Backstage (The Barter System Book 4) (2 page)

“You are a
beautiful
woman, inside and out.  I would not lie to you about that.  Not ever.”

“Thank you.”

“One day soon, you’re going to be back on your feet.  Your confidence has taken an understandable hit but the accident does not change the fact that you remain both gorgeous and talented.”

On her other side, Natalia bent to kiss her cheek.  “The man – or
men
if Tawny and Riya have anything to say about it – who snag you will know how lucky he is and spend his life showing you how fucking exemplary you are.” 

“I hear what you’re saying and I love you for it.  I’m in
no
rush.  I love hanging with all of you.  I’m not in any condition to look now nor would I be capable of anything even remotely fun if I happened upon some perfect person anyway.”  One shoulder lifted in a shrug.  “I’m focused on myself until further notice.”  Pausing, she gave Natalia a wink.  “I’d like to say that is the
prettiest
bra I’ve ever seen, Natalia.”

Hudson snorted and Natalia blinked. 

“I’ll buy you the set tomorrow, brat.  Your new tits will be perfect in it.”  She fluffed Brie’s skirts and stood to the side so Hudson could push the chair into the elevator. 

It emerged directly beside the box he’d purchased for the evening.  He placed her near the railing so she’d have a clear view and angled their chairs toward her.  Even though she’d seen the play many times, Brie felt the familiar excitement unfurl.  The theater seating below was still almost empty.

“This is a better view than any other time I’ve seen the play.  Thank you, Hudson.”  His smile was gentle.  “I’m sorry we’re here so early.  I know it isn’t usually done but…I felt nervous about being in the chair around a lot of people.”

“Don’t, Brie.  You are one of the few people with whom I enjoy conversation.  The restaurant is open until three in the morning and we will dine there after the play and the foundation party.”

“Did I ever tell you the story…about the play?  How it came about and what happened once the theater was found?”  Hudson and Natalia shook their heads.  “I heard the whole thing from the twins’ mom.  The girls filled in the dirty,
dirty
details.”

Natalia rubbed her hands together in anticipation.  “In college, I casually dated the Zelders.  Separately, of course.  They’re extremely close.  They’re stalked by reporters but somehow manage to maintain their privacy.”

Her tone turned serious.  “You’ve earned the trust of men who trusted
no one
after the death of their parents in their teens.  Well done.”

“They’re personable and brilliant.  I created a brand new web marketing campaign for the play’s second season a few weeks after I met Lola and she introduced us.  I redesigned the website for the theater at the same time.”  She grinned.  “I charged them a mint.” 

“Good girl.  They can fucking afford it.”  Hudson stretched out his legs and crossed his hands over his stomach.  Brie always enjoyed the way he focused on her while they talked. 

“I was glad I finished everything they needed before being out of commission.”  Her friend flinched.  “Hudson,
still
not your fault.”  He exhaled roughly and gave her a single nod. 

“Speaking of being able to afford it, I was stalking your corporate website again because I was bored out of my damn mind.  I’ll say it’s
fine
but I can do it better.”  He raised his brows in surprise.  She looked at Natalia.  “For the ridiculous spa day you treated me to, I’ve already started re-working yours for the club.”

Natalia tilted her head.  “You’re coming up with a new website?”

“I can’t wait to show you the sections I’ve built out with an event calendar, reservations, and photo gallery.  I’ve been tossing ideas around about a members-only retreat I think might be something you’d enjoy.”

Hudson said in his firm business voice, “You will do both websites and I’ll put you on retainer.”

“Bossy.  I already planned on charging you a fortune and you’re going to love cutting the check.”  He nodded and she grinned.  She stared off into space for a moment, and then touched her temple.  “Where was I?  Oh, yes…the backstage story about the Zelders and the Johannsons.” 

Her companions watched her anxiously and she rushed to reassure them.  “I’m
fine
.  You know the skull fractures cause a little disconnect sometimes.  The doctors found no long-term damage.” 

A waiter interrupted them to ask if they wanted refreshments.  Hudson ordered two bottles of wine and two bottles of sparkling water with lemon for Brie. 

At her pout, he said, “Too many medications.  No alcohol yet.” 

The drinks arrived and she sipped hers happily because giving Hudson fits gave her the giggles.  Natalia gave her a knowing smile and she cleared her throat. 

“It all started when Madeline Johannson wrote this naughty little play based on the sisters’ dating history.  It was sarcastically flip about love in general.  They knew they wanted to perform it in New York so almost two years ago, they set out to find the
perfect
place…” 

Act One:  St
age Fright

Chapter One

September 2012 – Season One (first night of charity previews)

Mikayla Johannson thought she might be sick. 

In a little more than an hour, the cast was to perform her sister’s play in front of non-theater staff for the first time.  It allowed everyone a chance to determine any issues, tweak any scenes, and perfect every aspect of the overall performance before their official opening night. 

It was the accumulation of everything her sister had worked so hard to accomplish.  She’d busted her ass for two years to make it happen. 

She had to pull her shit together.  Not later…
right fucking now
. 

It was when they’d finished with her hair and makeup that Kayla realized she’d forgotten all of her lines.  They were simply…
gone
.  The words she’d drilled herself on for
months
evaporated from her mind as if they’d never existed.  She
knew
them.  It was something she’d made sure of day and night. 

Pacing the deserted back hallways, where it was quieter, she frantically tried to focus.  The harder she tried, the further everything seemed to slip away.  Breathing exercises, meditation…
nothing
was working and she was rapidly spiraling into unfamiliar panic.

Clutching her stomach, she walked in circles, talking to herself and uncaring if she seemed like a lunatic.  This was her first live performance in New York City.  If she tanked, she wasn’t going to get another chance.  Worse was the fact that her
sister
wouldn’t either.  There was no way she could let Madeline down when she’d worked so hard – writing and fine-tuning, casting, directing, and choreographing every scene. 

Mikayla was in costume for the female lead in a multi-tiered linen skirt with a corset bodice and ballet slippers.  Receiving the coveted role had caused major issues with the other actors who swore it was nepotism.  Even
she
had worried that being the playwright’s identical twin sister had something to do with her winning the part. 

When she’d expressed her concerns, Madeline gave her a small shake and assured her that she’d earned the role.  “Bring your best.  Show the rest of the cast what you have to offer.  I’ve seen you perform in countless plays in high school and college.  I wouldn’t trust this role to anyone else.”

No matter how hard she’d worked on other plays, Mikayla gave even more to her sister’s dream.  She was determined to make sure Linn never regretted believing in her sister’s ability to make her words shine. 

Since they found the theater, she tightened her personal daily routine.  Every morning, she ran.  She watched her diet, didn’t party, got plenty of rest, rehearsed with the cast, then went home and ran her lines alone. 

Madeline developed a trick during their years of drama classes that the two of them still used.  They read lines together, Linn reading everyone else aloud, while Kayla only mouthed her own lines to set the pace.  They recorded the result. 

In the end, she had the perfect line-running partner.  Typically, she ran through them once alone every evening after rehearsals and did it twice on weekend days.

From her first play in second grade, Mikayla had
never
forgotten her lines.  Her brain had shut down at the worst possible moment, removing her access to the file she desperately needed.

In the utter darkness of backstage, where it was quiet, she struggled to hold back tears.  The stagehands were closer to the front now, putting final touches in place.  She set her palms flat against the wall and did a few standing push-ups in an attempt to increase blood flow to her brain. 

To herself, she said in a whisper, “If you fuck this up, you will never,
ever
forgive yourself.  Think.  Calm down and
think
.  You can
do
this!  God,
please
let me do this.  Where are the
lines
?  I know them.  Please…
please
don’t let me fail Madeline.”

A painful sob broke free as huge hands rested gently on her shoulders and she jumped sharply. 

“I won’t hurt you.  I need you to listen to me.  I’ve been in this business for a long time.  You’re locked up.  All you have to do is relax and breathe.  Everything is going to be fine.” 

The deep voice shouldn’t have been familiar but it was.  There wasn’t an ounce of fear inside her at the stranger’s touch and Mikayla trusted her instincts.  Massive calloused hands moved over her shoulders, kneading carefully at her neck and upper back. 

She folded her arms against the wall and rested her forehead against them.  There was an hour remaining.  Nothing she was trying on her own was working. 

At this point, she was willing to try
anything
. 

“Harder, please.  I’m not delicate.”  The man’s hands paused before working into her muscles with more force and she groaned.  “Thank you.”

“You’re shaking.”

“I’m going to embarrass my sister.  I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown.”  Her breath hitched and she swallowed hot tears.  The lump in her throat was agony.  “I
knew
my lines this morning but now…they’re just gone and I don’t know why.  I’m going to fail.”

“Focus on your breathing.  You
will not
fail.”

“You sound so sure.”

“I
am
sure,” he said firmly.

“What’s your name?”  She
knew
who was behind her and it made her heart race.

“Isaiah.”  He gave no additional information but she didn’t need it.  His hands never slowed their movements on her shoulders as he gradually eased tightness she hadn’t realized she had.

“Do you want to know mine?” she asked him quietly.

“I know who you are, Mikayla.” His voice had a gravelly quality to it and hearing him say her
name
was a vindication of months of unnatural stress.

“You’re Ezra’s brother.” 
At last.
  Swallowing carefully, she focused on conversing with a man who’d been an enigma.  “My sister refers to you as a magician.  That girl can be awful cheesy but you’ve made her so happy.”

“I’m glad she’s been pleased.” 

Several times, she overheard the other workers mention the elder brother who co-owned the theater.  No matter how many times she tried to wait to introduce herself, she seemed to
just
miss him.  Once, she heard someone talking on a radio up in the rafters but when she called out, there was no answer and the radio went silent. 

The more difficult it was to meet him face to face, the more Mikayla thought about it.  If she was being completely honest with herself, Isaiah Zelder had become something of an obsession.

“Pleased is an understatement,” she murmured. “I usually get to know everyone I work with.  Why…has it been so hard to meet you?” He didn’t respond so she asked, “Did you like the muffins?”

“They were delicious.  You were thoughtful to bring them.  Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.  I know I’m pushy.  If you’re shy…”

Isaiah laughed but it wasn’t a happy sound.  “It isn’t shyness.  I avoid showing myself to pretty young actresses.  I’m scarred.  Most people find it hard to look at.”  She instantly started to turn and he held her still. “Let me help you, Mikayla, not cause unnecessary stress.”

She turned anyway and took his hand when he tried to back into inky darkness.  “Please don’t go, Isaiah.  I’ve seen lots of scars.  I may not know how you feel but I’m not most people.  I don’t frighten even a little.” 

Mikayla tugged him into the low light.  He was
huge
.  She put him around six-seven, two-twenty-five of rock solid muscle.  He had dark hair, dark eyes, and absolutely beautiful lips. 

A crescent-shaped scar ran from the middle of his forehead, around his temple, over his cheek and jaw, slicing at an angle down the column of his neck.  Reaching up, she placed her palm over it and he sucked in a sharp breath. 

This was why he actively avoided her, the reason he spent his time in the shadows.

“Wire, right?” 

His frown caused the edges of the scar to whiten.  “How do you know that?”

“My oldest brother has a similar scar from a hay-baler.  The wrapping mechanism got jammed and the wire sliced through two shirts and a half-inch of flesh and muscle.  We were thankful it didn’t go through bone since it crossed over his heart.” 

Mikayla touched his shoulder and it was obvious that the man may have once been accustomed to touch but he wasn’t anymore.  It wasn’t that he flinched. 

He leaned
into
it. 

“It stretches from here,” she ran her fingertips diagonally across his chest to his waist and around to the small of his back, “to here.”  His muscle mass was unreal.