All I Ask

by KT Webb

  It wasn’t nice; she knew it wasn’t nice. It was petty to parade a man through the building, especially a man D’Angelo disliked. Her stomach clenched in apprehension as she wondered if the composer was watching them. He’d been there just an hour before. After a cursory glance around, Aria decided to throw caution to the wind. She reminded herself she had no obligation to D’Angelo if he was only going to be present when it was convenient for him. It wasn’t her proudest moment. As she stalked across the stage toward the backstage door, Drew reached out and caught her hand. He gently pulled her to him until he held her in a dancing pose.

  “Dance with me, Aria.”

  “There’s no music.”

  “We don’t need music, just humor me,” Drew laughed as they began to waltz.

  He began humming the love song from All I Ask as they twirled around the stage. Drew maintained his grip on her waist while grasping her hand. She was nervous. The only thing she could think of was whether or not D’Angelo was somewhere in the many shaded places watching them. Aria tried to push the thought from her mind and focus on having fun with a friend. She was lying to herself, and she knew it. By questioning the validity of her feelings for D’Angelo, she’d already opened herself to the possibility that she could allow their friendship to blossom into something more. Drew spun her until they were holding hands at arm’s length. The laugh that escaped died in her throat when she noticed the shape of a man lurking at the edge of the stage. Her heart skipped a beat; he was there.

  Drew brought her back into his embrace, “You make a great partner.”

  “Shouldn’t we be going?” Aria replied with a nervous glance at the spot where she saw D’Angelo.

  “We have some time,” they had stopped moving, but he still held her in his arms. “I wanted to ask you something first since there’s no one around to watch us.”

  Again, Aria glanced at D’Angelo, but he was gone, “What do you want to ask me?”

  “When are you going to stop playing hard to get?” His eyes danced with humor behind the pressing question.

  “I’m not playing anything, I’m just not looking to start a new relationship,” she hoped D’Angelo was still listening as she continued, “I’m not dating anyone, but there’s someone I’ve been hoping would take a hint.”

  Drew offered her a wolfish grin, “I can take a hint.”

  Aria’s eyes widened as she realized what was coming next. Drew leaned in and captured her lips. Aria tried not to kiss him back, but there was no reason why she couldn’t enjoy the moment. Drew was an attractive, sweet, and wealthy young man; why shouldn’t she give him a chance if the man she wanted was uninterested? The kiss was different from the one she could still feel on her lips from the night she kissed D’Angelo. This kiss was light and tentative, as though both parties were unsure of themselves. When they pulled apart, butterflies were beginning to bloom in Aria’s stomach.

  “Aria, I don’t know who you’re holding out for, but I want the opportunity to show you something more. You’ve been alone for long enough. Let me change that.”

  The offer Drew was making felt misinformed. Aria wasn’t alone, but how could she explain the complicated relationship she had with her live-in stalker? She knew it wasn’t fair to think of him that way, but she needed to distance herself from him if she was going to mend her wounded heart. Aria wanted to believe there was something to hold onto between her and D’Angelo, but he wasn’t exactly willing to pursue the possibility. Drew took her lack of response as permission to kiss her again. This time, Aria looped her arms around his neck and entangled her hands in his hair.

  From the shadows, D’Angelo watched with fury and pain piercing his heart. Listening to Drew hum the song D’Angelo had written for Aria to get her to dance with him was bad enough. Witnessing her surrender to his kiss was torture. Aria wasn’t his to control, he understood that. If he was cursed to stand on the sidelines, he wasn’t sure he wanted to watch her throw her life away.

  Aria brought the kiss to an end and smiled up at the young man she knew from her childhood. Drew wasn’t the boy she’d devoted her childish diary entries to, but he was there too. The thought returned to her that it was entirely possible she was treating him unfairly. If she was still harboring feelings for the ghost of his twin brother, was she using Drew as a substitute for what she could never have? Aria pushed the thought from her mind. Not everything was black and white, the world was colorful. She was tired of holding onto the darkest parts of her past and perpetually mending her broken heart.

  Drew took her hand in his, “Are you ready to walk out that door and bring the rumors to life?”

  Aria was momentarily confused, “What do you mean?”

  “Everyone has been saying we’re together, now that we are, they’re going to go crazy!”

  When her brow furrowed at the thought of being thrust into the center of attention, Drew pulled her close again, “There’s nothing to be afraid of. Don’t worry, I’m here. I know you’re accustomed to being alone, in your own thoughts, and in this dark and drafty place, but it doesn’t have to be that way anymore.”

  Another swift kiss was meant to bring the conversation and her worries to an end. Instead, it showed her the mistake she’d made. Aria followed him toward the door, pausing only to turn off the lights. She glanced back at the strange, comforting darkness one last time before stepping into the bright lights of New York City.

  Patrick Butler received many suggestions from his contemporaries on a regular basis. Everyone had their own ideas for how a production should run. Of course, his decision to follow D’Angelo’s request and cast Karen instead of Aria came with some criticism. Even the rest of the cast voiced their opinions about his choice in a leading lady. He was no stranger to the various personalities encountered in the theater world. Rehearsals for All I Ask were coming to an end after nearly six weeks; the next few weeks would be filled with dress-rehearsals and cast appearances at social engagements. Despite the differing opinions, Patrick was pleased with how well the production came together. However, when he arrived at the Majestic Theatre before rehearsal on a chilly March morning, he discovered something troubling.

  Christine rushed to his side and pulled him into a coatroom for a private conversation.

  “You’ve finally got me cornered, Christine. Now what?” He asked with a smirk.

  Christine was momentarily dumbfounded. There were things she’d love to do to him in that coat room, but they hadn’t the time. She rolled her eyes at him as she often did before telling him the real reason she needed him.

  “Patrick, no one has seen or heard from Karen Moreau since she left yesterday. She was supposed to arrive early for a fitting before rehearsal.”

  Patrick groaned, as far as he knew, Karen was happy with her role. She was a constant pain in the ass, but he’d been able to keep her pacified. In the past, if she were going into one of her childish temper-tantrums, she would at least have threatened to walk out before disappearing altogether. Patrick pulled out his cell phone and dialed her number. It went straight to voicemail.

  “Okay, send someone to her apartment. She’s probably on a bender. We’ll have Aria step in for practice until we find her.”

  Christine rolled her eyes at him. If it were up to her, Karen would have been fired long before she had the chance to disappear. She had noticed the way Karen treated the other members of the cast. The woman always acted like her shit didn’t stink. Karen had become increasingly petulant regarding Drew and Aria. She insisted that Drew reduce his practice time with Aria because there was no reason for her to be prepared to step in. The distaste Drew felt for his leading lady was obvious off-stage, but he managed to remain professional when in-character. Christine was confident things wouldn’t be as tense among the cast if they’d cast Aria Durant as Patrick wanted to from the beginning.

  Nevertheless, Christine followed instructions and sent one of the stage crew to find Karen. While they waited for word, Christine called Aria and
begged her to come early for dress rehearsal.

  “Hello?”

  “Aria, I need your help! Karen is gone, and no one knows where she is. We’ve got some guys out checking her apartment, but at this point, we don’t have time to wait around. I need you to come in early for a fitting before the dress rehearsal.”

  “Oh, yeah, okay. I can do that. Do you think she’s okay?” Aria’s genuine concern resonated through the phone.

  “It’s hard telling with her. She’s done stuff like this before, but usually, it’s a big production. She’s pretty famous for her tantrums,” Christine explained.

  “Yeah, I’d heard that. I’ll get ready really quick and head on over.”

  “You’re the best! See you soon!”

  Aria hung up the phone and grabbed her purse and coat. There was no point in taking a cab to the Majestic, it was only a few blocks away. She dialed Drew on her way down the stairs.

  “Hey, baby.”

  Aria cringed at the precocious pet name, “Hey! Have you heard from Karen?”

  A brief pause prefaced his answer, “Um, no, why?”

  “Apparently she’s gone. No one knows where she is, and her phone goes straight to voicemail. I wasn’t sure if you’d maybe spoken to her.”

  “No, Aria. I don’t make it a habit to talk to vapid bitches if I can avoid it,” his tone was ice cold.

  “Okay. . .I wasn’t indicating that you did. I just thought I’d check. Anyway, Christine needs me to come in early. I guess Patrick is pretty pissed. I’m supposed to step in as Jill.”

  “Excellent!”

  Aria made it across the stage. She opened the door then paused as a thought struck her, “What if something happened to her?”

  “I’m sure she’s fine. She does this shit all the time.”

  “Yeah, I heard. I’ll see you soon.”

  Aria rushed to the theater, trying not to overthink the situation. For whatever reason, Karen walked out on All I Ask. That meant Patrick had to make a decision fast to save the production. Aria should be looking at it as fate stepping in and giving her a hand.

  The young director turned the envelope over in his hands, noting the black wax imprint of a rose that sealed the heavy parchment. That seal always told him the letter was indeed from D’Angelo himself. It had been a week since anyone had heard from Karen Moreau, and everything was running smoothly with Aria in the lead. Of course, the police were investigating the disappearance of Miss Moreau. When she’d taken off in the past, she’d always told someone why she left. It was leaked into tabloids, rumors swirled. This time, there had been no further information, no leads, no evidence of foul play. He hoped this letter would be one telling the director that D’Angelo was mistaken in his first suggestion. Patrick tore the envelope to get to the contents. The handwritten note within was at once intriguing and disturbing.

  Mr. Butler,

  In the past, I’ve tried not to bore myself with the details of the productions inspired by my work; however, this particular piece is of great interest to me. Due to the disappearance of Miss Moreau, your hand was forced in the casting of her understudy. However, now that she is the lead, I find myself gravely disappointed in your choice of Mr. Overland.

  The roles were inspired by the notion that love never dies. Aria Durant will now be portraying the heartbroken young woman who must choose between joining her lost lover and embracing the life she has left. However, Mr. Overland gives a less-than-satisfactory rendition of the selfless man who only wants his love to let him go so she may live. Instead, I get the impression that he wants her to go straight to hell with him.

  Perhaps his own obsession with Miss Durant is getting in the way of his ability to fulfill the role.

  I request that you consider preparing the understudy to take his place.

  With my utmost respect,

  D’Angelo

  Patrick re-read the letter as though he would discover a joke he was missing. In his opinion, the casting of Drew Overland had been a no-brainer. He hadn’t believed his luck at how well Karen and Drew performed together. Of course, he’d have preferred to have Aria in the lead, but he’d bent to D’Angelo’s will on that front. The recent budding of a romantic relationship between Aria and Drew only made their scenes more believable when they practiced together. If he were to take this letter from D’Angelo seriously, he would have to consider postponing opening night. It was ludicrous. There was no way he could follow such a suggestion at such a late stage. Patrick stuffed the note into his pocket and went to search out Christine before the cast began to arrive.

  Following their final dress rehearsal, Drew changed in his own dressing room, anticipating a great night on the town with Aria. The cast was expected to attend a party at a nearby club. There would be many people in attendance who had purchased tickets for opening night. It was one of those events that allowed the public to mingle with the performers; the events that always made him feel like he was being whored out to patrons. It would be Aria’s first event of its kind, and he intended to make it as enjoyable as possible.

  When he hung up the jacket he wore as part of his costume, he noticed something poking out of the pocket. He hadn’t put anything in there but wondered if someone had slipped him a note. The envelope in the pocket was addressed to Mr. Overland.

  Mr. Overland,

  Your romance with Miss Durant has run its course. It would not do her any good to find out the truth about your sordid past. I’ve been watching you. You were much better suited to life in London, and I suggest you return there immediately. Your understudy can easily take your place.

  If you do not want your secrets exposed, you will stay away from Aria. You’ve been warned.

  D’Angelo

  Drew quickly opened the door. There was no one to be seen. This was either written by the mysterious D’Angelo or by someone who wanted him to leave the production. Why would anyone care if he was dating Aria? The girl was a loner, she had no jealous ex-boyfriends who would be out there wanting to track him down.

  Regardless of whatever this person threatened, he wasn’t about to stop dating Aria. The show was sold out for the entire first eight-week run. People were eating up the romance between the two actors with a connected tragic past. There was no way he would let anything come between him and Aria.

  As they walked into the venue, Aria couldn’t help but feel the overwhelming sense of anxiety that always accompanied large crowds. Drew had his arm around her waist when they walked into the overcrowded room. Cast members greeted them with excitement.

  “Perfect timing, I need you both to come with me for some pictures,” Patrick explained.

  They trailed after him. Aria had no interest in posing for pictures, but it came with the gig. In a back corner, studio lights were set up to allow for plenty of lighting as they posed and smiled with various patrons of the arts. Drew seemed most comfortable in the limelight. He was in his element, putting an arm around her and whoever wanted a photo with them. It was pure torture for Aria, and she was relieved when it came to an end. As they finished posing for their final picture, Aria noticed Drew’s demeanor change. He offered a brief nod to a man who stood off to the edge of the photo area. Aria guessed him to be in his mid to late forties, but she couldn’t say she knew who he was. Drew seemed to recognize him, and the body language he portrayed in response didn’t indicate that he was pleased to encounter him at the event.

  “I’ll be right back, see if you can find Christine for a bit. I’ve got to talk to someone,” Drew whispered before kissing the side of her head and following the mysterious man.

  Aria wandered around for a few minutes, seeking out her friend. Drew and the man disappeared into one of the many secluded areas in the club. Whoever the man was, Aria felt there was some reason why Drew didn’t want her to meet him.

  “Oh, thank God,” Christine said as she grabbed Aria by the arm, “I’ve been dying here.”

  Aria laughed at her, “I’m so glad I could be of service.”<
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  “No, seriously, I’ve been bored out of my mind. Where’s Drew?”

  “He said he had to go talk to someone. It was this weird guy who was hanging around the edge of the photo space.”

  “Interesting,” Christine replied in a tone that contradicted the word, “So, did you hear the latest on Karen?”

  Aria shook her head. She knew the police were investigating the disappearance, but there were no leads to follow. It made Aria wonder if something had really happened to her; the longer she was missing, the higher the probability was that something nefarious was afoot.

  “Apparently, when the police executed the search warrant on her apartment, they found her poor, hideous rat-of-a-dog shaking in the closet, nearly starved to death.”