Page 125 of The First Taste
“Could you imagine having the balls to sleep with the prima ballerina and then telling her to get an abortion?”
I shake my head vehemently. “No, I definitely can’t.”
Eric catches up with us, easily taking up my other elbow. “Holy shit. That was insane. I thought that they were both playacting at first.”
As we are herded down the echoing hallway, Ella wrinkles her nose. “I’ve heard that one in three ballerinas undergoes an abortion before they retire.”
I roll my eyes. “That can’t be a real statistic. I don’t know about you, but I was put on an IUD when I turned sixteen.”
Ella purses her lips at me. “Aren’t you a virgin?”
My cheeks flame red. I bow my head, my eyes widening. “I am not!”
A lie, yes. I’m ashamed to say that I’ve listened to my father’s explicit threats about what will happen if I ever sleep with anyone before I’m married.
I’ll kill him, Kaia. If any man talks you into being his slut, I’ll string him up and watch him suffer.
I duck my head. If my friends had the slightest clue about my home life, they would probably stop talking to me. I finally moved out of his house six months ago, but not without his scorn.
You want to be independent? Fine. I’ve tallied up the expenses of raising you and putting you through ballet academy. Do you know how much you cost this family? Three hundred and twenty five thousand dollars, Kaia.
I swallow. Three hundred and twenty five thousand dollars is a lot of money… and now that I’ve moved out of his house, that’s what I still owe my dad.
It’s the only thing I’m focused on at this moment, other than dancing.
I hastily sneak a peek at Eric, who looks completely unruffled by Ella’s revelation that I’m a virgin. He changes the subject, easing the panicked feeling in my chest.
“What do you think happens to Mikhail and Honor? Do they get fired? Or just get scolded?”
“Definitely fired. Ballet companies function with a level of trust. How can anyone at NYB ever trust either of them again?”
Biting my lip, I clear my throat. “That could be good for us, actually. I mean, that means more spots open up in the corps, right?”
Manon is just ahead of me. She turns her dark head at that, laughing cruelly. “Yeah, right. Let’s be real here. Your chances of getting picked to be in this company are basically zero. You should focus on finding a job teaching ballet at some kind of school for crippled children or something.”
My heart thumps in my chest.
Ella jumps right in before I can even really react. “You’re just pissed because your pill popping mom is in rehab again. Get a fucking life, Manon.”
Manon glares at Ella. “Back at you, Affirmative Action Annie.”
“Die in a fire, Barbie bitch,” Ella fires back.
“Watch where you—“ Eric says.
But before he can even get the thought out, Manon stumbles as she reaches the stairs. For a split second, it looks like she’s going to take a header straight down.
But at the last moment, Manon’s friend Roxie reaches out and steadies her. Manon sends us back a superior look, tossing her head and click clacking down the marble stairs.
Ella’s mouth curves into a smirk. “Entitled little priss. Anyway, let’s talk about Mikhail’s wife. Do either of you know who she is?”
I shake my head, absorbed in the drama. As we walk out of the New York Ballet, I’m just really happy that I have friends that will stand up for me.
Calum
Checking my watch, I consider leaving Emma’s office at the New York Ballet. I’m not accustomed to waiting for anybody, especially not for nearly fifteen minutes. I’m a firm believer that you teach people how to treat you.
Heaving myself up off the sleek leather couch, I glance around the well-appointed office. My movement alarms the little redheaded secretary, whose cheeks flame bright red as I approach her in the doorway.
