Re: Belledor's Short Story
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2024 12:37 am
They settled on a subtle bow with a thinner black ribbon, offset to one side. Sarah then braided Belledor's hair elaborately to the other side, applied some mild pink lipstick, and declared her ready to go.
The two of them still had some time before Mr. Kade arrived, however.
"Are you sure about this?" Sarah asked, suddenly serious. "A theater outing with your manager?"
Belledor shrugged, her lips curling into a smile. Sarah nudged her. "I'm serious.. There's a power dynamic in play. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"His friends are also going to be there. It's not like I'll be there alone with him."
"If you say so," Sarah said. "But I'm going to come check on you at work tomorrow. If you're not there, I... might have to hire someone."
"Sarah!" Belledor laughed, nudging her friend back.
"I'd do it!" Sarah declared, getting serious again. Collecting some things into a small bag, Belledor, shook her head.
"I'll be fine. I'm learning to take care of myself."
--
Sarah left to go to a gathering of her own before the car arrived, exactly on time. Belledor took a deep breath and put on her coat, looking one last time in the mirror before she walked out the door. She had no idea if Mr. Kade would also be in the car or if he had simply sent one for her.
She opened the door and found it empty save for the driver. Her stomach unclenched in relief, but her chest ached, feeling suddenly hollow, as she got into the car.
It was a short ride to the theater and almost dark by the time she arrived. Belledor wondered how she might find Mr. Kade in the crowd, but she saw him standing at the entrance in a dark blue suit with three other people. He must have been waiting for her because he saw her immediately and nodded her over.
"Welcome, Belledor," he said jovially, easily slipping into introductions. "Belledor, these are long-time friends, Peter, Amelia, and Terry. You might recognize Terry--she has headlined at a few of the lounges around town." Terry nodded at Belledor, giving Mr. Kade a knowing look.
"Serio. Always looking for opportunities to flatter me," Terry said, her simple red cocktail dress sparkling.
"You're only in town so often," Peter supplied, himself wearing a light blue suit, "we have to take all the opportunities we can get!"
Terry laughed good-naturedly, turning back to Belledor. "I'm glad you'll be joining us this evening."
Before Belledor could say anything, Mr. Kade--Serio--gave his friends some context. "Belledor just moved to New York. I promised to show her the ropes." Peter raised an eyebrow.
Amelia, wearing a pale yellow skirt and white sequined shirt off one shoulder, smiled brightly. "Lucky girl! Serio knows all the best places." Belledor didn't know what to make of the woman's wink. She smiled and tilted her chin down, a light laugh on her lips. She found it was easy to feel excited to spend time with each of these people.
The two of them still had some time before Mr. Kade arrived, however.
"Are you sure about this?" Sarah asked, suddenly serious. "A theater outing with your manager?"
Belledor shrugged, her lips curling into a smile. Sarah nudged her. "I'm serious.. There's a power dynamic in play. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"His friends are also going to be there. It's not like I'll be there alone with him."
"If you say so," Sarah said. "But I'm going to come check on you at work tomorrow. If you're not there, I... might have to hire someone."
"Sarah!" Belledor laughed, nudging her friend back.
"I'd do it!" Sarah declared, getting serious again. Collecting some things into a small bag, Belledor, shook her head.
"I'll be fine. I'm learning to take care of myself."
--
Sarah left to go to a gathering of her own before the car arrived, exactly on time. Belledor took a deep breath and put on her coat, looking one last time in the mirror before she walked out the door. She had no idea if Mr. Kade would also be in the car or if he had simply sent one for her.
She opened the door and found it empty save for the driver. Her stomach unclenched in relief, but her chest ached, feeling suddenly hollow, as she got into the car.
It was a short ride to the theater and almost dark by the time she arrived. Belledor wondered how she might find Mr. Kade in the crowd, but she saw him standing at the entrance in a dark blue suit with three other people. He must have been waiting for her because he saw her immediately and nodded her over.
"Welcome, Belledor," he said jovially, easily slipping into introductions. "Belledor, these are long-time friends, Peter, Amelia, and Terry. You might recognize Terry--she has headlined at a few of the lounges around town." Terry nodded at Belledor, giving Mr. Kade a knowing look.
"Serio. Always looking for opportunities to flatter me," Terry said, her simple red cocktail dress sparkling.
"You're only in town so often," Peter supplied, himself wearing a light blue suit, "we have to take all the opportunities we can get!"
Terry laughed good-naturedly, turning back to Belledor. "I'm glad you'll be joining us this evening."
Before Belledor could say anything, Mr. Kade--Serio--gave his friends some context. "Belledor just moved to New York. I promised to show her the ropes." Peter raised an eyebrow.
Amelia, wearing a pale yellow skirt and white sequined shirt off one shoulder, smiled brightly. "Lucky girl! Serio knows all the best places." Belledor didn't know what to make of the woman's wink. She smiled and tilted her chin down, a light laugh on her lips. She found it was easy to feel excited to spend time with each of these people.