Due to her aunt’s and her parent’s death, as well as her famous great-great-grandmother, she had a massive trust fund. After a month of friendship, she moved me into her condo near the theater. It had been a huge help. My grandma no longer needed to send most of her wages to me.
But the dark side of O was what killed her in the end.
O fell in love too hard for Valentina. When they broke up, O couldn’t take it. She began stalking Valentina. At times, she missed rehearsal. I spent many a night, rushing off to the park in front of Valentina’s building and dragging O away. She would just sit on the park bench and stare at the building with a blank expression.
It made me sick to see O travel in that twisted direction. No matter how I tried to stop her, she continued. It wasn’t odd for me to find torn and ripped of pictures of Valentina throughout the penthouse. Later that night, O would tape the pieces back together again and cry herself to sleep.
Once I found O in the bathroom cutting a jagged V onto her hip with a knife. I snatched the knife away and cleaned the wound. From there, I had O stay in my room and did my best to watch her—never leaving her alone for too long.
For the past year, I had stressed over O a lot.
Unfortunately, Valentina and O got back together a few times. Whenever Valentina came to the condo, I would flip a coin. Either they would argue or have loud sex. There was no in between when it came to them.
Somewhere amidst their dysfunctional relationship, I met Misha. Valentina had brought him over to the condo, after one of our performances.
I thought back to that time.
“There.” Frowning, Valentina had pointed at me. “This is Ava.”
I blinked, surprised she’d said my name.
Usually, Valentina ignored me.
“This is Misha.” Valentina gestured to him and then stuck out her tongue. “Are you happy now, mosquito? You have met Ava.”
I had no idea who was a mosquito and why she’d introduced us.
Clearly embarrassed, Misha had slowly nodded and extended his hand. “You are very talented, Ava.”
“Thank you.”
“I love watching you dance.”
I blushed.
And then silence bridged between us.
“Well, I have rehearsal. Nice to meet you.” I shook his hand and left, not wanting to be around for another session of Valentina and O’s craziness.
After that, Misha came around a few more times. Months later, I spotted him up in the balcony—the Tsar’s Box which provided the best place to view the stage in the entire theater.
Olesya said that he’d bought it for the season.
But I had no time to wonder about Misha with the craziness of O.
There was something about Valentina that put me on edge. The men around her looked like they didn’t have a problem with killing people. I knew nothing good could come from O not leaving her alone. So anytime Valentina and even Misha came around, I found a reason to leave.
When Valentina broke up with her for the last time, O shifted into even darker insanity. Out of nowhere, O moved us into a new luxury penthouse. It was the one I stayed in now. While O had a good bit of money, I knew the place was still out of her budget. Too grand and massive.
I thought back to the day, I first entered the penthouse.
“What’s going on?” I’d asked, staring at the chandeliers in the living room and then looking back at her.
Something wicked gleamed in her eyes. “My lion paid for it.”
“Lion?”
“My new man.” She tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder. “He likes to keep me in place. He also has a suite for me in Prague and an apartment in Moscow. He spoils me.”
“Why is he getting you so many places?”
“Because he likes to fuck and he’s impatient. He wants me, when he wants me.”
“I’m happy for you, but. . .” I shook my head. “I’m not going to stay here then. This is more your…love palace. I don’t want to be the third wheel or—”
“Please.”
“But this is more his and your—”
“He barely comes. And when he does, he just fucks me and leaves.” She grabbed my arm. “Please, Ava, I’ll rot in here. I’ll be so alone without you.”
Worry saturated me. I knew there was more to the story. My gut said no, but O had been there for me. I had to be there for her.
When she introduced me to this new Russian man in her life named Kazimir. I met him and had to admit that he was a gorgeous specimen. But there was that look about him. Death lingered in his eyes. He’d been no nonsense upon the first introduction. Nothing warm or nice radiated from him.
“Kazimir, this is my best friend, Ava.” O had pointed to me as I headed out to give them some space.