Page 6 of Wicked Games

“He wants to talk to you!” said Jane, her voice going up an octave in her excitement. Jane was petite with curly blonde hair cut into a sassy bob that bounced whenever she became animated over something… which was usually just about everything.

For once, my excitement matched hers, but for way different reasons. “Me?” I squeaked. “Why me?”

“Well, you are his leading lady,” laughed Jane as she emphasized leading lady with a suggestive gravelly voice.

“Stop that,” I snapped.

“He’s been waiting for a half hour.”

“A half hour? Why didn’t you call me?”

“I did, stupid. You must have been on the Tube.”

Crap. I had taken a ride halfway across the city to this tiny shop where I found the turquoise glass beads for my final project because I needed more. She was right. I had been underground with no cell service for at least the last half hour.

“I’m coming through the doors now.” Picking up my pace, I sprinted to the theater door. Ignoring the lift, I took the stairs to Level G.

As I reached the top, I saw Jane put down her phone and come running up to me.

“He’s waiting for you in the Hall,” she said as she grabbed my purse and backpack. I took a few steps toward the Hall before turning.

“Wait!” I said, calling Jane back to me. “Take this too.”

I handed her my cell phone. I knew from watching other cast members get their asses handed to them that Mr. Payne hated anyone who kept their cell phone out while talking to him. God forbid the thing rang or you answered a quick text. It was almost as if he actually hated technology, which was, of course, strangely ironic.

“Do you have any idea why he wants to talk to me?”

She just shrugged her shoulders. “Good luck.”

Taking a deep breath, I reached for the heavy door. I actually had to lean back a bit to swing it open. I entered the darkened Hall.

Our production was actually on this same level in a much smaller theater. The Hall was twice the size and way more imposing.

It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim light. Finally, I saw a tall figure standing in the middle of the stage with his back turned to me.

After walking down the sloping aisle, I stopped just below the stage, unsure of how to proceed.

“Come up onto the stage, Miss Larkin.”

I couldn’t suppress a small jump. Despite its enormous size, the Hall was eerily quiet, which meant the sudden sound carried all the more. Plus, there was his voice. It was deep and authoritative, giving the impression that each word was carefully measured before being spoken. It suited him.

Everything about the man screamed control, from the impeccable way he dressed, to the way he spoke. This was a man no one dared say no to.

With shaking legs, I slowly walked closer to the stage. The toe of my sneaker slipped off the second step, causing me to stumble slightly. I could feel my cheeks burn even hotter with humiliation.

Nervously clasping my hands together, my own voice came out as a hesitant whisper. “You wished to see me, Mr.… I mean Duke… a… Mr.… um… Payne.”

I’m such a fucking idiot.

I had lived in London for six months and still I had absolutely no idea how you were supposed to address a duke. Although in my defense, it’s not like there were tons of dukes out and about riding the Tube and sipping tea in the local cafés introducing themselves to commoners like me so I would learn how to address them. Was it Duke Payne? No, that didn’t sound right. Fuck, I was going to have to fall back on being an American and call him Mr. Payne. God, this was awful.

After a moment, he turned and took a step toward me.

In school, I was always considered one of the tall girls. At five foot eight, I was usually head and shoulders over my friends. Still, he towered over me, making me feel even more like a foolish child being admonished by the school headmaster than I already did.

Looking down at the polished floorboards, I bit my lip, trying to will away the misting of embarrassed tears that threatened.

Then I felt a finger beneath my chin. My head was lifted up to meet his gaze.

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