Dance in his battlefield

Chapter 5

“What are you talking about father?”

Zach speaks through his teeth. He glares at me. I could hear his judgment out loud.

“Macoy is weak. I have worked so hard for this company, Macoy is too weak to have it. Isn’t that what you want to say?” I recite out loud, letting out a dry laugh.

Zach shoves his chair back with a screech and stands.

“Sit back down!” Father brings him to halt instantly.

“But father, we have all worked hard for that empire,” Martin finally speaks. “He ran away! Where was he when it felt like everything was going to fall, Zach and I held your empire, we did our best,” he continued.

“Your best was all thanks to Audrey,” father dished savagery in a rather calm way. “Her wise initiative, and Macoy's fierceness? That is what I need,” he looks at Audrey who sneaks a quick smile.

Audrey looks at me, her eyes read “say yes.” A persuasion that read like a trap.

“Hand your business to any of your sons. I’m not for this drama.”

I felt the need to say so much, but words failed. Nothing has changed; everyone is still the same — selfish.

I drag myself up, walking out after a bow. It was useless. They all owed me a debt and I have no business with death till they all pay up.

ELARA ❥

“one, two, stomp, and twirllll,” my voice stretches as gravity pulls me. I swear this routine looked so easy when Mrs. Adele demonstrated it. I pick myself up again,

“in,” I whisper swooshing in air into my nostrils, “out”.

“let’s go again,” I stand in position,

“Okay great, now we are forgetting the routine,” moving to my small couch, I slump into it. The alarm goes off and I exhale loudly.

I tear through the busy street of Brooklyn, ear buds plugged in to drown the noise. Usually, I would listen to those songs that scream freedom. The ones that tell me I am not caged by anything: neither gender nor by society. However, today just felt like the day I tell myself the truth about reality. I was failing at almost everything, a job I could no longer continue, a freelancing career I had no patience to build. Not to talk of the exam I took multiple times. Well, I can brag about realizing that my passion wasn’t with anything other than dance.

A bright red ball brings me to a halt. I pick it up, turning to the direction it came from, I am met by the cooing hands and loud babble of a baby. I approach him with a smile while his mother apologizes.

“No offense, he made my morning,” I hand the ball to her. “hello,” I wave at the baby before turning to continue on my path.

Pushing the door open, I sneak my head in first.

“Elara?”

“I'm sorry, I tried to keep track of time, I don't know what happened,” I set my bag down in a hurry. “Where is everyone?”

“you didn’t get my text?” she packs her wavy hair up.

“Text?”

“All teams have been paired in preparation for the stage production, you forgot?” she smear cream on her face, “what's up with you girl?” She says, facing me as she massages cream into her skin.

I lightly smack my forehead.

“I'm sorry Adele. I…”

“No more talks,” she cuts in, “we have somewhere to be at.”

“Who am I performing with?” I move to my bag.

“A special performer,” she glances at me.

A special performer?”

“Yeahh, you do well with interpretive dancing and that's exactly what he needs,” she pulls out her phone.

“He?” She looks up, “any problem with that?”

“No, no, I'm just curious,” I move closer to her.

“Girl, I'm not about to expose who this is. I wouldn't miss a chance to see the shock on your face,” her excitement raising my curiosity.

“You're not just going to perform before a great crowd, you're performing with one of the best male dancers the country has.” I follow her around as she packs up her bag.

“I mean I love interpretive dances but it's not something I do all the time. Only… only when my heart feels heavy."

“So?” She shrugs, “You do understand the dance don't you?”

“Yes but…”

“There are no ‘buts’, you have no excuse now.”

She swings her bag over her shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

She heads for the door, and I hurry after her.