Page 3 of Viktor

The man who was watching me at the door made me feel uncomfortable; he looked every bit like a predator about to pounce. The shadows across his jawline with a smirk almost hidden made my heart beat a little faster. It’s been a while since I had been attracted to a man, as I tend to avoid them during show months, but he appeared out of nowhere.

Manners told me to excuse myself and close the door gently, but I couldn’t. It was an intense and charged moment. He would become a distraction, and I needed him out of sight.

I need to get back in my headspace. The next dance is coming up, and I can’t fail. I’ve been training for hours daily to become the Prima Ballerina. I’m in my prime, and if I don’t get the position soon, I won’t ever become one. This has been my only dream in life since I decided that being on a stage, under lights, while moving my body in a way to tell a story, is what I’m born for.

Luckily, the other dancers don’t notice my trembling as I stand in the left stage wing, waiting to go out for our next song. “You’ll do great,” Damien whispers.

Focus.Lights, music, and showtime. Deep breaths, remember my dream, and let my body flow.

As I dance, a calm settles over me, and I stay in the moment I’ve trained for. Many eyes are on me, but I’m used to it.

Though I can’t help but feel a new gaze landing on me, and only me. One that is setting fire to my veins, and I don’t hate it. I push the thoughts away as the crescendo approaches, the movements flowing through me easily.

Each pirouette spinning to perfection. The small jumps across the stage until I reach my usual partner, Damien, who lifts me. I breathe through it and pray that skipping my meals for the day will make me a little easier to lift. His arm wobbles under my weight, and that's when I realize a day wasn’t enough. I need to lose just a few more lbs.

After hours of dancing have passed and we’ve gotten changed to leave, Damien approaches me while running his hand through his sweaty blond hair, and I hold my breath. I don’t need him to mention the struggle of our lift.

“Are you okay?” he asks. “You seemed a little stiff tonight.” A breath of relief leaves my chest; he didn’t mention it.

Forcing a smile, I lie, “I’m fine.” Not wanting to be reminded that Claudia, our trainer, will punish me for it. Nothing but perfection in her shows. And tonight, I was sloppy. Distracted.

He presses his hand against my lower back as we walk out the doors. “Come out for a drink with me?” he suggests, raising an eyebrow with a cute smile that most ladies would fall for.

“You know I don’t drink during show week,” I chastise.

“Just one, to relax?” he pushes, flashing another charming smile, the one he always gives me when he asks to spend time together.

I sigh, knowing I probably need one to sort through my feelings and what I’m going to do to stop my emotions eating me from the inside out. My mom made me join ballet when I was seven, so I could learn to control my emotions. She didn’t want me to get any violent tendencies from my dad, but it’s still there. Deep down. I just became better at hiding it.

“Where did you have in mind?” I ask, finally giving in, even though it didn’t take much convincing. At least it isn’t food.

He grins. “Just at the bar in the hotel. We won’t need to rely on taxis and can stay as long as we like in case you change your mind.” He shrugs.

I bite my lip. I know he has a crush on me, as he keeps hinting towards a date. But I don’t date much, especially with another dancer. It’s too messy. I should say no and stop leading him on, but after everything, I really need to relax and have that drink.

“Just one. Then I need to rest or I’ll be awful, and Claudia will never let me forget it. I’ve already screwed up tonight.” I deflate as we head toward the hotel. It’s late, and the streets are quiet. I enjoy the silence.

Damien holds out his arm for me to take, but I ignore it and stroll towards the doors with my bag clutched to my body. He follows close behind, luckily not mentioning any hostility I’m holding onto right now; he will likely brush it off like usual. I don’t mean to be awful, I just need him to get the hint that I’m not interested. He needs to move on.

Inside, we sit at the bar and order our drinks, and I try to rush mine without being rude. I insisted that we didn’t need a private table like Damien had wanted.

My gaze searches the rest of the room while my fingers tap along to the faint music in the background, praying for other dancers to join us. Damien is a nice guy. He just isn’t for me, even if we weren't dance partners. He would be too boring, I want fireworks. Damien is just… not that. He deserves a nice girl. Someone worthy of his kindness.

There are eyes burning into my body as I sit on the stool at the bar taking another sip of my cocktail. I just know someone is watching me, and what's worse is that Iknowwho.

My eyes flick around the room again. That man from earlier stands opposite me at the bar. My palms start to sweat as he walks closer, his eyes never leaving mine. I rub my hands down my dress subtly.

My head swings back to Damien; it’s time for me to leave. I feign a yawn. “I’ve got to go to sleep. Thanks for the drink. I’ll see you tomorrow?” I rush to say and hurry away before Damien can get a word out.

I can practically feel his disappointment, but I can’t stay. I’m praying he doesn’t follow.

I stab the elevator button multiple times as though it might make it come faster, muttering under my breath, “Hurry up.” The numbers go down too slow to get to this floor, and I resist the urge to tap my foot from impatience.

My heart races as a shadow looms over me from behind, heat emanating from whoever the large body belongs to as the figure steps closer.

My eyes scrunch shut, and I need to even out my breathing before he notices. I refuse to turn around to see who it is. But my gut is telling me it’s the same man following me. I hold my breath as the bronze doors ping open, a group of giggling girls pushing past as they leave in their drunken state.

I step in, and I can see him in the mirror behind me. Our eyes connect, and his darken as he follows me inside. I suck in a breath; he’s devastatingly handsome up close and out of the shadows with his strong jawline and jade-green eyes burning straight through me.

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