize Katerina may have purposely left you out of tonight’s celebration, but I know, mostly from Shareen and my own observation, that you’re a good influence on my daughter. I never forgot that day at Haverton when you were there for her, looking out for her while she was experiencing growing pains.”