His Precious Flower

Chapter 16

"what do you mean you fired him?! No one is going to talk to me or be my friend if they're afraid

of what you'll do! Not just that, but ballet is hard! We all train our entire lives for it and he just

got fired!"

Dimitri pushes me to sit on the couch and he looks down at me with narrowed eyes.

"Flower, don't you think I took that I to account? Do you believe that I'm so blinded by my

hatred for him that I don't know what I'm doing?"

I tilt my head a bit. Kind of.

He sighs and keels infront of me.

"I fired him from this theatre. He's been exchanged with a dancer from another less presitgious

ballet studio. It's not as good so that's his punishment, but he still has a job and is able to dance.

Luca is your friend and what's so wrong with not letting people push you around? They are

afraid to now, so what? Thats a good thing."

What he says makes sense, but I guess we'll just have to see how people react.

..............................

It's been three days since Malcom left and things are mostly the same.

Lucas great, and everyone else ignores me as usual except for when they're staring.

Jac, being the musical genius he is, has already finalized the choreography for the ballet and he is

in the middle of picking parts based on skills.

"Abigail, Randal, Machenzie, and Rupert, you will be backup because there's been little

improvement," Jac tsks.

Ten minutes later the rest have finally been planned out and everyone is standing in anticipation

as the lead is about to be announced.

"For his ability to work with anyone and anything as well as her ability to master any

combination of moves and never loose energy or enthusiasm, the leading partners are Flavia and

Luca!"

There are awkward claps, sneers, and dirty looks, but Luca is ignoring them. He smiles widely

and hugs me tight.

"We did it!"

Yeah. I'm not as enthused. Despite other people's reactions, something is off and I know exactly

what it is.

When practice is over and it's time to pack up, Luca looks unsure.

"Why don't you look happy? Aren't you excited to dance with me as the leads?"

I nod and zip up my bag.

"Yeah. I guess it would just be more exciting if you didn't want to be my friend and partner only

because you knew I'd land you in the spotlight."

It's the end of the day and I'm too tired to sugar-coat things.

The gaping and stuttering of the blond makes me give a sad smile. It wasn't a secret was it?

"Flavia, you know that's not why I'm your friend, right?"

I shrug and lift the bag onto my shoulder.

"But it's why I'm your partner isn't it? Brenna wasn't getting you anywhere."

Luca blinks uncomfortably a couple times before responding.

"That might have been how it started, but you're actually funny and nice to hang out with. Mr.

Ivashkov's not so bad either. Even if we didn't get the lead, I wouldn't want to stop dancing with

you. You're great and that makes you easier to work with."

We start walking and instead of ending the conversation on good note, I let the question bugging

me slip out.

"So if we didn't get the lead and you got asked to switch partners with the girl who was the lead,

would you ditch me?"

Luca sighs and we walk slower to have more time.

"That's a career move Flavia. I would switch only for the performance, but as soon as it was done

we'd be partners again and just because we'd be apart for practice, doesn't mean we can't hang

out. I'd still want to be your friend if that counts."

What he says makes sense, and I'm not mad at his reasoning.

"It does," I say lightly.

Glad I understand, he hugs me and we make our way to the front of the building.

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

I nod and see him off.

It's strange Dimitri's not here, but I figure he's just running late.

After five minutes, I start to get concerned.

He's never late. I don't have a phone and refused one when Dimitri offered to buy one, so I can't

call. He must be in his office.

Maybe he got caught up with work?

I start walking up the stairs and to where I'm sure his newly furnished office has him kept up, but

when I turn the corner there's laughing.

It comes from his door and I figure he's in a meeting.

Maybe I should wait out here?

I do the opposite however, when the door opens and a woman's voice speaks loudly.

"I'll be right back baby!"

I'm even more surprised to see her walk out Stark naked.

My mouth gapes and my heart clenches at the sight.

There's only one reason a naked woman would walk out of Dimitri's office while calling him

baby, and the rationale causes a squeezing feeling in my chest.

The woman and I stare at each other, her in surprise and me in hurt.

Why would he do this to me?

Unable to form words, I turn and run down the hall and the stairs.

Bolting outside, I look at his car and sigh. I can't take it and I don't know how to get to his house

to pack and leave.

The only place I know how to get is my old apartment.

Maybe it hasn't sold yet? It is a raggedy old thing.

With the mindset of finally going home, I set off in that direction and push the dominant man to

the back of my mind.

I was a fool to care about anything other than ballet.