Page 43 of The Dance Deception
“Kate and Aleksis were partnered on the show after X-rated photos emerged of her and her original dance partner Merle. Less than a weeklater Merle admitted he has struck up a romance with his new dance partner, Emilia Harris, who he topped the scoreboard with last weekend.
“But in an unexpected twist, Kate and Aleksis have also grown close and were spotted leaving Sofiya’s house together after spending the night there. Sofiya confirmed to the Daily Scene that the pair are romantically involved and that she’s fully supportive of their union, despite the fact that her husband cheated on her with Kate.
“‘I know many people will expect me to hate her, but I don’t blame Kate for what happened. She didn’t know me, she didn’t know Merle was married and she didn’t ask for it to be exposed in the way it was,’ Sofiya told the Daily Scene’s Stella Barkley.
“Sofiya admitted it was a bit of a shock when Aleksis first came to her with the news, but said she quickly got over it when she saw how happy he was. And it was Sofiya’s idea that she and Kate should meet and get it all out in the open.
“‘They came to my house and we talked about everything and I found myself really liking Kate,’ Sofiya told the Daily Scene. ‘I can see why Aleksis has fallen for her. My marriage may be over, but I still believe in love and if Kate and Aleksis find it together, then I fully support that.’”
I look up from my phone and Aleksis looks like he’s been holding his breath the whole time I’ve been reading. He puffs the air out and raises his eyebrows.
‘Game on?’ he says.
‘Game on,’ I agree.
Sofiya swings by the studio after lunch to help us get some photos on social media to back up our story. She looks impossibly glamorous, still sporting smoky eyes and forties-esque vintage curls from her interview and photoshoot.
‘I couldn’t have Merle seeing it and not wondering if he’s made a terrible mistake,’ she says when I tell her she looks amazing. ‘Even if I don’t want him back. Stella was delighted, by the way, to be the one to get your story. She’s had a tough time making her mark at the paper and said this will help her out no end. I said I’d keep her updatedon any developments and in return she said she’d do something for you. She’s going to find out who sold them those photos of you and Merle, Kate. I thought you might want to know.’
‘Thank you,’ I say hesitantly, not convinced I want it dragged up again. I’d just assumed it was someone random at Channel 6 and that I’d never find out exactly who. It’s not like someone I know would have done something like that. Unless … no, they couldn’t have.
Sensing my trepidation, Aleksis brings our attention back to the task at hand. ‘Shall we get these photos sorted, so we can crack on with our rehearsal?’
Sofiya takes some of us posing and some of us dancing, but when we flick through them afterwards, we all agree the best is one where Aleksis and I are looking at each other, rather than at the camera, looking completely smitten. If we didn’t know better, it could be real.
‘Let’s get that online, then,’ Sofiya says, sending it through to my phone.
And so I post my first Instagram picture in six months, with the caption, ‘Busted! We were planning to keep this secret, but now it’s out there … #aleksislapsa #boyfriend #official.’
Aleksis replies with a red heart and Sofiya adds a link to theDaily Scenestory.
‘You should share a few of the others too,’ she says, handing me her phone. ‘The more authenticity you can give this the better, so just heart all the ones you like and I’ll whizz them over to you.’
While I’m at it, I upload one I took of Tammy, Liam andBeth from before the live shows even started. I tag the three of them and caption it, ‘I had no idea how much I was going to get out of #FireOnTheDanceFloor. #FriendsForever.’
Immediately the Fire Dancers WhatsApp chat starts pinging with messages.
‘Is this for real?’ Tammy has written.
She’s obviously talking about the photo of me and Aleksis, not the one of the four of us.
‘OMG, this is brilliant news! You look so happy,’ Beth gushes.
And Liam chips in with, ‘That’s one way to get over Merle.’
‘It took us both a bit by surprise,’ I write back. ‘But it’s so different to before. Aleksis is lovely and he just gets me.’
‘And his sister really doesn’t mind?’ Beth asks. The question everyone will be asking.
I look over at Sofiya, who’s now helping Aleksis choose a few photos for his own Instagram. ‘Make sure you tag Kate,’ she reminds him.
It still blows my mind that she can be this friendly towards me after I slept with her husband. I’m not sure I could do the same in her shoes.
‘She’s actually pretty incredible,’ I type. ‘She just wants the best for everyone. I’m very lucky.’
‘You deserve some luck after what you’ve been through,’ Beth says. ‘I hope it does all work out this time.’
Of course there’s no chance of that happening, but I don’t tell her that.
