"I know you."
I looked up, recognizing the man in front of me. He grinned, offering me his hand.
"Max Stanton. You're that ballerina, the real pretty one."
I forced a smile. I wasn't really in the mood to socialize. I offered my hand and before I could protest, he pulled me to standing. The phone in my lap clattered to the sidewalk. He picked it up quickly, and without permission, read the text on my screen.
My face grew red with embarrassment, and I snatched it back.
"That's mine."
"Sorry, yes. I see. Sounds like you've got a little problem." He gave me my phone back and looked from me to the building we stood in front of. "Did you..."
"That's none of your business,” I snapped. My stomach turned, and I pushed him out of the way as I ran to the nearest bush to throw up.
"Interesting," he said as he came to stand beside me as I emptied my stomach.
"Daisy, would you be interested in a date sometime?"
I wiped my mouth with my jacket.
A date? He was asking me out on a date in front of an abortion clinic? He saw the look on my face and chuckled.
"I know, bad timing, but, by the looks of things, I think you may be able to help me out. We'd be helping each other, actually, based on that message from...Nona."
I blinked.
"What do you want?" I asked, my eyes turning to slits. I didn't trust him. I'd heard rumors about him from other dancers. Him and his other rich friends were always coming around to shows, trying to pick up women. He was a giant flirt and had gone on many dates with my company.
"I think I have what you need, do I not?"
"What's that?" I snorted.
He leaned in, and the words he whispered into my ear chilled me to the bone. I shivered as the blood ran from my face as he continued to whisper to me a plan that was as smart as it was vile.
"This way, both of our reputations and inheritances are protected. What do you say, want to have a baby with me, Daisy?"
He offered me his hand again, which I simply stared. He'd said the question so light-heartedly, almost as if he were asking me if I'd like to share a cab. But... my choices were limited now. Nona knew of my predicament, and I was going to lose everything unless I came up with a better idea than the one Max had just presented to me.
I stared and stared some more as he continued holding his hand out, and then finally, as I felt another wave of nausea rolling in, I shook it.
Chapter 54
Daisy
"Daisy."Gatsby's hands were on my shoulders, shaking me frantically. He leaned down to look me directly in the eyes. "Daisy, what happened?"
"I-I think I killed her." The words came from my mouth, but I wasn't here. My mind was back in my dressing room, with Lilly's dead body.
"Who? Daisy, are you hurt?"
I shook my head and stared out into the dark. The rain made it impossible to see past his stairs.
How did I get here?
"Let's get you inside. You can tell me everything in there." Gatsby's voice seemed so far away. Numbly, I let him lead me into his enormous home. We took the elevator instead of the stairs. "What happened?" he asked.
"I can't..." My chin trembled. I closed my eyes and crumpled to the floor. The doors opened, and he scooped me up. He tried to take me to the bathroom, but I fought him. I scrambled away from him and went to the bed, where I curled and sobbed.
