Trapped between an abusive middle-aged billionaire husband, and a harsh stepson, Lana, a twenty-two years old circus dancer, finds solace in a massive hall in her husband's island mansion. The gramophone and the gentle caress of sweet country music it gave, resuscitated her dancing spirit, and offered her the love of a secret admirer, her stepson, Diego, who own the secret hall. Both young stars are plunged into a steamy romance after discovering each other in the hall, but would they have a long-lasting relationship under the watch of Lana's billionaire husband and Diego's father? Would their romance broom into something really meaningful, with the return of Austin, who had come to pick what she left behind and many fingers waiting to pull the trigger?
Chapter 1 The circus
Gosh!
I'm late again. The dwarfs whose permanent role in the circus were trolls and demons were all up in their ugly costumes and the three old ladies who doesn't need many costumes to look like the three witches of Sleeping Beauty franchise were already on the stage.
"Seriously?" I walked on tiptoe to the backstage door so I will not be called out and mocked by the dwarfs who were fond of such, but my fingers met smooth metal when I shoved the curtain aside.
"Lana," it was Rogan, the prince charming of the stage, "you are late again."
I raised a finger to his lips and quenched his words.
"Not that fast, Rogan." I took my finger off his lips, and he spat on the floor.
"Your hand smells like spice," he hollered with the most disgusting version of his face.
I moved the finger to my nose and scoffed. What mess have I made of myself. I didn't wash with soap after I served one of my mom's customers at the restaurant.
"Sorry," I hid my hand behind my back, "the director, is she here?"
Rogan rose his brows. I knew his type. He was one of the few lucky fellas amongst us who feature in the circus because they had people who paid their way to the stage, so, they so much despise those of us who walked into the circus and asked for roles because we needed the money.
He wiped his lips. I could remember he shouted when he was informed that I'll play the princess, and he will play the prince in tonight's event.
He did say he wanted Evelyn, not a street food seller. He literally called me food seller, not even a waitress, but the director knew what she wanted. I am a better performer than Evelyn, the rich girl, and they all knew it.
"Go and meet her, she's been looking for you," he folded his arms, "I warned her of your inconsistency, guess she will understand now."
"Very good," I shrugged and walked past him, "don't tell her I was late."
The big room behind the stage was where the costumiers line up their vessels and their art. They had prepared my props and costume for the night, but they were so busy they barely noticed me.
I scurried to the stool set beside the white gown that was commissioned for the night's performance and cleared my throat.
"Where is the costumier?" I asked, loud enough to draw attention.
"Lana, where have you been?" the chief costumier queried from the other corner of the room, "I've been waiting."
As for the chief costumier, most of her queries, I knew, were rhetorical. She poses questions she doesn't want answers for.
"Let's get to work," she hollered.
Thirty minutes and she was done. My costume was such unique one. The gown wasn't exactly that of a princess, it was that of a ballerina, but a special sort of it.
I stood up and danced to the door without spearing much glance at the mirror, and that's how I got myself into a bigger trouble.
The director, I danced into her arms and never knew until I looked and saw her stern face.
Gosh!
She was roughly in her forties, so, her face wasn't anything funny. I tugged at my gown and took a deep breath, yet her face remained stern.
"Rogan reported you," she closed in on me, "you were late again."
No defense. No lies. No denial. I was caught red-handed.
"Come with me," she strutted off and I followed her.
The dwarfs had gathered at the backstage, with the witches and the rest of the characters, and I expected nothing other than jeering and all sorts of mockery crafts they can put up, but they only gazed without words.
"You know," the director stopped at the table in his office, "I abhor lateness."
Rogan was in the room. I hate that fella. He is such loudmouth that wouldn't keep secrets, and he hates me, too.
"You were asked to come as early as the birds," she sat on her seat, "but look when you turned up."
I wasn't scared. The director was never my problem. My problem so far had been Rogan and the rich folks around who thought a circus is the better place for rich man's wards.
"Sit!" she gestured at the seat next to Rogan's.
I sat.
"Rogan?" she raised a brow at Rogan. She saw him, I saw him, too. He moved his seat a bit the very moment I sat on mine. He doesn't want body contact with me.
Such horrible young man.
"Ma'am," he snorted.
"Lana is your partner on that stage tonight, and your role will make no sense without her," her voice was persuasive. That's the last thing I expected, but never mind, no one would scold a rich man's kid...
"Evelyn was a better option," he mumbled.
"Evelyn knows nothing," she relaxed on her seat, "Lana is the best option, and tonight, she is your princess for heaven's sake!"
Just one hour and the choir kicked off. There were new instrumentalists from Saint Petersburg who were invited to hour hallowed Moscow to do the job for the night.
They were called the Ivan choir. I love their piece, but what I love most was the applause that came after they rendered their first piece.
The circus hall was full to the brim, and the good thing tonight was, most high-profile men and oligarchs bought tickets for the event.
The first team for the night were young college boys who signed up for a parade. They were all attired in military costume, and they were determined to show the strength of our country, Russia.
"Did you see that?" my favorite dwarf, Kirian, asked.
He was knee length in height, and his hands and legs were bent like someone deliberately pressed hard on them when he was born.
"Yes, they want to show us the strength of our country," I said with a smile.
He nodded. I could barely see his face because I would have to squat to do that.
"It's been my dream to be in the army," Kirian said.
"Not when you are the size of a grenade," someone said behind us.
We spurned and saw him. Rogan, in his full armor, but with a wicked smile.
"It's been sorted, poor girl, Evelyn will play the princess."
Chapter 1 The circus
22/07/2024
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