₦airaland Forum

The Show Must Go On

Inside my heart is breaking, my makeup may be flaking But my smile still stays on. It had to be done.


There was no way around it every possibility ended the same. A fight would break out, the theater would be reported, and the company would be on the street. No matter what route they took there was no change. There was no avoiding it.

The only thing that she could do would be to keep from pulling her down with him.

Letting him go was terrible, but losing him would have killed her before anything else could.

She had to convince him to leave without her.

One way or another he was leaving London on his own. It was only a matter of how to break the news.

Without a plan or any alternatives Kimberly found herself standing out front of John's flat, sans suitcase, praying that somehow the right words would come out and he would understand. She couldn't tell him the situation without him wanting to fix everything. He would be the type to think he could take on the world and win.

She wasn't going to risk losing him. It would hurt and he might hate her, but he'd be safe.

That was the only thought she allowed in her head as she knocked.

What she hadn't counted on was the look of childlike excitement beaming back to her as the door opened that managed to break her heart before she even began. At least she knew there was no way he could hate her more than she was bound to hate herself.

"There you are! I just called a friend back home, we've got two tickets out of here first thing tomorrow morning and Mark will be flying back in the next few days after getting the rest of our stuff," John said as he pulled Kim into the flat.

He leaned in to make up for their last far to brief kiss but for the first time she turned her head, denying him a proper goodbye. Had she felt her lips on his she doubted if she would have been able to hold herself together long enough to be convincing. Having to look in his dazzling blue eyes was difficult on its own, the last thing she needed was him making it any harder.

"Where are your things anyway?" he asked, looking down to her empty hands confused.

It was now or never. It had to be done. It had to.

"I've changed my mind," she said as coolly as she could manage, all the while refusing to look him directly in the eyes. "Give the second ticket to Mark."

Shock was the first emotion she recognized before forcing herself to look away to the rest of the flat, as if she was indifferent to any reaction he might have had. In all honesty watching him realize she had not misspoken was simply too much to bear.

"What are you talking about?" A forced laugh tried to deny what he had just heard.

"Oh come on, John. I know you aren't stupid.

It's no use; it's time we both accepted that.

This wasn't going to work from the start so why bother pretending?" She walked passed the now stunned blonde, taking one final walk around the living room.

"Kimberly you're not making any sense." He already sounded desperate. "Just go get your things, we can go to the airport right now they'll give me some place nice to stay."

She could feel him walking up behind her, dangerously close to being able to hold onto her arms before she turned around to face him.

Every bone in her body screamed to take it back but she couldn't give in. He deserved so much more than to die for some poor show girl.

"How can I make this clearer?" She paused, needing a moment to think up a strategy. "I ran into Lu when I went down and he promised me everything. Everything I've ever wanted.

Even you can't do that John, but he knows people and he's going to help me become a star. You're just a rich boy who can't even make a name for himself outside his father. That's all there is to it."

Stabbing him through the chest might have hurt less. His proud shoulders sank, his strong jaw clenching, a faint swelling in his eyes he was no doubt trying to hold back. He was desperately trying to keep himself together and that stung worse than if he had simply lashed out.

He was trying so hard to keep from hurting her when that was all she aimed to do. She could feel her heart breaking as she looked away, her own tears starting to threaten to fall. How she managed to find someone like him in the first place was a mystery, the fact she was being forced to let him go however, was much closer to what she felt she deserved.

"Is it the money?" he asked weakly. "How much is he buying you for? I can pay more I swear.

Let me please, please Kim don't do this." his voice broke, the tears glistening in his eyes starting to fall despite his obvious efforts to hold them back.

"You can't throw your money at this and hope something will change." She couldn't look at him, the taste of salt touching the corner of her mouth before she moved away from him to the door.

In one final attempt to stop her John reached out to hold onto her arm to stop her. Kimberly pushed him away, her composure breaking for a moment at the strength of his grasp. This slip did not go unnoticed as it gave him reason to continue his attempt. He tried to pull her back but she squirmed away, he grabbed at her waist but she thrashed in his embrace, he spun her around to face him and she slapped his face.

Fast, deliberately, and hard, harder than she ever wanted to hit someone again.

For a second everything went quiet, even their tears seeming to freeze as they stared at each other in shock. A glowing red mark on the side of his cheek glaring down to her as she forced herself to recover first. She had never meant to have to hurt him physically as well, though she doubted it was the force of the hit that was what really hurt him, but it managed to get the message across.

"This is the story, John. I am the headlining act, and I chose the seedy foreigner. That's the ending. I leave with him, I don't stay with you, and no one gets hurt. I don't care where you go tomorrow, but if I see you around the theater again…" her voice broke, threatening to throw off the entire performance. "Just don't bother because I'm not yours. I was never yours."

She couldn't look at him. She knew any image she could have imagined would have been nothing compared to seeing his heart breaking.

Without another word or even a second glance she left the flat, pulling the door closed behind her before letting her tears flow freely.

Each step was less coordinated than the last as her vision blurred. Breathing became a challenge as she started to gasp for air. The hand she had struck him with burned as though she held it too close to a fire.

Her heart felt as though it had been torn in two, slowly, agonizingly, without any care for if she would be able to survive the sheer pain of it all.

By a miracle she made it to her floor, collapsing in the corner of the stairwell before breaking down into incoherent sobs and violent shakes.

The echo of her trauma managed to reach Serena who had been waiting by her room, drawing her to the stairwell as the only means of moving her some place truly private.

Getting her back to the apartment was a struggle but having anyone else find out a gun was being held to their heads would have been even harder. After what seemed like ages of stumbling and falling against the walls Kimberly found her way to the small couch in her apartment.

And without any protest from Serena she took several left over pain pills to force her body to go numb for the rest of the night.

Her last thought being a fleeting memory of John's hands on her to try and make her stay. It had hurt, there would be bruises in the morning, and she would try to convince herself that was reason enough to not want him back.

He was safe, she shouldn't want him back, and she was broken enough to accept a fate with Luscious.

But now she couldn't imagine how she even deserved him.

"Do you think it's cold in London this time of year? What will I tell Wilson when he comes home? How are you going to handle her without me?" Kimberly's parade of questions had been nonstop since she regained control of her senses.

The dressing room had nearly been emptied into one large suitcase with the help of Serena. The fact there was very little placed in the room to begin with only made the job quicker. Anything that fit went into the suitcase, anything for the show was left, and any special gifts from Dakota or Luscious found their way into the trash.

"Calm down, you're giving me a headache!"

Kimberly laughed, tucking the last of the clothes into the suitcase before closing it up for good. "Everything will be fine. John and I have talked about this before. He'll take you back to where he lives and you can stay with him as long as you like, and if you want to leave he'll help you move out. Everyone wins!"

"Everyone?" Kim cocked an eyebrow, sitting back on the now empty vanity.

"Yes. You and John have each other, Mark gets a new friend, and I take your role up for you." Serena smiled faintly, folding part of a costume over in her arms carefully. "Everyone."

"…Were you always planning to take my role?"

Kim asked faintly.

Serena's eyes dropped, her smile fading as she ran a hand over the costume delicately. The question hung in the air while she tried to find the best way to word her response. She showed no remorse over her actions, that much was certain, but the small hesitation made it clear that she knew her motives would come into question no matter what.

But she was far better trained at dealing with people than Kim could ever have hoped to be.

She wasn't about to trip over her own words when she finally spoke.

"Yes. I have. From the second Dakota told me you were my replacement I wanted you gone. Kim, I've given up everything to be here! I know you understand what it's like up there but you haven't even seen a full audience yet." A smile returned to her face as she walked up to Kim slowly. "It's the feeling of so many people loving you that makes all the shit Dakota drags us through worth it. I've always wanted this and I was so close to having the real thing when you showed up. Girls like you have shown up before but none of them could stick around long enough to actually have a shot."

"Then why are you being nice to me if I'm your competition?"

"Because, you reminded me of what it was like when I started. I couldn't stand seeing Dakota turn you into something like what I had become… I had a boyfriend for a while when I started, and one day he decided to pretend to be my investor to see me, but he couldn't pay. I was so doped up I couldn't stop them from getting rid of him and before I knew it he was gone. It ruined me." Gently Kim rested a hand on top of serena's, tears brimming in the paler woman's eyes. "I wont let that happen to you and John. I'd give anything to have someone love me like he loves you, but the theater is the closest I can get. Do you understand that?"

Slowly Kim nodded, her hand tightening around Serena's earnestly.

"Just make sure you save us seats for the first show you do out of a real theater, okay?"

Kimberly smiled.

The second Serena saw her smile the tears began to flow down her cheeks despite her bubbling laughter. Her perfectly applied makeup smearing as she dropped the costume to pull Kim into a hug. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt such compassion for another dancer. She couldn't have stopped her tears if she wanted too.

For a moment the two stayed together, laughing at the change in their circumstances and at the fact they may just have beaten Dakota without causing themselves any harm.Serena's makeup stained Kim's shirt, kim's arms creased Serena dress, but neither of them seemed to care.

They were almost free and they still had the things they loved. It was almost too good to be true.

So naturally, it was too good to be true.

Just as quickly as their world seemed to fall back into place it shattered with a simple knock on the door. Their hug being broken in order for Serena to clean off her face before allowing their guest in. The smile on her face dropping the second a pair of black heels crossed over into the dressing room.

A chill running through the air as a pair of leather oxfords followed suit.

Neither Dakota nor her partner looked the least bit conversational.

"Going somewhere?" she asked, pointedly eyeing the suitcase beside Kim.

A day ago she would have backed down, apologized, remembered her place. A day ago she didn't have something to fight for and the countless amount of medication in her system wouldn't have allowed her to think properly anyway.

But with the freedom of her moment with Serena still running through her veins, she found herself doing the thinkable.

In one simple motion she slid from the countertop, heading to pull on a jacket before going to her suitcase.

"Yes," she said as she worked the jacket on. "I'm leaving."

The shock o Dakota's face couldn't have been greater unless she had slapped her herself. She had heard all kinds of nonsense from her dancers, but never once had one dared to leave of their own volition.

Kimberly however, made it very clear she meant business.

"What are you talking about?" Dakota demanded, attempting to pull the suitcase away before it was yanked from her reach.

"I don't need you anymore!" Kimberly said, moving from her vanity to the door in one fluid motion.

Her path guarded as Serena stood between the women, allowing Kimberly to speak for them both.

"The entire time I've been here you've treated me like I'm only worth what a man will pay for me and I'm through!" With one final tug she secured the jacket, glaring at her boss with steely resolve. "But John loves me. He loves me, Dakota. He. Loves. Me."

At the sound of her declaration she found herself standing taller, finding strength behind the words and with John. Despite herself, she began to smile almost mercilessly back to the shocked woman.

"And that is worth everything."

Dakota was left speechless, unable to stop either woman from walking out the door. She couldn't drug someone so determined into submission. She had no more cards to play.

It was Morgan on the other hand, who could deliver the final blow.

"He'll die if you leave here," he said bluntly, freezing Kimberly in her tracks.

Her small victory fell flat underneath her feet as she turned back to look at the smaller man, her knuckles paling from the tightness of her grip on the suitcase. She could beat fight Dakota but hearing such a threat from a man she had never seen before shocked her more than she had ever thought possible. Just when she had thought she had the chance to win, there was still something stronger working against her.

And that something stronger just happened to push his jacket back enough to make the gun on his side very, painfully, visible.

"If you leave here with him, he'll have to die. No one steals nearly seven-hundred thousand without making a few important people angry," he reiterated, never once losing his calm.

"He could pay… He's a Grey, he wouldn't just let me go," she said weakly, trying to find a way to fight the man as effectively as she had Dakota.

But even the strongest of words died before the weakest of bullets.

"You aren't his to take. He can't just buy you from Mr. Du Lac. There is a contract in writing promising you to him exclusively. I can guarantee you it's not the money your investor is after, Grey money means nothing to him." As if to prove his point the man reached into his pocket, brandishing a single bullet to load his weapon. "If you leave this building with anyone but Mr. Du Lac, I'll have to make sure there is no one on any end to report missing money. That means you, John, your friend and your investor would all have to be taken care of.

And lets face it, who is going to miss the poor girl pretending to be a star?"

His words stung worse than anything she could remember. Serena's resolve weakening as the man took a step forward. In a matter of seconds both women forgot about the open door and reverted their gazes back to the ground.

Serena knew the man meant every word he said and for the life of her she couldn't speak up. He had already cost her happiness one time; she couldn't risk him taking it away again.

Even Kimberly understood the new situation.

There was no way she could end up leaving without costing herself something dear. The only thing she could do was to ensure that John had a chance to return to his life before they had ever met.

"He won't just leave me," she muttered, clutching the sleeves of her jacket tight, looking back to the man who stood only a few inches taller than herself.

"I know, so you'll have to make him leave," the man smiled, putting his free hand on her shoulder as if to comfort her. "Convince him you've changed your mind, that you want this life with Luscious. Hurt him, Kimberly. Hurt him so I don't have to."

She looked away, her stomach churning the longer she felt the man's hand on her shoulder. Every bone in her body was screaming for him to take it back, but the gun in his hand never strayed far from her line of vision. Serena's deep brown eyes swelling with tears again as she bit back the urge to rush to Kim's side. The faintest of nods being sent out in her place, Kimberly knew then that there was nothing she could do.

One way or another, they were both destined to wind up where they stood.

She could only hope destiny could find the mercy to allow John to survive. For him to leave the theater and never know the pain having his life taken before his time. "Hurt him, to save him."

"I will not be humiliated like this."

"I can assure you it wont happen again I swear, just give it some time."

"Why would I need to give it time? I've given you more than you've asked, this should have never happened!" With a pointed gesture to the lump on the back of his head Dakota knew she could do nothing to change is mind. "I want what we agreed on or you'll owe me over half a million dollars. I did not invest simply out of charity!"

Only three people had filled the small backstage office easily, seeing as any deals made in the past had never really needed bids to be placed in person. The current group of Dakota, Luscious, and the debt collector posed caused the room to feel incredibly claustrophobic. The fact Dakotaa was caught having to call her partner in did little to help the building worry as well.

The last time he had been called in the investor was found months later in some ditch miles outside the city.

The only difference in this visit was that it wasn't the investor who had failed to live up to their end of the contract, but her.

"We understand that, but none of us had any idea about her going around behind our backs!

We'll fix this; it's probably nothing serious. Just give us a little time," Dakota pleaded.

To her left Dakota stood silently observing the situation. His young demeanor and clean cut suit a stark contrast to the hostler on his waist.

The corner of his jacket pushed back to hold the gun in plain view.

"All the same, she would rather have him than me. I'm the one offering her everything! I will make her a star and I can take her far away from here, he's just using her and I wont let you use some familial excuse to cheat me out of what's owed to me," Luscious held to his convictions. "You know as well as anyone that he's just using her. Do them both a favor and get him to leave her for me. He can find some ten dollar slut the second she's gone anyway."

"Lu, I promise you'll get what you're owed. Just give me time to fix this!"

"I want him gone! Do you understand that?

Gone! And if you don't deal with this fast I'll have to take my business up with your partner."

Morgan shifted his weight beside the desk, his hand resting on the hilt of his gun with ease.

Underneath his childlike exterior there was a dangerous amount of skill at what he did. Had he wanted to he could have taken care of both Dakota and Luscious without anyone even realizing he had been in the same room.

Thankfully for them his loyalty to the theater kept him from making a move against them.

As far as Kimberly and John were concerned however, they had no such protection. "How much money have you invested so far?"

Morgan asked, his calm voice quieting the others easily.

"It was at sixty thousand for Kimberly and a half a million for the show last I checked. If we moved it to a bigger theater the price would've gone even higher."

"Can we refund that money, Dakota?"

The only sound in the room was the rustling of papers as Dakota desperately tried to find some way to get out of trouble. Piles of bank statements and bills formed on her desk as she tore through everything from the start of the show.

"No… That money is locked into building sets and costumes and the technical equipment. We can only pay you back after we open." Even Dakota couldn't escape from her own business.

But she refused to sink with her ship, and Morgan knew that.

"Then it's settled. We'll get you what you are owed Mr. Du Lac. You were promised exclusivity and you will get it," Morgan said with a smile. "We'll have the distraction removed and Kimberly will only need a little coaxing to remember what's best for her."

Luscious's rigid demeanor softened, a small smile coming across his face as he turned back to Dakota.

"For business reasons I think you should start going by your maiden name from now on. The Grey name isn't much help if it's heir gets himself into this kind of trouble," he advised, straightening his jacket before heading out. Dakota nodded slowly, knowing very well she had worked too hard to build her company to just let John throw a wrench in the production.

One way or another she would make sure he left her theater alone for good.

Ticket Price

Today's the day when dreaming Ends


Time seemed to slow as Kim was moved from the balcony to her flat. The blurred outline of the two men she had to thank for her rescue never strayed from her vision. Drifting in and out of consciousness they were the one constant as her body jostled back and forth.

She assumed it was the taller man who carried her, seeing as she the smaller didn't seem to have the muscle for the job but she lacked the strength to check.

All she knew was she was safe. A notion frequently repeated by one or both of the men until she was placed down on top of a vaguely familiar mattress.

Before she had time to listen to either of the men speaking the medication had taken its hold, forcing her to sleep off the remainder before she could bother with thinking properly. She had no dreams and had no recollection of stirring to pull herself under the covers. She could barely even remember when her eyes closed.

It was only when the weight of the bed below her began to shift that she found herself waking up, the last of the medication leaving her mind in favor of a piercing headache and vague memories of her actions. With a tilt of her head she saw the unmistakable silhouette of a scrawny man with rather large ears fussing over her hair.

A small tug at a lock of hair pinned behind her head elicited a groan to signal that she was still capable of feeling pain and managed to startle the man at the same time. If she had the strength she would have hit him.

"You're awake!" Mark's voice broke through the remaining fog with ease.

"You're loud…" she managed in response, garnering a chuckle from the corner of the room.

As Kimberly's mind began to clear both Paul and Mark came fully into view. Their face's softened in relief over her waking but the toll of the past night was obvious even to her.

Bags under Mark's eye's from lack of sleep and the worry lines etched into Paul's forehead only fueled the feeling of guilt building up in the pit of her stomach. She had cost them both precious hours of sleep and had nothing more to show for it than a guilty conscious and a small hangover.

But the guilt the pair inspired was nothing compared to the guilt brought on by John.

For a brief moment she hoped her condition had gone unreported and life would resume to normal without her, but as fate and one eagerly placed phone call from Mark would have it, she had no such luck. In a matter of seconds John burst through her apartment doors with Serena in tow. A rushed synopsis of the night passing overhead from Mark to the two on their way to the bed.

It wasn't until the mention of the position she had been found in that John seemed to pay attention, his face dropping as he sat beside Kim.

"Paukl knocked him out, but we just really knew she had to leave and—"

"What happened?" John cut Merlin off without care, his blue eyes locking onto hers urgently.

With as much strength as she could muster Kimberly pulled herself upright in her bed, her hands clasping onto his to pull him close.

Finding the right way to answer him was taking up too much time. Worry began flooding through the deep blue she had come to cherish as the words refused to form properly. In an attempt to by herself more time she shook her head weakly, finding the simple task difficult with the growing hangover.

"N-nothing," she finally managed, having her small frame wrapped int John's arms automatically. "I couldn't, I couldn't lie to him. I tried b-but he saw you and I just couldn't pretend…"

John's arms tightened around her, his hand gripping the back of her head to pull her close as if he feared she would disappear the second he let go. Quiet mutterings of how everything was okay found there way to her ear to slowly lift the guilt sitting heavy on her heart.

By the time her guilt had washed away fresh tears began dripping down her cheeks. Her arms finding the strength to wrap around his shoulders as she reveled in the fact she had not lost him. There was still a chance they could both walk away from things unharmed.

As long as she had John she could pull through.

"Leave with me, please," John muttered quietly, his grip never loosening.

"What?" she asked afraid the headache and tears had started to affect her hearing.

"Leave with me. Away from here! I can get two plane tickets by tomorrow and we'll be hundreds of miles away before anyone even notices."

John reluctantly let Kim go, his hands cupping her face to ensure she can hear him properly. "You and me both, we'll leave and never come back."

The offer was almost too good to believe. While she loved the stage and the company she had gotten to know the chance to run away with the man she loved even more sounded like heaven. Even Serena seemed eager for her to accept.

There was no way she could have brought herself to say no.

"I'll start packing," she said as a smile broke out across her face.

A relieved laugh from John punctuated his pulling her into another tighter hug. Smiles donned across the room as the pair shared one last heavy kiss before Kimberly was helped off the bed. Had it not been for the three onlookers present she doubted they would have stopped at a simple kiss.

But before they could go any farther Serena's hand on her arm pulled her away from John as quickly as she could manage.

"I'll take you down to the dressing rooms, we'll be back as soon as everything's packed."

Serena pulled gently until Kimberly was standing on her own. The two both smiling eagerly for their own reasons.

In a final temporary goodbye John kissed her forehead hard, having every intention to kiss her properly when she returned.

They'd have all the time in the world to make up for her rushed exit once they were together.

They could write to Serena and see how Dakota reacted to their departure once they were safely far away.

For the first time since she had arrived a sliver of hope had found it's way back into Kimberly's heart as she headed back to the dressing room for what she hoped would be the last time.

"No," Kimberly whispered, breaking the gaze with John when the feeling of lips left her neck.

Had she been sober hundreds of excuses may have crossed her mind, thousands of ways to cover the small misstep in her judgment, anything would have been better than a simple 'no'. The combination of the numerous pills and the wine however, seemed to be wining in a way that even Dakota couldn't hope to benefit from. She had been caught.

Luscious knew.

With the snap of his fingers the balcony curtains were closed, his hand tracing a slightly smudged area of skin at the top of her neck. A mark from John clearly visible in the dark booth thanks to the glimmer of her necklace. Her investors face contorting behind her shoulder into something darker than she could ever have imagined him capable of.

"You made me believe you loved me," he said, barely biting back his rage.

"No. No I did nothing. Dakota's the one—"

"Quiet!"

The pressure of his hand on her neck increased as she attempted to make excuses. She took a step back but he followed suit, backing her into the wall of the booth like an animal catching its prey. The pain in his eyes forcing her to look down as he closed the gap between them. She refused to believe she had been the one to betray him, any affection he felt for her was misplaced.

She refused to be bought off no matter how heavy the collar around her neck was.

"We made a deal. You are supposed to be mine." He practically begged her to take back everything, to give up John and whatever else was keeping them apart but Kim didn't budge.

The only thing she knew through the haze was that she wanted to leave. Her eyes locked on Luscious's as he realized no contract could sign her over to him. He had spent a small fortune insuring her success for nothing. He had been played for a fool.

His grip on her neck tightened, his fingers lacing around the clasp of the necklace, his jaw clenching as he pulled it off in one swift motion, his eyes never leaving hers.

Kimberly gasped at the sharp pain shooting from where the necklace pulled tight before breaking. Panic starting to set in as she realized just how much stronger than her the man was.

She tried to run out from under him but her movements were too slow. The medication taking its toll as her body started rejecting the substance in her system.

She couldn't push him away, keep his hands off the back off his dress, or even call out for help.

Luscious seemed unaware of her deteriorating state as he worked on undressing her. Or he simply didn't care; with his face now buried against her neck there was no way to tell the difference either way.

Her dress hit the floor as his hands dug into her side. She could only manage one weak plea for him to stop before she lost the ability to push him aside. Her head hitting the wall lightly as her body started to go limp under Luscious's.

No… Seemed to be the only coherent thought she could muster. Her eyes starting to close as a streak of light broke through the booth from behind Luscious.

Light poured in through the room before a figure nearly as tall as the doorway loomed behind her investor and cast a significantly large shadow.

The pressure on her sides disappeared as the man was ripped off her, tossed against the opposite wall with enough force to render him unconscious. A smaller man emerging from the former's shadow.

The sound of her name being spoken registered deep in the back of her mind as she felt lighter hands hold her shoulders. A warm sense of familiarity washing over her as the new man spoke again. He was safe; he was there to help her.

He was there to catch her when the medication took its final toll.

But he couldn't stop the room from going black

A blur of dancers paraded around John, moving in perfect unison as they mimicked the two leads. Bodies pressed against one another before being tossed back, legs extended to trail across the floor as a partner went down or lifted the other. A constant ebbing and flowing of men and women tormenting each other with the fact they were not only for them. All the movements and all the dancers simply managing to separate the leads from the rest of the group.

Leaving John to wander through them in an attempt to make it to the woman pretending to be his Kimberly.

"His eyes upon your face, his hand upon your hand…"

John could not sing to the music as it was played and had resolved to simply speak the words as he watched the two dance. A perfect image of Kimberly coming to mind as he made his way to center stage. Reed's figure easily matching what little he had seen of the investor whenever his back was turned.

"His lips caress your skin. "

His stomach dropped, his throat catching for a moment as another dancer stole Serena away to place a heavy kiss on the back of her neck.

Each dancer resembling the investor the closer they came to holding the Kim stand-in.

"It's more than I can stand!"

Somewhere between watching her being passed around as a doll and the endless sea of dancers separating him from her John had found his voice. As raw and untrained as it may be he no longer had to act the part. He was watching himself lose Kimberly and no technicalities could lessen the blow.

Slowly he made his past the dancers, finding the couples arrange themselves in rows around him as he walked up to the stage. With a simple step he found himself staring out across the sea of dancers into the theater below them The hundreds of seat completely empty save for the one private booth high above them all.

" You're free to leave me. "

The curtains of the booth pulled open to reveal the actual Kimberly watching the rehearsal with glazed eyes. Her usual smile completely absent as she held onto the balcony railing.

Dozens of expensive diamonds catching the faint lights to sparkle down on the stage seemingly fixed on him.

" Just don't deceive me, " John sang out, locking eyes with her as he started back down the stage. The sickening sight of Luscious's lips kissing her shoulders impossible to ignore from any distance. " Please, believe me when I say I love you. "

For a moment the entire theater fell silent. All eyes seemingly fixed on him as he gazed up at the lead and her investor from the dance floor.

The air grew cold as he waited for her to acknowledge him, the glazy look in her eyes starting to fade as they held contact with his. A brief flash of recognition passing across her face as the man behind her kissed up her neck.

"…Come what may… " The music seemed to change solely for Kim as she allowed him the faintest smile. " I will love you, until my dying day…"

The words barely carried enough strength to reach where he stood but he knew them too well to have them escape. Against his better judgment he returned her smile, feeling as though the quiet promise would be enough to shield them from any harm.

It wasn't until John took a stop back that his eyes locked with Luscious's, the smile still on his face as the man realized the words weren't for him.

The world around Kimberly seemed to pass by with blurred edges. Everything around her felt hazy as though she had dreamed up the walk from the dressing room to the resort's private restaurant entirely on her own. She vaguely remembered Dakotaa mentioning something for good luck or she might have imagined it all together.

She barely realized when Luscious greeted her or when he led her to their private booth. Under the haze of the medication he looked rather attractive, though even Dakota looked attractive as far as it was concerned. While the pills may have been prescribed to prevent stage fright Kimberly quickly came to the conclusion she'd have trouble just keeping anything to herself.

It's one thing when talk flows easy, it's another thing when it won't stop.

"You look lovely," Luscious's silky voice said to pull her out of her head.

Kimberly may have thanked him, or she may have meant to, whether the words found there way out of her mouth she wasn't sure. Focusing on the ending of the show seemed to prove even more difficult than she had originally thought.

Luscious seemed too enchanted to even notice the lull in conversation. It was he who ordered their drinks and both meals, attempted to keep her attention for as long as possible, and brought up any subject from his time in Argentina to Kimberly's family. His affections were almost endearing and through the haze she was certain she would have found him attractive if she had met him under different circumstances.

But he wasn't John and no amount of Medication could change that.

"Dakota's mentioned you working so hard for the show, that's why I haven't been able to take you to dinner before," Luscious chuckled, trying for a new conversation.

"It does keep me busy," she managed to respond, finding the haze easier to deal with after getting a little food in her system.

"I think it's incredible what you can do on stage. Really I do, Dakota has sent me videos of the rehearsal and I'm very excited to see how you pull off the ending." Luscious's excitement was almost endearing until she remember he was paying to be with her.

"I love what I do. It's easy if you love it." Kim took a sip of wine for show, not wanting to mix her haze with any alcohol.

While she drank Luscious moved over sit beside her, his charming smile only managing to make her head spin with thoughts of regret. He motioned to one of the waiters while she continued to eat as politely as she could manage. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the waiter hand him a rather large velvet box he left on the seat beside him.

Even through her medicated haze she knew the box was intended for her but she paid it no mind. It was difficult enough to remember to keep Lu's mind off the two of them, dealing with any gift he may be trying to bribe her affections with was simply an extra thorn in her side. She'd be glad if she didn't remember any of this in the morning.

"You know, when this show does well you wont have to stay in this little place anymore," he said, brushing a loose curl behind her ear. "I can make a star, a real actress. Not just some dancer."

Kimberly couldn't help herself as her mind began to wander towards the possibility of making it big. The medication surely thought it was a wonderful idea. She however, found the offer wasn't half as appealing when she realized who it was coming from.

Taking her silent contemplation as a good sign Luscious placed a tentative kiss on her bear shoulder before moving to retrieve the velvet box. Despite her best efforts to ignore the gesture the bright glimmer from the box practically forced her attention down to his hands. Luscious's delighted smile only adding to the bright glitter.

In the middle of the box sat a necklace rivaling even the tiara she had seen Serena keep. Rows upon rows of diamonds expertly cut to catch even the slightest hint of light around them.

Carefully she trailed a single hand across the centerpiece of the necklace for the sole purpose of feeling its weight. The fact something so beautiful managed to weigh so much was astounding and before she could realize what she was doing she found herself holding her hair out of the way to allow Luscious to place it around her neck.

The weight of both the necklace and the fact he had been the one to give it to her pressed down against her collarbone with a surprising force.

The intricate piece of jewelry covered most of her neck and just barely passed her décolletage with its centerpiece. But no amount of glitter could change it from what it truly was. A collar is still a collar no matter its price.

"What about the ending?" Kim stumbled out quickly, distracting Luscious from placing another kiss on the back of her neck before he could notice the makeup hiding her night with John.

Obviously caught off guard Luscious frowned, finding the change in conversation less than appealing. "For the show? You can have whichever ending you'd like."

Kimberly smiled, seeing the smallest of opportunities to save the night. Quickly she stood from the booth, motioning for Luscious to follow her, which he did with unbridled enthusiasm. "Then you should see what they're working on," she said as she took his arm to lead him out of the restaurant. At the mention of their destination being the theater his enthusiasm soured slightly, obviously having different plans in mind.

All it took to convince him was a simple smile and a quick peck on the cheek. She doubted there was anything he wouldn't do if it bought him her affections.

With any luck the rehearsal would be enough to distract him from her long enough to allow her to figure out a way to end the night without angering Dakota. Had she been completely aware of the man following her she might have noticed the fact his mind wasn't on the rehearsal at all. No amount of distractions could take away from the fact he had just marked her as his.

Even in the dark theater the diamonds around her neck still sang out his claim. Bleep

Roxanne

Jealousy, yes jealousy, will drive you mad.


" Hello there, you've reached Kim Johnson. I can't take a call right now, but if you leave a quick message I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you!"

"Kimberly, it's John. Again… call me, please. I need to hear from you."

Desperation was not a quality John associated with himself frequently, or at all if he could help it. By the fifth attempt to contact Kim since Serena's return to the theater however, that had been the only thing he felt. Desperate.

In an attempt to keep from pacing through the entirety of his flat John had left with Mark to sit in on that night's rehearsals. He had assumed the plan would give him an opportunity to casually run into Kimberly while she was with Luscious to insure her safety but the only Serena greeted him at the theater door. Her demeanor only slightly more optimistic than his own as she introduced him to the company. Paul was kinder than he had expected, Reed's description had been spot on, Sophie and the slue of female dancers seemed to have been granted the biggest graces through Kimberly's recollection of the cast. Somehow they all only needed one look before they understood why John had shown up. Their reactions varied as they each took their turn to look him over.

The only thing they all shared seemed to be pity for both him and Kim.

"At least she's not cheating on you. I mean she did tell you she was going to have to go out with him." Reed's attempt at being comforting only earned him a sharp shove from Paul, to which Mark quickly thanked the man on John's behalf.

The theater had been arranged for the night's rehearsals while both John and Mark sat on the sidelines, watching everything in an attempt to distract themselves. Serena had told them everything she had told Kimberly and reassured them she wouldn't have any trouble if she could keep the investor's focus on the show. While the attempt had been appreciated the simple fact that there was the possibility for things to go wrong coupled with the inability to contact her was threatening to drive John insane.

"Serves him right," a not at all hushed whine came from the blonde woman he could only assume was Sophie's mouth. "If he didn't want to deal with her sleeping around he should've kept his nose out of our business."

John shot up, nearly knocking his chair back in his haste. "Don't you dare talk about her like that!"

"Of course maybe it wasn't his nose he needed to control."

Had it not been for Mark's grasp on John's arm he would have been confronting the smaller dancer head on. The mixture of desperation and anxiety eating away at his common sense as the woman continued to bait him. He knew she was only looking to rile him up, but the last thing he could handle at the moment were insults to his character. Or worse to Kim's.

Before the blonde could go any farther a sharp mechanical whine cut through the theater. The attention of every single person in the room turning to the stage to see Serena holding a stage microphone far too close to a speaker, her hard gaze fixed on the smaller blonde until she backed down. It wasn't until then that she stopped the noise and allowed the attention to be focused solely on her.

The weight of her responsibilities weighing her down as she walked to center stage.

"What happened has happened. There's no changing who he's fallen for or who Kim has to entertain. She knows how much we need Luscious but she's not an idiot like you, Sophie."

A sharp glare forced the smaller woman back to her seat. "She can get the investor without sleeping with him, not all of us had to resort to that."

"I supposed being doped up was better?" John could not tell who had spoken, the theater's full attention fixed on Serena.

"I did what I thought I had to!" Serena's voice shook for a moment but her confidence never broke. There were more important things than her pride on the line. "We've all done what we've had to for the show and for Dakota. But Bleep Dakota. She's the one who's got us into this mess."

"She's also the one who keeps us all from being homeless," Paul's voice spoke out for a change, simply stating a fact to which many of the cast agreed to.

"The shows are what's doing that. Our faces on stage, the people that come to see us, that's who's keeping us going." Serena descended from the stage, walking up to face the company directly. "Kimberly knows that so she's going through this for the show. She's going to talk to him to change the ending to what we want instead of what Dakota wants. We can do this without her but not without Kim."

Mark's grip on John's arm relaxed.

"And how do you propose we help her?" John's voice came out far quieter than he had hoped, but the fact he had mustered any coherent thought was good enough.

"Your little friend there and Paull can go find where they're dining and keep watch at the door. If something goes wrong you'll be there to help but don't interfere until then or you'll get us all caught."

The two men in question nodded, regarding each other quietly before returning to look at John. He couldn't be trusted to leave the dinner alone and he knew it. If he couldn't go himself he wanted to at least find security in trusting the men taking his place.

"As for the rest of us, we have to learn the tango scene for Kimberly. If Dakota thinks she's making the show suffer things will just get harder. So get into your places and we'll go on without her for the moment."

There was a murmur of agreement as the cast slowly began to move to the floor, Paull and Mark attempting to reassure John before taking there leave. He was worth more than anyone in the theater combined but at that moment he was completely and utterly useless.

He had no choice but to sit and watch the scene before him unfold.

Before the music began Serena turned to look to John, motioning him forward to the stage.

"You can replace Paul since he's where you'd rather be."

The gesture did little to help but it gave him something to do. Quickly Reed explained the dynamics of the scene as Serena left to start the music. He would be required to do very little besides save a place for Paul to return to and for the most part could do whatever he pleased as long as he kept the idea that he was watching himself lose Serena in mind. A notion stung with unexpected force as one of the women reminded him Serena was only a stand in. Without pause the music started, leaving John at the corner of the stage to watch as Serena began the walk down to Reed. A spotlight being placed over the two once they were together.

" A dance!"

The sound of Reed's voice in character cut through the theater with a surprising power.

" That tells the story of a prostitute…"

The company laughed as he twirled Serena around, John only seeing how he had spun Kimberly the night before.

" And a man, who falls in love…"

John could feel several glances aimed at his direction as Reed pulled his partner closer.

He doubted there would be any problem with his amateur acting abilities.

" With her."

The past three hours had been spent in front of Serena's old dressing room with enough tugging and pulling at Kimberly's face to last her a month. At her departure from the comfort of her penthouse there hadn't been a single drop of makeup on her face but within the first ten minutes of her seeing Serena she could scarcely recognize herself. Her lips and eyes painted like an old Hollywood star to match the bouncing curls she had never imagined she would be able to wear naturally. She may not like very much about how the theater was run, but no matter how hard she tried there was nothing she could say against the makeup skills Serena seemed to have learned.

Even the marks on her neck had been expertly covered up through layers of foundation and a setting powder.

Serena had managed to turn Norma Jean into Marilyn in a matter of hours. She wanted to thank her, to tell John and show off her hair, to be able to enjoy the new get up, but knowing everything had been put on simply for Luscious managed to kill all it's beauty. She barely wanted to see him, much less spend four hours in a chair getting done up for a man she didn't even know.

She wanted out.

"I can't do this," Kimberly said for the third time since her hair had been let down.

"Pretending with you around is one thing but staying on my own with him for that long—"

"Kimberly listen to me, as long as you do what I say everything will be fine. Keep him distracted, talk about the show, or his job, anything but the two of you together." Serena had managed to keep Kim from throwing up so far, but her calm reassurances only lasted so long.

"What if he wants more? Kissing on the cheek maybe, if you really want to push it a peck but I can't even pretend to be interested in Paul, how on earth can I pull this off?"

"Because you have to." Serena's face was stern, a sad tiredness taking over her frail frame in a matter of seconds. "You tell him no, and I swear I'll have someone there to make sure nothing happens, but you have to make him believe there's only him. At least until I can get you out of this for good."

Kimberly wanted to protest but their conversation was quickly interrupted by the quiet buzzing of her cell phone on the countertop, John's texts popping on the screen for the third time that day before Serena cleared the screen. John's presence simply made the task at hand more difficult to accomplish and judging by the amount of uncertainty Kim was already having he was the last influence she needed around.

"Everything will be okay. I'll be covering you at rehearsal tonight and you just have to smile at Luscious until the dinner's over. Just say you don't want any distractions until opening night and get him to keep the ending where you stay with the owner. Make that seem more important than your relationship with him and he should have no reason to push any further."

"Is that how you dealt with your investors?"

"Kim, I barely remember being with any of my investors. Keep your head clear and it'll be fine."

Somehow that wasn't very reassuring.

Before Serena could continue a set of knocks came from the door with a demanding presence that could only belong to one person. The pair didn't even have time to separate from each other's side before the door was pushed open and the tell tale click of Dakota's heels on the tile floor became the only sound in the room.

Serena seemed to stand taller as the two women regarded each other with ferocity of dozens of accusations left unsaid before Serena removed her hand from Kimberly's chair. The only reason for her surrender being the fact she couldn't have an angry Dakota storming around with the problem of Luscious still hanging in the air.

"If you need anything just call," Serena instructed Kimberly before leaving the room, purposefully bumping Dakota's shoulder on her way out.

The gesture was small and barely noticeable, but Kim knew Dakota wouldn't forget it. She was merely waiting for the right time to strike and unfortunately for her remaining civil was necessary a little while longer.

"You look wonderful," Dakota said as though the encounter with Serena never occurred.

"How do you feel?"

Kimberly couldn't have kept her mouth closed if she wanted, her anxiety eating away at any composure she had left. "Sick. Please, can't we just tell him to reschedule? This isn't going to work…"

"Of course it is!" Dakota's smile was almost too sincere, her hands holding onto Kim's shoulders with a possessiveness that surprised her. "Luscious already adores you, all you have to do is look pretty and smile. He'll pay for your retirement if you asked him."

"And what if I tell him I don't want to be with him?"

The question sounded innocent enough in her head but the added pressure to her shoulders was a clear sign she had crossed the line.

Dakota's eyes closed, her well-manicured hands doing the best they could to keep from digging into the naked skin underneath them as she knelt down beside Kimberly. A dangerous energy radiating from her like fire as she released her shoulder's to hold Kim's face with one hand, locking eyes after taking a moment to tone down her anger.

"Let me tell you a little something about the world, Kim. This isn't some fairytale with a prince and a white horse who loves you because you're the fairest in all the land. This is the real world, and it's gritty and it's dirty and we take what we can get. What you want is a stage perfectly lit and a theater full of people loving you like the world never has. Right?"

Despite everything Kim found herself nodding, Dakota's piercing stare breaking down her resolve slowly.

"Well Luscious is the man offering it to you on a silver platter. His offering you everything you could ever want and all he's asking for in return are a few kisses and sweet words. He's the best man you can be hoping to get Kimberly.

You can't afford to lose him."

Dakota hands now rested on top of Kim's, quieting her urges to scream in protest that she was worth so more much than money and some promises. She had John and he loved her. He was worth so much more than Luscious could ever be worth. He was the one she couldn't afford to lose.

But none of her protests managed to escape her lips as long as Dakota kept their gazes locked.

"Everyone is nervous their first time meeting an investor, but nothing will happen. He cares far to much about you to let you worry." There was the vague sensation of something being pushed against the palm of her hand as Dakota stood up. "You've just let Serena get inside your head. You wont repeat the same mistakes she did."

Kimberly found herself nodding as she looked back into the mirror. The woman staring back at her seemed a complete stranger from the red smile to the sultry black eyes. If there was any consolation to the deal it was that this woman would be meeting Luscious and not the Kimberly who had spent the morning by John side.

"Good. Now take a few of these and you'll be fine. It's just a little stage fright."

Slowly Kimberly lowered her eyes to her open palm. The unmistakable shape of the pills she had specifically elected to avoid now calling to her. She counted four, twice what Mark had deemed safe on an empty stomach. She doubted any were safe to take on top of pain medication.

But she knew it was even less safe to cross Dakota a second time.

Her phone buzzed, a desperate cry from John to talk to him. Dakota's hand clamped over her own, lifting the pills to her mouth. The woman in the mirror closed her eyes.

Kimberly swallowed the pills.

The woman smiled.

It seemed the longer they spent in production mode the higher the price went, both for Kimberly and the show. If someone had told Dakota nearly half a million dollars was on the line during any other show she would have called them mad. But Luscious wanted two things more than anything, one being a show that with a little effort they could move to Broadway by the end of its run, and the second being Kimberly.

She couldn't have wished for better luck but despite her good fortune she had been in the game long enough to know she wasn't out of the woods yet. The entire show relied on Luscious's compliance to finance and his compliance relied on Kimberly's affection.

There was only so many times she could reassuring her client that she was just as enamored with him as he was with her before he demanded to see proof.

Everything she had worked so hard to secure was relying on the success of the dinner to continue. If Luscious left her now she would risk having her side business found out, or even worse having to acknowledge her failure to Collins Grey himself.

She had worked too long to separate herself from him to be willing to go back now. The last thing she wanted was any Grey coming to do her job for her.

The sooner she could set the deal with Luscious in stone the better.

This would be much easier if Serena would stop meddling too , she thought, the piles of paper in front of her carefully laid out with the woman in question's resume on the top.

She had placed so much faith in Serena that she did not consider the possibility of her turning against her. The promise of fame and fortune had kept her in line for a while but as soon as she had replaced her she knew her hold was lost. The only thing keeping Serena from reporting what she knew to the authorities was her one ace in the hole.

Serena may have tricked her old competition into crossing Dakota but at the end of the day only one person really had the ability to remove someone from the theater. A debt collector that ensured anyone who kept the theater from losing any money if a client fell through or if a dancer was let go was the only person above Dakota in rank. While Dakota kept the theater running he kept it safe, taking care of any threat to her businesses wellbeing.

After all, with a name like Morgan it didn't take much to scare people back into line. She couldn't have asked for a better fit for a partner.

He was the power behind any of her threats and the last straw if Serena continued trying to come between her and Luscious's deal. She had only used his services once before to deal with a man who refused to pay for Serena's time out of some strange notion that her feelings for him were genuine. Thankfully Serena had taken so many of Owen's pills that she could not protest Morgan's disposal of the man.

With any luck she wouldn't need to call him in again, Kimberly seemed far more compliant than Serena had and Luscious was far more obedient than the previous investor. As long as Serena didn't meddle too much there would be any need to call Morgan for anything more than to be her plus one for opening night as usual.

Chris helped the show but he held no real power like she or Morgan did. It was her theater with his protection. If Serena attempted to cross her she'd be crossing him as well.

And no one would question anyone's disappearance if Morgan told them to forget about it.

She could even remove John if she wanted. He was simply an inconvenience at the moment as well as the annoying reminder that until she could move a show from the resort to a bigger venue she would remain in the Grey shadow. His vacation couldn't end soon enough as far as she was concerned, but she'd deal with him later.

At the moment she had a lead actress in need of a pep talk and an orange bottle of bite size insurance to make sure things went according to her plan. The only call she wanted to make to Morgan was a friendly one, but she was not above tying up loose ends. Not when so much was on the line.

Sound Check

And without trust, there can be no love


It wasn't until light began to pour in through the floor length windows that the pair began to stir.

They had spent until the early hours of the morning together, fumbling around through the empty theater up to Kimberly's flat. Their need for one another overcoming any concern about the numerous boxes still packed that they had shoved out of their way to allow them to be together in nearly every room in the penthouse.

The chaos of the previous night slowly came into view as the light continued to break through the curtains much to John's disdain.

He considered getting up to close the curtains fully seeing as they must've been pushed ajar sometime during their trip from the living room to the bedroom, but before he could convince himself to move off the bed a small mutter of protest came from below him. Slowly through the early morning haze he became aware of Kimberly's small body tucked against his own, his arm easily hooking itself around her waist as she slept peacefully.

No amount of light pouring into the room could bring him to stir her from her sleep. He had lost his chance to hold her the last time they slept together and there was very little that would have convinced him to give the opportunity up now that he had it. She looked far too at peace for him to bring himself to stir her anyway. His stomach on the other hand, had different plans.

Within five minutes of his waking his stomach awoke as well, growling in protest of having gone so long without being satisfied. Unlike the rest of his body the night with Kimberly had taken it's toll on his stomach seeing as getting to eat out and eating Kim out didn't quiet add up as far as it was concerned. And without Mark walking around the flat there was little he could do but wait to wake up his sleeping partner.

The constant rumbling from his stomach continued for several more minutes before Kimberly began to wake up of her own accord.

John would tell himself the lights had woken her in order to keep away the guilt of stirring her but there was no denying she felt his stomach nearly as much as he did.

"You can't just be quiet can you…?" she asked, her eyes still closed. "The snoring was one thing but this is just annoying."

Her sweet sleepy voice made the words sting a little less than she might have intended, but he had heard far worse from Mark.

"I do not snore." Kim laughed. "It's not like I can help it anyway. It just happens."

Slowly opening her eyes Kimberly rolled over without moving his arm from her waist, her forehead tucked neatly under his chin as she kissed the top of his bear chest. Her thin arms wrapping themselves around his easily before she pulled herself up to kiss his chin; if he had known her to be so affectionate in the morning he would have woken her sooner.

"You snore. I considered smothering you with a pillow after you fell asleep," she said as she placed another kiss along his jawline. "What's your excuse for the stomach?"

"Well I had been planning on taking you to dinner but we got distracted."

A small smirk played across his face before Kimberly shoved him away playfully. She too was smiling at the memory but he doubted she had been as foolish as to go without eating before they met up. It wasn't as though she needed as much to keep running as he did, she was almost half his size, he could have eaten enough for the both of them easily.

"Well what do you want to do about it? Mark says you're a lousy cook."

"But you're a good one, aren't you?"

"I'm not making you breakfast. You're the one who skipped dinner."

John stuck out his bottom lip slightly, his eyebrows rising to finish off a well-practiced pout that could even convince Mark to wash his socks. Within a matter of seconds Kimberly too caved, her laughter filling the room with a wonderful melody.

"Fine, but you have to help. You're not getting breakfast in bed in my bed. Hell you should be the one getting me breakfast." With a light kiss Kim wormed her way out of John's grasp, climbing off the bed to cover herself with a large shirt that barely passed the top of her shapely thighs. A sight in its own that could convince John to do whatever she'd like.

He had his pout, but she had her entire being to command him with. There was simply no competition to be had between the two. He was hers, no contest.

"Next time you're over I'll have Mark bring us breakfast in bed as many times as you'd like."

John moved from the bed, reluctantly pulling his boxers back on before following Kim to the kitchen. "He's rather fond of you so the real challenge would be to make sure he'd bring me the food too."

Her smile was simply dazzling in the morning light as she began to get out different ingredients, ordering John to pick up certain items stashed away in the cupboards simply because she could. There was a simple domesticity to the process that John adored. It was more than a break from his responsibilities at work, it was a compilation of actions so simple as holding her waist as she cooked that made him believe that just for a moment they could stay together without any outside interference for as long as they wished.

If his promise to Serena a held through and Kimberly returned home with him then maybe, just maybe, it was a vision of what their lives had in store for them after the theater.

It wasn't until a quick set of knocks from the front door broke through the quiet sizzle of bacon that either of them became aware of the outside world. John had half a mind to order the intruder away but Kimberly seemed far more shaken by the jolt of reality than he was comfortable with. It was then that he remembered being pulled back down to earth for her was a far grittier picture than it was for him.

"Stay here, eat but stay quiet," Kim said as she slipped away from the kitchen, her hands pulling at her hair to cover the collection of marks he had left on her neck. "If it's Dakota you hide in a closet for all I care."

He wanted to write the comment off as a joke, but as she left to open the door he knew she was serious. He had never known Dakota as one who liked to share her things.

"There you are, I've been trying to get a hold of you all morning." A voice that thankfully didn't belong to Dakota said from the doorway.

"You have? I'm sorry I misplaced my phone.

What time even is it?" Kimberly was surprisingly good at feigning innocence.

"Almost noon. You're lucky I came by or you'd have to deal with Dakota on your own. She's going to be watching you like a hawk before the dinner." Slowly John recognized the voice as Serena's as she walked into the apartment. She was no threat but he was too hungry to leave his fresh breakfast so soon.

"I almost forgot that was today." A hint of sadness obvious in Kim's voice. "Are you positive I can't cancel?"

"Positive. Luscious might understand but Dakota would be suspicious. As far as she knows you don't have a reason to want to avoid him." Before John could bother sitting down Serena strode into the kitchen with a confidence that only slightly faltered at the sight of him virtually naked. Somehow he doubted she thought to find him there so soon.

"…I can explain," Kimberly said, putting herself between the two.

"Oh Kim..... Oh you've gone and done it now," Serena's voice held no anger to Kim's obvious surprise, only pity.

"Done what?" John asked, finishing his bite of bacon easily. "You knew I cared for her."

The icy look Serena shot John was enough to stall his appetite for a moment. She pitied Kim and though she had promised to help them he somehow felt as though she was blaming him for any trouble their being together might cause.

"It's one thing to care for someone but to fool around with them when so much is on the line is just irresponsible! Do you have any idea what could happen if Dakota knew Kim wasn't exclusively Luscious's? Or even worse if he found out himself! This isn't some petty problem of who's allowed to date who, these men are just as rich as you with half the moral compass.

You're both putting yourselves in harms way and you aren't even trying to hide it!"

Both Kimberly and John are left speechless, their peaceful reality shattered harshly as Serena easily found the marks he had left across Kim's body. Neither of them had considered anyone but each other the night before and now it seemed as though they'd risk paying full price. Which at the lasted addition to the show was now well above a hundred thousand dollars, not to mention the cost Luscious would be paying to have Kimberly for an entire evening.

"I'll give you an hour here Kim then you come down and we'll start getting you ready. I'll help as much as I can but you have to want to get out of this too," Serena said, the frustration slowly ebbing away as she headed back to the door. "And John, if you really want to help us just stay out of this for tonight. We can handle Luscious on our own. Just leave it at that."

He nodded as Kim walked Serena back to the door, a quiet reminder to take her pain medication passing over his head as he contemplated his meal. He wanted to help Kimberly more than anything and if doing as Serena asked would do so then he felt the need to comply.

He was just never good at waiting for someone else to fix his problems for him. Bleep

The hangover would not leave easily and Kim soon began to doubt that it ever would.

Rehearsal had come and gone without any major flaws mainly do to the fact Reed Paul were so concerned for her health that they didn't bother to point out whenever she slipped up. She could hardly think outside her pounding headache, but whenever she did manage her thoughts turned directly back John.


She felt terrible for what she was going to do to his trust in her but she refused to take the pills to dull herself again. The pills put too much at risk, her own autonomy seemed to give way to whatever her body was feeling at the moment the pills took over. If she was hungry she'd have eaten anything she could, if she was hot she'd take off all her clothes, if she was in pain she'd have taken anything to stop it. There was no way she would willingly give the pills control while she wanted to numb herself.

If she could only keep John for a little while longer she had every intention of remembering it on her own accord.

"That stage suits you."

She would have recognized his voice from a mile away. It resonated in her chest with a warm that surprised her in the emptiness of the theater and managed to chase away the remainder of her hangover.

Looking down at him from the stage as she had when they first began speaking she felt her heart quicken. He stood at the edge of the dance floor staring up to her with the same small smirk he had worn the first night.

To say the stage suited him as well would have been a dramatic understatement; he simply seemed to fit as if that was exactly where he was meant to be.

"I'm glad you think so at least. Serena's worried it's all too much for me," Kin said as she sat down at the edge of the stage, her legs dangling above the ground.

"Well you are rather short," John smirked. "You'd think that stage would swallow you up."

With an exaggerated roll of her eyes Kimberly helped John onto the stage beside her. She knew he didn't need to be helped up, but any excuse to pull him closer was greatly welcomed. "I've got people to balance me out. Paul is at least a head taller than you and most of my scenes are with him," she teased, telling go of his arm to walk around the makeshift stage.

"Paul? Now there's another man running around besides that investor?" The hint of jealousy in his voice was obvious as she sat atop a raised platform.

"There's Reed too, I dance with him an Paul the most." Kim couldn't help but smirk, at least with her partners she knew he had nothing to worry about. Teasing him about something purely innocent couldn't hurt.

"Reed's more hands on than Paul though.

I'm supposed to learn a tango piece with him later."

John was practically brimming with jealously as he moved over to stand in front of Kim.

Even while she sat on the raised platform he managed to stay slightly taller. His hands on either side of her legs as she smiled down to him, the twinkle in her brown eyes giving up her game before he had the chance to confront her.

A pout breaking out across his lips at the small blow to his pride as he realized he had been played.

"Oh that's just not fair, how am I supposed to compete with three other men?" he played along, keeping close to her with his endearing pout plastered across his face.

"Luckily for you I can't seem to win over Paul. " Ignoring the pout became increasingly difficult the longer she watched him. "I'm not very good at making people love me apparently."

"I wouldn't say that," the playful tone in his voice dropping immediately.

Kimberly felt her heartbeat quicken at the shift in the conversation. It was too much to ask that he felt anything for her when she knew she would only hurt him. They could sleep together and enjoy each other as much as possible but the idea that they could share more than a common attraction hurt. She would never be able to forgive herself if anything past flirting happened with Luscious if that was true.

"I'm sure of it, the dance is supposed to be able to seduce the audience and I only manage to step on Paul's feet," she said, unaware of the small space between them being closed. "Sophie thinks I'm just not that good an actress."

"Maybe it's Paul's fault. Come on, show me the steps and I'll try to help."

"You just want me to dance for you."

"That

John's smirk was enough to make the chill of the empty theater melt away; her heart beat quickening as he took her hands his in. With one fluid tug he helped Kim down from the platform onto the stage floor beside him.

Neither said a word as Kimberly took the lead to show him to the center of the stage, leaving his side for a moment to set her phone up to play her music from the front of the stage.

"What kind of music is this?" John asked, his smirk growing into an entire smile as he watched Kim return to his side.

"Shut up, I like it."

Carefully she took his hands, moving one to her side, keeping the other in her hand. His hands were significantly smaller than Paul's though she doubted anyone's were larger. Even so his hands held her with a strength Paul never had and they created a heat she doubted anyone else could.

Slowly she began to lead him through Paul's steps, quietly explaining where to move and when to pull her closer. What normally felt rigid and mechanical soon became lighter. Her own steps mirroring John's with a natural flow she had only come close to experiencing once before during her audition.

It was then that she realized it wasn't how she was dancing that had been the problem but who she was dancing with. While with Paul the dance seemed like only a job, with John it fit.

She felt right. She didn't have to pretend to want him because she did; with every fiber of her being she wanted him.

And she knew he wanted her.

The music slowly started to pick up and with it there steps. Moving in a perfect grace the two took hold over the stage. Keeping to the steps Kimberly pulled away, trailing her hand down John's arm before he grabbed hold of her wrist, pulling her back to him with a need she had never seen before.

" …Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side."

For the show Kim would have to sing to Paul, but for now she took the moment to stay by John's side as the music played. Their movements getting closer together before one or the other pulled away keeping a safe distance as they revolved around the stage.

John's hands always managed to hold onto hers to pull her back, to trace her hips as they circled each other, to hold onto her waist when he lifted her. His need for her combined with his strength making each lift better than the last.

"Storm clouds may gather, storms may arise. But I love you…"

He lifted her again, allowing her to place her arms on his shoulders, their gazes heavy as he looked up to her.

"…Until the end of time," Kimberly found herself muttering the lyrics John's grip on her waist tightening as he lowered her to his level. "Come what may."

Their bodies were already pressed together, Kimberly's hands running John's broad shoulders to pull his hands off her waist, holding onto them fiercely. She had forgotten any promise to Dakota, to Luscious, or to the theater.

"Come what

John's lips hovered over hers, a thousand unspoken words covered for him by the song.

"I will love you, until my dying day…"

Before either of them had time to realize if they had uttered the words first or if the song had beaten them to it their lips collided with a force they couldn't stop. John kissing with such a heated passion Kimberly found her self allowing his tongue in within moments, her hand letting go of his to knot his soft blonde hair between her fingers. Her tongue battling his as he moved her backstage to hide amongst the curtains.

She forgot whatever pain she was bound to cause him, she needed him far too much to let him go.

Against her better judgment she loved him and as she soon heard through a flurry of kisses against her neck as they worked their way out of their clothes before pressing themselves against the wall, he loved her.

Every inch of her body burned aching for his touch, her dance clothes finding themselves tossed to the side with his expensive get up.

Her legs wrapping around his waist as he pressed her back against the wall with a simple strength that she adored. A hard throbbing pressing against the side of her thigh before she positioned him at her entrance, allowing him inside her with a sharp gasp that echoed across the empty stage.

Her grip on his hair tightened as he kissed down to her chest, moving his mouth over one breast with a heat that sent shivers up her spine.

Slowly he began to move inside her, sucking and biting the hardened nub of flesh between his teeth as he did so.

Kimberly's free hand raked across his shoulders, feeling the definition of each muscle as he moved below her. His hips moving against him inside her faster causing her to moan in pleasure. His name escaping her lips as he moved back up to kiss her neck.

Everything about him made her body shiver with delight as he began to match the fire of his kisses with the strength of his thrusts.

John's hands trailed across her body absentmindedly, grabbing at anything and everything they could as her legs tightened around his waist. With one careful movement he pushed the arm she had around his shoulders back against the wall. Holding onto her hand tight to give him something to grip he began to move quicker until he felt her body tighten around him when he made contact to the sweet bundle of nerves that caused her to arch her back.

His body melding with hers until neither could tell whose pleasure came from which person. Their bodies tensing up in tandem as the pleasure overtook them both. Moans of 'John' and 'Kimberly' filling the theater long after the music had ended but they had no care over being heard.

They loved each other and come what may they would not let the other forget it.

At least not willingly.

Songs used:
Lets be bad- NBC's SMASH
Come what may- Moulin Rouge!

Kimberly had attended the next morning's rehearsal but it was obvious to anyone giving her more than a single glance that she was absent mentally. Serena noted how her dance with Paul was messier than usual, her steps dragging as her weight shifted awkwardly. Even the constantly kind man couldn't pretend to be attracted to her while she danced, he and the rest of the cast simply seemed too concerned over Kim's sudden distraction to care about her performance.

Serena, however, recognized exactly what was making Kim sick. She'd come into rehearsal with the same dazed hangover for weeks at a time before she grew too cold to need the medicine. Dakota had already begun destroy Kim as she had destroye Serena, but she'd made a promise to protect her.

The last thing she intended to do was to give Dakota the satisfaction of making a new servant to take her place. Helping Kimberly would kill two birds with one stone and for the first time since she arrived Serena wouldn't be hurting someone innocent to get back on top. The only person she'd be harming would be Dakota and that was long over due.

Morgana sat in the back of the theater, the sickeningly sweet smile plastered across her face as she spoke to the investor. Serena recognized the scene with frightening ease and suddenly her promise to keep Kim safe became more than just a means to an end. The woman Serena had replaced must have known what she was in for yet she let her fall nonetheless. She couldn't bring herself to condemn another girl to the same fate she had suffered.

It wasn't as though Dakota had anything to threaten her with anymore anyway. Losing someone out of spite would risk exposing the second half of the theater's profits to the media. Even Grey money couldn't keep that hidden if it was discovered.

"We've been going through the endings, Kimberly is much fonder of her character staying in the club and to be frank I think that'd be easier to sell to a crowd." Dakota's hand covered Luscious's lightly, her smile as sweet as the one she used to convince her girls to take whatever medication she presented them with.

"You'd recover the money you've invested within the first week I assure you."

Serena grabbed a tray of drinks from the bar, heading in Dakota's direction.

"I understand that, but I don't believe it makes sense," Luscious said, his voice far more endearing than Serena liked to admit. Keeping him from Kimberly might prove difficult. "I want the second ending, it's still your love story just tweak a few things."

The tray of drinks found their way to the table as Serena leaned over Dakota's chair. As far as Luscious knew they were still on good terms and they both knew Dakota was too involved in her nice-woman act to argue in front of an investor.

"What kinds of things? We're having a hard enough time teaching Kim as is. You can't just pull out the rug from her feet now," Serena said, her gaze fixed on Luscious's.

"Nothing that would hurt her!" he defended. "Just turning her more towards the gangster, you could even throw in a number between just them in exchange for one with the Dakota was visibly uncomfortable and Serena had no intention of easing her pain.

"We'll consider it. Any more Luscious's dark brown eyes lit up, a small smile on his lips as he looked over to the dancers.

"Well I had been thinking it would be exciting to kill someone off in the end. You are dealing with the mob, and I'm sure the crowd would love it."

Serena felt her stomach clench up. They had never done a death scene in the company before because men didn't seem fond of spending money on a woman they had seen die.

That meant if someone was to be offed it would have to be one of the people who weren't up for private meetings and there was only one girl promised exclusivity.

But before she could protest Dakota's own face lit up, her perfectly applied lipstick parting as she smiled. "That will certainly be considered, though the price may go up for a death sequence. If we want to do it right."

"That will be fine. I look forward to it."

Luscious's smile was incredibly innocent for a man paying money for a woman.

Suddenly Serena realized John wouldn't be the only person aiming to take Kimberly away from the theater. Her job had just gotten twice as complicated. Bleep

Catch Me I'm Falling

When love is for the highest bidder there can be no trust…


"…Guns and Gangsters suit me fine— Al Capone is a buddy of mine. He's my big shot valentine, lets be bad Kimberly's voice sung out over the sound of costumes jingling as the dancers moved around her in perfect harmony with the music.

Each dancer seemed to be moving faster than the next as they overtook Kim in a matter of moments. The faces of her male partners passing her as they spun her on with her role. Her words lost in a haze of glittering dresses and smiling faces as she tried to keep up with the song. Her breath would run out, her feet would slip, she missed move after move as the dance went on without her.

She was truly lost.

The stage and the show were eating her alive as her eyes scanned the crowd. Her voice failed the song but no one else broke character as she fell to her knees. She needed to have something to anchor to, someone to dance for as her character did. Her gaze became frantic as she searched for the one person who could pull her out of the haze.

And like the red sea parting there he sat, flanked by other patrons enjoying the show far more than his deep blue eyes gave away. Kim felt her voice return as she tried to sing out her next lines as if they were for him, knowing they rang out stronger than any of her previous attempts. Yet the man sat unfazed.

Hands crossed over Kimberly's body as she was pulled up off her knees, forced back into the dance. She could feel herself being passed from one man to the next, and as everyone in the theater took it as flirtatious the sullen man's face seemed to drop into what could only be described as utter disappointment.

Kim could do nothing as he stood to leave her to the horde of dancers pulling her through the steps. She felt herself reaching out to him in a desperate attempt to bring him back, to remind him he was the only one who mattered, but her effort was in vane. As soon as her arm extended past the stage floor a new man's hands closed around her wrist, moving her arm like a puppet's back to her chest.

The new man's hands roamed over her body with a delicate care as they forced her through the remainder of the dance. Her anchor had left the theater. Her puppet master now held her in his arms. Her body started to feel sick.

The stage went black.

"She fell?" A familiar voice steered Kim from her sleep.

"That's right. Hit her head pretty hard, she was delirious when I found her so I thought I'd do like you said and take care of her. She'll be fine after a little rest." Her head felt fine, dizzy and confused, but certainly not from a fall.

No, falling would have been easier to deal with.

This was entirely her fault. She knew it Dakota told her the pills would help nerves but she should have known better than to take so many over the idea of telling John about the dinner. She couldn't remember what she was so frightened of, they'd been so close already he wouldn't leave her over a simple business dinner.

Yet he had left her in the dream.

And she knew very well she wouldn't be talking about business over her dinner.

"You should have called me sooner, Mark. I don't need you taking care of someone who's actually sick." As Kim woke up she could distinctly recognize John's voice.

She never realized how easy it was to hang on every word he spoke or how terrible she felt when she heard his worry. It certainly wouldn't be the last time she'd hear it either.

"I take care of you when you're sick all the time. All she needed was to lay down, she fell asleep in a second." She made a note to thank Mark covering for her when she could think clearly again.

While the two continued their bickering Kimberly took a moment to become aware of her surroundings. Mark had somehow managed to move her to the master bedroom in her half- unboxed penthouse and tucked her in with the utmost care. Her head had been resting on a pillow but once her body felt a shift of weight on the bed she found her head nestled comfortably against John's chest as he ran his hand through her hair as if to check that she was still in one piece. His heartbeat was quicker than she had expected, almost as if he was angry over something before finding her.

She'd be damned if she didn't feel a warm sense of calm wash over her body as John pulled her closer against his chest. She'd feel guilty for what she had to do later. Whether the medication still had a hold of her actions or if they were her own Kimberly wasn't certain, but she held no complaint when she found herself wrapping her arms around John's broad chest to ensure the calm feeling lasted as long as possible.

The bickering stopped the moment she moved. "Kimberly... .?" John asked tentatively, his grip on her waist tightening lightly.

"M'sorry," she slurred in response. "'Should've been more careful…"

"It's not your fault, Kim. You didn't know."

Mark's voice was sincere but she knew he wasn't talking about some imaginary fall. "It just can't happen again."

I can't promise that… "I'll try my best… the floors are very slippery," she said, allowing John to support her weight.

Mark didn't like her response and she could tell, but he wouldn't ague with her in her current state or while John was around and for that she was thankful. Neither he nor John would understand the pressure of being in the show without him and Luscious added to the mix. She could count on her hand all the actors she knew who used more than she had regularly, even Marilyn Monroe had.

Of course that wasn't a comparison she was too eager to complete.

"I should sue Dakota, she's not fit to run the theater like that," John said with certainty.

Kimberly could feel his voice reverberating in his chest and something told her he meant the alleged fall was only the tip of the iceberg for him. She would deal with whatever he knew about the theater later. Right now the only thing that mattered was for her to keep him as close as she could, she couldn't risk losing him like she had in the dream.

"It's fine, John. I can handle this," Kim said in an attempt to be reassuring, cuddling against his chest to keep him calm. "I just need some rest like Mark said, I'll make it up to you after rehearsal tomorrow."

"You should take tomorrow off to rest, we can be together Friday, even Dakota would understand,"John said, his voice softening as he held her.

Kim couldn't let her feelings for him get in the way, however. Dakota wouldn't understand her throwing away all that money and a completely financed show. She'd made her bed the day she let Dakota in and she'd gotten her claws deep enough into Kim that the idea of escape was harder to imagine than the idea of balancing her act with Luscious and her time with John.

The certainly couldn't be together Friday.

"Serena's teaching me something then," Kim lied with an ease that frightened her. "It'll have to be tomorrow."

She could feel John's full lips against her forehead as her stomach sank. She doubted his adoration would last but she'd be damned if she didn't hold onto it as long as she could. She needed, and come what may, she loved him despite herself.

"Then it'll be tomorrow," he said gently, his strong arms holding her as if he feared he'd break her. "I'll let her borrow you on Friday but I'm not going to share you with someone else so easily, you remind her that okay?"

There was no escaping her guilt. She hated how much she'd be hurting him but she feared what would become of them if Dakota knew he was the source of her apprehension over stringing Luscious along.

"Okay." Bleep

Bleep For hours after John the shared penthouse things had become almost unbearably quiet.

The cleaning lady had given up on helping with John's room, and the kitchen had taken hours to even begin to look like it had before John got to it. Mark had dealt with being left around the house waiting for John before, but the longer he was left alone the flat the more anxious he became. He even began to think he could hear the digital clock changing time. Unable to bear inaction any longer Mark left the penthouse in search of John or Kimberly.

He had agreed to take care of Kim while John was busy, so it only made sense that he could at least try to find her. She was more enjoyable to be around than John was anyway.

It didn't take long for Mark to start wandering the halls of the resort in search of anywhere Kim may have gone. The other dancers frequented lounges or bars, usually moving in groups of three or more, but none of the groups he passed seemed to hold Kimberly. The only person who could even help him find her was a small blonde girl who offered a 'she went home' before flitting off to try and flirt her way into free drinks from another dancer.

Wandering through the penthouse floor Mark began checking random doors in hope of finding Kim's. A majority of the doors didn't open, leading him to begin an extensive game of knocking on each door before hiding behind a corner to allow unamused neighbors to blame each other for their confusion.

The game didn't help him find Kim but it did cure his boredom.

He had almost made it through a second floor of penthouse suits before finding an unlocked door budged open at his knocking. The foyer was almost completely blocked by different cardboard boxes; Mark doubted he could have pushed the door open any further even if he wanted to.

"Anybody home?" he asked, a bit curious as to why the door would be left unlocked.

The sound of a person inside the flat stumbling answered his question as he saw a few box being shoved out of the foyer in order to open the door fully. A mess of brown curls peaked around a stack of boxes as Mark was allowed inside, its owner laughing lightly at a joke he must have just missed.

"Mark!" Kimberly giggled, her gaze a bit hazier than he remembered. "What are you doing here?"

"Just visiting," he said, helping Kim make her way through the box maze to find the living room. "You still unpacking?"

"Yup, a lot of this is stuff Serena doesn't need but I didn't think there'd be so much!"

Kimberly's giggling persisted as she took a seat on a chair that came with the flat. She motioned for Mark to join her but he passed up on the offer, taking a moment to look over everything as she calmed herself down. "I could give you a tour but I almost fell in the kitchen, so I'm avoiding there for a while."

For someone like Kimberly the clutter seemed a tad out of character, and he couldn't understand for the life of him why falling would have made her laugh so hard. Dance equipment scattered itself across the room with shoes and rehearsal clothes draped over coffee tables and chairs alike. The only thing in the room that didn't seem to be a part of the move or her work was a small orange bottle sitting on a table in front of Kim, the cap left slightly undone.

Taking another look at Kim he began to realize there wasn't any joke he was missing, but a dosage he hadn't taken.

"You feeling okay, Kim?" he asked, moving over to read the label on the pills without a complaint from his giggling friend.

"I'm fine, Mark," she said, drawing out his name before laughing at herself. "I'm just a little dizzy, and you're a little blurry."

Closing the bottle for her Mark allowed her to laugh at her own joke for a while longer before putting it far out of her reach. He doubted she would be harmed by taking more pills than necessary, but he wasn't about the to back to John to tell him either.

"You can't take more than two of these a day, okay Kim? You look like you're drunk."

Kimberly frowned, her laughter fading quickly as Merlin moved to sit beside her.

"Dakota said I could take however many I wanted, and I feel fine," she protested.

"Dakota's not a doctor, I don't even know what those are for, but lay off them for a little, okay?" She grumbled in protest, crossing her arms stubbornly. "If you keep taking them like this I'm going to have to tell John you know. I don't want to but he's worried about you being around his cousin. Help me out here would you?"

At the mere mention of John's name Kimberly's entire demeanor began to sober up. Her eyes dropping to the ground as she leaned against Mark for balance. He didn't know what was going on inside her head, and he doubted she would be able to tell him even if she wanted to. But for a moment, he almost thought he saw guilt hiding behind her hazy gaze.

"I've got this under control… It was just one time, it wont happen again I promise."

Kimberly's tone began to change, sounding almost desperate as she continued. "Just don't tell John. You can't tell John. I'll handle this."

Mark wasn't entirely sure what she was talking about but he knew better than to ask. Lightly he put an arm around her shoulders, keeping her from tipping over.

"I've got you Kim, I wont say a thing."

Bleep." Bleep[/color]Bleep To say finding someone willing to speak to John was difficult would be a sickening understatement. Since he had left the comforts of his bed that morning there was not a single person willing to even point him in the direction of Dakota's office, and for the first time in his life dropping the Grey name only seemed to steer him farther from where he wanted to go.

It wasn't until the dancers had been released from their rehearsal that he was even allowed to enter the theater.

The dancers passed around him completely unaffected by his presence. To them he had no more importance than one of the many set pieces placed throughout the theater. He doubted they even knew who he was.

Looking around the exiting dancers John almost thought he saw Kimberly leaving with a few of the other people in the company but before he could call her name the vaguely familiar face of the old lead cut off his view.

"Are you lost?" she asked, distracting him long enough to allow Kimberly to leave without seeing him.

Pulling himself back to earth John looked down to the woman; though she was taller than his Kim she still wasn't as tall as him. With his first view of her in proper lighting he could note several differences between her andKim aside from their height. This woman seemed harder, her features and her demeanor sharpened in a manner he had only seen before in Dakota.

Her body looked thinner and frailer than Kimberly's but she held herself with a strength that he was nearly certain was the only thing keeping her standing.

At one point in time, he might have found her beautiful. But in the middle of the day he could tell something else had gotten to her first.

"No, I'm just looking for Dakota," he finally replied, "I need to speak with her."

"She can't help you," she said curtly. "She doesn't take clients when there isn't a show running, and besides she doesn't cater to family matters."

Serena patted his arm in a fake show of sympathy before starting to walk away. The remaining dancers avoided her with a fearful show of respect as she past them to head backstage.

He may not be able to question Dakota directly, but he knew business well enough to recognize the second in command.

Quickly he followed Serena backstage, weaving his way past have constructed set pieces and costume racks meant for dozens of different people and scenes. While Serena moved through the clutter with a practiced grace John's stumbling nearly knocked over two costume racks and a small stagehand as they moved passed the dressing rooms.

"You're persistent aren't you?" Serena said, turning back to look at John.

"I need to talk to you, since Dakota isn't available. It'll only take a minute I promise."

At this the woman's sharp features softened, her face breaking out into a wide smile as she laughed. "That's nothing to be proud of, Mr. Grey. That's actually really sad." Her laughter continued as she led him to a back room free from any of the pre-show clutter.

Pink satin and ivory pillows covered the room along with empty silver trays and remnants of some long forgotten party. Serena lounged across a large pink loveseat, toying with a piece of her hair as Johb entered the room. She somehow blended seamlessly into the gaudy set up in a way that almost caused him to forget how ridiculous the place looked during the day, but only almost.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, not particularly caring to touch anything in the room.

"'It'll only take a minute' , a great Grey can only last a minute? No wonder you were looking for Dakota," she teased, her smile quickly fading when Serena failed to understand her joke. "…What did you want to talk to her about?"

"A friend of mine, I just want to know a few things about how everything's run, business stuff, not too much. What did you think I wanted to know?"

Quickly Serena rose from the chair, closing he door behind John, pushing him over to sit where she had been. Her well-groomed brows furrowing as she looked him over. John recognized the look crossing her face to be the same his father had before telling him bad news, she had something to admit and whatever it was he doubted he'd like it.

"Who is your friend?" she countered, trying to buy herself more time.

John considered lying for a moment, but he figured there was nothing to be gained in hiding who he was to Kimberly. Especially if that would help him get his answers.

"Kimberly we're rather close." Serena's face seemed to harden at the mention of Kim's name. "She and I were a bit curious about how everything works from here, since Dakota doesn't tell my father or I more than how much money she brings in."

"…You shouldn't be meddling in these things, John. Kim has enough to deal with and I can promise you she knows how things work around here." Serena's stern gaze never left his face.

"Just explain to me about this whole investor deal, that man from dinner earlier, that's her investor right? What do they do? Why does she have to pretend to be sweet on him?" Once the questions started coming out he could barely get them to stop. "Why are you giving her pills, and why on earth is it so important that she listen to what you and Dakota say? She's just a dancer, she doesn't need you all fussing over her!"

Serena went quiet, a slow recognition passing over her face as she realized why John was so wound up from something he had no business being involved with. Carefully she managed to keep her tone calm, wanting to make sure John listened to her completely.

"The pills are for her feet, if a dancer ruins their feet then they ruin the show. They wont hurt her if she takes them every now and again. It's not important to her to listen to Dakota, but I've been where she is and if she wants to make it she needs to listen to me, plus if things go well for her I can work with her to get back where I belong." Her hand covered his lightly, as if to insure he stayed down while she continued.

"The investor is something every lead wants to get, they pay for the show and anything to do with the girl their investing in. It's like a partnership. Her investor is called Luscious and he's got big money down in South America or something, I don't really know. But I do know what he's investing more money in Kim than any investor has in any dancer before, so we need to make sure he likes her enough to want to keep giving us his money." Serena paused for a moment, considering the best way to word her next point. "Saying she's just a dancer is wrong, she's much more important than that.

"She's like an escort now, most of the girls are.

It's good money and it keeps the theater running even if the shows aren't great. Dakota has her rules and the girls aren't made to do anything they don't want to do. An escort isn't just some hooker that men can call though; they show men a good time. It's like paying to be in a relationship. That's why Kim has to pretend to like being around Luscious, because as far as he's concerned they're together when he's around."

For what seemed like ages neither of them spoke. John could feel his heart drop to his stomach as he heard the final bit of news. He couldn't believe his ears at first, something as insane as his Kimberly selling herself just couldn't be true. She was his, and he was hers, no price tag needed. Yet all it took for someone else to call her there's was a few dollars and some fancy costumes. It all made him sick.

"What if I pay over him to make him leave?"

John asked, having a hard time getting the words out. "Then she wouldn't have to pretend to be anything to him."

Serena's gazed softened as she almost seemed to pity John "Dakota wont take your money.

The last thing she'd want is to give any of her success to you or your father… You can't make Luscious leave, legally he nearly owns the show."

"There has to be something…"

The silence covered the room again as Serena considered his options. She wasn't about to sabotage her show and he knew that, but for one reason or another she took pity on him, so he could only hope she'd have pity for Kim as well.

"You could take Kim away from here," she said, a devious twinkle returning to her eyes.

"Give her to opening night and I'll keep her safe, then you get her on a plane and take her far from here and Luscious. I'll help if you make sure she's long gone before the show starts."

Had John cared to think about the situation logically he would have turned Serena down.

There was no doubt in his mind his removing Kim would benefit her position in the show, and he had no real reason to trust she would take care of her. He didn't even have a reason to believe Kimberly would want to leave with him. But he was too consumed with a need for action to even think about any negative outcome.

Kimberly may have fallen into Dakota's game, but he would be the one to get her out if it was the last thing he did.

"You keep Dakota and that Luscious away from her and you'll never see either of us again." Bleep

[/color]Name Your Price

First there is desire, then passion, and then suspicion…


With the book being written and the set list starting to fall into place the only hard work left to do fell on Kimberly and the other dancers.

Dakota had promised them grand sets and even grander costumes with Luscious's help, a fact that excited everyone in the company aside from Kim. The show had yet to be named but as far as the company was told it promised to be the most successful show they had put on.

If Kimberly could keep her end of the deal up, anyway.

The choreographer worked her feet to the bone as the company watched. Serena managing to weave her way into the lessons to push and pull Kim's body to show her how to properly seduce the audience, something that at first seemed strange until the male dancers began to offer their opinions on Serena's methods. Even the sweet-mannered Paul offered a comment or too when he thought there was something that could be changed.

"You have to convince the crowd you have feelings for the club owner Kim," Serena said, walking her through the choreographer's steps.

"You make Paul here fall for you and they will too, and if they like you that's better for all of us."

At this the tall man's cheeks turned a light pink, causing the men around him to chuckle. "What Serena means is you just have to make it look like you like me, you don't have to pretend to be in love with me."

Kimberly nodded, taking a small break when the choreographer started to work with the men.

Well, that's one less person I need to lie to , she thought, digging around in her dance bag for a bottle of water.

She had already heard from Serena and Dakota how important convincing Luscious she cared for him was to so many people besides the three of them, and she'd skipped out on staying with John for breakfast to keep from explaining to him why she had to take so many pills before rehearsal. Even if it was just an act the last thing she needed was to have another web of lies to string together in order to protect herself and her performance. As far as she was concerned the only lie she wanted to tell was that she understood her steps for the opening number.

"I want the backdrop to be big enough to have the whole company standing around it together.

No I don't care how much it costs you know we've got the deal signed. No, no Kimberly wont be using it works with her pieces so he'll still be paying for it." Kim could just barely make out Dakota fussing about on stage, her phone pressed close to her ear. "Just get it done, the sooner the sets are finished the sooner we move to costume. We're on a tight schedule here, make it happen."

Everything and everyone seemed to be running in a frenzy around her as she ordered people to and fro. Kimberly had never seen someone so in control of their surroundings and while the sight was impressive she wanted nothing more than to use the chaos to go back to John's bed and hide from everything that was expected of her. Dakota, however, had different plans the second she spotted Kim.

"There you are," she said as she hung up her call. "Come here, I've been meaning to talk to you."

"I'm not sure if I'm free right now Dakota, we still have the rest of the number to learn," Kim said in an attempt to avoid the conversation.

"Nonsense, they've still got ten other people to teach it to, I can borrow you for a moment."

Dakota's polite smile did nothing to hide the fact she wouldn't be allowing Kimberly to make excuses. "Come see me in my office."

Dakota walked off stage through the frenzy of dancers and builders with such a sense of purpose she seemed to part the sea of people and curtains with an effortless ease. Should her air of power had been directed to any other profession there was no doubt in Dakota's mind that she would be terrifyingly successful.

But for better or for worse, Dakota's efforts were focused on the theater and Kimberly specifically.

This made the idea of trying to avoid Dakota a second time completely ridiculous.

With a small sigh Kimberly pulled herself up from her seat, walking backstage after the taller woman as quickly as she could manage. She had never been inside the office personally but the older members of the company were able to point her in the right direction easily.

The office lay in a hallway between the girls' dressing room and the stage door. Secluded from the rest of the theater Kimberly could only assume what kinds of shady deals she needed complete privacy for. It wasn't until she came to sit down across from the large hard wood desk that she even considered the fact Luscious's investment in her was most likely made in the room as well.

"Is something wrong?" Kim asked, watching Dakota dig through one of the desk drawers.

"Not at all, I just have a little business to talk to you about." The woman carefully pulled out a small notebook and a bottle of pills from the top drawer. "The dancers have been saying you get a bit nervous on stage, yes?"

"I don't think so… I mean I haven't been there as long as them so I guess it takes some getting used to," Kim said, unsure of where she was going with her question. "Serena said everyone gets a little nervous."

"Serena says a lot of things dear, and you can't always listen to her." Dakota smiled, handing Kim the bottle. "Sometimes you need a second opinion, and in this case it's mine."

The bottle felt heavier in her hand than the pain pills Serena had given her. The label across the side filled with warnings and ingredients she had never heard of before and the doctor's notes were nearly impossible to read. She had taken serious medication once or twice before and remembered the feeling of the few pills placed in a large bottle. A quick shake proved that unlike her past prescriptions, this bottle had been filled to the top.

"How is this a second opinion?" She asked, an uneasy feeling coming over her the longer she held the bottle.

"For your stage fright. They help calm the nerves and remove inhibitions. Serena took them for a while when she started too. Just take two if you start feeling nervous and everything will be fine." Dakota smiled, placing her hands over Kim's, skillfully closing her hands around the bottle to ensure she kept it.

"You can stop taking them once we're sure you can handle everything. Alright?"

Before Kimberly could consider the issues with taking a medication like that she found herself already putting it in her dance bag, Dakota's gaze only leaving her when the pills were tucked safely in their new home. Had she refused the bottle there was no doubt in her mind Dakota would have found a way to force her to take it.

"Alright. I'll try not to use it up too fast," Kim attempted to chuckle.

With a small smile she was excused, pulling her bag back over her shoulder head out of the room as quickly as possible. She wanted to rid herself of the uneasy feeling that had settled in at the sight of the bottle and she doubted the bleak office was doing anything to help.

It wasn't until she had almost made her escape that the sound of Dakota clearing her throat forced her to look back.

"I almost forgot. You wont be going to rehearsal Friday night." Dakota's smile seemed almost genuine, as if she was excited for Kim.

"Luscious has arranged a dinner for the two of you then. He's very excited apparently, so you get some rest before then."

Kimberly felt her heart sink. She had no desire to pretend to be interested in another man while John was most likely still in the bed she had left so unceremoniously. Yet she could not use another man as an excuse to avoid her investor, not while she knew how much was at stake.

"That sounds fun," she lied much to Dakota's enjoyment. "I'll be ready."

At that she was finally dismissed, being left to return to the theater on her own. As thoughts about making an excuse to avoid John that day began to mingle with all the lies she'd have to prepare to deal with Luscious's affections Kimberly barely noticed the sound of her dance bag opening up.

As her mind began to turn towards how to tell John she wouldn't be available all Friday she became unaware of the bottle of pills opening.

And as she pictured having to tell him she would be busy Saturday as well she could barely taste the bitterness of the pills as she walked back onto stage.[color=#770077]Name Your Price

First there is desire, then passion, and then suspicion…


With the book being written and the set list starting to fall into place the only hard work left to do fell on Kimberly and the other dancers.

Dakota had promised them grand sets and even grander costumes with Luscious's help, a fact that excited everyone in the company aside from Kim. The show had yet to be named but as far as the company was told it promised to be the most successful show they had put on.

If Kimberly could keep her end of the deal up, anyway.

The choreographer worked her feet to the bone as the company watched. Serena managing to weave her way into the lessons to push and pull Kim's body to show her how to properly seduce the audience, something that at first seemed strange until the male dancers began to offer their opinions on Serena's methods. Even the sweet-mannered Paul offered a comment or too when he thought there was something that could be changed.

"You have to convince the crowd you have feelings for the club owner Kim," Serena said, walking her through the choreographer's steps.

"You make Paul here fall for you and they will too, and if they like you that's better for all of us."

At this the tall man's cheeks turned a light pink, causing the men around him to chuckle. "What Serena means is you just have to make it look like you like me, you don't have to pretend to be in love with me."

Kimberly nodded, taking a small break when the choreographer started to work with the men.

Well, that's one less person I need to lie to , she thought, digging around in her dance bag for a bottle of water.

She had already heard from Serena and Dakota how important convincing Luscious she cared for him was to so many people besides the three of them, and she'd skipped out on staying with John for breakfast to keep from explaining to him why she had to take so many pills before rehearsal. Even if it was just an act the last thing she needed was to have another web of lies to string together in order to protect herself and her performance. As far as she was concerned the only lie she wanted to tell was that she understood her steps for the opening number.

"I want the backdrop to be big enough to have the whole company standing around it together.

No I don't care how much it costs you know we've got the deal signed. No, no Kimberly wont be using it works with her pieces so he'll still be paying for it." Kim could just barely make out Dakota fussing about on stage, her phone pressed close to her ear. "Just get it done, the sooner the sets are finished the sooner we move to costume. We're on a tight schedule here, make it happen."

Everything and everyone seemed to be running in a frenzy around her as she ordered people to and fro. Kimberly had never seen someone so in control of their surroundings and while the sight was impressive she wanted nothing more than to use the chaos to go back to John's bed and hide from everything that was expected of her. Dakota, however, had different plans the second she spotted Kim.

"There you are," she said as she hung up her call. "Come here, I've been meaning to talk to you."

"I'm not sure if I'm free right now Dakota, we still have the rest of the number to learn," Kim said in an attempt to avoid the conversation.

"Nonsense, they've still got ten other people to teach it to, I can borrow you for a moment."

Dakota's polite smile did nothing to hide the fact she wouldn't be allowing Kimberly to make excuses. "Come see me in my office."

Dakota walked off stage through the frenzy of dancers and builders with such a sense of purpose she seemed to part the sea of people and curtains with an effortless ease. Should her air of power had been directed to any other profession there was no doubt in Dakota's mind that she would be terrifyingly successful.

But for better or for worse, Dakota's efforts were focused on the theater and Kimberly specifically.

This made the idea of trying to avoid Dakota a second time completely ridiculous.

With a small sigh Kimberly pulled herself up from her seat, walking backstage after the taller woman as quickly as she could manage. She had never been inside the office personally but the older members of the company were able to point her in the right direction easily.

The office lay in a hallway between the girls' dressing room and the stage door. Secluded from the rest of the theater Kimberly could only assume what kinds of shady deals she needed complete privacy for. It wasn't until she came to sit down across from the large hard wood desk that she even considered the fact Luscious's investment in her was most likely made in the room as well.

"Is something wrong?" Kim asked, watching Dakota dig through one of the desk drawers.

"Not at all, I just have a little business to talk to you about." The woman carefully pulled out a small notebook and a bottle of pills from the top drawer. "The dancers have been saying you get a bit nervous on stage, yes?"

"I don't think so… I mean I haven't been there as long as them so I guess it takes some getting used to," Kim said, unsure of where she was going with her question. "Serena said everyone gets a little nervous."

"Serena says a lot of things dear, and you can't always listen to her." Dakota smiled, handing Kim the bottle. "Sometimes you need a second opinion, and in this case it's mine."

The bottle felt heavier in her hand than the pain pills Serena had given her. The label across the side filled with warnings and ingredients she had never heard of before and the doctor's notes were nearly impossible to read. She had taken serious medication once or twice before and remembered the feeling of the few pills placed in a large bottle. A quick shake proved that unlike her past prescriptions, this bottle had been filled to the top.

"How is this a second opinion?" She asked, an uneasy feeling coming over her the longer she held the bottle.

"For your stage fright. They help calm the nerves and remove inhibitions. Serena took them for a while when she started too. Just take two if you start feeling nervous and everything will be fine." Dakota smiled, placing her hands over Kim's, skillfully closing her hands around the bottle to ensure she kept it.

"You can stop taking them once we're sure you can handle everything. Alright?"

Before Kimberly could consider the issues with taking a medication like that she found herself already putting it in her dance bag, Dakota's gaze only leaving her when the pills were tucked safely in their new home. Had she refused the bottle there was no doubt in her mind Dakota would have found a way to force her to take it.

"Alright. I'll try not to use it up too fast," Kim attempted to chuckle.

With a small smile she was excused, pulling her bag back over her shoulder head out of the room as quickly as possible. She wanted to rid herself of the uneasy feeling that had settled in at the sight of the bottle and she doubted the bleak office was doing anything to help.

It wasn't until she had almost made her escape that the sound of Dakota clearing her throat forced her to look back.

"I almost forgot. You wont be going to rehearsal Friday night." Dakota's smile seemed almost genuine, as if she was excited for Kim.

"Luscious has arranged a dinner for the two of you then. He's very excited apparently, so you get some rest before then."

Kimberly felt her heart sink. She had no desire to pretend to be interested in another man while John was most likely still in the bed she had left so unceremoniously. Yet she could not use another man as an excuse to avoid her investor, not while she knew how much was at stake.

"That sounds fun," she lied much to Dakota's enjoyment. "I'll be ready."

At that she was finally dismissed, being left to return to the theater on her own. As thoughts about making an excuse to avoid John that day began to mingle with all the lies she'd have to prepare to deal with Luscious's affections Kimberly barely noticed the sound of her dance bag opening up.

As her mind began to turn towards how to tell John she wouldn't be available all Friday she became unaware of the bottle of pills opening.

And as she pictured having to tell him she would be busy Saturday as well she could barely taste the bitterness of the pills as she walked back onto stage.Name Your Price

First there is desire, then passion, and then suspicion…


With the book being written and the set list starting to fall into place the only hard work left to do fell on Kimberly and the other dancers.

Dakota had promised them grand sets and even grander costumes with Luscious's help, a fact that excited everyone in the company aside from Kim. The show had yet to be named but as far as the company was told it promised to be the most successful show they had put on.

If Kimberly could keep her end of the deal up, anyway.

The choreographer worked her feet to the bone as the company watched. Serena managing to weave her way into the lessons to push and pull Kim's body to show her how to properly seduce the audience, something that at first seemed strange until the male dancers began to offer their opinions on Serena's methods. Even the sweet-mannered Paul offered a comment or too when he thought there was something that could be changed.

"You have to convince the crowd you have feelings for the club owner Kim," Serena said, walking her through the choreographer's steps.

"You make Paul here fall for you and they will too, and if they like you that's better for all of us."

At this the tall man's cheeks turned a light pink, causing the men around him to chuckle. "What Serena means is you just have to make it look like you like me, you don't have to pretend to be in love with me."

Kimberly nodded, taking a small break when the choreographer started to work with the men.

Well, that's one less person I need to lie to , she thought, digging around in her dance bag for a bottle of water.

.

"

Mark returned to the penthouse the next day, having spent the night in a bar with a female bartender all too pleased to let him stay on her couch after drinking too much. From what he could remember he didn't find the woman too attractive but he was not one to pass up another's hospitality. Especially when he was too lazy to cook himself food.

As he expected on his return the flat was left in shambles, John's clothes thrown about the living room floor as he could never be bothered to put them where they belonged. The kitchen looked as though it had been hit by a hurricane with pots, pans, and burnt pancake batter covering every available surface. The only thing that Mark wasn't expecting had been the deep red chunk of silk lying near John's jacket. He assumed it would happen sometime, but he hadn't guessed he would be lucky enough to avoid trying to sleep through it all together.

"You still here Prince Charming?" Mark teased, picking the dress up from the ground, laying it across the couch to keep from wrinkling the fabric.

A groan from John's bedroom answered his question. "I think the milk went bad."

"That isn't the milk you slowpoke, it was the fact you tried to eat your own cooking in the first place." Collecting the clothes on the floor Mark walked into John's room, throwing the clothes into the hamper to demonstrate their proper place. "So you and Kimberly then?"

John nodded, lying back on his bed to try and keep from loosing his late breakfast. Mark could only chuckle. Usually John would take this opportunity to brag to Mark about the woman he had been with or anything to bring up how Mark's luck with women was far worse than his own. The fact he spoiled any chance to seem superior to Mark made spending a night on a strangers couch all the more worth it. "She had to go to her place before seeing Dakota. She couldn't stay for breakfast."

"Brunch. You never wake up in time for breakfast. And that's all the better for her. I doubt throwing up on stage is a good thing,"

Mark said, going through the room in an attempt to tidy it up. "So… dare I ask how it went?"

Even in his pathetic state John still managed to smile at the memory. Mark could see the sickly color leave his cheeks for a moment as his eyes stared up to the ceiling as if it were covered in gold.

"No, don't explain. I know that look well enough," Mark said with a smile. "You've fallen for her hard haven't you?"

"I don't understand why I would, we've barely known each other that long." John ran his hands through his hair, a wide smile plastered onto his face. "She just has this look in her eyes some of the time, and when she laughs it's just… and her body I can't begin to—" "Save it!" Mark laughed, picking up a red bag he could only assume belonged to Kim.

"You're going to make me sick if you keep talking like that."

Despite his stomach disagreeing with him John still managed enough energy to throw a pillow at Mark head. The hit causing him to lose his grip on the bag just enough for it to slip from his hands to fall on the ground with a quiet thud. A quiet jingle coming from within the bag as it fell beside the pillow.

Unable to with hold his curiosity Mark picked it back up, opening it to try and find what made the noise. With a quick scan he noticed a phone in need of a good charge, some cash, and a bright orange bottle with a white cap. Taking the bottle out Mark gave it one quick shake to determine it was the source of the jingle along with the fact it seemed to be missing more pills than the label indicated.

"What's that?" John asked, coming down from his momentary bliss long enough to recognize what Mark was doing.

"Some sort of prescription pain pill. It's made out to that Serena girl." Mark shrugged, placing it back into the bag. "Woman things I'm sure. You can give this all back to Kim later."

John nodded, his uneasiness now shifting away from his stomach to regard the pills he had seen earlier that week. He couldn't help but feel as though something was going on he wasn't aware of and Mark knew he wouldn't be satisfied enough with allotting it to 'woman things'.

"She's a dancer right? Those shoes hurt your feet. I mean that's what I've heard anyway. Try not to let it bother you too much. She still likes you so some Advil never hurt anything."

Mark's reassurances fell on deaf ears as john pulled himself out of bed to get dressed.

"I know, she's smarter than to take something bad for her. I'm just not sure I like the idea of people working for Dakota slipping her things under the table."

"She works for Dakota, John."

"I know, Mark. " His mind was already made up and Mark knew it. If he learned anything from his time around John it was that the one trait all Grey's shared besides their money was their stubbornness.

"I just want to keep an eye on those people. I met a few last night at dinner and I don't like the looks of them."

"Well what are you going to do, spy on them?"

"Of course not you idiot. But I don't think having a word with that Serena girl would hurt anything," he said. "You keep an eye out for Kimberly while I'm gone alright?"

Mark groaned, knowing very well this meant he would be stuck cleaning up the mess in the kitchen. "Fine. Run off and play white knight without me. I'll keep your girlfriend company."

teel123:
Kim and john interesting.but do you know you have ghost workers

really who are they

You guys aint really commenting and its not encouraging. Please comment

Bleep The hours after the dinner were not only a success for John and Kimberly but for Dakota as well. Luscious seemed so enchanted with her lead that after only mentioning how much would be needed to put Kim on stage he was ready to sign any contract passed to him.

Dakota had dealt with her fair share of men vying for Serena's attention but never once did she see someone so ready to please a woman he had to pay to spend time with. She never asked him why he was so interested in Kim simply because it didn't affect the contract, but if he was persistent enough to stick around and fund her shows then she could only see his enthusiasm as a good thing. As far as she could tell the man seemed to think he was already in a relationship with Kimberly after their dinner.

With luck she would have the two together enough to not even have to worry about Kimberly changing her mind.

She would have shared the good news with her new favorite at the book meeting the next day had she bothered to show up on time. The meeting wasn't crucial for Kim as it only dealt with the story they wanted to use for their next show as her part would be determined mainly by Dakota but her absence was noted.

Too much money was on the line for Kimberly to start acting as though she made the rules.

Even Serena who had seemed glued to the girl's side for the sole purpose of vexing Dakota had no idea as to what would be keeping their lead from showing up.

"She may have just slept in late," Serena said to Kim's defense. "She'll show up."

The rehearsal had been pushed past lunch to try and accommodate for whatever was holding her up but Dakota had dealt with enough inconveniences with Serena to be open to diva in her company. Just as her temper was close to boiling over the theater doors flung open as the small woman was ushered in with the help of the bartender.

"I'm so sorry! I lost my phone and my alarm didn't go off and—"

"Quiet!" Dakota's voice rang through the empty theater with an impressive clarity that caused the dancers around her to shrink back. "I understand you're new to all this, but we do not tolerate absences once rehearsal begins.

Kimberly, you're very important here. Do not think that means I'm against having you sleep from the cat walk if that's what it takes to have you here on time."

The smaller woman nodded, her hands pulling at the collar of her jacket to keep it as close to her neck as possible. Dakota vaguely noticed the small discoloring of the skin she was attempting to cover before Serena hurried to the side of her new ward. The old star fussing over the girl's hair and clothes in such a manner that Dakota quickly lost interest. If the two were smart they would know better than to let whatever kept her from happening again.

"If we're done with this little episode, I'd like to go over the show so we can begin the real work." Dakota walked over to stand center stage, having the entire company's attention fixed on her.

With a little assistance from the members of the company who had bothered to attend the earlier meeting Dakota began to gloss over their plans for the new story. To highlight Kimberly in the best light they chose to work with a setting in the burlesque club from the thirties.

Kimberly would be playing the role of the club's lead singer with Sophia and Serena backing her, though Serena's casting was only made to ensure Kim had someone to show her the ropes.

The story would follow the singer as she falls for the club's owner, who one of the kinder men in the company named Paul had offered to play, as he ran out of money to support the joint. As a reprieve the owner would turn towards a mobster, who the company voted would best be played by Reed, that frequented the club in order to keep his business afloat. When the mobster spots the singer he would bargain to take her away from the club in exchange for his partnership. "At the moment we're still debating on the ending. Either the signer will leave with the mobster for a better life, or she'll stay with the club," Dakota watched as the company began to debate for which version they preferred. "Our investor and Chris will be choosing the ending. You all will have to manage with which ever one they choose."

A resounding groan came from the older members, knowing very well how fickle an investor's attention could be. The groan silenced by a quick glare from Dakota before she turned the rehearsal over to the company's choreographer.

Kimberly appeared to be paying attention after a quick nudge from Serena. The two had been spending quite a lengthy amount of time together and though Dakota wanted nothing more than to keep Kim under her control having someone around to teach her how the business worked was too useful to pass up.

Leaving the company in the hands of the choreographer Dakota left the theater in order to make a quick phone call. She had hoped to push the call off longer but considering the threat of future missed rehearsals and whatever Dakota would try to pull it became necessary to secure her investment in Kim as soon as possible.

" How can I help you? " An older voice asked. "Owen, how are you?" Dakota smiled, knowing how to charm the doctor better than anyone. "I know we haven't spoken for a while, but the girls have been keeping me busy."

" They always do, " the old man chuckled. "It keeps it interesting. Anyway we have a new girl with us, very talented even Serena knows so, but she isn't used to performing so I was wondering if you could send over some of those pills we had given Serenafor her stage fright," Dakota said sweetly.

" You know I'd rather not. It can be very harmful to the girls if they take too many. Poor Serena was almost dependant on them you had me sending so many."

"It's for the good of the show Owen, we'll be much more careful this time. No more than two per show I swear." Dakota smiled as she was almost convinced by her own lie. "She's a healthy girl otherwise. It's harmless I promise."

The other end of the phone stayed quiet for a moment longer as the doctor considered the consequences. The pills he would prescribe were not meant to be taken unless absolutely necessary, as they were known to hold addictive properties. He had been in charge of the Grey family's affairs for years now though, and refusing a seemingly harmless request from the ever-charming Dakota was more difficult than refusing Collins himself.

"Very well. I'll have a bottle sent over to you by the end of the week. Just make sure she doesn't take any additional medication. And it's only to be used for a show!

Owen's warnings had no affect on Dakota's decision. If a confidence boosting drug had a habit of making her girls far more cooperative in some matters then the check dangling from Lusciou's hands was more than enough to convince her of it's necessity. When Serena felt uneasy about her first investor Dakota supplied her with a way to go on, and just to insure Kimberly continued down the path they started at the dinner she'd have as much ready as needed.

"Of course, my dear friend. Only to help the show."

Diamond Dogs

A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, but diamonds are a girl's best friend.


At the sound of the elevator reaching the penthouse level Kimberly and John were reluctantly forced to part. The collar of John's shirt hanging around his neck in a creased mess from Kim's arms around his neck while her borrowed dress was now in desperate need of pressing from John's hands roaming and grabbing at her body. The carefully applied lipstick Kimberly had been wearing was now smeared across John's lips, highlighting the smug smile on his face as he helped Kimberly out of the elevator.

The pair could hardly keep themselves from laughing at the turn of events as John attempted to steal another kiss each time Kim slowed to adjust her heels before giving in and removing them completely. Kimberly had known kissing John was enjoyable, but she hadn't expected him to be persistent to keep the kisses going as he was. Had she known she would have forgone wearing any lipstick at all.

"If you don't hurry up I'll be carrying you inside," John said, easily placing a kiss on Kim's forehead.

"It's this dress!" Kim laughed as she pushed the taller man away, attempting to keep up to him as best she could. "Serena doesn't go around running after men."

"And what a shame for men everywhere," John smirked, receiving a hard swat on his arm by Kimberly before moving over to pick her up by her waist easily.

Kim found herself giggling as John carried her into the penthouse, trying her best to slip out from his grasp without falling backwards.

The silk of the dress slipped around only to cause John to hold her tighter before placing her back on the ground. Her attempts to keep from tripping failing as the bunched up silk wrapped around her knees causing her to fall right back into john's arms.

Taking advantage of the moment John stole another kiss, holding Kimberly's hips as she returned the kiss with just as much fervor.

Kim could feel his hands pulling her closer against him as she moved her own up to run her fingers through his now messy blonde hair.

Had it not been for a need of air she doubted they would have parted, as John didn't bother loosing his hold on her hips.

"I-is Mark awake?" Kim asked as she scrambled for a breath.

"I doubt he's here." John kissed across her jaw-line, managing to catch his breath between kisses. "If I don't feed him he goes to find someone who will. He's like a pet."

"John…"

"Fine, fine I'll check." Reluctantly John pulled away from his kisses, moving his head back away from Kimberly before belting loud enough to be heard by anyone walking through the hallway out side the penthouse. "Mark! "

Without a proper warning Kim winced from the power of his voice. She doubted covering her ears would have done much to soften the blow.

Had Mark been in the flat she doubted he could have ignored the call even if he was deep in sleep.

When no answer came John's smug smile grew. His blue eyes dancing in the dim lighting cast throughout the living room from the large window as he looked back to Kim.

"Told you, he'll be back tomorrow," he said, his hands moving up to Kim's waist. "Don't you worry about him now."

Finding herself enchanted by his gaze Kimberly reached up to hold onto the lapels of his jacket, her eyes lowering to admire the traces of her lipstick across his lips and cheek.

"And who should I be worried for then?"

"Mainly that dress, you're practically spilling out of it." John's hands tracing across her back until he grasped onto the dress's zipper. "We'll have to fix that before it gets damaged."

"Hmm, so thoughtful." Kimberly couldn't help but smile, turning around to allow John to undo her dress with ease.

The quick bite of cold air on her back soon replaced by the heat of John's kisses trailing down the back of her neck to the crook of her spine. A sharp gasp escaping her lips as she felt him kiss the back of her neck harder as the dress slipped off, needing a tug to pass her hips before pooling up at her feet.

Kimberly turned to face John, allowing him to lift her out of the pool of silk as she wrapped her legs around his waist. His jacket and tie quickly joining the dress on the floor as he carried her toward the master bedroom. Kim's fingers knotting themselves in his hair as they shared another kiss even more heated than the last.

John held her with ease as he kicked the door closed behind them in case Mark decided to return early. As quickly as the door had closed he moved her to the edge of his bed, freeing his arms to toss his shirt onto the floor as Kimberly worked his pants off just as quickly.

The clothes soon scattered around the bed as Kim pulled him up beside her.

On her knees she almost matched his height though she was still far from matching his size.

Her eyes transfixed on the way his toned muscles moved as he began to kiss her neck. His mutterings about Kimberly's beauty barely reaching her ears before being drowned out by a quiet moan as he nipped a sweet spot on her neck.

Encouraged by the sound John began to kiss the spot harder, lowering Kim's back against his bed with ease. His hands roaming across her body in an attempt to memorize her every curve, grabbing anywhere he can before pushing her legs apart without complaint. His lips trailing down from her neck across her collar bone, taking a moment to kiss any tender spot hard.

Before Kimberly could pull his lips back to his neck she felt his hand trailing down from her thigh to brush across her now heated center.

Her hands gripping his broad shoulders tight as he began to trace circles across the most sensitive spot on her body.

"Tease…" she said with a smirk, her fingers digging into his shoulder blades as he began to put more pressure on the one spot.

The longer John teased her the louder her moans became, her body aching for more than just his touch. Unable to stand being without him any longer she moved one hand from her shoulders to grab at his manhood gently to bring him towards her entrance. Her gentle coaxing more than enough to get her message across as John moved his hand to her wrist, placing her arm above her head as he pushed inside her.

A sharp gasp escaping her lips as she felt just how large he was quickly silenced by John's lips on hers. Kissing him back heavily Kimberly only needed a moment to get used to him before moving her leg around his hips to encourage him to move.

Happily obliging John began to pick up his pace slowly at first before Kimberly began to move her own hips to increase their speed. The kiss breaking as he moaned over the feeling of her tight warmth around him. His moan quickly joined by Kim's as she gripped his shoulders tighter, her nails digging into his skin as she felt a heat starting to build up from the pit of her stomach.

"J-jjohn…" she moaned, her back arching to press herself against him as the feeling grew until it covered her completely.

Gripping onto her hips John only continued to increase the pace, the feeling of Kim tightening around him only encouraging him.

With a kiss to her neck he felt her hands gripping even tighter against his back as she was pushed over the edge.

"O-oh…oh! Joh ...!" The feeling hitting her body like a wave as nearly screamed his name in release to which Joh matched with just as much intensity.

The two clung to each other as their bodies started to relax. Neither seemed to want to move away from the other even when Kim sunk back down against the bed. Their shallow breathing mixed with light laughter in their post- orgasmic state.

Reluctantly John moved from above Kimberly to lie besides her, kissing her cheek sloppily only to elicit more breathless laughter.

"I should make you jealous more often…" she giggled, turning over to face John with a smile.

"As long as I'm whose name your screaming," John said with a smirk.

Weakly giving his chest a shove Kim couldn't help but smile as she moved closer to curl against his side, finding that she already missed the feeling of his arms around her. The two lay side by side in a blissful quiet for a moment as Kim rested her head on John's chest. The rise and fall of his breath lulling her into a calm she couldn't remember having felt beside someone else before.

"In that case," she yawned, wrapping her arm across his chest comfortably. "You have nothing to worry about."

And in that moment no amount of money could convince Kimberly she was wrong.

Bleep The dinner couldn't have ended quick enough as far as Kimberly was concerned. No amount of encouraging smiles from Serena or kind words from Luscious kept the image John hurrying out of the restaurant from her mind. If she had her way she would have followed him out the second he stood up, but both Dakota and Luscious's gazes kept her from even moving out of her chair.

It wasn't until the older man at the table mentioned making a deal with Dakota that she and Luscious left, giving Kimberly just enough time to leave. Without a second look to Serena or Dakota leaving Kim quickly followed the same path John had. Praying she'd catch him waiting as she usually did.

The hallway outside the restaurant was empty and her Serena's dress made it nearly impossible to imagine running around in search of where he had gone. If it hadn't been for the empty lobby across the hallway she would have missed the blonde man entirely as he waited for an elevator.

"John!" She tried to ignore the relief in her voice as she hurried into the lobby after him. "John please wait a moment."

"I should get back to Mark, make sure he didn't burn the place down or something," John said, barely able to look Kimberly in the eyes. "And you shouldn't keep your friends waiting either."

"You know he didn't and they aren't my friends."

Kimberly stepped in front of the elevator doors as the started to open, blocking John from leaving her alone again.

She couldn't explain the guilt she felt. She and John had only kissed once and though it was certainly a good kiss it didn't mean they were bound to one another. At least for her. The carefully hidden look of hurt on John's face seemed to argue otherwise.

"You and that Luscious man seemed rather friendly," John said, trying to find a way into the elevator around Kim "I was being nice. If he's who Serena thinks he is then he's offering up a lot of money to get me on stage. I… I need him to like me John.

It's just some innocent flirting," she said, unsure of how much she believed her own words. "I told you not to come anyway so why did you?"

John paused, his deep blue eyes fixed down onto her with steely determination to not show any more emotion than necessary. He knew as well as Kimberly did that neither of them had any right telling the other what not to do after just one kiss. At the same time however, he could not shake the feeling of being led on. "I wanted to make sure you were okay.

Dakota's a cruel person when it comes to getting what she wants and any man putting down that much money out of the blue obviously wants something for it and you're walking around in that dress that I'm surprised you could even manage to sit in and—"

"John!" Kim cut him off before his jealous rambling could go any farther. "I know what I'm getting myself into and I'm completely capable of taking care of myself!"

Kimberly knew John wasn't used to being called out and she wasn't fond of causing trouble but the fact he was acting so possessive without a clear reason was infuriating.

"I'm not some little girl who's going to be parading around after a pretty boy just because he makes her feel special alright? I've got my own job and if I have to entertain a man with a lot of money then I'm going to do that! It was just some smiles and a little flirting, it was harmless!" she said unable to hold herself back, "I don't even have to be explaining this to you, I don't owe you an explanation."

The taller man took a step back, staring down at the smaller woman in awe. It was then that she realized just how badly the kiss had affected John. From the look on his face she could tell he had never considered she didn't see them as a couple. He didn't seem offended or upset. He simply looked hurt.

"Oh," was all he could get out before he had to catch the elevator doors from closing. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come… I thought... I don't know what I thought."

Stepping asideKimberly allowed him into the elevator, the hurt look on his face making her stomach sink down into the pit of her gut. She knew exactly what he thought and that he probably thought she would be far more grateful for his surprise than she was. Had he been any less sincere she would have had half a mind to leave him in the elevator alone.

But damn it all if she wasn't certain that his hurt face would keep her from sleeping for weeks.

"Wait," she said. John just barely managing to stop the door in time to let her follow him inside. "I shouldn't have yelled it's just… Well this is what I want to do, I want to be on stage and I want to have the cute apartment filled with things from shows I've been in and Luscious may be my one ticket there. I don't know what this is between the two of us but if it's going to work you're going to have to accept that I'll need to show him a good time until I get there. Okay?"

There was more than enough room in the elevator for a good amount of space to be put between the two but she still found herself inches away from John. She watched as he contemplated the offer, the cuff of his jacket brushing against her nose as he fixed a flyaway curl on the top of her head. After what had been a considerably long silence Kim found herself worrying that he say no, and losing him scared her a fair deal more than she wanted it to.

"Okay," he finally said. "I just don't want to lose you, Kimberly."

He didn't need to elaborate on why or on what they were. He wouldn't have been given the chance either way. By the time he had said her nameKimberly's lips were already on his, kissing him lightly at first before he kissed back even harder.

As far as she was concerned at the moment the only reason he would lose her was when they had to separate and leave the elevator. And they had a good twenty floors before that came up.

Bleep The restaurant had been reserved exclusively for Dakota's dinner. Guests had been turned away and offered a second choice as to where they could go free of charge. John had to practically beg Dakota to allow him to join her.

On the condition that he come without Mark and refrained from speaking during any serious matter she finally agreed to let him join.

Mark hated the idea of being left behind but ultimately he knew it was for the best. If John's suspicions about the men Kimberly was set to meet were even close to accurate than it was worth it if at least one of them could watch out for her.

Truth be told John was ready to break into the dinner unannounced after finding the pills in Kimberly's place along with the mention of how much money was on the line. Something didn't feel right and he was far past trying to reason things out when his kimberly's well being could be at stake.

His Kimberly. There was a phrase he wouldn't have thought would have come up so soon.

As he sat beside Dakota he soon realized just how quickly he'd fallen for Kimberly. He wanted to believe in love and all the fairytale nonsense Mark prattled on about but he could never understand feeling whole when another person was beside him. It was all childish and he hadn't thought about the merit to Mark's words in ages.

Yet the second he had the chance to kiss Kimberly the other morning he found himself unable to imagine living without knowing the feeling of her lips on his. In just those few seconds he had decided to give her his entire heart in the hopes that she would need him as badly as she needed her.

He had been so wrapped up in his thoughts about Kim that he failed to realize when a tall well dress man joined them at the table, sitting directly across from him and Dakota. His dark hair slicked back to show off his evenly tanned skin. Out of everyone at the table he was the only man who's suit could rival John's in price.

"So sorry we're late Dakota," the man said, flashing the two a bright smile. "Chris could send me proper directions so it took a while to wait for a cab."

John turned his attention to the man as he spoke. Under any other circumstance he would've struck John as someone trustworthy and harmless. Years of watching his father deal with investors however, taught him that those kinds of men were the ones to watch out for.

"I doubt he could find the place on his own anyway," Dakota chuckled. "Don't worry about it, our girl isn't here yet either. You have to give diva's their time you know."

The man laughed, welcoming Dakota's elder bookkeeper to the seat beside him. John trusted the newer man even less than he trusted the one in front of him but by the way he kept his glance down towards his phone he doubted he had any real interest in Kim.

The only real threat came from the fact the man across from him seemed just as eager to see her walk in as John was.

"A diva needs a show Dakota." A silky voice came from behind the table as the old lead stepped forward in an ivory gown. "We've got a way to go before you can start calling her that."

All head's turned to the woman behind them, Dakota's eyes narrowing at the sight of her.

John could just barely remember her as the lead from the first show he had seen. She seemed sharper than when he had seen her before and if he didn't know better he would have said she seemed to be threatening Dakota by simply showing up.

He couldn't give the two women a second thought however, as Kimberly walked over to the table from behind the other woman before Dakota could get a word in. The red gown she wore clinging to her curves in the most delicious manner. Its sleeves falling off her shoulder to showcase her collarbone and just how high the bodice was pushing her chest up.

Had they been alone he doubted he would've been able to keep from trying to rip it off her the moment she walked into the room. It was only when he noticed the man across from him sharing the same thought that he pulled himself out of his fantasizing.

"I'm sorry for taking so long," Kim said, holding back a giggle when both John and the investor stood up to pull a chair out for her. "I had a little trouble finding something to wear."

"You look perfect." The investor said, giving Dakota a quick glance before she sent Kim to sit beside him.

John slowly sat himself back down, being joined by Serena where he had expected Kim to sit. Her own gaze lingering on the man beside Kimberly as the two started talking.

"Kimberly, this is Luscious. Luscious, this is Kimberly. She'll be our company's new star with the next production," Dakota said, keeping a close eye on both Serena and John.

"She's quite the showgirl. I wouldn't be surprised if she sold the theater out faster than Serena did."

"Dakota!" Kim said, a slight pink tint covering her cheeks. "I'm still learning sir, she's just trying to make me sound better than I am."

"She still has a lot to learn until she's as good as I was," Serena said, seeming unfazed by Dakota's comment. "She's still brand new, no one else has seen her on stage."

Luscious's eyes never left Kim as he moved an arm around her chair, smiling at her with an innocent that made John sick to his stomach.

"I'm sure you'll do wonderfully, Kimberly," he said, his arm finding its way across her shoulders with a practiced fluidity that even John lacked. "I hope you don't mind if I get the front table for your opening night. I'd hate to miss seeing you dance up close."

The man's innocent smile could barely hide meaning of his words and to John's pleasure the look of surprise on Kimberly's face made it clear that she had caught on as well. There was no way she'd put up with his ogling at her like one of the other dancers John had seen.

To his shock however, Kimberly's look of surprised quickly melted away into a small smile as she leaning into Luscious with a playfulness John had thought reserved for him.

"When we have a show I'll be sure to save you a seat, thought if you come by a rehearsal you wont even have to worry about that," she said with a smile as John suddenly lost his appetite.

The two continued their teasing, occasionally being pushed along by Serena when there was the threat of a silence. John could barely stand to listen to it long enough for the first course to arrive and by the time it did he found himself faking a call from Mark in order to excuse himself.

He left the table in such a hurry he didn't even have time to notice Kimberly's gaze leave the doting investor to follow him out of the room, her smile fading just as quickly as his appetite had.

Kimberly felt her stomach drop. Dakota had told her how badly the investor wanted to meet her and how much she meant to the show, but she had no idea what that all even meant at the time. Now that the truth about her job was coming out Kim began to regret letting her old place go on the market.

"Does that mean you had an investor?" she asked quietly, feeling Serena walk over to her to help her finish dressing.

"I had several. That tiara in the dresser was the first gift I had gotten from one." Serena closed the zipper of the dress easily, starting to do up Kim's hair with an assortment of fine jewelry.

"If you play your cards right with this one you'll have something like that in no time… Kim, what we do is an art. It sounds dirty and gritty and Dakota could care less about what happens as long as she's paid but we're artists.

On stage you make people believe in a fantasy world and offstage you make the men believe whatever is going to keep them happy."

The sudden tenderness from Serena surprised Kim. She had been helpful in the past but always for her own benefit. Something about the gentleness she had while fixing up her hair almost made Kim believe she felt sorry for her.

For the first time, Kimberly saw just how similar their paths must look.

"And if I don't want to keep him happy?"

"Then we're both on the street with Dakota after us for the money she's losing." Serena moved Kimberly over to her vanity, sitting her down to allow her to help with the makeup.

"When I had my first investor I had to learn how to pretend to like his company quick. You want my advice?"

Kim nodded, letting the woman do whatever she felt was necessary to fix her up.

"Don't think of who your with, don't even think about who you want to be with," Serena said, holding Kim's chin up to look her in the eyes.

"When you look at that man, think about everything that making him happy will get you. I guarantee if you look at him like you'd look at the marquee with your name in lights you'll have him eating out of the palm of your hand."

I would have posted since but was in the village np network at all.

The Investor

Though nothing would keep us together, we could steal time. Just for one day.


Finding herself without a single thing suitable to wear to the dinner with all her things still being moved into the suite Dakota had picked it seemed the only thing to do was for Kimberly to simply not show up. Serena could just as easily go in her place, and from what the other dancers told her it she sounded far more experienced in getting a man to invest. Serena however, had different plans.

"You must be going crazy," she said when Kimberly came to ask her to take her place. "You know how to do these things don't you?

You'd be better at it than me, and I don't have a dress." Serena's suite was a floor below the one intended for Kimberly, something Dakota made sure to point out when she made the announcement about her being moved in. "I promise I'll do my work the rest of the time I just need a cover for tonight."

Serena groaned, pulling Kim into the apartment without a second thought. The light pink walls a white paneling more than making up for the slightly less impressive view. Serena had been around longer than any other girl in the company aside from Dakota and it showed in the expensive furnishings filling up the room to make it look like something out of an editorial on the rich and famous. A vintage dresser set up against the wall to hold dozens of memorabilia from past shows, the most recent being a diamond necklace long enough to be draped across the dresser doors.

"Did anyone ever bother explaining to you how these things work, Kim? I can't just take your place. The investor wants you." Serena left Serena alone in the living room, heading into her bedroom to dig through closet. "He requested you, that's why Dakota wants you to come. If you don't show up we all lose out on the money. And if we lose out on that money you could be sleeping with the prime minister himself and that wouldn't keep you safe."

The warning slipped past Kimberly as she admired the dresser full of expensive costume pieces. A diamond tiara set in the center on a ivory velvet pillow. It didn't look like a costume piece; it was far too ornate to be useful in any show. It was fit for a princess more than some showgirl.

"Are you listening to me Kim?" Serwna asked, walking back into the living room, a red silk dress in her arms. "I'm serious about this, that man is promising us a new show and I want in. If you don't show up to that dinner both of our chances of getting on stage again are thrown away. I will not let that happen."

Kimberly nodded, looking back over to Serena, having heard about how badly she wanted back in the show before. "I still don't have anything to wear, or know what to do. Why are you and Morgana putting so much faith in me to get this deal?"

"It's not a deal, kim." Serena sighed, handing over the red dress motioning for her to go try it on. "The investor makes the deal with Dakota when he's decided we're worth his money.

You're there because you're what he wants to spend money on. Did Dakota not explain this all to you?"

The dress didn't want to come on easily no doubt because Serena wasn't exactly Kim's size. Their heights were similar, and the waist fit would a problem. It was mainly getting the dress past her hips that seemed difficult.

"No,"Kim said, giving the fabric a final tug to move it passed the curviest part of her body. "She just told me how much he was offering."

Serena was quiet, her gaze dropping as she pulled the tiara off the dresser. "No… I should've figured that'd be how she'd work with you."

Serena's voiced almost seemed sad.

"Kimberly, there isn't much profit in musicals alone and Dakota needs a profit or she loses the company to Collins Grey. So when she realized that she came up with the idea to let customers pay a little extra to meet the dancers, and that grew into them paying a far bit extra to spend some time with the girls.

When she realized how much money men were willing to shill out to spend an hour or two with she began pulling for different 'investors' from all over. These men were willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars just to make sure they got to see their favorite girl on stage and off. Each time there's a new show the lead gets herself an investor and the investor covers all the expenses needed. That means the man your going to meet tonight is the person you have to thank for your new suite and anything else given to you while you work here."

i would have updated more but am in my village and the network here is bad so aside from this who stays at imo or owerri let's all hang out together

THE ACCIDENT
Fred
As i was driving D'rovans hotel located at ring road with a beautiful girl beside me my mind cant just help but drift to my wife and how she is faring. Yes i dont really find my wife as beautiful and sexy as before when i try to tell her she do shun me off. I regret beating her but she do push me to the wall, i do hate it when she disobeys me. Well i know she can't divorce me, i control all finances and owns all business and properties, so she has to think twice. I noticed something moving to my crotch. Wow wow take it easy..... I told the girl beside Gina or what was her name


Baby what you thinking about you've not said a word to me since you picked me up. Or are you changing your mind.


"Who is, her baby" i thought. No dear just thinking of the great night we are going to have. Uhm uhm i just lied damn.


She continued to rub me all over and i was feeling the heat, i lost concentration on my driving. In a flash my jeep hit a tree a fucking tree that was what was on my mind before i give in to yhe darkness surrounding me.
STELLA
I ran to the hospital reception. The sign board reads Zoe hospital, my mind is everywhere, what was, fred doing at Ringroad area thats story for another day i just want him to be okay.


Good afternoon nurse am looking for my husband i heard he, was brought in here, he was involved in an accident


Ok what's his name , the nurse asked


Erm Fred Amah


Ok go straight the 3rd room by your right that's his ward.


Thanks ma.



As soon as i entered the ward i was moved to tears, fred is in a really bad shape. He was placed on oxygen and his body is POPed like what sort of accident is this. I broke into tears. I was crying my eyes out when the doctor came in.


Who are you, the doctor asked


Am his wife, Stella Odinjo-Amah


Ohhh good afternoon ma i get it now that means the girl found in his car is your sister or his sister


A girl was in his car. Doctor i dont have a sister and all my husband sister aint in Nigeria.


Ok we are disturbing the patient let's take the discussion to my office.


Ok sir. I followed him to his office. So doctor about the girl in my husband car how is she.?


Well she is dead , the doctor replied


What, ok how is my husband


Well he needs your prayer he is in coma now, the doctor said.


Ok doctor can i take my leave and make necessary payment.


Why not go ahead.


My eyes is really puffed out with all my crying even with the fact that i was just discharged from the hospital. Some tears were still dropping when i noticed someone giving me handkerchief i looked up and saw one of the most handsome man i have ever seen. But i was really not conscious of things like this before my emotions is just everywhere. I collected the handkerchief and thanked him.


If you need a crying shoulder my arms are opened the stranger said


Wow such a cute voice i thought


No thanks i would manage, thanks for the hanky i offered to give it back to him but he rejected it.


Well my name is Dayo am an I.T consultant, i came to visit my doctor friend but when i saw you an angel like you crying i cant bring myself to move.


Thanks for your care Mr Dayo but am leaving soon.


Well you cant leave without telling me your name, and what troubles you.


Ok my name is Mrs Stella am married with 2kids.


Well i aint blind i can see the rings on your finger so whats the problem, Dayo asked


You really want to know my problem , i asked


Yes, he replied


My problem is mind your damn business you are delaying me. I hissed and left. Some people cant just mind their business, he knows am married and he is still flirting men are just dog.
***********

what do you guys think about kim naivety. is she taking the right steps and decision. pls your comment is highly appreciated

Bleep The rehearsal had been going on for little more than an hour beforeSerena lost interest. She was a far better dancer than many of the girls Dakota had cast in big roles and she knew it.

It took all her self-restraint to keep from marching up onto the stage just to put the girls back in their place.

She instead resigned herself to sitting back at the bar with Reed and several others of the male dancers. The rehearsal was mainly to allowDakota chance to see how her new leads moved in order to build a show around them. It took time to make the product worth its price tag. And though Serenahad been doing her best to sweet talk her way into a partnership with Kim Dakota seemed to have her own plans for the girl.

It was almost sickening watching the dancers fawn over her trying to recreate the moves Serena had taught her. It was even worse to admit that she was good at them.

"She's almost as good as you were."

Only for Serena apparently.

Slowly she turned her head back to see Reed smiling down at her from the other side of the bar, a cup of coffee in his hands to try and hide the fact he'd been out all night again.

"It's only because I've been helping her. She still doesn't know how to move in the dance shoes though. She almost sprained her ankle last time she tried them." Serena went back to watching the girls practice.

"That is how you get them isn't it? You break their feet and then manage to have learned all their steps," Reed said with a chuckle. "Has Dakota told her about the investor yet?"

"I'm sure she will in private," Serena scoffed.

"She doesn't want her little flower getting jumpy over her price. She needs her to trust her."

The smile on Kimberly's face as she danced made Serena's heart sink. She could still remember her first time dancing for Dakota and being pulled aside to be told how much money she could bring the theater.

In retrospect she could tell how every word out of Dakota's mouth was just a gentle way of saying she was only worth what the investors wanted for her.

Kimberlywas every inch as naïve and hopeful as she had been. By the time she realized what Dakota wanted from her it would be to late to say no.

"Dakota's going to ruin her,"Serena said, watching Kim carefully.

"Serena, if Dakota doesn't ruin her, you will." Reed turned back to watch the dancers. "The spotlight is only big enough for one person and you know it."

Bleep John had been waiting outside the theater as soon as his morning business calls were handled. He had never been good at taking extended vacations but he'd be damned if he had to leave any sooner than absolutely necessary. Especially after that morning.

He could barely stay focused during the calls as his mind started to drift back to Kim. Mark even managed to slip giving John an uncooked egg past him for a good ten minutes before he caught on. He couldn't get his mind off her no matter how hard he tried.

Thankfully he didn't have to wait long before the rehearsal let out,Kimberly walking over to his usual waiting spot with a smile.

"Do you ever do anything around here besides waiting for me?" She asked, walking him out of the resort for a change.

"Sometimes, I try not to make a schedule. Vacationing, remember?" He smiled, holding the door for her as they walked out into the city. "Where are we going anyway?"

With a practiced wave Kimberly hailed a cab, throwing her dance bag into the backseat. "I'm going home, I need some new clothes even if Mark washed these. And the next rehearsal isn't for a few more days. Dakota's planning some big party for tomorrow instead."

Taking a seat in the cab Kim motioned for John to join her, catching on to the fact he wasn't too sure about how to ask if he was allowed in. He hadn't found much of a reason to ever get a public cab before but if that was what it took to stick by Kim then so be it. "What kind of party? She usually tells me about those things."

"Something to do with getting money for the next show." Kimberlybquickly gave the driver directions to a part of town John had never visited. "I'm supposed to go wih Serena since she's done those sorts of things before, it's apparently a big deal."

The view from outside the cab quickly became less inviting than the neighborhood around the resort. The buildings looking older and much more in need of attention than the ones he was used to seeing, and the people weren't any different.

"This man is coming to offer a ridiculous amount of money if he likes what he hears, so I'm going to be pretty busy tomorrow." Kim seemed to be avoiding his gaze as they reached a worn down apartment building.

Paying the cabbie she quickly got out, holding the door open for John before heading back up to the building, letting herself in with a kick to the gate in front of the door.

Without a word John followed her in, doing his best to keep from staring at the worn out paint or the occasional open door with an equally worn out owner staring back at him. He didn't doubt that his own watch was worth more than what most of the building's residents made in a year.

"This is my place,"Kim said, stopping beside a brown door with the paint peeling around the edges. "You can come in if you want, there's not much to look at."

Giving the door a small shove with her hip Kimberly walked inside, leaving the door open for John to follow. Making sure he closed the door behind him she hurried through the small living room into a room just out of sight, pushing her way past several cardboard boxes tapped up with different numbers written on their sides.

"You moving?" John asked, careful not to bump into anything as he walked around the apartment.

"Hopefully." Her voice came from the second room. "Dakota gets the leads a place in the resort so she wanted me to move in as soon as the investor signs his contract. I packed most of the stuff yesterday with Serena before the audition. I didn't think I'd actually be moving."

John continued to look around the apartment, seeing a few photos of Kim and another man a few years older than her who had the same bright smile she did. Though they didn't look too similar he assumed they were related somehow. He at least hoped they were.

"You have a brother?" he asked, moving towards the bathroom, spotting a bright orange container by the sink.

"Yeah, his name is Simon. He's out doing something with the army, nothing serious though. He just likes moving around."

"He doesn't look very much like you," John called, picking up the container as he spoke. The pills on the inside moving around as he read the label.

"He looks like our dad," Kim said, her voice coming closer as she walked back to the living room. "I take after my mom… You looking for something Sherlock?"

John quickly dropped the pills, looking back to Kim with a smile, noting her change of clothes before replying. "Just checking the place out, that's all."

"Right," Kim said, obviously not buying it. Walking over to John she pushed him out of the bathroom easily, picking up the container easily. With a simple pop she took off the cap, pouring two white pills into her hand as if to prove to him they were nothing sinister.

"They're pain pills John, nothing to get all jumpy about." To prove her point she took the two in her hand without any water. Serena lent them to me after she started helping me.

Dancing hurts your feet more than you realize." "Sorry," John said, moving back into the living room.

Taking a second look at the apartment John began to notice all the small details that made the place distinctly Kim's. Pictures from old magazines cut and framed on the wall beside pictures of her family, small flowers by the windowsill, little things here and there to distinguish it from just another shabby apartment.

"If the party goes well I'll have a place twice this size," Kim said, putting away the pictures of Simon. "The man is willing to invest fifty grand, at least!"

John couldn't pretend to understand how much that seemed to someone who wasn't in business but judging by Kimberly's tone he knew it was more than she thought was necessary.

"Maybe I should go to help you, I could get him to go up a bit. I work with my father's investors all the time," he said, hoping he didn't sound as though he was bragging.

Kim's face dropped, closing up the box with the pictures quietly. "No, it's not something you can help with," she said before smiling back to him. "Dakota said he only wants to talk to me, since I'll be the one carrying the show. But I'll bring you and Mark some leftovers from the dinner, okay?"

John nodded, not entirely sure what made Kim's mood change for a moment. Walking over to her side he kissed her forehead, hoping that would help calm her down.

"That would be great. I'm sure it'll go fine," he said, smiling down to her. "He'll love you, I know businessmen and your worth far more than fifty grand."

Kimberlylaughed, shoving his chest lightly to try and hide the pink tint across her cheeks.

"You're an idiot… but thank you. I'll try not to have too much fun with all those stuffy business people." She smirked, going back to packing different things around the apartment. John chuckled, helping wherever he could. He was glad to see her relax after a while but the idea of her with a man willing to pay so much without even knowing what he was getting into kept gnawing at the back of his head. He knew businessmen and he certainly didn't trust them.

And he certainly didn't want to share Kimberly with one of them either.

First Rehearsals


Love makes us act like we are fools. Throw our lives away, for one happy day.


The sound of distant snoring slowly woke Kim from her much needed sleep. Despite her best efforts to go back to sleep both the sunlight coming in from the window and the snoring kept her from returning to her pleasant dreams. Half awake she began to look around, trying to figure out where the annoying noise was coming from or why she had forgotten to close her blinds.

It was only when her pillow started moving underneath her that she woke up enough to remember where she was. The snoring getting louder in her ear as she felt a small pressure around her waist tighten, pulling her closer against the slowly rising and falling pillow.

Looking up careful not to move too much and risk waking John up Kim could just barely see his head leaning back against the wall. His head turned away from in the window in an attempt to block the sunlight. Despite his strong jaw line and the slight stubble appearing on his chin his entire face seemed to soften as he slept. He'd almost have a childlike innocence to him if it weren't for the broad muscles across his chest.

The broad muscles Kimberly just realized she had been sleeping on all night.

Trying her best to keep from overreacting she carefully moved his arm off her waist, laying it across his chest in place of her weight. Slowly she inched down from the window seat to pick up her clothes she could only assume Mark had left on the coffee table. The wood floor creaked slightly underneath her feet as she went to pick up her dance bag from the couch.

Too preoccupied with trying to be quiet Kimberly hadn't even noticed the fact the snoring had stopped.

"Goin' somewhere..?" John's groggy voice muttered from behind her.

Feeling her cheeks heat up at being caught Kim slowly turned around, keeping the bathrobe tight around her.

"I shouldn't have fallen asleep," she said, slowly making her way back to John. "Thank you for letting me stay."

With a groan John sat up, stretching himself out from having slept in such an odd position. His muscles straining as he forced them awake. Kimberly found it nearly impossible to keep from staring. If she hadn't known better she would have thought his little show was on purpose.

"You don't have to thank me, Kimberly. Though next time you stay over maybe we should at least sleep on the couch." A small smile waking up his face easily.

Sitting back beside John Kimgave him a playful shove, managing to move him back against the wall easily while he chuckled. He didn't seem like much of a morning person and had the sunlight not been so bright she doubted it would've taken him very long to fall back asleep. The sweet glances he made back to her however, almost made him seem happy to be awake so early.

"What makes you think I'd want to stay over again?" She asked, helping him calm his hair down.

"I…I don't know," John said genuinely searching for a reason. "Because I want you to?"

Kimberly felt her hands drop from his hair, her heartbeat picking up like it had back in the grotto. Slowly she began to realize how many times she had wanted to be close to him like they were then or how his eyes always seemed to darken slightly whenever they were together.

She almost didn't want to believe he meant it in the way she thought she did for fear of being let down, but at the same time she wanted him to mean every word.

"Then next time we can sleep on the couch," she managed to get out. Her face barely inches away from his.

Whether it was the fact neither of them were fully awake or the fact they'd just realized how badly they wanted each other Kim wasn't sure. But before she could even register her own body moving closer to his she felt his lips against hers. Her hands reaching around his shoulders to pull herself closer to him as she kissed back, his hands holding her face gently.

For someone so much larger than herself John was incredibly tender, almost as if he couldn't believe what they were doing either. With a small smile Kim kissed him a bit harder finding it incredibly easy to fit herself onto his lap. They could've stayed in that position for hours and Kimberly certainly wanted to, but the sound of someone clearing their throat across the room quickly pulled them apart. Kim's hands shooting down to make sure the robe hadn't moved apart as she scooted offJohn's lap as he adjusted his position.

"Good morning…" Mark said, too tired to bother with teasing John. "I would've knocked, but there isn't a door."

John's face seemed to have turned the same shade of red as the throw pillows on the couch. "So you thought just standing there would be better?"

"Relax you prat, I was going to the kitchen. The last thing I want to see in the morning is you snogging our friend." Mark rolled his eyes, making his way through the living room to head into the kitchen. "By the way, good morning Kim."

"Morning," she said, thankful she didn't blush as brightly as John.

"If you two are done in there I was going to make breakfast." Mark's voice came from the room next door along with the distinct sound of pans being banged against cupboard walls. "Though John ate all the bacon, we still have eggs and I can make pancakes."

Trying not to bump into John Kimberly got back up, checking the clock on her phone beside her dance bag. She still had to change into proper clothes and if she didn't hurry she'd be late on her first real day.

"Do you mind if I take mine to go Mark? I slept through my alarm."

"Johns snoring can do that." The glare John shot towards the kitchen erased any childlike drowsiness on his face. "I'll make something quick."