ANASTASIA

"Alright, everyone. Let’s take it from the top one last time. Make sure you know your marks and your positions. One run only, so make it count."

Mrs. Valmont’s sharp command made everyone get in order. I eyed Zade sitting in the front row seat, with a smirk plastered on that cocky face.

I can’t believe he’s here.

Luca told me he had gone on a business trip to London. He fucking took a flight back here because he missed me?

"Ana."

I jolted and moved my attention to Chris.

"Hey!" I chirped, making sure I maintained my lively mood.

The last thing I wanted was to ruin the sequence we have worked so hard for just because I couldn’t stand the audience.

"So we can finally try that move. This time, I hope you trust me."

"I do trust you."

"Sure?" he teased.

"Yes!" I giggled. "Let’s just hope I don’t mess it up."

"I think you got this." He winked.

I have known Chris since I began the academy, well, not on a personal level, but enough to know he was one of the most promising dancers. He was the top male dancer and starred in bigger performances.

When Mrs. Valmont told me I would be pairing with Chris Cooper, I couldn’t believe it.

We started practicing together just recently, and even though we weren’t in sync just yet, I loved how easily we flowed. It took the hardest part away.

"Shall we?" He said, taking my hand.

I smiled as I joined him when the music began. We started as planned, flowing with the rhythm, and then the hardest part came. We stuck close, and I did my best to maintain my form as he swayed me flawlessly.

We got to another part, where the others joined in, moving at fast paces, and doing the grand jeté.

It got to a point when I discerned something wasn’t right. During a sequence, I knew Chris thrived without trouble; his moves were a little... off?

He was distracted, and even though we kept up with the music, it was harder because we weren’t in sync. We got to the last part, and the music stopped just in time.

"What’s wrong?" I asked in a raspy breath.

"N-Nothing."

Mrs. Valmont walked back to us, a phone to her ear.

"That was salvageable. Tomorrow, we’ll run through it again. And Ana, get some rest."

I forced a smile and nodded.

"Hey, um, so tomorrow?" I asked Chris the moment Mrs. Valmont left.

"Yes," he replied, tentatively passing a look behind me.

Puzzled, I turned, and then it dawned on me what had shaken Chris’ confidence. This whole time, Zade had been stalking him with that dark gaze. Even I shrank under it, and I could only imagine what it had been for Chris the whole time.

Damn him!

Zade had not only crashed my rehearsal, but he’s making my partner shit his pants. I walked down the stairs and marched toward him.

"What do you think you’re doing?" I whisper-hissed.

Zade pushed his feet, and I suddenly wished he had just stayed sitting. The sight of him in a three-piece charcoal-gray suit was preoccupying.

I forced a lump down my throat when he adjusted his tie, the rings on his fingers glinting in the light.

"I’m waiting for you," he replied innocently, like a husband who has just come to observe his wife.

I ground my teeth in annoyance. I could only wonder how long he had been here because I clearly knew he didn’t just walk through the front door a few minutes ago.

"You ruined my rehearsal!"

"Mrs. Valmont clearly said you are finished for the day," he said, amused.

"That’s beside the point. We could have continued on our own if you weren’t being a jerk to Chris!"

"Chris?" He passed a slow, lethal look toward the stage. "So that’s his name."

Right on cue, Chris choked on his bottle of water.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" someone asked him.

He replied only with a nod, coughing before leaving through the backstage.

"You..." I paused, struggling between calm and my fueling anger. I have spent the whole day in nothing but soothing peace, but that was too much to ask for.

I shivered when he tucked some loose strands of my hair behind my ear, and he said with an impossible calmness that contradicted the dark look in his eyes.

"I’ve been incredibly patient about his hands on you. I deserve a reward."

S-Seriously?

"He’s my dance partner, and we’re expected to have some kind of... chemistry."

"Will it be so much chemistry if I chop his hands off?" He threw the threat as easily as discussing the weather. "I’m dying to test that theory."

"You’re unbelievable."

"I’m just being honest, darling."

"Leave!" I turned to walk away, but his hand seized my wrist and hauled me back to him.

When I struggled, he held my wrist in place. "Public, darling."

At his words, I noticed the discreet stares.

"This is all your fault!" I hissed.

"How so?"

This slithering asshole!

"You should be giving me a kiss instead of gutting me with those beautiful eyes."

"A kiss? How about I nail you in the balls?"

He chuckled. "My little kitten has gotten more daring in the little time we have been apart."

"You mean freedom."

"Really?" he arched an eyebrow.

"Yes!"

"Let’s have a date."

I blinked. Where the heck did that come from?

"A date?"

"A date."

"I have... plans."

"I’m sure we could make an arrangement. I already have my schedule cleared. Dante can handle the rest of it."

Oh, right, another thing Luca told me. Dante was supposedly his acting secretary for now. I wondered why him and not Elliot, but I figured he was too busy running other things.

"I-It can’t be cleared," I answered.

"Then I’m sure whatever these plans of yours won’t take the whole day."

I opened my mouth to speak, but I froze mid-sentence when I caught Clara staring at me from the corner of my eye.