by Sage Nyx
“Hey Daniel,” I say, reaching over to softly ruffle his dark brown hair. Mom keeps it cut short because he can barely tolerate for it to be combed. “I missed you, buddy.”
He doesn’t make eye contact with me. Instead, he slowly leans his head over to lay it against my shoulder.
Tears spring into my eyes.
I can’t believe I almost missed Christmas Day with my baby brother. Putting my arm gently around his shoulders, I hug him to me.
Sometimes he likes to be touched and other times he doesn’t. To my surprise, he doesn’t shrug me off or pull away.
“I brought a new friend to meet you,” I tell him. “He’s nice.”
Sugar quietly settles down on the floor beside me. “Hi Daniel, I’m Sugar. This is a very cool train set you have here.”
Daniel doesn’t say a word in response, but I can see a small smile beginning. I already know they’ll get along beautifully.
“Can you guess what I was getting ready to do in the kitchen before you arrived?” Mom asks.
She’s beaming from ear-to-ear. I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time.
“I hope you’ll say making pancakes,” I reply. “Because we’re starving! We flew all night to get here.”
“That’s right!” she replies, clapping her hands together. “Who wants a pancake with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles for breakfast? Raise your hand if you want one.”
Three hands go up and a big smile breaks out on Daniel’s face.
Sugar leans over and squeezes my hand.
“Merry Christmas,” he says, his blue eyes full of love and the promise of amazing things yet to come.
Sugar
The day after Christmas back in Las Vegas…
My phone buzzes on the bedside table in my hotel suite. I reach over and quickly hit the button before the annoying noise wakes Jade.
She’s still sleeping soundly, exhausted after our whirlwind trip to Orlando yesterday. After breakfast with her mom and Daniel, we’d quickly changed clothes and headed out to the theme park.
I’ll never forget riding into the park on the sleek monorail.
Seeing the delighted expression on Daniel’s face when the castle first came into view was worth everything.
Jade and her mom didn’t stop smiling for the whole day.
Neither did I.
It felt amazing to be a part of her family. I can’t wait for Dad to meet them. Maybe next year, we can all be together for Christmas here in Vegas.
Throwing back the sheets, I slip out of bed. I hate to leave Jade, but my regular show schedule resumes today.
Time to step back into the real world.
Flipping my phone over, I check the text.
Fuck! Not again.
It’s Mr. Giovanni summoning me to his office. I knew this moment was coming but hoped to hold it off until after the New Year’s Day show.
He’s certain to be furious with me for the stunt I pulled at the casino.
Not that I can blame him.
My staff told me the reindeer left an incredible mess behind in the casino.
Who knew they were so damn stinky and not house-trained? Kit failed to mention that tiny fact. Or how they occasionally kick doors and casino staff when they’re not happy.
Not to mention the water damage done to the carpet by the melting snowman and the snow blowing out of the sprinkler heads.
I’m sure Mr. Giovanni will deduct a hefty amount for damages from my earnings.
While I quickly shower and dress, I can’t help wondering what he will do.
Will he straight up fire me and break my contract?
Or will he be an asshole and keep paying me, while prohibiting me from performing anywhere else?
I’m not sure which would be worse.
Either way, I have no regrets.
Everything I did was worth it to keep Jade safe. She’s a part of my life now and that’s reason enough for my actions.
No way in hell could I stand by and let him get his hands on her. Protecting Jade is my number one priority.
There aren’t many people in my inner circle; people that I trust and who can trust me. Only Dad, Kit, Vulcan, Leroy, and now Jade.
I’ll do anything for them.
I lean down to brush the hair back from Jade’s forehead and give her a soft kiss before slipping out quietly. This time I know she’ll be here when I return.
Stepping inside the elevator, I punch in the special code for Mr. Giovanni’s penthouse office. The first thing I see when the doors slide open is Marla the Gatekeeper’s stormy face. She’s glaring at the elevator as if she knew it was me riding inside.
It wouldn’t surprise me to learn the woman is psychic. Or a witch in a tweed business suit.
“I’m very disappointed in you, Sugar,” she scolds, peering at me over the rim of her wire-rimmed glasses.
I fight the impulse to hang my head and stare at my feet. Why does she always make me feel like I’m back in first grade being punished by the principal for running in the hallway?
“That was a stupid and irresponsible thing you did on Christmas Eve,” she says. “Someone could’ve been injured by those reindeer. They’re wild animals, not trained pets. And not only that…the fire department insisted that we replace all the sprinkler heads that you tampered with. They fined us for breaking numerous fire codes because of your actions. I’m sure the health department will pay our restaurants a surprise visit, too.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, giving her an apologetic smile. “Things got out of hand. I promise it won’t happen again.”
“Damn right, it won’t,” Mr. Giovanni interrupts from the other end of the hallway. “Come inside my office, Sugar. It’s time you and I have another talk.” He motions for me to follow him into his office.
I blow out a long breath.
Here it comes.
The inevitable end of my glorious career. It was great fun while it lasted.
Tomorrow when Dad calls, I’ll have the unenviable task of telling him I’ve single- handedly destroyed everything we’ve worked a lifetime for in a single night.
All for the love of a girl I’ve known less than a month.
He’ll understand.
Love is a good reason to blow up everything.
With dread clenching my chest, I follow Mr. Giovanni into his office. I move to take a seat in one of the leather chairs in front of his desk.
“Don’t bother sitting down,” he says. “You won’t be here long.”
I nod and remain standing. Good to know my termination speech will be short and sweet. I’m not eager to hang around longer than necessary either.
He crosses his arms and gives me a look that would terrify the shit out of most people in my position.
Are his thugs waiting outside the door to haul me away? Break my legs? Shoot me in the kneecaps?
“What was that crazy stunt you pulled in the casino?” he spits out.
I absentmindedly scratch my beard while trying to get a read on him. How much does he know about the activities in the casino that night?
I hope not everything.
As usual, his expression is impossible to read.
“I was trying to drum up business for the new show,” I explain. “It was a last-minute idea for a promotional stunt. Everyone was in high spirits because it was Christmas Eve. And I’ll be honest…I was a little on the tipsy side. My friend had brought a few of his reindeer into town for his animal show. I thought it would be funny if I dressed up as Santa and drove a sleigh through the casino. Kit was half-wasted too, and he volunteered to drive. I thought ‘Why the fuck not? It’s Christmas Eve! I should do something crazy and wild!’”
“You didn’t think to clear it with management before you crashed the casino with a herd of animals? The Imperial is not a barn. We have an outstanding reputation to uphold.”
He’s baiting me, waiting for me to trip up.
“They were well behaved,” I reply.
He raises his eyebr
ows at me.
“For reindeer, that is,” I correct. “I’m sorry for the mess they left on the carpet. Kit didn’t warn me about the amount of waste they produce or the smell. It was worse than I expected. You’re right, they stink like shit.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“The crowd loved it though! Did you see their faces light up when I rode in on the sleigh? It made their holiday. The videos immediately went viral on social media. That’s free publicity.”
“You don’t need to give me a lesson in public relations,” he says. “Frankly, I don’t care about any of that. What I want to know is how the fuck did you pull it off?”
Oh shit, he knows.
“What do you mean?” I ask, carefully hiding the unease in my voice.
“I want to hear how you did the illusion. How did you disappear into thin air and leave a melting snowman wearing your hat? How were you able to rig the sprinkler system to cause a blizzard? I was ten feet away when you spun around, turned into the snowman and then disappeared. Tell me how you pulled it off.”
I break into a grin, overcome by relief that he’s not talking about Jade. I was prepared to go to any length to protect her even if it meant walking away from my remaining contract.
“Magic,” I explain. “It’s what I was born to do. To entertain and amaze people. To make them smile and forget their troubles, if only for a little while. Magic is my life. And I can never give away my secrets. Not even to you.”
He nods slowly at me. “You have a rare talent, Sugar,” he says. “I’m impressed, and I don’t say that often. There are very few things that wow me these days.”
I’m stunned.
Of all the ways I expected this conversation to go, it wasn’t like this.
“I talked to the insurance company again and they’ve come around to a different way of thinking,” he continues. “They’ve agreed to continue insurance coverage of your show with a substantial increase in premiums. Luckily, the ticket sales for your new show have gone through the roof after the stunt you pulled and the resulting publicity. As a result, we’re doubling the ticket prices and adding several extra time slots. Be prepared to work your ass off this winter. Your show will be the hottest one in Vegas. We’re tripling the advertising budget and planning for a larger theater.”
I’m not fired.
I can’t believe it.
“I still have a show?” I ask, hope bubbling up inside me.
He walks across the room to his desk and picks up a stack of papers. I recognize my signature where I’d signed not to use a variety of dangerous devices in my show.
He rips the document in half and throws it into the trashcan beside his desk.
“I’m giving you back full artistic control of your show,” he says. “I’m also giving you a second chance, which is a very rare occurrence. I’m warning you. Don’t fuck it up. You won’t get a third.”
I reach across the desk to shake his hand.
“I won’t,” I say.
Call Me Sugar is back in business and Jade is safe.
All is good with the world again.
Almost all, that is.
The only thing left to do is get my dad out of prison.
Jade
The New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball at the Imperial Hotel…
“May I escort you to the ball this evening, madam?” Sugar says, bending before me with a gallant bow. He straightens and offers me his elbow.
“Yes, you may, kind sir,” I reply.
Smiling, I place my gloved hand inside the crook of his arm.
He’s stunning in his black tuxedo, white starched shirt and bowtie. The blue Venetian mask he’s wearing accentuates the color of his eyes.
I pick up the tail of my light blue evening gown and we stroll together into the huge, elaborately decorated ballroom. The Imperial Hotel’s lavish New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball is a long tradition going back decades.
Everyone who is anyone in Vegas will be here tonight.
I glance around the massive ballroom hoping to spot Eva, Natasha and King. At the last minute, Eva snagged them coveted tickets to the ball. No small feat considering the tickets are for the hottest New Year’s Eve event in Vegas.
When I asked her how, she’d only smiled mysteriously without answering.
Something tells me there’s more to her and Mr. Giovanni than she lets on. Maybe one day, I’ll hear her whole story. Until then, I can only dream up my own conclusions.
I search the room of masked strangers. There’s no point in trying to find them since we can’t hang out together like normal friends.
The thought makes me sad.
I’ve grown attached to Natasha, and even Eva to a certain extent. Being seen together in public would be too dangerous for us now. We were lucky to make it through Christmas Eve without being dragged off in handcuffs.
All thanks to Sugar.
He risked everything to protect me.
While I was stupidly falling into the gambler’s trap of playing one more hand when I should’ve folded.
I knew it and kept playing. The lure of easy money in Vegas got to me.
I won’t make the same mistake again.
Eva executed the final step of our plan this past week. It was too risky for any of us to walk up to the cash cage in the casinos holding fistfuls of winning tickets. We needed someone else to collect the cash.
According to her, it was easy to find several people willing to cash in the tickets at the various casinos, collect a fee for their trouble, and hand over the rest. By keeping the winnings to under twelve hundred dollars per slot machine, we avoided the tax form requirements. All they had to do was grab the cash and go.
True to her word, she’d distributed the winnings to everyone right away. I immediately wired my share of the money to Mom. Daniel’s first appointment is later this week.
It feels weird for it all to be over.
“What’s going on in that pretty brain of yours?” Sugar glances down at me and gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “Who are you searching for?”
“Natasha,” I reply, my eyes still gazing over the crowded dance floor. “Or Eva.”
Sugar frowns at me. “Aren’t you supposed to be staying away from each other now?”
After our trip to Orlando, I came clean and told him everything. It would be impossible to continue a relationship based on lies.
He’d already figured out part of our plan. I only needed to fill in the remaining details.
“I wasn’t planning to talk to them. I only wanted to see what they’re wearing.”
“Sure, you did,” he says doubtfully. “Dance with me. That will get your mind off your friends. It’s too risky for you to be seen with them. You told me that yourself.”
“You’re right,” I agree with a regretful sigh. “Why don’t we grab a drink first?”
I’m trying to delay stepping out on the dance floor, where I’ve always felt awkward and weird.
“I have a better idea,” he says, leaning down to whisper in my ear. “Let’s split. Why are we here in a room full of masked strangers when we could be upstairs having hot sex in my room?” He pulls my hair aside and kisses my neck softly. “What do I need to do to convince you to escape with me?”
“Stop it!” I tease. “Try to control yourself. I’ve never attended a New Year’s Eve party before and you need to indulge me. Besides, we’ve already had hot, passionate sex how many times today already?”
“Twice,” he replies with a low chuckle. “I’m insatiable where you’re concerned. Besides, that was early this morning and now it’s almost midnight. When the clock strikes twelve, the count will reset back to zero. Then we’ll be behind schedule. I’ll behave, but only this one time. It’s New Year’s Eve and I’m superstitious. I want to give you a kiss at midnight.”
A waitress carrying a tray of champagne flutes pauses in front of us. She’s wearing a fancy Venetian mask that hides her facial features. Her mask is white with long r
ed feathers on both sides to match her short red cocktail dress.
“Would you care for a glass of champagne?” she offers.
“Absolutely,” Sugar says, removing two glasses from the tray. “Thank you.”
He hands one to me before lightly clinking our flutes together. “Let’s make a toast to the new year. I’m excited to see where it will take us.”
I smile up at him. “Me too.”
“Things couldn’t be much better. My new show starts tomorrow with all the dangerous stunts I pushed for, and I’ve found my soulmate. Life is fucking fantastic!”
“Do you really believe in soulmates?” I grow serious for a moment.
“Yes, don’t you?” He leans down and kisses my lips lightly again, not caring if anyone is watching.
Sugar has a hard time keeping his hands and lips off me. I’m not complaining.
“We found each other, and that’s proof enough for me,” he continues. “Think about it. How is it possible that we crossed paths at exactly the moment we did? If you’d left the casino two minutes earlier, or if tipsy Shelley had stayed on her feet, we never would’ve met. Now that you’re in my life, I can’t imagine an existence without you. Before you came along, I didn’t realize how much I missed having a true partner to share my life with.”
He reaches down and tilts my chin up so he can gaze directly into my eyes. “I love you, Jade. I know your real name is Judy, but you’ll always be Jade to me. Jade is the girl I fell in love with, who hypnotized me from the very first moment. Please stay here in Vegas with me. Not for a week or until you find a job. I want you by my side permanently. I need you.”
Sugar loves me?
How did I ever get so lucky?
It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that we’re together as a couple now. A month ago, I was an unemployed college graduate with an expensive degree and no job prospects.
Meeting Sugar is more than I ever could’ve dreamed. I always thought the term ‘soulmates’ was made up, nothing but a wild fantasy.
Now I realize it’s true.
Sugar and I were meant for each other.
“I love you, too,” I reply, reaching up to gently graze his beard I adore so much with my fingertips. “More than I can say. By now, you probably know that I’m not good at expressing my feelings, but I’m working on it. I never want you to doubt me. If I can’t always tell you, I’ll show you.”