Page 130 of Bribed by the Billionaire Bad Boy

“And now our very own magpie girl, Harriet, author, and composer—Calypso Kole.”

My heart thuds, everyone’s applause continuing on in a vacuum. I can’t have heard right. I haven’t just been dubbed this play’s writer in front of everyone.

Lex presses a kiss to the side of my head, facilitating my bow before guiding me off stage in a blur of distant noise. He takes off his mic, makes sure mine is muted, then leans for my ear. “Courtesy of Mr. D’plume, who, I quote, would never exploit one of his students.”

My lashes flutter, and I cover my mouth, clinging to Lex’s hand like a lifeline.

Everyone knows.

Everyone knows, and everyone is still clapping.

I made something. And it filled an auditorium.

My work has met the solemn hush of a packed theater, like I always imagined but never believed it might.

I have stood beneath the blazing spotlight.

And I have soared.

Lex

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Calypso is glowing. Completely. I watch, not even wanting to blink, as I witness her whole narrative rewritten. I can see it in the hush of her eyes, the soft spread of her lips. And it’s beautiful.

It mimics what I feel in my soul.

Never before has a performance felt so full and real. I actually put everything into this. I didn’t account for any distance, any regrets. I forgot completely the feeling that no matter what I do now, it won’t matter next year when I’m stuck in business, learning to become my father. I gave my heart to the play written by the girl who owns it.

And I feel it now. Even as the applause descend and the natural close of the performance comes about, the tingle on my skin remains. Ilovethis.

It’s not going to die.

If it in any part does, all I need to do is find a new character or addiction.

Some things aren’thobbies. Like people. Like passions.

“I have a secret, too,” Calypso says when she blinks out of the reverie, realizes the world around us is a spattering of college students celebrating success.

Her eyes meet mine, and my brow furrows.

“I invited our parents to this.”

My heart stops. “What?”

“My mom. Your dad.”

I swallow and ruffle my hair. “Well, do you want to see if your mom came?”

She winces. “That’s just it, Lex. I think your dad came. I don’t know about my mom, but I really think once we go out there,your dad will be here. That’s why I told you.” She motions her chin around us, at the rest of the cast. “I think we’re about to head out.”

Before I can say anything more about it, Rebecca—fully decked in all the harsh coolness of Jo’s outfit—bounds onto Calypso. “Harriet!” She beams. “We did it, andoh my lans, were you actuallynotgoing to tell me you wrote this play?”

Calypso chokes.

Rebecca hasn’t run out of words. “The first thing all of us did when we heard your name read off was attack Mr. D’plume. Heshrugged. Can you believe it? Agatha’slivid.” Rebecca laughs. “To think all this time she’s wanted so badly to star in her own nemesis’s play. I love it. Iloveit.” She squeezes Calypso. “This is so rich. I knew college would be an experience, but no one warned me it’d be like this!”

Tell me about it.