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

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

At this announcement, the younger dancers erupted in excited squeals and whispers.

“Oh my God, Luigi Maggiore is coming here?”

“I heard he hasn’t attended a social event in months!”

“Do you think he’s looking for new talent to sponsor?”

The company scattered to their dressing rooms, frantically touching up makeup and adjusting costumes, each hoping to catch the eye of Boston’s most eligible widower.

Only Ariana remained frozen in place, her mind racing with alarm.

Why would Luigi come backstage? Even during his most obsessive pursuit of her years ago, he had never once visited her behind the scenes–his assistants had simply delivered roses or arranged town cars.

Her thoughts spiraled into darker territory. Was this somehow connected to the revenge plots he’d schemed with his friends? Had he somehow recognized her despite the mask? Was he planning some new humiliation as punishment for deceiving him with her false death?

Her fingernails dug painfully into her palms as fragmented memories of the ninety–eight “pranks” flashed through her mind.

“Ariana,” Margaret’s concerned voice cut through her panic. “You’ve gone completely white.”

“I just-” she managed, her usual composure crumbling.

“You don’t look well at all. Perhaps you should return to the hotel before he arrives. I’ll make your excuses–some diplomatic nonsense about vocal rest affecting your breathing. Don’t worry about Maggiore–we’ve got plenty of donors without him.”

Ariana nodded gratefully, not trusting her voice. With a quick pivot, she headed for the stage door, not even pausing to remove her performance mask or change from her costume.

avy velvet curtain,

echoed from beyond

you’ve joined us

Ariana’s heart nearly stopped. She quickly ducked into a shadowed alcove used for quick costume changes,

Swan’s Final Revenge Pirouette:

ly nadomeške arah tha

various stages

overlapping as they introduced the

Maggiore, I danced the

an honor to meet you-

show you

RMA MARA

competing fragrances created a suffocating cloud

The artificial sweetness reminded him, by warkoor, offs sample sent over clean soap and occasionally a hint of jasmine when shed

four

his eyes methodically teasing the sear Something–someone–had drawn him here, and

ambitions.

of him war sefing, a barely perceptible sent cut through the perfume fog the faintest trace of jasmine and something undgquely familiar. His

sweeping the room with renewed focus until locking onto a shadowed alcove where a figure

it?” he asked abruptly, cutting off the blonde

mid–sentence.

words, he redirected every eye in the room toward the corner

attention, she felt her pulse stutter, then race wildly. The artistic director, realizing

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255