“Here I am,” she announced trying to sound more cheerful than she felt.
“I was beginning to think that you’d changed your mind, I was about to come looking for you,” Nathan admitted with thinly veiled disapproval in his tone.
He didn’t deserve her wavering and constant betrayal. He was a decent man she did not want to hurt. But every second she remained at this hotel, the possibility that she would really hurt him deeply seemed even more of a reality.
Now she wondered how he would react to her news about tonight’s party. Not well she figured. How could she ever convince him that she was going because of Marianne and not because of Darius when the lines were so blurry for her too?
“I am starved, what did you order?” she asked trying to keep her voice light.
“I was waiting for you. This is more of a buffet so we can go and get something now,” he said quietly noting the slight redness of her eyes. She’d been crying and that bastard Darius was responsible, he seethed. She actually thought that she could hide it from him too. What happened between them? Her lips looked plum red and slightly swollen and her lip gloss was glaring absent. No, she wouldn’t have, would she? Not after last night?
They filled up their plates and returned to their seats but neither he nor Candasee had much appetite. So the scrambled eggs, grilled herb potatoes, and bacon remained on their plates while both sipped on their teas in thoughtful silence.
“I guess we aren’t that hungry today,” said Candasee trying to lighten the mood with a smile over her teacup.
“Yeah, it’s a shame the food is great,” Nathan replied. Something was terribly wrong here. Once again the connection he had with Candasee seemed to have evaporated into thin air. She could barely look him in the eye.
“Um Nathan, did you get a contact card yesterday?” asked Candasee trying to keep her voice casual.
At first, Nathan wasn’t sure what she was referring to, but then remembered the brief visit from Marianne Brogan.
“Yes I did and I put it down somewhere in the room while you were still asleep. I completely forgot about it,” he admitted without regret.
Okay, it’s important so I’ll take a look around for it when we get back upstairs,” said Candasee.
“Was the ‘old friend’ you wanted to make plans to see yesterday Darius’ mother?” asked Nathan suspiciously.
“Yes actually, she is more like my mother than a friend though. As you know my biological mother died when I was seven and I never really connected with my stepmother, but Marianne and I bonded from the very start. We were very close then! I was really happy to see her yesterday.”
“I guess I can’t supply you with a replacement either. I know my mom would have loved you.”
“Nathan, I am not looking for a new mother and you shouldn’t feel that you have to replicate anything from my old life here either. Besides there can only be one Marianne and I love her to bits.” Leaving without talking to her was just as bad as leaving Darius she thought, but she and her son were a package deal.
“I just want you to be happy with me too, you know.”
“I am happy with you,” Candasee replied. “Nathan, I need to tell you something else and I don’t want you to overreact. Apparently, she came by the room yesterday to invite me to something special. Tonight is her engagement party and she’s invited me to come along and help her celebrate. I’m so happy that she’s found someone who can really care for her in the way she deserves. Darius has always done an excellent job at that but there is only so much a son can provide you know.”
Good move Darius, Nathan thought inwardly noting where this was going.
“So what time will we be going to this shindig?” he asked testing the waters.
“I know that we should technically go together, but it seems that I was the only one invited. It’s clear that she still sees me as her daughter even though Darius and I are divorced. Besides, you wouldn’t enjoy that anyway. It will be a good time for me to catch up with some old friends and family members. Who knows when I will see them again after we go home together in a few days?”
“Perhaps I would like to meet them too, you know, to understand a bit more about who you were and are!”
“No!” she replied a bit too sharply for his liking. “I mean, I really don’t think it would be a good idea. Darius didn’t mention that you were invited and I wouldn’t want to create any more tension between you two. Things are uncomfortable enough already! I got the impression that it was more of a family affair. It’s not like if it’s a date. I am sure there will be many other people there,” she said hoping that explanation would be enough.
Nathan’s expression fell and he rested his teacup on the saucer. He would be having a word with Darius Brogan long before this day was over he decided. Engagement party for his mother or not, surely even Darius had to know that taking out another man’s fiancée was crossing the line big time. The family angle might be legitimate but it was all too convenient considering his obvious intentions.
“Candasee, you aren’t part of his family anymore!” he said quietly in a measured tone, pinning her with an intense glare.
“I know but I am going to support Marianne, not to see Darius. I am like a daughter to her; I even call her Mom still, she means a lot to me. Besides don’t forget that you can’t come because you have to run the rehearsals tonight for tomorrow night’s performances. You will have your hands tremendously full to notice that I am gone for a few hours!”
Nathan grew serious and in a low voice almost growling he said,
“Nothing could ever prevent me from noticing that you are gone from my life Candasee and frankly I need you with me tonight here at the hotel.”
The intensity in Nathan’s voice was a little frightening as she regarded the hard glint in his dark eyes. None of her efforts at explaining this were working.
“I know but this is a once in a lifetime thing Nathan, Marianne’s engagement. I thought you would at least understand that.”
Nathan didn’t respond to her comment and a hard silence stretched between them.
“Look I’m sorry and I know I should have at least asked you what you thought and I know you have every right to be upset and suspicious, but I am asking you to be okay with this, just this once. I need to leave here in the afternoon to get my hair done and to get a pair of shoes. I don’t want to fight with you. Things are so good between us right now.” She could cry at the pain she saw registered on his face.
“So my beautiful wife-to-be is getting all dolled up in her finest and I won’t be able to have her on my arm!” exclaimed Nathan with undisguised disappointment.
“Nathan we’ll have other times, I promise!” said Candasee. “I’ll make it up to you when we go on vacation together.”
Nathan reached across the table to hold her hand in his.
“Honey, I don’t want us to take a step backwards, not after last night!
“Neither do I, and we won’t!” she replied, giving his hand an answering squeeze while her heart contracted painfully. She had to pull herself together before she wrecked this relationship with Nathan for good.
Candasee looked over his shoulder and watched as a two of the instructors, Trudy and Dave, watched and smiled at them with interest.
“I think we are being watched with amusement by your academy staff, said Candasee trying to pull away her hand.
Nathan never even moved. “Let them look, they are going to see this and a whole lot more before this week is finished.” He said the words but he didn’t feel confident at all. He was working overtime trying to force Candasee in his direction and like Solange said, not even the universe was cooperating.
Later that morning at class Candasee was addressing her students.
“Okay, I hope that all of you began thinking about what you will be doing as your solo piece for assessment. You only have three more days to polish it up for presentation. I want to see how far you’ve gotten and I will make a few suggestions
to help you make it as good as possible.”
“I guess that excludes Julia with her busted leg and her horrific lack of talent,” sneered Eve unkindly.
Candasee had just about had it with this girl. She insulted Julia mercilessly and it had only gotten worse now that Julia was following her advice and ignoring her.
“Eve, if you make another outburst like that in my class again, you will be the one who has only two disciplines for judging and you know what that means!”
“You can’t threaten me and you don’t have the power to kick me out of this class,” Eve retorted looking her up and down like she was no better than pond scum.
Candasee was incensed. How dare she talk back to her like that?
“That’s it, I’ve had it with you, pack up your things and get out! I will no longer be offering you instruction in dance. You can forget any chances at winning that scholarship now!”
Eve didn’t move immediately but a slow sickening smile crept across her lips.
“Fine, I don’t need your permission I’ll just go over your head with this to your boss!”
“Try your luck!” Candasee shot back. Nathan would let her know how wrong she was.
Eve walked out of the room without even bothering to collect her bag. Candasee couldn’t understand her. Why was she being such a bitch to the other students especially Julia.
Upstairs, Darius watched the scene intently on the security camera. Ever since Candasee caught him watching her dance, he’d been using his private uplink from the cameras in the conference room to be able to see her during the day. It wasn’t the first time Eve had been rude either and he was pleased with the firm way in which Candasee dealt with her.
Eve soon returned with Nathan in tow and Candasee’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Tell her she has no right to throw me out of this class or any class! Go ahead, tell her!” Eve demanded smugly.
Nathan took a deep breath as he tried to placate Eve.
“Listen Eve, calm down, I will have a word with Candasee, okay!”
“You’d better let her know that she is out of line!” Eve snarled with a pout.
Candasee couldn’t believe what she was seeing. What was Nathan doing here telling Eve to calm down?
“Candasee can we talk for a moment about this? Please!”
“Okay guys, take a ten minute break please!” Candasee replied and the students filed out reluctantly, with comments like,
“Man this isn’t fair, and she really doesn’t deserve to be here!”
Darius continued to listen.
“Candasee, I know Eve is a handful but you can’t put her out of the class,”
“Why the hell not Nathan?” Candasee exploded.”Why are you sticking up for her again?”
“She’s a paying delegate just like all the others,”
“That doesn’t give her the right to be as nasty as she can be. I’m sure you can give her a refund.”
“True but in this case we need to overlook it. We can’t send her home.”
“You know, I thought it was strange that she made it onto tomorrow night’s performance list even though her standard was below the rest who were selected. I didn’t question you then. Then this morning I find you two in cosy conversation and now you are sticking up for her without even asking why I made that decision,” Candasee shouted back.
The conflicted look on Nathan’s face said it all, he didn’t want to know.
“Candasee, this is bigger than both of us and it is out of my hands. Eve stays and that’s final!”
“I’m not allowing her back Nathan and if you are going to make it an issue consider yourself one instructor and judge short because I am not going to a part of this. That girl is a disgrace to this group and everything the academy stands for. She is hateful and she has no absolutely no respect for me. She doesn’t even deserve the chance to be here. The others are working their butts off to make this work and all she does is complain and she does the minimal. What is she doing here Nathan?”
“Damn it Candasee, will you just trust me on this and let it drop? I know that Eve is a handful and the other instructors have complained but at least they are handling it better than you are.”
“Are you saying that her behaviour is my fault?”
“No, I’m just asking you to be a bit more understanding. We can’t send anyone home.”
“I’ll be more understanding if you could tell me why you are ignoring my feelings on this matter!”
“I can’t explain it all right now Candasee, just go along with this please,”
“No I won’t. I thought you wanted me to be your partner; those were your words remember? But it seems that our relationship is more professional than I thought. Well try this one on for size boss, I quit this intensive and I quit us too!”
Candasee tried to walk away from him but he grasped her wrist and drew her to him tightly.
“Damn it Candasee, don’t you dare walk away from me! You will not break up with me over this,” he warned.
Darius jumped to his feet ready to go downstairs. What the hell was happening here? Nathan was gripping her arm too tightly.
“Let go of me Nathan, you can get one of the other instructors to conduct my sessions. I’m done!” and with that she tugged her arm free scooped up her bag and left the room.
Nathan watched her leave before swearing violently. Then he spoke into the empty room,
“Graeme if your ridiculous plan messes up my relationship with Candasee, I swear I will kill you with my bare hands.”
Nathan strode back out of the room. There was trouble in paradise, Darius noted. Who was Graeme and what was this plan that Nathan couldn’t tell Candasee about which involved Eve? Something wasn’t right about this.
“Candasee wait up!” Julia shouted when she saw her leave the room. Candasee stopped and waited for her to catch up to her.
“Are you leaving?” Julia asked.
“Yes, I am. I am not going to let Eve get away with this,” Candasee ground out with her chest heaving.
“I know you’re mad right now but remember what you told me about ignoring her. You have ten other students who want the expertise you have to offer us, so please don’t go!” Julia begged.
All of the fight ebbed out of Candasee as she looked at the desperate look on Julia’s face. Julia was right, she had pledged her help to these young people this week and they needed her. She couldn’t go running off every time she felt betrayed by someone she thought should know better. Running never solved anything, she should know that more than anyone else right now. Besides she was being pretty hypocritical about betrayal wasn’t she?
“Julia, I’m sorry, you are right, I can’t leave, not now and not like this! How do you feel about Eve coming back to the class?”
“Candasee frankly all I care about is that you are there. I’ve been ignoring her because I see what I want in front of me and I am giving it my all, injury or no injury.”
Julia’s words pricked something inside of Candasee. This young girl was stronger than she looked and somehow she felt that she was now the one in need of advice. Again she was reminded of just why she was doing this. It wasn’t for the money, it wasn’t for the recognition, but because she loved it and she could help people just like Julia to find their expression.
Candasee reached out and hugged her and they laughed together at what was almost a disaster for the dance class. Over her shoulder Candasee could see Nathan speaking angrily to Eve as he paced the walkway near the door slowly rubbing his temples with his fingers. He stopped just before she reached him and the look of torment in his eyes caused her to inhale deeply. She had a secret and it was obvious he did as well.
“You guys go back inside, I have to speak to Nathan for a moment!”
“Let’s wait inside guys, you too Eve,” said Julia with a forgiving smile.
Candasee was so proud of the mature way in which she was handling herself. Eve even sullenly followed her inside. Julia would
be a real leader someday.
“Nathan, I will say one thing, I don’t know what is going on here but these students need me and I can’t abandon them mid-way. I don’t agree with your decision but I will work with it for the others, not for Eve,” Candasee stated flatly.
“Candee, my hands are tied on this one! I know you have your reasons but there’s nothing I can do. I spoke to Eve and warned her about her behaviour and she promises to be respectful from now on.”
“I don’t like the way we are relating to each other Nathan. It felt like you were talking to a stranger just now, not me.”
“Candasee let’s talk about this later, I’m not letting you walk away from me or from us like this! You don’t get to throw away what we have over a stupid misunderstanding,” Nathan retorted in exasperation.
“Fine, back to class then but sooner or later we are going to have to talk,” and with those words she swept back past him and resumed the class session.
“Okay class, we have a lot of work to do so let us get back on track. Dominic you are up first then, Lisa, let’s get started!” said Candasee clapping her hands.
Nathan looked at her through the doorway for a few moments longer as the pain in his head became real fear that Candasee was really serious about what she said in anger a few moments earlier.
Darius was relieved to see Candasee return and she was smiling again. It was time to find out what Nathan was hiding. He might not want to tell Candasee the truth, but he had ways of finding out exactly what he was up to. He made a quick phone call to his private investigator.
“Mitchell, it’s Darius, I need you to do something for me immediately. Run a background check on Carthswright Arts Academy in Barbados, I want the names of the board members, their financial situation, their programs, anything you think is noteworthy. I want a rush on this one so make it a priority and use your entire team; you know I will pay you whatever you want!”
Fighting Destiny Page 18
