Page 15 of Reckless Chance
“Fortunately, that’s easy now. Cassie left a voicemail today, asking me to come to Vegas tomorrow instead of later. She wants us to catch up before she’s immersed in the restaurant opening. I texted her that I’d try. I suspect Evan prodded her to issue the invitation.”
“I’m sure he did,” Sean says as he looks at his phone. “The show will start soon. When we finish our drinks, we should leave for the theater.”
10
SEAN
Three million dollars over budget, our newPyrobatics Treasure Huntshow finally received safety approval from our stage manager and opened two nights ago. Unfortunately, Emily couldn’t fit it into my schedule until tonight. It’ll be more enjoyable having Lowri with me anyway.
Hmm. That’s an unexpected thought.
If Lowri weren’t here, another pretty face would be with me. I’ve never had trouble attracting a desirable companion who’s thrilled to enjoy a show with me. Lowri isn’t one of those random women though. We have more in common than my typical hookups. She’s Cassie’s best friend, and we shared a long weekend together about five months ago. So, it shouldn’t surprise me that I’m especially looking forward to spending time with her tonight.
That’s all it is. No worries, there’s not a chance either one of us will fall for each other. That’s not who we are.
With that reassurance, I guide Lowri down the theater steps to our row.
“Wow. These are the best seats in the house,” she says.
“They are.”
“Then why are there empty seats all around us?”
“When the theater first opened, my father permanently reserved this row of ten seats and the row behind us. He insisted on seats centered in front of the stage and at eye-level with the performers.”
“Why not the front-row seats?”
“He preferred these to the front row because he couldn’t stand staring up at the stage all night to watch a show. He said it killed his neck, and he was happy to leave those ‘horrid seats,’ as he called them, for others willing to pay extra for the painful experience. He also made sure there was a walkway and low guardrail in front of these seats. Dad didn’t want anyone blocking his view.”
“Your Dad was not only practical, but he also knew what he was doing.”
“He did. He taught me a lot.”
“You still didn’t explain why the other seats in this row and the one behind us are empty. Didn’t anyone want them?”
“We usually give our unused seats to ultra-VIPs. I asked Emily to make sure we had these rows to ourselves tonight. I don’t want strangers eavesdropping on us. It would be fodder for social media tomorrow.”
“That would be a problem. You said the show is calledPyrobatics Treasure Hunt. What arepyrobatics?”
“It’s a combination of the latest technology for pyrotechnics, which is effectively indoor fireworks, combined with death-defying acrobatics and music that tell a story.”
“Acrobats always amaze me, and I could watch fireworks every night. The story must relate to a treasure hunt, right?”
“It does. The characters face various challenges while searching for treasure. As you’ll see, the plot has a comedic element to keep it lighthearted and appropriate for audiences of all ages.”
“How fun. I can’t wait for it to start.”
A server delivers our drinks as the lights dim. Perfect timing.
Enveloped in darkness, a deep voice booms from the speakers, “Welcome to the Grand Athena’sPyrobatics Treasure Hunt. The fireworks on stage are real and dangerous. Therefore, you must remain seated throughout the performance for your safety and that of those around you. Enjoy as the performers risk their lives battling obstacles while searching for lost treasure. In the end, one of you may hold the key to their dreams.”
The curtain rises, and the voice fades, replaced by the rumbling thump, thump, thump of music synced to the footsteps of scantily clad performers running onto the stage. We watch as dancers grasp silks and soar into the air while acrobats build human structures and hurl themselves through rings of fire in their search for treasure that’s hidden deep in a forest.
Sparklers and steam randomly pop up, causing the performers to jump, tumble, and dance around the pyrotechnic obstacles. When a performer slips from one of the silks and limps to the back of the stage, Lowri asks softly, “Is that part of the show?”
“Not sure. I’m told they have built-in missteps to show the difficulty of fortune hunting. But that guy’s limp looks real,” I whisper.
The show continues as performers walk on steamy hot coals, cross river rapids, and build human pyramids to climb over a stone ledge to reach the forest of fortune.
