Page 9 of When Hearts Awaken

She glares at the mob. “Carla, don’t you have something better to do you with your time? Picking on Tay won’t get you promoted.”

Carla snorts and flicks her dainty, manicured fingers in my direction. “As if I’d get my hands dirty.” She arches a thin, blonde brow. “Seriously, Lisa, why are you hanging out with her? You’re old money. Your parents are on the board.”

Lisa rolls her eyes and tosses her shiny brown hair over her shoulders. Ignoring her, she turns toward me. I smother a smile at the fierce lioness expression on her face.

She leans in and whispers, “Have you heard the rumors?”

“What rumors?”

“Change in management. The bigwigs are coming. Going to shake things up. At least, that’s what I overheard when Dad left his door open during his board meeting last week. Everyone is talking about it.”

I frown. “I haven’t heard a thing. But then again, I’m usually the last person to know anything. Will this impact us?”And my upcoming promotion evaluation?Cold sweat breaks down my back.

Lisa shrugs. “I have no clue. But apparently, it’s something about some alignment with some big corporation for some philanthropic endeavor. Something about an international ballet tour too!”

“That’s a lot of ‘somes’ in one sentence.”

She grins. “You’rehilarious. Har har har. You should be a comedian instead. By the way, you going out with Dev and me today? We’re trying a new club in SoHo. Lady of the Night.”

I arch my brow. “Let me guess. A hip, new place named after a flower. Is this a Fleur establishment?”

Lisa’s eyes brighten at my recognition of the largest entertainment and hospitality company in the world, famously headed by the Anderson family—royalty in New York, if not the entire country.

Ironically, it turns out I’m actually related to them. Grace found out a few months ago our missing-in-action-since-birth father is Linus Anderson, the patriarch. Apparently, he and Mom had a passionate affair a long time ago, but they broke up because he believed in some ridiculous family curse about the eldest son not being able to fall in love or else his woman would die. To say I’m baffled by this turn of events is an understatement.

So, this little ‘motherless bitch’ is now an Anderson. Fates are the ultimate jokesters. If only Carla knew—she’d shut her big mouth then.

But the masochist in me doesn’t want to tell her or the others at ABTC. Or perhaps it’s pride. It’s the Anderson family money, not mine. I’ve done fine my entire life without the Anderson influence.

“Come out with us. It’ll be the old gang at IBA together again.” IBA was the ballet academy we were all at before Lisa and I got accepted into Petite Jeté, a feeder school for ABTC, then eventually joining ABTC.

My eyes snap to Lisa’s and she falters, clearly realizing her mistake.The old gang.

“I-I’m sorry, that didn’t come out right. I mean, I know Alexis isn’t here, and Camden is an asshole, but—”

“Alexis left us and fuck Camden.” My jaw works. In some ways, the pain of my best friend ditching me far outweighs my boyfriend dumping me at the same time.

They left because they knew what happened to me. People can’t be trusted.

Lisa blanches and pats me awkwardly on my shoulder. She never knew why Alexis and Camden left. After what happened, I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone else. To Lisa, she thought Camden and I had a run-of-the-mill breakup, and Alexis and I had some sort of falling out.

I strain a smile, ignoring the pinch in my chest from the invisible scars. “Anyway, I can’t go out tonight. I’m tutoring the trainees in half an hour. They have a recital coming up and you haven’t seen them, Lisa. They’re a mess. They need all the help they can get. Then, I’m going home to watchScream if You Dare.”I clap gleefully, thinking about the over-the-top gory slasher film and the comfy sofa that’s waiting for me.

God, I love horror movies. They’re always a fun ride and the bad guy usually dies at the end.

She laughs, the color returning to her face, and shakes her head. “I don’t know how you watch these things.” Leaning in, she pokes me on the side. “And you’re a softy underneath all the prickliness, Tay. I see you.”

“I’m just doing what I wish someone did for me when I was younger. Ballet is a lifeline for these kids—their only way out of poverty. They get to see the world, join us on tours—it’s an opportunity of a lifetime for them.”

“See? That’s what I mean. You don’t have to do any of this and yet you do it without anyone asking. Like I said. A secret softie.”

I roll my eyes, fighting a twitch on my lips as warmth spreads through me. Lisa follows me when I head over to the sink.

After washing my face, I reapply a thick coat of my usual black eyeliner. Heavier makeup to draw attention away from my dark eye circles courtesy of my restless sleep at night. Adjusting my nose ring—a black skull today, because of the pissed off mood I’m in—I take in my appearance in the large and slightly tarnished mirror.

Raven-black hair piled high in a messy bun. Pale skin—no shit, since I spend all my time indoors practicing, full lips, and large, slate-gray eyes I now know are an Anderson characteristic.

Fly Harriet. Little beauty.

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