Page 38 of The Virgin's Dance
“It’s incredible, Pilot,” he said as they walked around the space at MOMA. “So freaking beautiful. You have gone over and above for the Foundation.” He smiled at Boh. “And you … you ready to be a superstar after this? Because you will be.”
She blushed scarlet. “As long as it does the trick for the Foundation.”
“And I hear you’ll be dancing for us too?”
“If we can get the music cleared,” Pilot said, squeezing her hand. “Fingers crossed, but go, I hope so. You should see Boh dance, Grady. It’s the second most beautiful sight on Earth.”
“Second?” Both Grady and Boh laughed, and Pilot smiled wickedly, nodding at the full-size nude he had taken of Boh just after they made love.
“That’s number one.”
Later, one of the assistants at MOMA was talking to Boh about the small stage area where she would dance. Pilot watched her interact easily with the other woman. Grady chuckled, watching him. “Dude, you are in so much trouble. I know that look. You’re in love, and you have it bad.”
“True story,” Pilot chuckled. He and Grady had always been good friends, and Grady, like his other friends, had disliked Eugenie, but had always been too polite to say so.
“Look at these photos. Look at how she’s looking at you. Wow, man.”
“I know.”
Grady nodded. “This is your career high, Scamo, I hope you realize this.”
“Believe me, I do. When I met Boh, I met my muse. It almost doesn’t matter that she’s a ballerina, although it is a fundamental part of who she is. You can’t extricate the ballerina in her. But to me, Boh herself is the work of art.”
“And it shows in your work, friend.” Grady clapped his hand on Boh’s shoulder, then smiled as Boh rejoined them. “Can I buy you both dinner?”
Boh looked regretful. “I’m afraid I have rehearsal, but you two should go. I’ll see you at home later, baby.” She kissed Pilot’s cheek, meeting his gaze.
Pilot smiled at her. “Sure we can’t drop you off?”
“Nah, the walk will warm me up. Grady, it’s lovely to finally meet you. I guess I’ll see you at the exhibit?”
“I’ll see you in 10 days, lovely lady. My wife, Flori, will be with me. I know you two will get along.”
Serena touched her champagne class to Eugenie’s and smiled. What the other woman had offered her, and what Serena had told her in return, made her realize just how much power she held in her hands. When Eugenie opened her purse and drew out the money, Serena had to fight to keep her countenance. She’d never seen so many 50-dollar bills.
Now, she studied the other woman. “Are you sure? Are you sure you want it to go this far?”
Eugenie smiled. “You can get it done?”
For a moment, Serena hesitated. What she was being asked to do … there was no coming back from it. Yes, the plan meant she would not have to take responsibility to anyone but herself. But could she live with it?
“Carver, I asked you a question. You in?”
Fuck it. “Yes,” she said with certainty. “I’m in.”
Eugenie watched the redhead leave. Ever since she’d followed Kristof home, she’d known he was screwing the younger woman, but it wasn’t until she’d actually seen them together that she saw it. Serena Carver had Kristof Mendelev on a string.Kristof!Eugenie had laughed aloud at the thought of it, then almost as quickly, she’d realized how useful that could be in her revenge plan.
Now that Serena had filled her in on the relationship between Kristof and Pilot’s little whore, things had gotten a whole lot more interesting, and Eugenie knew she had found a partner, at least for now. The little redhaired dancer had the requisite amount of spite that Eugenie could tap into and she looked forward to working with her.
It also meant she, Eugenie, had a scapegoat and that was always, always a bonus. For her entire marriage, Pilot had been her whipping boy, but now she needed someone else to help punish him.
Genie grabbed her coat. Today called for cocktails at Gibson + Luce on 31stStreet. She took the elevator down to the lobby and had the doorman called for a cab. She was still smiling as the driver pulled away from the curb.
Serena waited until Kristof had fallen asleep then went to retrieve the envelope Eugenie Radcliffe-Morgan had given her. She counted the money twice, her hands shaking, and then stared out of the window. Five hundred thousand dollars.Five. Hundred. Thousand. Dollars.
Serena dragged in a few shaky breaths. This was big-time, maybe more than she had contemplated. Could she do this? Should she?
Five hundred thousand dollars.
