“Technically no, but you can give her freedom to choose you. Have your father lift his restrictions, or override them yourself.”
“I can do that?”
“You shouldn’t, but yes, you can. With her.”
Alex nodded. “‘If you love something, set it free...’.”
*****
Anna’s phone rang that evening and she ignored it. It was Wilhelm. Again. She didn’t want to talk to him. What else would he forbid her from doing?
Her phone rang again, this time it was Aaron. “Hey, Aaron.” He was out with Cameron.
“Anna, Wilhelm’s trying to get ahold of you.”
“I don’t want to talk to him.”
“He says he needs to talk to you.”
“Is he ordering me?” she asked bitterly.
“No. He said he wouldn’t command you, but asked you to please call him.”
He wouldn’t command her? “Really?”
“Yes. Please call him, Anna. He sounds concerned.”
Anna sighed. “All right.” Perversely, she was more inclined to call him knowing he hadn’t commanded it.
She stared at her phone for a long minute before tapping on Wilhelm’s picture on the screen.
“Hello, Liebling,” Wilhelm answered in a gentle voice. “Thank you for calling me.”
He didn’t sound angry. Was it a trick? “Hi, Wilhelm,” she said timidly.
There was a pause before he spoke. “Anna, I know I have been...distant and hard on you these last few months. I am very sorry for that. Now that you know that Alex is back, I do not have to hide anything from you anymore. The last few months have been very, very busy and I am so sorry I pushed you aside.”
Anna didn’t respond. She didn’t know what Alex’s return had to do with his pushing her aside. He had hidden Alex’s return from her too, and it hurt.
“Anna, I am lifting any commands I have given you since you arrived.”
She blinked in shock. “What?”
“When you arrived, you were told you were free, and then I began to remove your freedoms without telling you why. That was unfair of me. Obviously, you are no longer engaged to Kurt, but I....” He hesitated. “I remove the ban on you being with Hugo as well.”
Anna was stunned. Alex had returned...her husband had returned, and Wilhelm was telling her it was okay for her to be with Hugo?
“Alex will respect your wishes about whether or not people learn that he is your husband. He will not demand you return to him.”
Anna didn’t know what to say.
“Anna, I only ask that you at least give him a chance to win you back. That is not a command.”
“He’s leaving again,” she whispered.
“For jobs given to him by myself, Tom and Vlad. There is no trap, they are simple jobs and, if you want, he can remain in contact with you while he is gone. Aside from a few of us, no one knows he is alive.”
“Anyone who sees him will know he’s related to Kurt.”
“If you want him to remain hidden, he will. Though it will be difficult for him to take you out if he does.”
“Take me out?”
“How else do you court a woman?”
“Oh.”
“Is it all right if he asks you out on a date?”
“I....” Alex wanted to ask her out? He wouldn’t demand her return? He would even hide that they were married if she wanted him to. She could go out with Hugo, too. “Y-yes, I suppose so.”
“Gut.”
“What if I decide I don’t want to be with him?”
Wilhelm didn’t answer right away and Anna grew nervous in the silence. “Then I will permit a divorce,” he said softly.
Anna inhaled deeply. He really meant what he was saying. She really was free. Free to choose whether or not she wanted to be with Alex. Tears came to her eyes at the thought of not being with him, but she didn’t want to think about that now. “Thank you, Wilhelm,” she whispered. Freedom.
“I love you, Liebling. I want you to be happy.”
Anna’s jaw trembled. “I love you, too, Wilhelm.”
Anna stared at the engagement ring she held in her hand. The one that Kurt had given her. She no longer had to wear it. She was no longer engaged. Yes, she was married, but only technically. If she didn’t want to stay with Alex, she didn’t have to. The thought was both heart-freeing and sad.
Now what did she do?
Chapter Thirty-Two
Alex smoothed his blue dress shirt and khaki dress slacks nervously as he walked into the theater Monday morning. Today he was going to watch the City Ballet’s rehearsals again, but not in the dark balcony. No, today he was sitting in the orchestra section with Vincent. He would be seen.
He heard Seth chuckle behind him. “Nervous?” his friend murmured.
“Do you blame me?” Alex asked. “You would be too....” He had told Aaron he was coming, but he still hadn’t talked to Anna. Wilhelm had called him and told him that Anna had taken his call and that she’d seemed to have softened.
Alex sensed Anna as he walked down the aisle, but didn’t see her at first. His eyes searched the dancers on the stage and he finally spotted her talking to the tall, dark-skinned man he knew was Hugo. She gave Hugo an adoring smile and Alex felt like he’d been punched in the stomach. Maybe watching rehearsal today wasn’t such a good idea. But he was here, and he couldn’t leave. In fact, he planned on being there a lot. She would get used to him being alive one way or another, though he would maintain his distance.
As Alex, Seth, Greg and Tony made their way down the aisle towards the stage, he knew when he became visible to those on stage as whispers erupted from all corners. He could see the women looking at him and giggling, and he sighed. He had to maintain his distance from women, or Anna would never trust him. But at the same time, he wasn’t supposed to know Anna. What had he gotten himself into?
Vincent noticed the whispers and grinned as he turned to greet Alex. “I should have realized the whispers could only be about you.” Vincent didn’t know exactly who he was, except that he had some sort of familial relationship with Kurt. Alex had kept the information from him to protect him. Vincent didn’t know that Alex knew Anna.
Alex chuckled. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. They dance exceptionally well when you are here. Do you mind if I introduce you? If I don’t, they won’t pay attention to anything this morning.”
Alex nodded, glancing quickly at where Anna was standing, still talking to Hugo. She apparently hadn’t noticed the whispers. Hugo reached out to caress her cheek and Alex growled.
“Alex...,” Seth murmured.
Alex took a deep breath. “I know,” he muttered.
Vincent led them up onto the stage, clapping his hands to get the dancers’ attention. Anna turned to look at Vincent and her eyes widened as she made eye contact with Alex. His heart pounded as he gazed into her beautiful green eyes for just a moment before dragging them away. Was this really such a good idea? Could he keep himself from walking over to her and kissing her until she couldn’t stand straight?
*****
Anna debated all night whether or not she should tell Hugo what was going on. She’d almost called him after she finished her call with Wilhelm, but didn’t. The knowledge that she was allowed to be with him thrilled her, but should she really just go jump back into bed with him, not knowing how she felt about Alex?
She woke Monday morning, determined to speak to Hugo. She walked out on stage and found him at the side of the stage, talking with Vincent. She could go to him. She could go to him and kiss him and go out with him and anything else she wanted. Her heart both swelled and ached as she looked at him from the shadows of the wings. Maybe she could finally admit that she loved him. Maybe.
Did she love Alex? Alex was just such a part of her...could she not love him? But did she have to love him? Did she want to love him? She honestly didn’t know.
Taking a deep breath, Anna walked out on stage as casually as s
he could. She and Hugo had barely spoken since the night they’d made love, and only when they had to. It hurt to gaze into his loving eyes.
Hugo glanced up as she walked towards him and raised his brows. Her feelings must have been showing on her face. She gave him a small smile and dropped her bag on the ground.
“Katrina?” Hugo’s large body blocked out the stage lights behind him. “Are you okay?”
“Why do you ask?” she asked softly.
“You look...troubled. Did something happen over the weekend?”
She gazed up into his topaz eyes, trying to contain her emotions. “I....” She was so torn, so conflicted.
“Kittycat...,” he murmured. “What’s wrong?”
“Wilhelm lifted his ban on us being together,” she blurted out quickly.
Hugo blinked several times, looking at her as if he wasn’t quite sure he’d heard correctly.
She held up her empty left hand. “I’m not engaged anymore,” she added softly. Just married. But only if she wanted to be, she reminded herself.
His eyes widened. “You mean...we can....”
She gave him a shy smile and nodded, pushing thoughts of Alex out of her mind. She didn’t want to be thinking about Alex right now. Who knew the next time she would even see him?
“Why are you not engaged anymore?” he asked softly.
“Wilhelm decided not to force me into something I didn’t want to do.” That was true.
“I’m glad he changed his mind.”
Anna heard people beginning to whisper around them, and hoped she and Hugo weren’t being too obvious. She continued to gaze up at Hugo. Oh, how wonderful to be able to look at him without feeling like she was disobeying Wilhelm.
He reached out and caressed her cheek. “Have dinner with me tonight,” he said in a quiet voice.
She leaned into his caress and nodded. “Okay.”
His gaze intensified and she thought he might lean down and kiss her, but Vincent clapped his hands and the moment was broken. She glanced over to see Vincent walking onto the stage with several men behind him. Tall men. Men that....
“Oh, no!” she exclaimed softly, eyes widening as she stared into Alex’s cobalt-blue eyes.
He’d shaved off his beard and cut his hair, making him look like the handsome man she’d fallen in love with so many years ago. He was not as broad as he’d been, but was obviously still very muscular, as she’d felt on Saturday night. She’d barely looked at him on Saturday, but now she could see that he’d grown older, as she certainly had as well. Her heart pounded as she stared at him, barely believing that he was really here.
He stopped and gazed at her for a moment and then turned away from her and said something to Vincent next to him. She stared at him as he followed Vincent to the center of the stage.
Anna looked around and saw the female dancers gazing at him, star struck. Is this why he’d come? So he could get the attention of the women since she was avoiding him?
Aaron walked on stage at that moment and stopped short when he saw Alex. Alex saw him and shook his head slightly, making Anna wonder what that was all about.
“Everyone!” Vincent called.
The whispers stopped, and everyone was free to gape at her husband as if he were a piece of meat. A very handsome piece of meat. Anna was having a hard time keeping her heartbeat at a normal level.
Alex smiled and she, along with every other woman on stage, melted. Hugo stiffened beside her and Anna closed her eyes. This was not good. Not good at all.
“Everyone,” Vincent repeated. “I’d like to introduce you to Alex Kunze. A new and,” Vincent smiled at Alex. “...very generous donor. I believe you all gave him the name Euroman?”
The stage instantly became filled with a hundred people whispering and giggling to each other. Alex looked amused, and smiled politely, but didn’t seem to give flirtatious smiles to any of the women. He simply nodded his head in greeting.
Stef walked over to Anna and grabbed her hand. “Omigosh! He is so hot!” She giggled and then glanced at Anna. “Doesn’t he look like Kurt a little?”
Anna shrugged and glanced up to see Hugo pressing his lips together.
“So, he will be watching rehearsal today and spending time around the theater. Please be polite,” Vincent continued in a slow voice. “And let’s begin our warm-up.”
Hugo turned on his heel and walked off the stage. Anna followed him.
“Hugo? Hugo, what’s wrong?”
He stopped in the wings and turned around, hurt in his eyes. “I never thought you so shallow, Katrina,” he said in a harsh whisper.
“What?” What was he talking about?
“I saw how you reacted to...him...when he walked up. I thought you were different than the other women.”
It took Anna a moment to understand why he was so upset. She’d tried to mask her reaction to Alex’s appearance, but had apparently failed to do so. And now she’d hurt Hugo. Before she realized it, Hugo had spun around and walked away. “Hugo!” she called, running after him into the dressing room area. “Hugo, wait. Please?”
He stopped, hands on his hips, but didn’t turn around. “That hurt, Katrina.”
Anna put her hand on his arm and walked around in front of him. “Hugo, please...I can explain....” But did she want to? No, but Hugo deserved the truth. “Hugo...I—” She took a deep breath. “That is Alex. My Alex. The Alex whom I was told was killed.”
Hugo frowned and stared at her. “You expect me to believe that’s your dead husband out there? Then why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
“I just found out on Saturday. Wilhelm called yesterday, telling me that I was free to do as I wanted.” She told him about “Mr. J.” and how she discovered it was really Alex, and her conversations with Aaron and Wilhelm. By the time she was done, she was in tears. “I don’t know what to do, Hugo. I love you. I want to be with you. But...Alex.... I don’t know what to do about him.” She looked up into his eyes. “Please believe me.”
He was still frowning, but let out a sigh. “I don’t think anyone could make up a story like that.” He closed his eyes and then pulled her to him, stroking her hair. “I don’t want to keep you from him, Kittycat.”
“I don’t know what I want, Hugo. I’m so confused.”
“I don’t feel right, going out with another man’s wife.”
“But I don’t have to be...that, if I don’t want to be.” She looked up at him with sad eyes and caressed his cheek.
“You said you loved me?” he asked in a soft voice.
Anna inhaled sharply. Had she really said it out loud? “I do,” she whispered.
He gazed down at her for a long moment before bending his head and gently kissing her. “I love you, too.”
*****
Vincent introduced Alex to several of the principal dancers and then went to sit in the audience. He and Aaron weren’t going to hide that they knew each other, but were trying to keep it low key. The less the other dancers knew about how much he knew Anna, the better she would take his presence...he hoped.
Shortly after Vincent had introduced Alex to the Company, Anna had disappeared. Was she upset that he’d come? Well...that was just too bad. He’d made the donation so he could have access to the company and was going to take advantage of the situation. Especially sitting with her at the Gala on Thursday night. Big donation equaled a seat at the first table with Tom and the Mayor.
The women had treated him as they normally treated him, and he tried to keep his annoyance hidden. He used to savor the attention; he no longer did. He just wanted one woman...the one woman he couldn’t see right now. Hugo was gone too. Fuck. He didn’t like the idea of her wandering off with her ex, but...what could he do? Commanding her to be with him would be counterproductive. He’d just have to convince her that she wanted to be with him. Somehow.
The two missing dancers showed up on stage a few minutes later. Alex growled when he saw Anna’s lips were slightly swollen. What the hell wa
s she doing, kissing that man when she was supposed to be warming up?
Chapter Thirty-Three
Alex found himself mesmerized by Anna’s movements. Being this close to her, he could watch her individual muscles flex and relax as she moved her body. Her skin was so smooth and he wanted to rush up on stage and grab her, but he kept in control of himself...mostly. He didn’t like the way she gazed into Hugo’s eyes as they danced, but had to admit that they danced exceedingly well together.
Finally at lunch break, he stood. He wondered if it would be imprudent to go out to lunch with some of the dancers. Should a donor do that? He’d heard someone say once that if it weren’t for the dancers who slept with rich men, there would be no money for the productions.
Aaron walked up to him a few minutes later and grinned at him. “You wanna come to lunch with us?”
“Is that okay?”
“You’re my friend. We did it when we were in San Francisco.”
“But this isn’t San Francisco.”
“True. Do you know how difficult it is to understand you?” Aaron laughed.
Alex rolled his eyes. “I’ve hardly spoken English the last four and a half years. I’m working on it.”
“So you gonna come? Anna always comes with us.”
“Oh.” Alex thought for a moment. “All right then.”
*****
“Hey, Katrina. You coming?” Aaron called to Anna from the edge of the stage as she was untying her shoes.
Anna glanced at Hugo. “You want to come to lunch?” she asked with a shy smile.
He smiled back and her heart fluttered. “Love to.” He held out his hand and helped her to her feet, not taking his eyes off hers.
“Katrina?” Aaron asked in an irritated voice.
“Yeah, we’re coming,” she called, frowning at Aaron’s tone. She dropped her shoes in her bag and slipped on her sandals. “Ready?”
Hugo nodded and they walked to the edge of the stage where Aaron was waiting for them, talking with...Alex? She stopped short, Hugo running into her, as she stared at Alex.
The Life of Anna, Part 5: Emerged Page 26
