Page 45 of Dancing on Air

“Are you sleeping with Cora?”

He thought about his answer for almost as long before typing.

“We’re dating.”

There, take that, he thought with a smile.

“You need to break things off immediately,” his mother responded quickly.

He was tiring of her texts, so he hit call instead of responding.

“Why would I allow you to dictate my private life?” he asked when she answered. When she didn’t respond quickly, he added. “Is my private life cutting into yours?”

“No,” she gasped, but he could hear the truth.

“Mother, I don’t give a shit what you and Dad do. Your marriage is not my problem. I stay out of your affairs, and I expect the same respect for my private life.” He made sure to make his tone very clear.

“Your father’s threatening to leave me,” she said with a sniffle.

“And?” he asked, surprised. “Wasn’t it you I saw on the stage yesterday dancing around with your latest boy toy? I’m sure there’s a line of them waiting in the wings.”

His mother was quiet and when she started speaking again, the tears had quickly dried up.

“He’s threatening to sue me for the company,” his mother said in a low tone.

“And there it is.” He leaned back in the seat. “The reason why the two of you have danced around one another for years. You both own fifty percent of Sharper Image.”

“No,” his mother said quickly. “We don’t. Your father and I split eighty percent between ourselves equally. You and Melissa own ten percent each.”

“What?” He sat up. “Since when?”

“Since the day you were born.”

He frowned and thought about it. “Why am I just now finding this out?” His mother was quiet. “Do you know what this means? For the last few years I’ve paid taxes without putting that little bit of information in.” He groaned when he thought of having to file amended tax returns.

“Don’t worry. You legally won’t get ownership of your shares until your twenty-fifth birthday,” his mother said. “Missy too. It’s all in a trust.”

“Which for me is in a few months.” He relaxed back and thought about what this meant. If it was worth enough, he could sell his ten percent and walk away from his family. Maybe open his own dance studio somewhere else?

“If you give me your shares, then your father would be forced⁠—”

“Not going to happen, Mother,” he said as Cora stepped out on the stage and looked around for him. “Listen, I’m just getting into a car. We’ll talk more later,” he lied. He hung up as Cora stopped beside him.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

“Yes.” He smiled at her flowing brown knee-high skirt and the bright coral skintight top that flattered her skin and hair perfectly. “You look beautiful,” he said, taking her hand as they headed out.

“Thanks.” She smiled. “It feels strange being in normal clothes. I don’t get out much,” she joked as they stepped outside. “Is it strange that I’m looking forward to heading home in a few weeks just so I can go clothes shopping?”

“We’ll have to plan a full day of it. I’m sure Missy’s excited to wear something other than a chef’s apron.”

“She’s going to school to be a pastry chef, right?” Cora asked.

“That’s her specialty. She will graduate with a bachelor’s in culinary arts.” He smiled. “She could work as a regular chef, but her passion is in pastries.” He waved and a cab stopped. “I suppose she has sweet expectations,” he said as they climbed in.

“That should be the name of her bakery,” Cora joked.

His eyebrows shot up. “It’s perfect.” He pulled out his phone and shot Missy a text.