Page 7 of Wrecked By a Devil

“Do you threaten all your dancers?”

“No,” he shakes his head. “Only those who happen to walk in on me.”

“I never did such thing,” I realize that denying that I’ve seen anything is the best move and probably what he expects to hear from me. “I was just looking for a bathroom when you chased me down and I got scared.”

“So you ran because I scared you?”

“Wouldn’t you?” At this point, I’m aware that whatever is going on here is way darker than what I can even imagine. The blood splatter on his shirt flashes into my mind and I push the image away.

“I wouldn’t run if I didn’t do anything wrong,” Ezekiel leans back in his chair, his eyes never leaving me. I notice the way he scans me from head to toe, reading my body language but also staying a little too long on my legs.

“Well, next time maybe put clear signs for the bathroom and keep your lights in the corridors on,” I’m rambling, completely terrified of what he could do to me. “That way no one will accidentally walk into any wrong rooms.”

“So it was too dark for you to see anything?”

“Yes, that’s what I’ve been trying to say all along!” My voice is a little harsher than I intended and I freeze for a heartbeat, worried that I might have overstepped. Not that I didn’t already overstep when I kicked him earlier.

What does he want from me?

“You say you were looking for the bathroom,” He continues. “But the bathroom was on the opposite side, close to the stage.”

“It is out of order, I was given directions to another one and got lost,” I sigh. “You’re now keeping me here against my will and blackmailing me into signing the contract, and I just want to leave.”

“This is not blackmail, Riley.”

God, the way my name sounds on his lips.

“All you have to do is keep your mouth shut and really believe your story about not having seen anything,” The confident smug makes me want to get up from my chair and slap him. Or maybe find another more creative way to wipe it off his face.

Stop it, Riley!

“And both you and your friend can keep your jobs.”

“That’s all?” I find it hard to believe that he would let me off the hook so easily.

He might be many things, but stupid is not one of them and I know he’s aware that I’m lying. I would not have run if I hadn’t seen too much in that room. Besides, I’m far from being a great actress, I’m sure he can see straight through me.

“That’s all,” he nods.

I’m defeated. There is no other way out of this for me, so I nod.

From the little I I can see about him, he’s a man who thrives on control. I don’t think I can talk my way out of it, if he’s set on keeping me to work for him after what I’ve seen. So, I sign the contract and choose to look on the bright side of things–I finally have a well-paid job.

“That’s a smart move,” he says, reaching out his hand for me to shake it. When I stay put and don’t do it, he laughs, his eyes dropping for a second to my open jacket. If I didn’t know any better, I’d bet he’s been checking me out during the entire conversation. “Tomorrow is your first rehearsal. Make sure you don’t miss it.”

“I’ll be there,” I nod, ready to get out of here as soon as he allows me to.

Ezekiel nods without saying a word, clearly satisfied that I gave in and he got his way. This time he doesn’t offer me a handshake and I’m glad he doesn’t because the thought of touching his skin makes my stomach turn and my reaction to him scares me. I get up and head towards the door when I hear him add.

“Welcome to Eden, Riley.”

After a long and exhausting night, going home feels more like a punishment than a reward. The graffiti on the brick walls are a confirmation that I’ve left the nice neighborhood behind me.

As I’m waiting for the bus to leave the station so I can cross the street, I hear a siren before a police car speeds in front of me, followed by two motorcycles.

“Another day in paradise,” I chuckle, speaking at loud even though there is no one to hear me. I would be lying if I said I’m not afraid to live here, but right now it’s the best I can afford.

“Hey there,” my neighbor Noah is leaning on the wall at the building entrance and my stomach drops the moment I see him. “You look tired, do you want to come to papa’s place for some fun? I can help you let lose a little.”