Page 59 of A Dead Man's B-Side
He then turned to Cole Coldwell. “Congratulations, you’ve graduated from understudy to centre-stage. Ayana will get you a fresh script.”
He walked down the stairs in quick steps as two stage membersquickly hauled the poor boy up, heads bowed and most likely whispering to him abouthismistake.
My eyes didn’t follow him, because my guest of honor had arrived and I was too eager to see how the next few minutes would play out to continue watching.
The click of Rain Atlas Jett’s heels sounded as she moved closer until we were standing side by side, her posture, impeccable, and her hair pin-straight down her back.
The epitome of perfection and grace. And a quick reminder of why I had come here.
She didn’t entertain me with pleasantries. “You have something for me?”
I didn’t remove my eyes from Callum Queen, sitting in the front row with his head bowed. “The cracks of Castle Hill run deep, it seems.”
She didn’t speak, and for a moment, I thought she was waiting for me to get to the point. “Castle Hill does not have cracks. It was never an institution painted as a fairytale.”
She didn’t allow me any moment to consider her words before shifting to face me. “You have something for me.”
She wasn’t asking anymore.
I mirrored her movement. “I do.”
She was silent for a beat before she asked, “Will it cost me?”
I shrugged, looking around and taking note that she hadn’t allowed her sidekick to accompany her this time. Or perhaps the time didn’t allow for it. “That depends on what you have planned.”
A beat, maybe two, passed before a small smile cracked through her cold facade. “You’re learning.”
“I wouldn’t say learning is the right word. But alas, news through the grapevine says Marigold is a thorn in your side.”
Rain Atlas Jett’s hands against the bannister overlooking the lower level of the theatre tightened, but her features remained smoothed out as she pushed her hair out of her face. “I doubt that’s news to anyone.”
I tilted my head, blowing out a breath with a contemplative look. “What also isn’t news, however, is that you’re in need of leverage.”
She raised a brow, refusing to give an inch; the sound of working students calling out their lines and replaying scenes sounded down below.
Again, I mirrored her.
She must have concluded that the information I insinuated in having was far too important to pass up. “And what, pray tell, is this so-called leverage?”
A Cheshire grin stretched across my lips almost subconsciously. “Well, I believe showing is a far better option than telling, don’t you think?”
I turned away, walking back up the row to the exit when she spoke, “Why did you ask to meet here?”
I tilted my head back, looking over my shoulder. “I have… an appreciation for theatre.”
Only a half hour later did we find ourselves facing the dorm 6-4. The white wood almost taunted us, until I slipped out the wornbobby pin I’d kept in my trouser pockets for situations such as this one.
Perhaps one day I’d find myself with enough time to break into Wolf’s dorm.
Rain stood unimpressed when, only a few moments and a familiar click later, I held the door open for her to enter. “Ladies first.”
“Don’t patronize me.”
I raised a disconcerted brow at her sharp tone as she unfolded her crossed arms and slid inside, me along with her.
The door closed behind us, and for a second, before I reached for the light switch to the side, we were left in complete darkness.
Turning on the lights was like entering a different world. The red lights didn’t do much, dark as they were, but they illuminated enough.
