Page 20 of Wicked Dance
Chapter 6
I decide to be late. After Blitz shows me the door to the boardroom, I move on to a bathroom to fix myself up. I simply cannot walk in there with crazy hair and smelling like sex.
In the mirror, I untie the braid and create an updo that tucks in on itself. With a little water to turn the hairspray into glue, it holds.
When I’m clean enough and smell like soap instead of Blitz, I head back out, anxious to find out what will happen to the show.
I can hear strident voices before I get to the door.
“Blitz, don’t throw away everything you’ve done over this!” That one is Hannah, sounding as perturbed as she did in the limo.
“Stop trying to force my hand!” Blitz shoots back.
I pause outside the closed door. For a second people talk in lower tones, so I can’t hear anything else. Then a voice I know well. Giselle, the red-haired finalist. “You played dirty for two seasons! Now we’re going to!”
What is she doing here?
I shove hard on the handle. The door flies open so fast it smashes into the wall on the inside.
A dozen well-dressed, perfect people all turn to look at me. I see the three finalists first, still in their getups from the hostile takeover they attempted at the DVD shop this morning. And Blitz’s manager Hannah, of course.
Then Blitz, red faced and as angry as I’ve ever seen him.
Then our friend Bennett, looking subdued.
The rest I don’t know, all wealthy looking, some in suits, others in expensive casual wear. I spot two women that I figure were the ones who were in the prop room earlier.
“Look who decided to show up,” Giselle says. “The little bitch who thinks she can ruin all of us.”
My face flushes hot. Blitz gets up and comes over to me. “This is out of hand,” he says. “And I’m not going to submit Livia to it.” He takes my arm as if we’re going to leave.
“Don’t walk away or we’ll sue you into your next lifetime,” one of the men says coldly. “You have obligations to your financial backers, the network, and the staff.”
Blitz pauses. I squeeze his hand, trying to pull myself together. “It’s all right, Blitz. Let’s hear them out,” I say.
Giselle laughs. “Oh, that’s rich. As if you are in charge.”
One of the women says quietly, “Giselle, don’t talk yourself out of the picture. These are negotiations, not ultimatums or blackmail.” She flashes a stern look at the man who threatened to sue.
Bennett stands up. “So glad to see you again, Livia. It’s always a pleasure. Please, take my seat.”
I notice that there isn’t a chair for me.
“We’ll stand over here,” Blitz says. “Because I want to make it clear that I’m prepared to walk.”
“You’re always so dramatic,” Hannah says. “We’re not proposing anything that preposterous.”
Bennett sits back down. “Let’s sort this out now that Livia is here. It concerns her.”
Blitz puts his arm around me and holds me tightly by the waist. We stay by the door.
“What’s on the table?” I ask, hoping I sound faintly businesslike.
The threatening man speaks up. “Bennett proposed a new format for the show focused on you and Blitz, not unlike the three episodes planned for the contest winner. Meet the parents, wedding plans, and so on.”
My belly quavers. “I don’t think my parents would agree,” I say, glancing up at Blitz.
I can’t involve them in any way. They aren’t even speaking to me, but I don’t want to tell these people that.
