by Carr, K
“I like Dante’s change of venue,” said Brianna. Her Irish accent sounded like musical bells to my ears.
“Masks, everyone,” Dante ordered.
I pulled out my mask from under the coat, complaining as I put it on like the others. “We should’ve had these masks on before. Do you know how many CCTV cameras we passed to get here from the station? The cops will be on us in minutes. I can feel it. For the record, I am not putting up bail for anyone.”
We fixed our masks and shrugged off our coats as Dante gave the signal. The piece of music we had chosen for our dance blasted out, startling people. I stopped worrying and fell into position, going through our choreographed moves without a second thought. Dance was my life. When I danced, it was the only time I felt at peace. Complete and utter peace. There was a small crowd gathering around, progressively getting larger. People were taking pictures and laughing at our impromptu performance. The noise of the crowd fell away as I danced, revelling in Dante’s hands around my waist as he lifted me up high, then brought me down before I jete’d into Gerrard’s waiting hands. The choreography was one which Dante and I had worked on together for the past three weeks. Our latest baby. The twelve of us danced with wild abandon, egged on by the applause. We were bringing dance to the people, creating a moment of beauty in these strangers’ lives. It was the best buzz ever.
<><><>
“Where are you going? We have that meeting with Carl from accounting.”
Matt grimaced at Nathan. Not only was he his closest friend, but also his right-hand man. After graduating from university, Nathan had been under pressure to join his father’s business. The Walthamstows made their coin in media. Nathan despised the thought of working at his family’s company. As the only child, not only was it expected that he assumed his executive position, but also that he excelled in expanding their hold on the British media. When Matt had offered him a position at his side in the oil business all those years ago, Nathan had grabbed it with two hands.
“I’m leaving early today,” Matt answered, eyeing his watch. He was late, delayed because of that issue with HR, which his elder brother should have dealt with but hadn’t. Adam would be getting an irate email from him soon.
“You never leave before nine on a Friday, it’s barely gone five thirty,” Nathan quipped, falling into step with Matt as he hurried towards his office.
“I am today,” Matt replied. His secretary spotted him and was coming over with papers in her hand. “Whatever it is, Rachel, it can wait until Monday. I’m going home.”
“But, Mr Bradley,” she began. Matt narrowed his eyes at her and she nodded before returning to her desk and picking up the phone. Probably to cancel meetings. Matt entered his office with Nathan on his heels. He didn’t care about any bloody meeting. His whole week had been spent in conference rooms, on private planes and in cars being driven from one meeting to the next. He was tired and annoyed he hadn’t had a chance to contact Madi all week. Monday morning, he and Adam had been called into their father’s office and ordered to fly to Germany, then Stockholm, to find out why their normally steady stocks were fluctuating on those markets. He’d flown back into London last night and, today, he’d been behind closed doors with the executive board briefing them on everything they had learned.
“I’m going with you,” Nathan said firmly, as Matt shoved paperwork into his briefcase. He would find time this weekend to read up on the next potential takeover target.
Matt’s head snapped up. “Going where with me?”
“Don’t be coy, Matt. It’s Friday.”
“I know it’s Friday, Nathan. What I don’t understand is why you feel the need to accompany me home. Don’t you have that charity function tonight?”
Nathan shook his head at Matt, a patronizing smirk on his face. “You’re not going home. You’re going to Hyde Park. Snap dance at six. Ring any bells?”
Matt didn’t bother denying it. He closed his briefcase and shrugged. “You only have yourself to blame. Bringing me that file only served to pique my interest.”
“Therein lies the reason I’m going with you. I feel somewhat responsible for fuelling your current swirling behaviour.”
Matt paused in his movements to arch an eyebrow at Nathan. “Swirling?”
Nathan nodded. “I looked it up. The Americans call it swirling. Interracial mingling of the sexes. It’s a rather juvenile description, but you know what the Yanks are like.”
Matt waved it away as he grabbed his jacket and shrugged it on. “There’s no need for you to accompany me. In fact, I insist you don’t.”
Nathan let out a short bark of laughter. “I’m coming. Deal with it.”
Matt tried to stare down his friend. People usually ran away with their tails quivering between their legs when he used that stare. Nathan simply snorted and folded his arms.
“Is there nothing I can say or do to convince you otherwise?” Matt asked, resigned to his friend sticking his nose into his personal life.
“Nothing at all, Matt.”
“Fine,” he grated out. Briefcase in hand, he strode towards the door. “But if you do anything to ruin this, I will personally find a way to bankrupt you and your family.”
Nathan laughed as they both exited the room. “Honestly, I’m looking forward to this. I’ve not previously had any form of casual interaction with a bl—”
Matt cleared his throat loudly to stave off Nathan’s words, then said goodbye to his secretary as they walked down the hallway to the waiting elevators. Nathan tried to make small talk on the way down, but Matt ignored his attempts.
He was nervous. Embarrassingly nervous at seeing her again. How would she react? Had she forgotten about him? He pushed the thought aside. It was highly unlikely she had forgotten him. He’d rescued her in that alley. He was her knight. A little smile ghosted over his mouth as he remembered her letter, tucked away in his desk at home. Underneath his nervousness, a glimmer of excitement took root.
“What if she has a boyfriend?” Nathan suddenly asked. “I hadn’t thought to include a relationship check on the background search.” He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, you’ll find a way around that.”
“Why are you coming again?” Matt asked tartly, not liking the possibility of another man holding her attention. He shook his head absent-mindedly. No, chances were she was single.
“Because I feel responsible,” Nathan reminded him. “I’ve been your wingman since the age of sixteen. It’s amusing watching you get women, quite similar to taking candy from a baby or a hostile takeover of a new company. On that note, have you spoken to your father about his newest target?”
Matt tapped his briefcase. “I’ll be going over the figures this weekend. Look, you don’t need to come with me.”
Nathan grinned, fixing his tie unnecessarily. “I’m going to assume your obvious reluctance for me to accompany you stems from your understandably inferiority complex where it concerns a man of my stature. She’ll take one look at me and swoon.”
Matt surveyed his friend. Not one strand of golden blonde hair out of place, blue eyes twinkling with mischief, straight nose tilted up as if he was constantly looking down upon some lesser being. Nathan was the same build as Matt, both obsessively athletic and maintaining their impressive physique, though they were closer to forty than thirty. Nathan’s dark grey business suit was frighteningly similar to Matt’s own. Expected, as both sported the Saville Row label. They could be brothers if it wasn’t for Matt’s raven black hair and icy grey eyes. Back before Nathan had settled down with Bella, they enjoyed playing the proverbial field. Women were one of the many vices they shared. It had earned them a reputation as formidable womanizers who left a trail of broken hearts in their wake. Then Nathan had met Bella and she had put an end to his friend’s debauchery. A smile curled up Matt’s mouth, remembering the night Bella had barged into a fancy soiree Matt had thrown and dragged an inebriated Nathan out, threatening physical harm to Matt’s person if he ever tried to lead h
er man astray. Nathan’s wild behaviour became tamed after that, and Matt was certain Bella had done worse than threaten Nathan once she’d gotten his drunk arse into her car.
“You were always delusional, Nathan. It is becoming more apparent the older you get,” Matt drawled.
Nathan rubbed his chin at that comment, a reflective look on his face. “Have you thought about what you’re doing? I mean, really thought about it?”
Matt avoided his friend’s frank appraisal as the elevator doors slid open. They strode out, unaware of the striking image they posed as they walked through the tastefully done lobby. The security opened the doors and they walked into the bright afternoon sunshine. Matt’s car was waiting. Rachel would have called down to let reception know he was on his way out.
“Here are your keys, sir.” The attendant who always brought his vehicle around from the private underground car park smiled politely at Matt as he opened the driver’s door of the Rolls-Royce. Matt gave him a distracted nod and slid behind the wheel of his latest luxury purchase. He tossed his briefcase onto the backseat and waited for Nathan to get in. There was a second when the urge to drive off without his friend seemed overwhelming, but it passed, and Nathan got in, then they were off. Traffic was murder, stop-start, stop-start, and Matt was losing his patience. He wanted to see her dance, not on a computer, but in front his eyes.
“Damn it,” he swore, hand hitting the horn. The driver in front responded with an extra-long blare from her car.
“Um, Matt.” Nathan finally lifted his head. He’d been immersed on his phone the past ten minutes.
“What?” Matt bit out bad-temperedly, tugging at his tie.
“The snap dance…why call it that? Couldn’t they have arrived at a better name?” Nathan mused, then saw Matt’s face and hurried over his words. “It’s in front of the palace. Not in the park. I checked the website.”
Matt groaned, then stretched his neck. God, he was tired. “The palace is close to Hyde Park. I’ll have to find somewhere else to park. Bloody hell, it’s a nightmare finding parking anywhere close to the palace.”
There was an unexpected opening up front and Matt put his foot down, cutting off two cars in the process, eager to make the next lights. If lady luck was on his side, he would make it. He would see her dance, then he would charm his way into her bed. Matt’s mind was made up, had been ever since that file had been in his possession. Madison would be his.
<><><>
We were almost finished with our dance, a few more lifts and—
BOOM.
The explosion of confetti sounded like some sort of light artillery ejecting a small cannon. Confetti rained down on us and people cheered as more of the canisters went off. We bowed and curtsied to the applause, laughing in delight.
“Bollocks,” Lisa yelled. I jerked around, gaze going to where she pointed. And my stomach fell to my feet.
“Leg it,” Liam shouted. I turned around, eyes wide with apprehension, as Dante leaped over to the pile of our stuff and started tossing our bags over.
Frigging cops were coming. I knew this was a bad idea. I caught my bag, screaming at Dante I’d see him at the meet point. Then I was off, with Lisa and Brianna right behind me. We still had our masks on, bags banging on our backs as we raced towards the Mall. Lisa was laughing loudly, so was Brianna as our feet flew over the ground. We must have made quite a sight, from our high buns down to our ballet shoes. The black tutus with sparkling rhinestones we wore over our leotards was icing on the cake.
I twisted around and, yes, there was a copper giving chase. “Run. He’s gaining on us.”
We ran faster, screaming like lunatics. It was crazy fun, adrenaline pumping through my veins as we tried to dodge passersby. People were stopping to watch three ballerinas running like gazelles and laughing breathlessly. The copper was getting further away when I turned back to check, but he wasn’t giving up. Damn, they normally stopped giving chase relatively quick. The only conclusion I came to was the fact we’d been in front of the palace, setting off those stupid canisters of confetti. It had sounded like a small rocket.
“Split up,” Lisa yelled. “See you two at the meet point.” She diverted to the left and raced away with her tutu bobbing madly around her.
Brianna slung her arm around me as we ran. “Don’t get caught.” She slipped away with a wave and I continued running like a madwoman.
<><><>
“Matt,” Nathan called sharply. “Are those…look?”
Matt twisted around in his seat and caught sight of three ballerinas racing down the Mall with a bobby in pursuit.
“Do you think it’s her?” he asked, wondering if he’d get a ticket for attempting an illegal U-turn, or worse. He slowed down, much to the consternation of the car behind him. Matt watched as the girls suddenly split up. “Bollocks.”
“Indeed,” Nathan said in disbelief. “Wait. That’s her. She’s taken off the mask.”
Matt twisted around again trying to catch a glimpse of her, but all he could see was the flash of a sparkly tutu racing away in the opposite direction. He suddenly sped up. There was a space he could make a daring turn, and he did.
“Are you mad?” Nathan cursed as he was flung into his door. Matt stayed silent, face set with determination while other drivers tooted their horns in anger. In minutes, he saw the cop running through the crowd of people walking about. Matt checked he was well within the speed limit, so he gave it a little more petrol. There she was, running like the wind, mask clasped tightly to her chest as she held the shoulder strap of a large knapsack that bobbed every step she took. Matt checked his rear view mirror, the cop was nowhere to be seen. His window rolled down and he tooted the horn as he drove alongside her. She didn’t pay attention, too focused on running in those ballet shoes. Matt was surprised she hadn’t hurt her feet running on the hard concrete.
“DuMont,” he shouted out his window, and she turned in surprise.
<><><>
I pulled my mask off. It was biting into my face as I ran as fast as possible. Oh man, if I got arrested Aunt Cleo would never let me forget it. The cop was still chasing me. Why me? Because you’re black, my mind supplied nastily. I ignored the immediate knee jerk reaction, certain the cop hadn’t seen whether I was black or white. We’d taken off so fast he couldn’t have known.
“DuMont.”
I stopped, turning in surprise at the voice. The voice. Matt’s voice. Sure enough, it was him, grinning at me from inside a black car with tinted windows.
“Matt,” I gasped in shock.
“Get in, poppet,” he ordered, grey eyes crinkling at the edges as his grin widened. I glanced behind me. Had the cop given up? I skipped up to the car, the door handle was in the wrong place. Opening from the middle of the vehicle. Weird. I pushed the unimportant thought out of my mind and tossed my bag inside, before getting in myself.
“Oh my God. What are you doing here?” I said, out of breath as I closed the door and slid over the leather upholstery, pushing a briefcase out of my way. “You’re the best knight ever.” I wriggled over to his side and flung my arms around his neck, taking no notice of the headrest.
“Thank you. Can you let go off me, please? It’s a bit difficult to drive with you cutting off my air supply.”
“Sorry,” I gushed, then noticed the blonde man staring at me with horrified fascination. “Hi, I’m his poppet.”
Matt chuckled and sent me a sideways smile. I couldn’t believe it. What a coincidence.
“Nathan Walthamstow.” The blonde held a hand out. I shook it vigorously, hyped up from evading the policeman. I spun around on the seat peering out the back.
“Do you mind telling me why you were running away from the police?” Matt queried.
I could detect the slightest hint of reproach in his voice as I faced frontward and made myself comfortable in the back seat.
“You saw that?”
“Mmm,” he replied, eyes catching mine in the rear view mirror. “Put your se
atbelt on, Madi.”
I buckled up, then let out a shaky breath of relief as I undid the tight bun holding my hair up. “I can’t believe it. This is the second time you’ve rescued me, Matt. I must be the luckiest girl in the world, or you must be my guardian angel.”
His friend chuckled dryly and I could see Matt scowling at him as I combed my fingers through my hair.
“You haven’t answered my question.” Matt got back on point.
I grinned at him in the rear view mirror. “I told you I was a ballet dancer.”
He nodded.
“I own a dance studio in Greenwich,” I explained. “We have this thing we do where we go around London putting on impromptu shows for the public.”
“That sounds interesting,” Matt said, with sincerity shining from his beautiful eyes. I blushed with pleasure, thankful my dark skin hid the rush of blood to my cheeks.
“What are you doing here? Driving along the Mall?” I asked, unable to believe he’d shown up at the exact moment I needed him—like that night we first met.
“Yes, Matthew,” his friend, Nathan, said lightly. “Tell her how you happened to be driving along—”
“I sometimes drive this way after work.” Matt cut him off. He sent another scowl in his friend’s direction. It puzzled me.
Matt totally threw me into a spin when he asked, “What on earth did you do to your lovely curls? Your hair looks straight.”
“Brazilian blow-dry,” I answered, knowing he would probably have no idea what I was talking about. The blank expression on his face confirmed it.
“Is it permanent?” he asked bluntly.
“Dude,” I said jokingly, “don’t you know you should never question a black woman about her hair.”
Matt exchanged a look with his friend, who cleared his throat nervously. I almost giggled. White people were funny when they found themselves in situations like these. They didn’t know how to react.