Page 76 of Stripped

Chapter 34

The afterparty for the gala was to be held at the Old Fruitmarket, off Candleriggs in the Merchant City district, in the east end. They entered into the refurbished and modern City Halls, Glasgow's exciting music complex, renowned for its amazing acoustics and home to the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Another set of doors took them into the Fruitmarket. It was impressive, to say the least, a lofty vaulted auditorium with cast iron columns and a balcony, all made from the old stalls of fruit and vegetable vendors. Reminiscent of a far-gone era, it retained a number of its period features and signs, enhancing the ambiance. Staff were busy setting up round tables, elegantly adorned with white tablecloths and place settings. Pim made her way over to the stage, followed closely by Wraith.

Peter, Niall, and Paul were already there, blocking out the choreography.

"Darling," Peter said, coming over and hugging her. "God, it's good to see you. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." She looked over at Paul, giving him a feeble smile. "It's all been rather traumatic."

"Aye, our poor Thomas. To take his own life." Peter shook his head.

"Suicide?" Pim questioned.

"Aye, I talked with the police this afternoon. They said it is being ruled a suicide, especially given the events with Irina. It all must have been too much," he said. "To think he really could have hurt you and Paul."

Pim glanced at Wraith. It wasn't suicide. He shook his head ever so slightly, asking for her silence. "What's he doing here?" Peter asked.

"I'm here for her protection," Wraith answered for himself.

"Thomas is dead. There's no reason for it now, hopefully."

"I'll be the judge of that."

"I don't have a ticket for you."

"I have my own ticket. You're not the only person with connections in this city."

"Look, between Irina's accident, Angus' death, and now this tragic event, the company doesn't need any more bad publicity. We were lucky last night that most of the audience was unaware of all the drama, thanks to Pim's stellar performance. Let's just focus on tonight," Peter said, ignoring Wraith. "Pim, you and Paul warm up while Niall and I finish with staging, then we'll go over the new choreography."

She nodded. Wraith looked at her. "I'm going to scope out the venue. I won't be far, within eye distance."

She turned to Paul. "Are you okay?"

"Aye. Just a flesh wound. Scared the bloody hell out of me, though."

"I know."

They moved over to the side of the stage and began with a variety of exercises and stretches, to loosen up their bodies and make their muscles pliable. When they were done, they joined Peter and Niall. Wraith had finished his initial inspection of the place and sat in a chair off to the side.

A young man walked up with a bouquet of a dozen red roses. "Primrose McNeil?" he asked.

"That's me." Her heart began to race. Sokolov. Wraith intercepted the delivery, taking the flowers from the boy and handing him a tip. He opened the card and looked at it before giving them to her. The card was signed From Mother and Craig. She all but threw them back at Wraith, her expectation turning into frustration.

"Not what you wanted?" Wraith asked.

"I don't want anything from her," she said, trying to hide her apparent disappointment from everyone. "Throw them away."

"If you're quite finished, may we begin? We have a lot to cover," Peter said.

"I'm sorry." Pim joined Paul on stage.

"I want to change up the feel of the piece. Make it darker, edgier. We'll do the coda and pas de deux as is, but I want to cut to the end of the ballet and have Siegfried fall in love with the black swan, choose Odile instead. The audience should be able to feel the tension. I want to leave them feeling uneasy and restive, to bring them to a point where they have to face their own dark desires, their own taboos."

They worked on the new choreography for the next hour and a half. It was evocative and, oddly, at times tender, but mostly raw and suggestive. They might as well have been making love on stage as the black swan led the prince down a path of corruption, to where he himself faced his own demons, giving in to them at the end.

"Let's run it from the beginning. Paul, you look like you're fucking afraid of her. You're supposed to want her, desire her; stop fucking around," Peter said, then he came over to her. "You're missing something, Pim. You need to loosen up; you're trying too hard. Stop thinking and let what's inside you come out." He removed the bobby pins from her bun, taking her hair out, so it fell down her back. "From the top."

Her eyes caught Wraith's and she could see the jealousy in them.

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