Chapter 42 Crossed wires
Chapter 42: Crossed Wires
City Center Theater...
The tension in the atmosphere was suffocating. Dance crews stood on the stage waiting for the judges to turn in the results.
The audience felt the tension as much as the participants.
Everyone hoped their favs made it through to the next stage.
Allan kept stealing glances at Golden and could see that she too was full of anticipation.
“The groups that will be making it to the semi finals are”...
Tension
Heavy breathing
Crew members holding hands...
“Steppers!
Fire & Ice!
Revolution!
And Oxlade!” congratulations. You four crews will be battling it out on this stage in three weeks.
Octavia’s scream echoed through the backstage hallway the moment the results were announced.
“We made it! Semi-finals, baby!” she squealed, bouncing toward Golden and Alex.
Golden smiled, soft, proud, warm. “I’m so happy for you, Octavia. You guys killed it.”
Octavia threw her arms around her. “Thank you for coming! I was watching out for you the whole time.”
“Of course,” Golden replied. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
“Hi Octavia, you were great out there. Girl those moves you were bursting out there were amazing.” Alex said.
“This is my best friend Alex” Golden made a quick introduction.
“Thank you Alex” Octavia said smiling. “I could teach you some moves if you want”
“Sure how much do you charge?” Alex asked smiling.
“A cup of vanilla ice cream with chocolate toppings will do” Octavia responded shrugging her shoulders.
“Deal. Let's shake on it.” Alex shook hands with Octavia who was smiling from ear to ear.
Turning to Golden, Alex said: “I like her, can we keep her?”
Golden put her hand on her forehead and shook it.
“We can't.” then under her breathe she muttered “she's Allan's baby sister remember ?” sighting Allan approaching them.
Octavia hurried to join her crew just as Allan approached.
“Hi Golden. Can we talk?” He asked, his hands in his pocket.
“Not now please. We have to go. Alex?” Golden responded in a calm and detached tone, signaling Alex to leave.
“It would just take a few minutes.” Allan moved closer to hold Golden's hand.
Alex stepped in front of him like a warning siren. “We have somewhere to be. Please excuse us.”
And just like that, they were gone.
The door closed behind them, leaving Allan staring at the empty space where Golden had stood. His chest tightened.
What did he do?
Why was she acting like he was a stranger?
He didn’t understand. And the not-knowing was eating him alive.
As he turned to leave, a voice piped up beside him.
“Are you guys fighting?” Octavia asked gently.
Allan blinked. “What? No. We’re good.”
“Sure about that?” She raised a brow. “Because she literally ran away from you.”
Allan forced a smile. “We’re fine, Tavia. Don’t worry.”
But she didn’t believe him. She didn’t push either.
“Okay. If you say so,” she murmured, then waved and headed back to her crew.
Allan exhaled shakily and rubbed the back of his neck.
He was already on the night shift tonight—God help him, he needed the distraction more than air.
But even at the parlor, he couldn’t keep his hands steady.
He kept replaying her cold expression… how she walked away… how Alex looked at him like he’d committed a crime.
Hours passed, but nothing eased the ache in his chest.
Back at the Nixon Estate…
Alex kicked off her shoes and threw her bag on the bed.
“Okay,” she said, crossing her arms. “Talk. How are you feeling?”
Golden sank into the couch slowly. “I… I don’t know.”
“Golden.”
“I mean it, Alex. I don’t know.”
She rubbed her palms together. “It just feels weird now. Everything with Allan feels… heavy.”
Alex softened instantly. She walked over and sat beside her.
“Then take your time. You don’t have to talk to him until you’re ready. And when you are ready, you’ll know.”
Golden nodded and leaned her head on Alex’s shoulder.
“Thank you.”
“Always.”
Meanwhile, in London…
Varney stared at the ceiling of his five-star hotel room, then groaned and sat up.
He’d spent the past 48 hours checking his phone like a lovesick idiot.
“This is ridiculous,” he muttered.
He had concluded his London business. He could easily leave tomorrow.
He rubbed his jaw and chuckled at himself.
“You’re acting like a teenager, Varney.”
Still, he grabbed his phone and dialed Alex.
She picked up on the second ring. “Yes Mr Nixon?”
“Is Golden okay?” he asked, immediately embarrassed by how desperate he sounded.
Alex burst out laughing. “This man. You’re unbelievable.”
Before he could reply, she switched to video.
Golden appeared behind her, holding a bowl of ice cream.
“V!” she beamed. “Hi!”
Varney nearly sagged in relief.
“See?” Alex said smugly. “She’s alive. Calm down.”
Golden waved and blew him a kiss before disappearing off-screen.
Varney shook his head. “I need help.”
“You do,” Alex agreed.
But she was smiling warmly when she said it.
After the call ended, Varney lay on his bed and covered his face.
Then he began laughing at himself.
He was a whole executive at Nixon Global Holdings and Founder of V Tech World, yet here he was stressing about… nothing.
He decided he would remain in London after all. Carol’s wedding was in a week, and he might as well attend.
Rehearsal Dinner…
Carol eyed him over her champagne. “Okay, spill.”
“Spill what?”
“You’ve been acting weird.”
“I’m fine,” Varney lied.
Carol narrowed her eyes. “Are you seeing someone?”
He choked on his champagne. “What? No!”
She leaned closer. “You like someone then.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Varney.”
He sighed. “Why do you think so?”
“Well you have the same look you had when you were chasing me back when you were young and free in highschool.” Carol said with a knowing look.
“That's ridiculous Carol” he responded with a smirk.
“Been too busy to date. Except for Golden, the only other woman around me is Alex”
Carol’s brows shot up. “Alex?”
“Yeah. Golden's best friend.”
“An interesting young lady”
He found himself smiling.
“She’s got a killer sense of humor, she’s fiercely protective of Golden, and she threatened to gut me last time I teased her.”
Carol nearly screamed. “Teased her?”
He ignored her tone.
“She’s fun to annoy. It’s… oddly therapeutic.”
Carol sat back, studying his face like she was reading a confidential file.
Then she said, quietly, “Varney… I think you like…like her.”
“No, I don’t,” he said immediately. “Alex is practically a younger sister. And I’m six years older. It wouldn’t work. We’re too alike.”
“Mhmm,” she muttered unconvinced. “Keep lying. You’ll catch up eventually.”
“I’m telling you, Carol…”
She raised a hand.
“I’ll let you figure it out yourself. I just hope it won’t be too late by the time you do.”
Varney frowned, not sure what she meant.
But Carol simply smiled knowingly into her champagne.