The Black Swan's Final Revenge Pirouette: The 99th Game Was Mine All Along by Kylie Homme

Chapter 13

Recalling the disastrous fate of that previous business partner, Michael silently calculated how many hours he’d need to update his resume after today’s inevitable implosion.

He inhaled deeply, steeling himself for the tempest of Luigi’s rage.

To his absolute shock, Luigi not only picked up the tickets but examined them with unexpected interest, his fingers tracing the embossed lettering with something approaching tenderness.

The tickets were elegantly minimal–clean black typography on heavy cream cardstock, containing only essential information without a single decorative flourish.

The stark simplicity transported Luigi to a moment he’d spent years trying to forget.

Ariana, curled up on their bed three years ago, sketching ticket designs on her tablet, her hair piled messily atop her head. She’d been so alive then–passionate, determined, completely herself.

“Look at this,” she’d said, holding up a clean, minimalist design. “Don’t you think this actually communicates more than all that cluttered nonsense they keep asking for?”

He remembered how she would return from her internship at Boston Ballet, dramatically flopping onto their couch with entertaining impressions of the marketing director.

“It needs more pizzazz,” she’d mimic in an exaggerated voice, gesturing wildly. “Make the font bigger! Add sparkles! People won’t know it’s art unless we hit them over the head with it!”

Luigi had laughed then–casually, carelessly, not appreciating how perfect those ordinary moments were. How

erfect she had been.

If he hadn’t destroyed everything with his revenge plot, would they be sharing those moments still? Would she be designing minimalist tickets for performances he attended proudly as her husband?

him with surgical

attend. A whisper in his mind suggested that perhaps, somehow,

the tickets into his jacket pocket and

made obligatory pilgrimages to Luigi’s front–row seat, attempting to secure a moment of

Chapter 13

public

nod, a disinterested “sure“-until they retreated, sensing the invisible wall surrounding

the lights dimmed, Luigi tensed reflexively. Dance performances had become emotional landmines since

repose. When the music began, she unfurled

she turned, creating the impression of liquid shadow following her movements. Despite the pearl–white half–mask concealing her features,

than watching, found himself inexplicably drawn to her performance. There was something in her

within him.

characteristic tilt of her head

clarity: Ariana dancing in their apartment, barefoot on hardwood floors, demonstrating a phrase she’d been

in his throat as past and present began to blur.

almost believe the impossible–that somehow, through some miracle, he was watching

a particularly challenging sequence, approaching the edge of the stage nearest his seat, Luigi found himself leaning forward involuntarily, heart hammering

he whispered, the name escaping before he could

millisecond hesitation

in perfection sent electricity through Luigi’s veins. It couldn’t be coincidence.

couldn’t.

Luigi remained fixated on the masked dancer, searching for further confirmation of what seemed both impossible