Chapter 24 Villain #2
She looked thoughtful. “I have no complaints about the landlord. As soon as I report a problem, it’s fixed by the time I get back from work.
The cleaning is immaculate, I can do whatever I want with the place, and he hasn’t raised my rent in five years.
The only real drawback to living here is Horse. ”
“Huh. Well, and the annoying lobby. You could move.”
“I don’t know. I think I’d just live in the compound rather than try to find another place.” She shuddered and then started walking more quickly.
“Trixie, what’s the deal with Janice? Why was talking to her a threat to Horse?”
Her eyes widened and then she winced. “I shouldn’t have said that.
It’s about the femininity versus masculinity thing.
He’s more offended than I am when I’m categorized as less than delicate, which makes no sense because he hired Janice after she raised charges against me for sexual harassment and assault. ”
I grabbed her arm, slowing her down. “Wait, you assaulted Janice and then Horse hired her?”
She shook her head. “I hugged her. She was so little and nervous, so I gave her a hug, trying to squeeze out some of the tension, you know? It was when I was new to Vegas. I don’t hug people anymore until I know them. You don’t mind, do you? I’m naturally physical, but it’s not sexual.”
“Wait, she charged you for sexual assault over a hug? Seriously? That seems like an overreaction.”
Trixie shrugged. “She overreacts. Still, she does plan great parties for Horse, so I can see why he hired her.”
I shook my head because, what? “I’m still not getting how it threatens Horse if you talk to her.”
“Because Janice will gossip about how I’m a predator, and then all the rumors will start again. For some reason, the idea that I’m not interested in men is an insult to him. It probably comes back to his ego.”
“Oh.” Or it had to do with protecting her feelings. Not just her feelings if it was an issue of legality.
She squeezed my shoulder, her grasp strong and firm.
“I’m going to pick up breakfast on the way to the compound.
I shouldn’t have carbs, but after I see Horse, I need to eat my rage.
You can come with me over the holidays.” She gave me one last wave before she walked out of the beautiful front doors, leaving me standing in the lobby feeling a twinge of aching at the thought of somewhere to go for Christmas.
I had enough time before rehearsal to contact Jordan and send him all of my costume ideas.
He texted back a ‘Thanks, Princess Pink. I’ll take it from here.’
I didn’t like letting it go, but I definitely had other things to focus on. When Hawkins and the other band members came in, I was ready to pass out the music I’d been working on.
“Hi. Can I get your numbers?” I asked as I handed the sheet music around.
They stared at me, took the music, but not looking at it while they stared.
“I thought we could do something different,” I said, pointing at the music. “I really want to play live, and I thought that—”
“You’re the cellist by the river,” Ziggy interrupted, pulling out her phone. “I thought it was you.”
I stared at her. “I beg your pardon?”
She held her phone at me, and I got to see my epic performance on the teeny-tiny screen. “It’s viral. Dani Divine. Who’s your videographer? Who did your sound? Your costume is sick. It looks so authentic. No plastic vinyl for that, and the snow effects? Genius.”
I cleared my throat while my palms went clammy.
“I’m sorry, but that’s not me. I’m going to be late for rehearsal.
I’ve just remembered something…” I rushed past them, heart racing so fast I could barely hear myself think.
I stumbled through the first restroom I came to and crammed myself and Othello into a stall while I tried to breathe. I pulled out my phone and called Toni.
“What’s up, Vil?” she asked, sounding chipper.
“There’s a video of me that’s gone viral. Have you seen it?”
“Hold on. Cellist… playing in a pond to the ducks, that’s kind of cute.”
“Snow, Dani Divine, leather corset.”
In another second she was whistling. “This is amazing. Who did the filming? It’s so pro.”
I ran a hand through my pink hair and tried to keep it together. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised because a lot of people had their phones out recording it. It’s just the timing could be better. Dani Divine? How did they know my name?”
“Good question. Do you want me to trace the video?”
Who was the best videographer in Vegas? Who was the supervillain who had decided to play a long game with me?
“Never mind about tracing the video. I know who did it. He was there. Of course he was.” I was going to kill him!
How dare the billionaire tech genius make money off my music?
Did he want to die? Wasn’t it bad enough that his mother kidnapped me and humiliated me; did he have to personally humiliate me and make money off my humiliation?
It was exactly what his mother accused me of doing to him.
Profited off his humiliation. Maybe I should have Jezabel kidnap him.
“He? He, who? Is there a new player in the game I should know about?” Toni asked quickly.
“Supervillain. He’s…I’ll deal with it.” Would I though?
The last time I’d had my knife at his throat, I’d completely choked.
Or kissed him, which was even worse. I couldn’t just let this go, but I’d rather kiss him than hurt him.
I could kiss him painfully. While stealing his tech.
Because I was clearly stellar at that. I was so much better at corporate warfare and organizing theft and larceny than running in the field with absolutely no ability to pull the trigger or steal the tech.
What I wanted to steal was that abomination Death Star walker.
And his house. Then I’d have somewhere to practice with the band I was stealing.
Maybe I was so bad at stealing Dirk’s tech because I didn’t really want it.
“When you say supervillain, are you talking nuclear warheads and private armies?”
I took a shaky breath. I really had no idea. When was I going to stop being surprised at the depth of Dirk’s diabolical cleverness? “It’s fine. I just have to find out what he wants and then destroy it.” When I wanted to do that.
“Um, sure. One thing, Dani, you’re amazing. The music you’re playing- it’s like someone’s digging in my chest with a dagger.”
“With a Dagger. Yes, it would. I’ll call you later.
” I hung up and stayed perched on the toilet clutching Jezebel’s cello until my heart stopped beating so hard.
I had a few changes that I needed to make to the program.
So he’d already seen me play, but he’d never mentioned it.
Maybe it hadn’t made much of an impression. I’d make an impression on him.
I came out of the restroom and headed back to the club, Heaven, and the musicians who were still setting up. The whole club was full of dancers and tech people hanging wires and lights.
“Dani,” Janice said, her face taut and her eyes burning with rage.
“Sorry I’m late. I had to make a call.”
Her cheeks went slightly pink. “Of course you did. Jordan is very difficult to get, particularly at the last minute. I didn’t realize that you were so well-connected to so many prominent individuals in the city.
I’ll be happy to turn the costuming over to him.
” When she said well-connected, she meant sleeping with.
I was already furious, feeling betrayed and idiotic about the internet thing. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with someone small-minded who was so insecure in her own abilities. “Great. I hear that he’s the best of the best.”
Her mouth went taut. “Indeed. You’ll rehearse in the ballroom while the crew sets up. After lunch, you’ll do a brief run-through with the dancers and tech team.”
Hawkins nudged me with his elbow as he headed towards the door. “Don’t argue, just smile and kill her later,” he muttered low enough that only I could hear.
I smiled at Janice and followed him out. A white electric cello with wings mocked me as soon as I entered the large mirrored hall.
“That is the stupidest-looking cello I’ve ever seen,” I said.
Ziggy gave me a slightly sick smile. “It’s not as bad as my bass.” She raised the mockery with gold hearts painted on it.
“Where did they come up with this?” the drummer asked, frowning at the glittery drum set.
“Glitter is a staple of rock heritage,” Hawkins said. “I’ve had worse gigs. We’ve all had worse gigs.”
They all sighed heavily and nodded.
I smiled tightly and went to the cello. “We’ll just have to make the best of the situation. Did you guys have a chance to look at the music I gave you?”
I still felt like screaming and stabbing.
The video of me playing in my leather corset went viral, which meant that Dirk Dagger was making real money off me.
Maybe that was his perverse sense of justice, since I’d made money off his fight.
Maybe it was his sense of irony and whimsy.
Like Scooby Doo. Was there any way to work that ridiculous theme into this ridiculous performance?
Was there any way to make this whole thing not ridiculous?
I took a deep breath. That was my priority- to impress him with more than my underwear. “Look, I know that you’re all more experienced than I am, but I have some ideas that I’d like to try to help our performance be more than glitter and smoke. Do you mind hearing me out?”
Hawkins exhaled. “You can take the lead. Dealing with Janice makes me want to hide. She’s scary, but the pay is always on time with bonuses.”
Ziggy snickered. “Let’s hear what you’ve got, Pinkie.”
We worked until lunchtime. They didn’t mind adapting their screaming guitars to classical tunes, and it was kind of exciting to mix the different sounds. When Hawkins started playing a classical piece on his guitar, I clapped and felt a tinge of hope. Maybe this wasn’t completely doomed.