Page 25 of Beauty and the Beach

Crap.

The last thing she wanted to do was to appear weak in front of Don. And flopping helplessly on the floor gasping for air was the epitome of that. She closed her eyes and concentrated on staying still. Maybe he wouldn't notice her. She had fallen between the chairs. If Don stayed in the back, he wouldn't see her.

"I'd like to open tomorrow."

Tomorrow? What the serious fuck?

"We’ll call it a soft opening. Just for invited guests only, Saturday and Sunday and then everyone else the rest of the week. Two shows. A matinee and one in the evening. If it gets popular, we could do three or more."

Three shows daily? Was Don out of his mind? He'd need another cast.

"I think that's a good idea. The revenue stream coming in early appeals to my good nature."

Who the hell was that? Ana didn't recognize the rich, cultured voice. But it was such a contrast to Don's that she wished she had the strength to lift up and see for herself.

"You've accrued several days of interest. The extra week will go a long way in showing me that you'll pay off the loan in a timely manner."

She rubbed the pain in her ribs. It was probably going to bruise and then she'd have to hear how it ruined the authenticity of the show. Ana could cover it with makeup. She hoped.

"I give you my word that I'll have the first installment this time next week."

"You'd better, Don. Or there will be consequences. Don't take the box office receipts to the casino with the hope of doubling your money. It will only end in tragedy."

"I don't want consequences, Mr. Hojo."

"I'm taking a great risk on you. Your track record in business is almost as bad as your poker game. But you seem to have a knack for appealing to the tourists in the shows you put on and that is what's saved you."

Ana finally caught her breath only to lose it again when she realized the importance of the conversation she was hearing.

"You've got a month. Either your box office pays off your debts or the insurance policy I have on this firetrap will. I'll get my money on way or the other."

"I understand." Don's voice was high and breathless.

"I see that you do. Continue to take this seriously and you may even turn a profit."

"Yes, Mr. Hojo. Thank you, sir."

Ana heard footsteps leaving and she sagged in relief. After staring at the ceiling for about five minutes, she gathered her strength and pushed herself up to a sitting position on the folding chairs. Her ribs protested, but they weren't bruised.

"How much of that did you hear?" Don asked.

She gasped. The shadows had hidden him. He was sitting in her wheelchair, his elbows on his knees.

"Enough to know that you're not going to replace me as Eros no matter how far Maud shoves your dick down her throat." Ana crossed her arms over her chest in defiance that she didn't quite feel. "Not if we open in..." She counted on her fingers. "Tomorrow." She waggled them at him. "Are you nuts? All you’ve done is tell us we're not fucking ready and now you want us to do the show you updated less than twelve hours ago...tomorrow."

Don looked more unhinged than usual. He gave her a smile that wasn't quite sane. "Do you have any idea who that was?"

"Mr. Hojo." Whoever the hell that was.

Rubbing his hand over his face, Don stood up and kicked the wheelchair over to her. "You don't want to tell anyone about what you heard."

"Don't threaten me." Did she keep the tremor out of her voice?

"I'm not threatening you. I'm the least of your concerns if you decide to open your fat mouth to the wrong people. Now, get backstage. We're doing a full rehearsal in ten minutes."

He walked away with slow, deliberate steps.

Ana almost preferred him to be a screaming mess than the cold resigned attitude he was throwing. Swallowing the sharp stab of pain in her ribs, she dragged herself into the wheelchair and went backstage to wait for her cue to dive into the water.

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