Hard Rock Love Box Set, page 25
He had to turn down more clients now than he ever did before. He was putting in an obscene number of hours at the office, but he knew he needed to look after his well-being—at the cost of bolstering his fame and renown in the legal world.
His head hurt just from thinking about everything. There was too much, and it’d been stressing him out more than he wanted to fully admit.
Maybe he’d call Bella up again tonight. He thought to himself that there was nothing that she couldn’t help him forget, at least, for a few hours.
Bella was like a goddess—beautiful, powerful, flowered with a confident knowing of it all. If he hadn’t had feelings for someone else, he was sure that her beauty alone would’ve made him fall under her spell almost immediately. And her eagerness to submit to him would’ve been the cherry on top, making it seem as if the universe made her to fulfill all his desires.
And so why was it that he didn’t feel satisfied? Why couldn’t he be satisfied to have her? Why must he reach for the past, for what he used to have, for what he will probably never have again?
Dissatisfied with his train of thought, he parked his car hastily in his usual space, slamming the door behind him as he exited, already pulling out his phone to send another text to Bella. He had no doubt she’d agree to meet him again tonight; after all, it had been a while before last night and he was sure she’d be eager to continue.
As Sebastian made his way to his office, greeting coworkers along the way, he was fighting the thoughts of someone bombarding his mind. He felt like a little kid on the playground, his mind wandering off to flirtatious moments and innocent smiles. He shut himself in the immaculately decorated room and sat in his leather office chair with a heavy sigh. His phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his pocket, displeased to see the message that appeared on the screen.
Can’t tonight. I have other obligations.
He groaned, head in his hands, imagining how terrible his sleep would be tonight. The thoughts running through his head were like cars on a freeway without speed limits. He just wanted them to disappear for a while. He just wanted to be normal again, to focus on his cases, and to regain the stability in his life.
Can you come to my office now then? he replied, knowing it was probably not the best idea, but he was too desperate at this point to care.
I’m at work right now, too busy today. Sorry.
He suddenly realized as he read the blunt text that he didn’t even know what she did for work. He didn’t know anything about her but her body and how best to make her gasp for breath and beg for his touch.
Maybe it was better that way, he reasoned—but he honestly had no idea. The situation had become too complicated to be solved with simple solutions.
Twenty-Nine
When he came into the busy costume workshop, Bella was busy doing last-minute alterations on the costumes for tonight’s show. It seemed to her that no matter how much work they accomplished, there was always more to be done with no time to spare. This was probably a normal thing for such a successful theatre.
She didn’t look up as he walked over, as she was too focused on the fabric in front of her, pinning the new seam down using one of the industrial sewing machines. She only noticed him when he said her name.
“Bella?”
She’d not seen him in so long that she didn’t even recognize his voice at first—dark and sweet like an aged dessert wine, a smooth velvety Moscato. But she had intimate memories attached to that voice, and it didn’t take long for those memories to come to the surface of her mind, interrupting the flow of her work and drawing her attention upwards.
He was as handsome as ever, maybe even more so after his time abroad in England. His muscles were perhaps more defined—though it might be the dark clothes—and his sun-kissed skin was glimmering with inner light. With his dark hair slicked back, his sharp cheekbones were even more highlighted, his smile was even more effortlessly smooth.
“It’s been a while,” he stated, but all Bella could do was blankly stare, mustering an absent-minded nod. This confrontation took her so much by surprise that she had trouble formulating a response.
“I figured, since I was back, that I would drop by and say hi. I’ve missed you.” He stepped closer to her, reaching for one of her hands, but she drew back almost immediately; instinctually.
“You too,” she was mortified, that’s not what she wanted to say at all. She knew her manners, but her gut was sending a confusing whorl of emotions throughout her entire body.
“How have you been? May I sit?” So cordial sounding, so formal, and she knew that that was the way he always acted around groups of people like this. But for some reason it still felt wrong to her.
“I have work to do,” she replied, hating how her voice quivered, wanting to be more forceful, but years of engrained habit made it impossible to do so. Maybe with other people, sure, but with him?
“Lucas, you’re needed onstage,” a voice called from the other room, drawing the man up and away from Bella.
“Sorry, duty calls, I’ll come see you after the show,” he said slyly with a wink, disappearing out of the workshop, his graceful walk belaying his prowess as a dancer.
“Who was that?” one of the newer assistants asked as she walked by Bella.
“That was Lucas,” one of her other colleagues answered, “One of our company’s top premiere male dancers.”
“He was in England up until recently, which is why you haven’t seen him,” another one explained.
Bella focused on her work, taking deep breaths as to distract her mind, doing her best not to think about Lucas—or the fact that he was back, and that he still wanted something to do with her.
She knew he would return…he had to eventually. His loyalties lay in New York, even if London was hesitant to give him up. But she hadn’t thought about it, hadn’t let it fully sink in. Pricking herself with one of her pins, she gasped, almost to break herself out of her daydream. She quickly dropped the costume and brought her finger up to her chest to make sure no blood got on the fabric.
Her thoughts had gotten away from her.
She grabbed a band aid from the first aid kit to mend her finger; though it had only been a little prick, it was better not to risk getting anything on the costumes, especially on opening night. She returned to the piece she was working on, taking it over to the machines, and praying there wouldn’t be any more mishaps before the end of the night, especially not with Lucas in mind.
Bella watched the performance from behind the side curtains, far enough into the wings that no one in the audience could see her, but close enough that any of the ballerinas could come to her easily if there were any issues with their costumes.
Tonight, the New York Ballet Company had their first performance of the season, of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Bella was proud of the work she’d done, especially with the costumes of the three fairies and the final dress for the princess. She spent a lot of time adding the individual embellishments that would make them sparkle like magic beneath the lights of the stage, and she reveled in that fact that it showed.
But for the moment, her attention was drawn to Lucas. Entering the stage for the first time, he brushed past her, coyly neglecting her existence. He was resplendent in the white and gold of a true prince. As he danced through the set of the forest, Bella became entranced in his every movement; from his character being separated from his friends to the part where he meets the lilac fairy—her costume being one of Bella’s favorites—she couldn’t take her eyes off him.
It was, she knew, without a doubt, a morbid fascination. Ever since the two of them stopped being involved—for a various number of reasons—things had been strange between them, especially for her. She didn’t feel completely comfortable around him, but she couldn’t deny him either, and she certainly couldn’t ignore the fact that he was still as handsome, and as seemingly charming as ever.
The second act passed by Bella in a blur, and as the curtain dropped and the dancers exited, readying themselves for the third and final act, Lucas whispered something in her ear as he passed her.
“Couldn’t keep your eyes off me, could you?”
He gave her no time to respond as he headed to the dressing room for a costume change, and soon Bella was busied when one of the dancers came to her as a few of the embellishments on her costume started to come loose.
These nights always flew by fast, and it was over before Bella felt like it should be.
Of course, the first few shows always seemed to go on for hours, but eventually, getting into a rhythm, nothing felt quite so long anymore. And so, that was how she found herself now, at 2:00 am, packing up her things after finishing making more slight changes to the costumes and reattaching anything that had come loose during the ballet.
Tired, and ready to go home and sleep, a small part of Bella considered texting Sebastian, she was wanting to see if he was awake, wanting to hook up.
Routine and auto-pilot took over, as Bella unconsciously opened her phone to order a ride home. She stepped out of the workshop, and immediately bumped into the firm chest of—who would have thought—Lucas. He held her steady for a moment as she balanced her wobbly entrance, breathing in his scent, pine needles, as if he really had just been dancing through a forest.
“Sorry about that,” he chortled, stepping back with a grin, “I didn’t see you there.”
“Lucas, listen—” thinking she had to tell him eventually—especially if she didn’t want her job here to become awkward…
He’d interrupted her thoughts as he read her mind. “So, I was thinking that we should catch up, since it’s been such a long time. Would you be down to get a coffee or something before tomorrow’s show?”
“I—Lucas….” she trailed off, feeling that familiar anxiety of denying him. “No. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
She made a move to pass him, but he abruptly intervened, stepping in her way, still smiling.
“Why’s that? Come on, Bella, it’s been a long time. I thought stuff would be behind us by now.”
“Maybe for you,” she rebuked, hating how soft her voice came out. “But I have other things going on. I don’t have time for you, Lucas.”
Channeling her inner vixen, she firmly shoved him aside, walking briskly to the exit of the building, ignoring his calls after her. There was no way she was going to deal with him right now—not at this hour of the night, and quite frankly; she wasn’t in the mood to deal with him in the near future either.
But she was proud of herself, for standing her ground, for speaking her mind, even though she was sure that he’d come for her eventually, in whatever way that may be.
And that anxious waiting was something she dreaded.
Lucas stood in the middle of the street, in the cold night, a little dumbfounded.
“Interesting.” He mused. He watched Bella disappear into the night and started making his way home.
Thirty
It wasn’t long into the day before Lillian’s editor summoned her into her office.
Lillian sat down, sliding an envelope with a ticket on top of it across Meghan’s desk. Lillian could see that it was labelled ‘Sleeping Beauty’, and that it was for that evening.
“I got you a ticket to the New York Ballet Company’s’ ‘Sleeping Beauty’, and I talked with some friends I have there. They’ll let you come early and stay late to photograph behind the scenes.”
Lillian stared at the ticket for a moment, not believing that her idea was really coming into fruition. A brief moment of worry hit her…that maybe, it wouldn’t become exactly like how she’d been picturing it, that maybe everything that happened before was just a one-time fluke, but she quickly pushed the fear away.
She knew she had this in the bag. Deep down, her undeniable confidence egged her on, telling her, ‘what other option is there?’
“Thank you,” Lillian graciously accepted the tickets from her editor, smiling genuine conviction that her career was taking a turn for the better.
“I’m expecting great work, Lillian. I know you can do this.”
For some reason, the words felt a little more threatening than encouraging, but Lillian nodded regardless, knowing this was her second chance to prove herself.
The first thing she did was pull out her phone, to send Sebastian and Rebecca texts to let them know that everything went over well, and that she was going to a show tonight.
Sebastian text back almost immediately.
That’s great. I’m going to check if there are any VIP tickets left for tonight, maybe Rebecca and I can come offer you support.
Lillian considered for a moment whether or not it would be helpful to her, but she decided that there would no harm in letting them come. After all, she didn’t have to interact with them, and it might be nice to know that there were people there for her, wishing her all the best.
Alright, just uh…don’t get in my way.
Is that a threat?
It is if you ruin my photoshoot.
Lillian realized after sending that text, that she might’ve come off a little hostile, so she decided to tack on a tactful, ‘just kidding’ so that Sebastian understood she wasn’t mad or anything.
I would hope you’re kidding, brat. But no worries, we won’t get in your way.
Thank you!
Lillian set down her phone with a little smile and warm fuzzy feelings, returning to editing photos, planning in her head what different shots and framing might evoke the best emotional response from their readership.
Meanwhile, Bella was preparing for her show that night, finishing with the embellishments that had fallen off from the costumes the night before. The rest of the seamstresses, designers, and dressers rushed about, working in conjugated unison, the air of the room filled with productivity.
There was something off in the studio though—Lucas was there—where he knew Bella would see him, flirting with one of the younger dressers, who was currently without a task to occupy her, or maybe just too occupied with the handsome dancer to find such a task.
“How have I never seen you before?” he quipped, a teasing lilt to his honeyed voice, stepping closer to the younger girl.
Bella had no idea how to categorize the feelings in her chest. Worry? Concern? Jealousy? Everything above? Everything surrounding Lucas had been muddied for such a long time; all that she knew clearly now, was that she did not want him in this room flirting with that girl (or any girl for that matter). As for the reasoning…that was difficult to pinpoint.
“Do you think I could get some personal help with my costume?” Lucas was ogling now, but Bella’s attention was shifted elsewhere.
A woman entered the room, someone Bella had never seen before in her life.
She was beautiful, a medium-toned woman with dark hair and captivating eyes, dressed in light colors. She carried herself with a grace that Bella often saw among their orchestra. It was a very particular type of gait and composure, but this woman wasn’t holding an instrument or sheet music or anything of the sort. Instead, she had a camera in her hands, and she was already taking discreet pictures of the workroom.
Bella had not been informed that there would be a photographer here tonight, but she expected that she might’ve been below that type of notice. Besides, they probably didn’t expect anyone to want photographs of the costume workroom, but here she was, snapping away.
Bella noticed, with a degree of concern, that the woman was taking pictures of Lucas and the dressing girl as well, seeming as if she wanted to capture every intimate detail—like some sort of secret.
If Bella hadn’t already been on high alert due to Lucas being in the room, she wondered if she would have caught the woman entering the room at all. She was moving silently, seeming to blend in, and Bella made the connection that this would be a great advantage for taking very intimate portraits, capturing the rawest moments of life.
The woman looked up at her then, making eye contact as she took a few pictures. Bella held her gaze, feeling defiant in her posture, her hand poised with needle and thread above the costume of the lilac fairy, tacking on a gem that had become loose earlier that day.
The photographer was about to turn to leave, but not so quickly as to escape the notice of Lucas, who noticed that Bella was staring at her, obviously recognizing the woman’s beauty.
“Oh, what do we have here?” he asked, advancing on her. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
“I’m a photographer from Illusions,” she replied, brisk, turning to exit, apparently sensing his intent; but Lucas caught her by the arm gently as to stop her from leaving.
“So, we have a photographer for this show? That’s exciting!” He flashed that winning smile of his, but the woman wasn’t fazed or even remotely charmed.
“Yes.”
“I do have to say though; you seem more worthy of being the subject of a photograph yourself.” He winked, and the girl he was flirting with earlier stared from across the room, green eyed.
The woman pulled away from him with an unamused smile. “Apologies sir, but I cannot stay in one place too long. I will capture your image later.”
Bella watched in awe as the woman took her leave and Lucas looking positively livid, though calming his face within a few seconds. He turned back to the dressing girl, but she already found some small task to busy herself with, and Lucas was forced to leave the workshop, having no one else to bother.
Bella was hoping that he wouldn’t trouble that photographer anymore, though she had no doubt she’d be able to handle it. She was so beautiful, so powerful, and so strong in her own quiet way. Bella found herself thinking of the young photographer as she continued on with her work. It wasn’t a thought sickened with envy; however, it was something more of awe, and maybe…something else.
