Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
WestCoastPointe: ReeseOnToe Disagree. Eva did the community a service.
ReeseOnToe: WestCoastPointe she’s her Sister.
WestCoastPointe: ReeseOnToe Right, so imagine how hard it must have been for Eva to hold Alessandra accountable. I have so much respect for her.
TanyaThomas97: ReeseOnToe, absolutely agree with you. Obs she didn’t know about the recording.
BrandoQueso: Not sure how I ended up on ballet Seconds, but I’m here for the drama.
ReaganHuang: If Alessandra says she’ll be ready by fall, then she will. She’s not a liar, and you’re not helping your professional image by calling her one, Lila.
“Allie?” Kenna called my name like it wasn’t the first time she’d tried to get my attention.
“Huh?” I jerked the phone to my chest, hiding the screen, and found her standing over me.
“I was asking why Hudson wasn’t here, considering this involves him too.” She held out her hand. “Give that to me.”
“Why?” I clutched it tighter.
“Because you went pale as hell, stopped listening to us, and now you’re the shade of a cherry, so unless Hudson is in there sending you dirty text messages that startle the shit out of you, hand it over.” She flexed her hand.
I swallowed my pride and embarrassment, and showed her.
She read through the comments, alternating between scoffs and sighs. “You do not need to be reading this shit.” She shook her head. “I’d love to see someone say any of this in person.”
“I told her to stop looking,” Anne said, still staring out the window. “Stick to the baby-goat videos if you need dopamine. Or that one guy who cooks.”
“Love that Reagan has your back,” Kenna said, handing the phone back. “Want me to hop in and defend your honor?”
“No. They’ll just call you complicit. I’m already on fire, no need to strap yourself to the pyre.” My fingers hovered over the screen, and for the slightest heartbeat, indignation won and I debated replying to set the record straight. I tapped the Comment button.
“Don’t do it,” Kenna warned. “I have no doubt this feels shitty, but you enter that fray personally and the sharks will feast. They’ll twist whatever you say to fit their narrative and set off a new wave of monetized content. Don’t pay their rent. We both know next week there will be something else new and shiny for everyone to comment on. Now, where is Aquaman?”
I scrolled up and closed the app. “Hudson couldn’t get out of work.”
“He’s here.” Anne pushed back so hard that she slid clean off the couch, and I winced as her knees hit the floor. “He’s here!” She scrambled to her feet, and I rose to mine.
“Stop it.” I ditched the phone on the end table and put myself in front of Anne. “We have a plan. You will stick to the plan. You have no idea how he’ll respond to this.”
Anne pursed her lips, then snatched the manila envelope off the coffee table and sat down on the couch.
“Thank you,” I told her, then headed to the front door and opened it as Everett hauled his Louis Vuitton suitcase up the steps in a fitted teal polo and plaid shorts. A knot of anxiety formed in my throat.
“Oh my God, there she is!” He abandoned his luggage at the doorway, shoved his sunglasses onto his blond hair, and rushed me with his last few steps, carrying me into the house in a hug. I held on, knowing it might be the last one he willingly gave me. “Ugh, Alessandra.” His arms squeezed tight. “I was waiting for you to reach out, but when Anne called, I hopped on the first flight.” He set me down and lifted his hands to my upper arms.
“Hi, Everett.” I smiled and found myself searching his face for signs that Anne’s discovery had any basis in truth.
“What Vasily did is just . . . it’s a steaming pile of shit. The whole Company’s pissed. Since when do we announce casting in the middle of July? And you should have seen the fit Charlotte threw that Eva had been yanked through the ranks up to principal above any of the soloists. Reagan said she shattered one of the mirrors in the women’s locker room. Pretty sure Vasily is hoping it will all blow over by the time everyone’s back in the building after summer intensives, but I’ve heard a couple soloists might not renew their contracts. It’s all very dramatic.” His eyebrows raised scandalously. “Did Vasily at least explain himself to you, or did he send Maxim to do his dirty work?”
“I missed his call and now he won’t take mine.” That knot in my throat doubled in size.
“Of course he won’t.” He rolled his eyes and dropped his hands. “He knows the board isn’t going to fire him while his wife’s the executive director, so it’s not like he has to own up to whatever fuckery this is. What the hell happened? Did your mother make a call or something? Not that I think Sophie would screw you over in order to . . .” He cocked his head to the side. “Well, I wouldn’t put anything past your mother.”