“You know I love you, Lori. I just hate seeing you pine for him. I mean, you’re almost eighteen, which is twenty years younger than him! You can’t live your life hanging on and reading into his every word. Just, think about it, has he ever given any indication that he may return your feelings?”
Her words sting, but not because she’s trying to be cruel. It’s because she’s right. The man I long for, whose very voice seems to enchant me as mine does others, never looks at me in any other way but that as a master does to his ward. Seeing my defeated face, Sal pulls me closer.
“I’m sorry, Lori. I know how much you care for him, and no, I don’t think he noticed your being distracted. Honestly, you had the crowd too enthralled to notice anything, and Barney was too busy emptying his pockets in preparation for all the tips he’d be getting. You’re definitely the money maker of the show,” she finishes.
I search her face as she says this, but there’s no resentment there. No, I’ve experienced enough of that from the other performers. Sal is just being Sal. And that’s fiercely loyal, and honest to a fault.
“I’ll try to do better. I know your earplugs keep you from being caught up in my song, but if I don’t focus, then the crowd won’t fall into my song. I can’t imagine how disappointed Barney would be then,” I say, shuddering to think of how much it would hurt to know I let him down. After taking me in and raising me, I owe him everything.
I’m pulled away from my thoughts when I feel three raps at my door. The sound barely penetrates the fog of my ears, but the vibrations reverberate through my wings, and with a shrug, Sal rises from the bench, uncaring that it’s my trailer and not her own that she’s in, walks over to the door and opens it.
Curious, but unable to hear what she says, I watch her from my spot as I finish wiping away my makeup, but when I see her tilt her head forward in deference, I quickly look back in the mirror, cursing myself for removing my makeup so soon. Barney is here!
Schooling my features, lest he think I’m some lovestruck girl, I nervously run my hands down my silk dressing robe, glad that it at least accentuates my curves. It’s as I’m doing this, that I hear the timbre of his smoky voice, and I close my eyes to block out the longing that washes over me at being so near to him but knowing that It will never be.
Getting my breathing under control, I turn to take in the two of them, reading his lips as sound barely reaches me.
“I need to speak with Lorelei alone, Sal. Please leave us,” he says, and I watch the conflicted look flash across Sal’s face before she eventually nods her head and squeezes through the small space that’s left between him and the door. She gives me one last wave and pointed look before she disappears out the door.
Stepping into the room, black and red striped suit still in place, I find I can’t meet Barney’s eyes. Focusing instead on the gold buttons and the perfectly pressed lapels of his costume, I just stand before him quietly as he closes the door behind him and steps further into the room.
“Another five star performance from my little songbird. You make me so proud,” he says by way of greeting, and I raise up my head, beaming with pride at his praise. “But, you weren’t paying attention and stumbled over the third chorus,” he adds, and my smile melts away as shame and embarrassment wash over me.
Moving forward and motioning for me to turn around, I do so without question and feel his hands go to the binds of the choker I wear around my neck.
“I… I’m sorry, Mr. Iverson. I guess I was just thinking too hard about my upcoming birthday, and it caused my focus to slip. I’ll do better next time.”
My breath catches as his long fingers brush the sides of my neck before allowing the thick leather to slip slowly down my chest, his hand trailing it slowly down.
“My sweet Nightingale, you know that you can call me Barney. There’s no need to sound so afraid. I simply want the best for you. If you’re to remain a star, you must always give one hundred and ten percent. I don’t get on you because it’s my show. I do so simply because I know how much potential you have. You know that, don’t you?” he whispers into my ear, stepping in close enough that the line of his body presses gently against mine.
I whimper a little at the way his breath tickles my neck as his hand finally stops the descent of the necklace, right as it reaches the crest of my breasts.
“I know you’re only looking out for me. I think, after my birthday tomorrow, I’ll be able to perform better, as my mind won’t be focused on it,” I say, a small quaver in my voice.
“Ah yes, my little songbird becomes a woman tomorrow. Don’t think I haven’t thought of that either. I’ve actually come to you tonight because of that. I’ve brought you a gift,” he says, surprising me enough that I turn to look over my shoulder at him.
“Tsk. Tsk. No peeking,” he tells me, and I’m quick to comply, turning my head forward again and closing my eyes. When I do so, I feel a brush of cloth move across my wings as he retrieves whatever my surprise is.
Standing there with him so close by, my wings tremble slightly. There’s a vulnerability of standing in the low light of the trailer alone with him, and there’s nothing I’d like more than to be able to turn and have him take me into his arms as he kisses me passionately.
Distracted by the thought, I miss him pulling away and coming to stand before me, until I feel the stroke of his thumb as he rubs it across where I bite my lower lip.
“You shouldn’t bite such a perfect pout, Lorelei. I’d hate for anything to mar that beautiful face. Now, are you ready for your birthday gift?” he asks, as I open my eyes, nodding eagerly.
“Yes,” I say instantly, my words coming out breathy.
Chuckling at my response, he reaches up once more, except this time, instead of removing something, he gently clasps a delicate chain around my throat, the metal cold against my flushed skin and the length long and ending with a heart shaped jewel that rests cradled between my breasts.
I gasp at the beautiful necklace. It catches the light when I move, and I marvel at how he found a jewel to match my lavender eyes. The question of how he did dominates my thoughts, but with him standing so near, I can’t make myself ask, too transfixed on studying the piece I now wear.
“Tomorrow, after your performance, there will be a party,” he starts, and I’m so excited by his words that I can’t help but interrupt him.
“A party? Like, a birthday party? Will my friends be there,” I ask, but quickly close my mouth when his eyes flash, his disapproval evident at my speaking out of turn. Bowing my head forward quickly to express my regret for cutting him off, he acknowledges the apology by laying a warm hand in the dip of my shoulder, his long fingers cupping my neck as his palm sits over my collarbone.
“As I was saying,” he starts, raising a brow to make sure I won’t cut him off again, “there will be a party tomorrow after the show. When your act is complete, I want you to come back here and change. There will be a dress waiting for you, and Catrine will help you get ready. When she tells you it’s time, you’ll have an escort bring you back to the smaller tent where a private party will be held. This is not just a birthday party, Lorelei, this will be a group of investors that are looking to really put our show on the map. You’ve been personally requested to be there by numerous potential investors, and they are very eager to get a look at where their money will be going. Tomorrow is extremely important, so I expect you to be very accommodating to our guests and look your best,” he says, stepping away and making his way toward the door.
Finally feeling as if I can breathe again, but too confused to say anything else, I watch as he turns the handle on my door. Before he steps out into the night, he stops and turns back to look at me once more. His gaze starting at my feet, slowly traveling up my body, lingering at my breasts, before coming to rest at my face.
“Make sure you get plenty of sleep tonight. You have a very busy day tomorrow, and I need you at your best to make sure our guests are satisfied,” he adds, and leaves the
trailer, the door clicking shut softly behind him.
Weak from being so close to him, and confused about what he’s said, I sink back onto my bench and stare at my flushed face in the mirror. The necklace sits perfectly within the swell of my breasts, but as much as I want to be able to admire the gift, worries for what tomorrow holds plague my mind. He’d called them investors, which meant, if I didn’t make sure they were happy, I could lose my spot in the show. And more than that, lose the only home I’ve ever known.
Sing For Me Link
If you’d like to read more, you can find Sing For Me on Amazon. This link will take you there.
My Book
About the Author
About Ellabee Andrews
Ellabee Andrews is a Southern Mama, with a love of all things horror. She enjoys spending time with her husband and children, and can often be found with her nose in a book, or her head in the clouds. Her debut series, The Revel and Rot series, is now complete and can be found on Amazon. If you like romance, adventure, steamy scenes, humor, horror, and zombies, then this is the series for you. All three books are available on KU.
Ellabee also has numerous short stories that are published within other Anthologies. These, too, can be found on her author page.
To stay up to date on all of Ellabee’s past, present, and future works, you may follow her with the links below.
Author page: https://www.facebook.com/ellabee.andrews
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Email: [email protected]
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