Behind the Scenes(53)

And now we’re all here, hanging out like regular friends.

No big deal.

“Would anyone like a drink?” he asks. His eyes fall on me.

“Uh, yeah, sure.”

“What would you like?”

You. Straight up. No, scratch that. You. Dirty.

“Anything,” comes my stilted voice. The drink I just slammed is already hitting my bloodstream and making me question every thought, but I could damn well use a second one.

He cocks his head.

“She likes gin,” Crystal speaks up. “Hi, I’m Crystal, Sydney’s roommate.”

“Simon Mulroney. Would you ladies like anything?”

Crystal waves her glass. “I think we’re good.”

He leaves, going to the bar. The second he turns, Dana clutches my arm in a vice grip, an expression of sheer terror on her face.

“What is going on?” Her eyes bore into mine. She and Crystal both take a step towards me, bowing their heads and waiting for a confession.

I shrug. “What he said, I guess. He heard you talking to the guys and found the flier.”

“He’s acting really weird.”

Crystal looks from Dana to me but doesn’t say anything.

A crucial moment arrives. Dana and I work together each day, side by side. As complicated as my relationship is with Mr. Mulroney, things would become even more complicated if people at work find out anything has happened between us. I just started at the company, and if I receive the reputation of Boss Fucker, that title is sure to follow me around for the rest of my days.

“Yeah,” I agree. “He’s being nice.”

“Exactly.”

She blinks and gives me a strange look, and I wonder if she’s thinking about the conversation we had in the office where I told her Mr. Mulroney hit on me.

Crystal puts on a strained smile. “Look at the bright side. This should make for an interesting night.”

The music starts to fade and spotlights swivel onto the stage in the middle of the floor. A tall drag queen with a mass of curls walks onstage. She wears a floor length sequined gown and swings a mic in her hands. The noise in the crowd dampens slightly and people turn their faces to the stage.

“Hello, hello,” she sing songs into the microphone. “What a beautiful sea of faces we have tonight.”

The crowd whoops and hollers. I sneak a glance at the bar. Mr. Mulroney has the two cocktails and is about to turn around. I whip my face back towards the stage.

What am I supposed to say when he hands me my drink? Gosh, thanks, Mr. Mulroney.

I’ve swapped fluids with, had erotic dreams about, and am about to accept a drink from a man I still call by his last name. It’s either super kinky or super pathetic.

The host is still going on, but I’m only pretending to listen. The lights dim and Mr. Mulroney appears in my peripheral vision.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks.” Mr. Mulroney.

I accept the drink but don’t take a sip. The hostess walks off stage and a beat picks back up. Someone pokes me in my back and I nearly jump out of my skin.

“Relax,” says a familiar voice. Brendan comes around to my left side, stepping right between me and my boss.

“Oh, hey,” I feebly say.

For a few minutes, I’d forgotten he was here. No doubt he’s been walking all over the club searching for me, all while I was too distracted by Mr. Mulroney to even remember Brendan exists.

He nods over at Crystal, and I’m about to introduce him to the others, but the loud music doesn’t leave any room for speaking. A drag queen dressed like Liza Minnelli comes onstage, shaking her shoulders from the get go.

Brendan is still turned slightly towards me, with his back to Mr. Mulroney. The man frowns slightly and I look down into my drink. Brendan probably didn’t recognize him standing there and probably didn’t even know he was with us.

I cup my hand and lean forward to speak into Brendan’s ear.

“Hey,” I say.

His arm slips around my waist and I tense. He looks at me with a slight grin.

I try again. “That’s my boss there.”

Now he’s paying attention. With a surprised look, he turns and nods to Mr. Mulroney. His hand is still against my back and I take a step towards the girls in order to escape it.

Did Mr. Mulroney’s jaw just tick? It’s hard to say. He’s certainly not enjoying the performance like everyone else. He’s not even watching it. He’s watching me.

Dana and Crystal are dancing with their drinks held high in the air, and even Brendan is bobbing his head along. Mr. Mulroney just stands there, his mouth in a thin line, looking over Brendan and at me.

The song ends and everyone claps. I crane my neck around the girl in front of me, trying to see who the next person up is. A warm hand rests on my waist, and I don’t have to look to know who it belongs to. I would recognize that touch in a dark sea of a thousand people. It comes with an energy and a feeling I can’t put words to, but it’s there nonetheless.