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2024-10-29 19:42:56“Kiara, you dirty hoe! What did you steal this time?” His words were aggressive, but his tone was absolutely flooded with inquisitive humor.
“Hello to you too, Michael,” She said over the burner phone she bought to call him.
“Don't you dare hello me right now, bitch!” Kiara loved Michael's flamboyant personality, especially when he faked being angry to get a juicy gossip out of her. Unfortunately for her, this time there really was one.
“Did they call?”
“Oh, no. Not ‘they’. He. I don't know his name, but his voice was so damn sexy. And demanding”
“What did you say?”
“What do you think I said? He didn't get anything from me. Though with that voice I wouldn't mind giving him something of my own.” She could almost picture his wiggling brows following the words. “Especially after he went ballistics over the ‘precious personal item’ or whatever. I can just feel he's sexy”
“You bet” She murmured to herself. But Michael was too eager to let it slide.
“Hmm, so you met Mr. Sinful Voice… Tell me everything”
“Stop, Michael. I won't go down that road again, last time you snatched that cute Italian guy away from me”
“No hard feelings darling, he was more into me anyways” She laughed, recalling the handsome blond she lost to the other side.
“But seriously now, do you think he'll pursue it? Should I be prepared?”
“Oh, he will. That was a man on a mission”
“Shit”
“Can't you give it back? Just this once. You know I never mind you klepto ways, but that guy meant business”
“I'm not klepto!”
“Sure darling, whatever helps you sleep at night.”
“Fuck off” she motioned to hang up, but heard him calling her back before she could
“Wait, wait! Before I forget. I know what you'll say but that club downtown asked for you again. Vexon, I think it's called.”
“Still don't do straight clubs, Michael”
“Thought so. They doubled the offer, though.”
“Won't happen”
“Fine, I'll let them know. Take care baby doll”
Kiara was stressing over everything. The ring, the man who apparently owned it, and her inability to think about anything else. She decided to do the one thing that always cleared her head, practice.
She headed to the circus studio, hoping to have at least one training partner available. Luckily, Kate was there.
“Hey girl, early training today?”
“Got a lot on my mind. What are you training?”
“Hoops, want to train a duo?”
Kiara was more of a solo performer, but she didn't mind practicing a few tricks with Kate every once in a while. She was hoping to get on the hoop to spin her soul out on the instrument. It usually worked wonders to clear her head.
The girls warmed up, stretched, and hopped on the big metal hoop attached to the ceiling. They practiced a few transitions, but neither was specialized in duo performances, so they kept it simple.
Resting between exercises, Kate decided to break the silence.
“So, how about you tell me what it is that you came here to forget?”
“It's nothing”
“Kia, I've known you for what, five years now? You can share”
“It's fine, really”
“Damn girl, I've told you my whole life ten times already, how come I know virtually nothing about you?” She was technically right. Kate tended to overshare, but her stories were always funny and light. There was not much Kiara could share anyway.
“Money is short, that is all”
That old excuse came in handy once again. She loved that one because nobody could pry into it. Everyone had money issues – at least in her inner circle - and there was nothing her friends could do about that.
For a brief moment, Kiara thought about sharing her turbulent experience from the day before with her friend, but decided against it. She would probably have to explain her nasty habit of ‘prize collection’ and then talk about the handsome man that was after her in the worst possible way.
No, it was bad enough that Michael knew about it. Against her will, of course. But being her agent, he was bound to get a few missing object's complaints. He would have fired her if she weren't a damn good artist. More often than not, the complainers called to have her again.
“Yeah, not many shows are coming along” Kate responded after a while. That was not really true for Kiara. She wasn't swimming in money or anything, but she had enough to go by.
After a moment of silent reflection, Kate's smile grew wider and she wiggled her eyebrows. Kiara knew there was some dirty story coming along and she was eager to hear it.
“So, let me tell about this uber driver I met the other day”
“Fuck, the uber girl!”
“What?”
“I forgot to call the girl who called me an uber yesterday”
Kate had a curious expression that suggested she would ask for details, but Kiara was faster to call it off.
“I'm so sorry Kate, I need to head back home. Loved the training, let me know the next time you're performing for an open audience. Bye!”
She left leaving behind a mildly stunned blonde girl. She would feel bad, but Kate should be used to her by now. Running home, she got the little piece of paper the girl gave her the night before. Carina. Even her handwriting was sweet, dotting the ‘I’ in her name with a heart.
She took the burner phone bought in the morning to call Michael and typed it in.
“Hello”
“Hi, is this Carina?”
“Yes, who's this?”
“Hi, my name is Kiara. You helped me out last night with an uber”
“Oh my god, hi!” Answered the girl in an excited voice. Kiara heard a not-low-enough whisper on the other side, ‘Mom, it's the artist!’, and stifled a laugh.
“Hey. I was wondering if you were able to get my things from the room upstairs”
“Yes! I have them right here”
“Oh perfect! Could we meet somewhere so I can get it? I also wanted to pay you back for the ride”
“That is a wonderful idea”
“Are you free today?”
“Not really, today we have church. But Monday after work is better, if you are free. I know just the place for us to meet.”
They arranged the details and Kiara let out a satisfied sigh. She had a few hundred dollars' worth of clothes and makeup in that bag, and losing her cellphone wasn't on her plans either. She was glad it all worked out. Who said crime doesn't pay?
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A Word of Praise Eight
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A Word of Praise Nine
Kiara got to the coffee shop earlier to grab a bite to eat. She was on practice all day and was eager to reward herself with a nice meal. The place Carina suggested was really cute and had an extensive menu of light and healthy options. The girl must have thought she was all into healthy food, being a circus artist and all. Kiara snorted at the idea, thinking about her undying love for good food in all its forms and shapes. She chose the avocado toast with smoked salmon but asked for a poached egg on top to make it more interesting. It was still healthy, but at least it tasted like real food. If she had to eat another bitter melon, quinoa, and black beans mix with no seasoning whatsoever, she’d kill someone.
A Word of Praise Ten
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A Word of Praise Eleven
Kiara felt like she was heading straight to a prisoner exchange that sunny Tuesday afternoon. A ring for a bag. Surprisingly, she was feeling more excited about it than scared. Their last encounter was interesting, to say the least. She had a blast seeing that bulked man caving to her, giving her phone back and getting nothing in return. She was hoping to get that thrilling sensation again. It felt like those times in her childhood when she took her father's weapon from its not-carefully-enough hidden spot and just held it in her hands, hoping the man didn't wake up from his lazy Sunday naps. They had agreed to meet in the same spot as last
A Word of Praise Twelve
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A Word of Praise Thirteen
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A Word of Praise Fourteen
“What now?” She demanded. Chris watched her turn around rolling her eyes and was glad to hear the annoyance in her voice. She was incredibly underdressed for a day in court but still had been more comfortable in that room than the four men in suits. He was utterly delighted when his move threw her off and hoped to leverage it now that the legal part was over. “We need to sort the payment out” He didn’t try to hide the amusement in his voice, and it did the trick. Her eyes squinted into thin lines and… did she bare her teeth? Oh god, that was perfect. He almost wished she would growl.
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2 years later “Can you fucking hurry? We’ll be late!”“We will not be late, Kiara,” Chris tried to appease her. She came closer to look at the computer screen from above his shoulder, and knew he was getting a pretty accurate demonstration of having someone breathing
A Word of Praise Fifty-Seven
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A Word of Praise Fifty-Six
Chris unwillingly left her in bed to get the condom from his bag. He was not thinking about it earlier, but after almost shooting deep inside her in the shower, his memory was jogged up. He reached for the package, but his hand found the small box he had placed back there earlier, and he smiled. Maybe… later.He watched her laying in bed, wet and open for him. She was a fucking goddess, and he couldn’t understand how he could be so lucky.“I’ll have to finish without you if you just stand there. I don’t mind the audience.” She motioned to touch hersel
A Word of Praise Fifty-Five
Kiara was still feeling the thrill of a responsive crowd when she kissed him, but she did not regret it one bit. It was past time she gave into him – again. She didn’t have it in herself to fight it any longer, and as soon as she made up her mind, it was as if a switch had flipped. Now she fucking needed him. Chris was not one to lose time, so as soon as she asked for it, his lips were already pressed on hers and her body was crashing against the bathroom wall. Her hands explored his perfectly cut hair, and she hoped she’d mess it beyond return. He deserved a little c
A Word of Praise Fifty-Four
She was so incredibly precious. Chris couldn’t quite understand how a person could go through that and come out so beautiful on the other side. He didn’t expect her to tell him about it, not like that. But he understood her better now. If hating rich people was the only outcome of that disturbing past, he’d more than welcome it. Damn, he’d get rid of his own money if that’s what it took.But he knew it wasn’t. She was scarred, more so than he could ever have been, even with his few shitty events in the past. And still, she was the most amazing person he had ever met.
A Word of Praise Fifty-Three
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A Word of Praise Fifty-Two
Sales conventions were one of Kiara’s favorite kind of events. The organizers always had some sort of crazy briefing for her, that matched the company’s goal for the year. She often found herself having to portrait ‘double-digit growth’ or ‘increase market share’ in a three-minute silks routine. In sum, she was paid exorbitant amounts of money to perform whatever the hell she liked. It’s not as if the people who hired her would be able to tell if she explored the theme they gave her anyway. Even so, she liked to try to pass on the message. It was an artistic challenge, and more often than not, she ended up with a fast as hell routine and a smile plastered on her face.
A Word of Praise Fifty-One
Two months had come and gone, and Chris knew he was on the right track. He didn’t fail his promise to see her every Saturday, no matter how poorly it fit the rest of his commitments. The weekend after Christmas was particularly hard because he had to leave in the middle of the company’s Christmas party. It was worth it; he earned an eye-roll coated with an adorable attempt not to smile when he explained his delay. Every Saturday was the same, he’d get to her building, buzz her down, and they’d walk around the block talking and pampering Batman. He’d talk about work, and the restructuring of the company. She’d shoot sarcastic remarks about the
A Word of Praise Fifty
Kiara woke up Monday morning with the emotional hangover of the century. She was tired of not being able to do anything, so she decided to go to practice anyway, even with her hands out of commission. If she couldn’t do what she wanted in Chris’ department, she’d at least work her frustration out with a sick series of abs and legs. When she got to the studio, she ran into Michael’s glowing figure. Literally. The man was covered in glitter from head to toe, and it was fucking Monday.“What the hell did you do last night?” She asked in disbelief.
