As soon as they were out of earshot of the others, Chloe apologized. “I’m sorry, Lattie. It’s just…” Needing to corral her rising aggravation once more, it was a few seconds before she was able to finish. “Have you heard what they’re saying about Erik?”
“I’ve heard. And I’ve already spoken to a few people about it. But we have a show to put on and a tight schedule to maintain. I can’t have you dismissing my people.”
Chloe ducked her head. “I know. I’m sorry, truly.”
“Good. I expect we can get back out there now and continue?” He raised a perfectly arched, white eyebrow.
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“Splendid.” Lattie clapped his hands together and shot her a beaming smile. Clearly, he intended to put her outburst behind them and move on as if it hadn’t happened, and while Chloe was grateful for that, she hoped her blowup would at least have people holding their tongues going forward.
Erik watched Chloe Powell from the shadows backstage with a peculiar feeling in his chest. She hadn’t snapped at the dancer because she’d been talking while Chloe was trying to rehearse, as he’d first thought. She’d gotten angry over them talking abouthim. She’d stuck up for him, come to his defense, and she didn’t even know him.
She hadn’t needed to do that for him. Hadn’t needed to put herself in a place where she’d be reprimanded on his account, or face ridicule from her peers. She didn’t owe him anything. The Beasts were protective of him – even when he was being an asshole, which was frequently – but he’d known them his whole life. They were family. The same could be said for General Davies. But Chloe had just met him. They’d barely exchanged a handful of words. She had no reason to champion him. It wasn’t like she knew he was protecting her, and might feel she owed him something in return.
He rubbed his knuckles over his chest, still not sure what he was feeling as he tried to figure out the puzzle that was Chloe Powell.
Since Jayla was still on comms with him, he put the question to her. “Why would someone stick up for somebody they don’t even know?”
“Er… Maybe because they’re a nice person?”
“Huh.”
Jayla let out a dry chuckle. “I know that’s a tough concept for you to understand.”
He ignored the sarcasm as he returned his attention to Chloe, who had retaken her mark on stage, and rehearsal resumed.
Chapter Four
With rehearsal over forthe night, dinner, a shower, and bed were calling Chloe’s name, but instead, she headed back to the sets department to find Erik. She wanted to check in with him, see how he was doing, because the way the rumors and gossip had been running rampant, he had to have heard the things that people were saying about him. Though some of the gossiphaddiverted to her after she’d flipped out in front of everybody.
“What a bitch.”
“She must be on her period.”
“Jesus, who died and made her queen?”
“She’s finally showing her true colors.”
“She thinks her shit don’t stink.”
People might give her the side eye for a couple of days, but it would all blow over, so she wasn’t worried. Likely, the gossip about Erik would have blown over, too, but it was just so nasty and uncalled for that she hadn’t been able to let it go.
The set department smelled like paint and freshly cut lumber, and the large ventilation fans buzzed loudly overhead. Several pieces of furniture that fit the period for the show filled a largeportion of the space. Some of them, she knew, had been sourced locally and repainted or upholstered to match the desired aesthetic, while others had been built from scratch. The craftsmen and painters were tidying up for the night before they left, and Chloe spotted Erik right away. He was standing with Mitch, the Technical Director, a clipboard held between them as they discussed something. Behind them were large panels that would create the backdrop of the Paris skyline, and it took her breath away. A few of the panels were still nothing more than a roughly sketched outline, but the ones that were completed were incredible, with so much depth it looked real, like she could take a few steps and she’d be there, standing on the rooftop, able to smell the smoke from the chimneys, and feel the crisp bite of the weather on her skin.
Approaching the men, they both looked up, and while Erik’s face was set, Mitch offered her a bright smile through his bushy red beard. “Come to have a look, have you?”
Returning his smile, she gestured to the backdrop. “Has Lattie seen this yet?”
The man grinned widely and rocked forward onto the balls of his feet. “Not yet, but I expect he’ll be popping in soon enough.”
“Well, I hope you have smelling salts on hand,” she teased. “He’ll probably swoon when he sees this.”
Mitch laughed heartily, then turned his grin on Erik. “It’s all thanks to this man, right here.” Looking back to Chloe, he added, “And if you think this is good, you should see what he has planned for the Phantom’s Lair.”
Chloe looked at Erik when she offered, “I can’t wait,” and if she wasn’t mistaken, there was a hint of a blush blooming on his unscarred cheek.
To Mitch, she asked, “Can I have a word with Erik?”
