A Word of Praise
Chapter 26

Kiara was sad to take out her dress. She felt amazing in it, especially after Chris' heartfelt compliment, and was determined to keep it. She didn't think she'd have another opportunity to use it, but she could always crash a fancy-ass party if she had to.

Now that she was alone, her mind wandered back to their earlier encounter. After that shit show with his father, she was determined to distance herself until the 'job' was done. But when it was just the two of them, he went back to being... fun. She still didn't like him, mostly because he was an entitled prick, but she couldn't deny how interesting it was to be around the man.

Truth was, their little war was thrilling, and she found herself looking forward to it ever since their first chat. The shift into a more sensual kind of provocation was new but just as exciting. She looked in the mirror, thinking about her options. Perhaps if she stayed away from him whenever his father was around, she'd still be able to have a good time.

She went into the closet to get ready. The presentation outfit was simple, but it was the best she and Gloria could do in the little time they had. She opted for a white chiffon bodysuit with an iridescent skirt that flowed around her body with ease. She chose to wear thick skin color tights both to hide her tattoo from the moneyed prudes and avoid most of the impact of the show on her bare skin.

It was impossible to replace an aerial silk with the right size on such short notice, so she opted instead for an aerial hoop routine. The lyra was flown into the island, which made her feel the power of money. How nice it would be to avoid all the hard work of carrying the metal hoop on her shoulder through the subway.

The thing she hated about performing in parties - apart from the rich snobs - was the lack of interest. What was the point of doing art if there was no one there to see it? Not watch it, but really see it. Back at Chris' parents' place, she thought no one would pay attention to her... but he did.

This time she wouldn't perform in the middle of the ballroom, but in a huge winter garden right beside the party. It would work like a stage, so people would watch her from the main room. Unfortunately, that meant even fewer people would pay attention to the show because she wouldn't swing above their heads. But on the bright side, the beautifully illuminated garden would frame her performance like an ethereal vision.

She got downstairs through an outside stair that connected directly to the glassed room. The place was essential in her choice of the routine she'd present. It was too beautiful to be just a background, the number had to talk to the flowers and the leaves, the glass, and the stars above. She loved how inspiration hit her as she got ready to convey the message she prepared for the night.

The music changed to alert the crowd. A little light game directed the audience to look at the previously unnoticed hoop hanging from the fairly high ceiling of the winter garden.

Kiara assumed her position below the hoop exactly at midnight and signaled Gloria to push the buttons they had rehearsed. The lyra attached to the metal structure bellow the glass ceiling began to ascend slowly taking her with it until she was hanging only by her right hand five feet above the ground.

And then it began. It was a song they wouldn't recognize, but it had the power to talk to people's souls. The violin was beautiful and the whole arrangement was made to bring a smile to the face of whoever listened to it. She moved from her one-hand hang on the lyra to sit in the middle of it and looked at the crowd.

That night she would portrait the adventure of life. Enjoying the pain and the beauty, the sorrow, and the joy. She smiled at her audience and closed her eyes, feeling the cold metal against her fingers and inhaling the perfume of the flowers around her.

When she began to move, there was only art. By the time she was done, there was no art at all. She gave them all she had in the world, and all she had was her art.

A panting Kiara met Gloria on the outside of the garden. That was a very emotional number for her and there was no way she would go back to the party after it. Gloria helped her get out through the winter garden's door and breath some fresh air.

"You are amazing" The older woman was looking at her in a funny way. It was not the usual cheerful look she got out of those commercial performances. It felt more like the ones her colleagues and mentors threw at her every once in a while. The woman was not entertained, she was moved.

"Thank you, Gloria. It really means a lot to me."

"You are something special, aren't you? God, I pray you stay in his life."

Kiara felt bad for the woman. She was praying for the future of a relationship that didn't even have a present. She couldn't tell her the truth, but she wouldn't entertain the lie either.

"I'm really tired Gloria, I don't want to go through the crowd right now."

"Come, let me take you upstairs so you can rest a bit. You can go back the way you came in❞

She was usually a fan of going around the crowd to gather people's opinions on the performance and to get the eventual praise from the audience. She was an artist after all and loved the applause. But that was no ordinary show for her, and she knew people weren't looking at her as an artist that night.

She was there as Chris' girlfriend and was paraded in front of the guests for entertainment purposes only. Sure, she made the most out of it and was happy with the result. But she was not in the mood for fake compliments and was better off without the whole bootlicking atmosphere that would be created around her and Chris.

No, Gloria's compliment was more than enough for her and she'd rather close the night on that amazing note. She had already asked Patricia to be excused from the party after the show, so she could simply take a shower and rest. Before she could so much as strip out of her outfit, the door swung open and Chris got in like a raging storm, his dark brown eyes piercing through her own like he was reaching for the skull behind it.