Page 55 of His Little Secret in Discretion

Regardless of how I do it, I will earn that trust. She just needs a little push in the right direction. Just a little push to see that she’s safe with me.

That’s all.

Chapter twenty-one

Maia

“Isee you’re back from your getaway… You know, if Brielle’s job is taking up her time and my other choreographer takes trips on short notice, I can only wonder how my dancers will fare.” Madam Alexandrova spoke by the entrance of the dressing room, and I could only give her a small smile as I finished lacing my pointe shoes.

We were back in the States, and despite the black card in my wallet, which was calling me to go on another fit of online shopping to calm my racing mind, dancing has always been my first escape. Spending my allowance can wait.

“Sorry again for the late notice, Madam A… and besides, Brielle and I fared well enough with you as our teacher.” I shrugged.

She scoffed. “Of course you did. But traditional methods of correction won’t work as well with the new generation of dancers.”

“Using a broomstick to correct us shouldn’t have been a method of correcting at all…”

“Oh, hush…” she snapped. “You have five minutes to finish; the girls are already waiting.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I murmured, watching her back as she retreated. Immediately after, I heard a fit of giggles down the hall before Delilah ran in, pigtails swinging with her smile bright as the sun.

“Hi, Maia!” she all but screamed, and I let out a soft laugh, accepting the hug as Brielle sauntered in with her heels and business attire, serving polish and poise.

“What did I say about inside voices, little girl?” she scolded gently.

I could only hug the little girl tighter in my arms as she attempted to hide from her aunt.

Eventually, I inevitably let her go to get ready before I finished up myself for class.

My phone buzzed beside me, and I looked over to see a text from “Sugar Daddy B”… My face flamed as I picked up the phone.I really need to change his contact info.

Blaine

Still thinking about how you looked in that dress.

And how you looked out of it.

Let me know if you’re still ignoring me or just planning to make me suffer.

I chewed on my lip, typing and deleting before finally sending:

I’m at the studio. I’ll call you after rehearsal, Mr. Porter.

Planning to make me suffer, I see…

Try not to miss me too much.

His response was instant.

Impossible. I started missing you the second you got out of bed this morning. Blaine Jr. and I have been thinking about you in every meeting.

It's a miracle Killian hasn’t noticed me struggling to keep it together here.

I had the sudden urge to melt, swoon, and roll my eyes all at the same time. Only Blaine Porter could make a girl fall and ruin the moment in the same sentence.

Before I had a chance to respond, however, my screen lit up with an incoming call.Uncle Wes.

My stomach dropped to the floor. Brielle must’ve seen my face shift, because she stilled whilst fixing Delilah’s hair. “Everything okay?”