Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 31355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
The circus, with its allure and mystery, had always been a place where reality and fantasy danced closely. But now, as I delved deeper into its shadows, I found myself dancing a line between danger and desire, a line that Dante seemed to embody perfectly. With his commanding presence and his unexpected vulnerability, he was becoming more than just the subject of my assignment. As I wrote about him, my pen hesitated, my heart warring with my head. Was I getting too close, or was I finally getting to the heart of the story? Either way, I knew one thing for certain: my time at the circus was changing me, and Dante was at the center of it all.
Later, with curiosity getting the best of me, I found myself in the dimly lit dressing room of the performers, surrounded by costumes draped like specters and the faint smell of makeup and sweat, I discovered something unexpected. Behind a loose panel under the vanity, I found a stash of unmarked, sealed envelopes. My fingers trembled slightly as I slid one into my pocket, the weight of potential secrets pressing against my thigh. Whatever these envelopes contained, I was sure they held answers to questions I hadn't even thought to ask yet. As I ate dinner a while later, I sat alone at a small table, nibbling absentmindedly on a sandwich. My ears, however, were feasting on the conversations around me. The crew’s banter, laced with laughter and complaints, occasionally dropped nuggets of information that caught my attention. Talk of Dante's late-night meetings and the shadowy figures who came and went after dark painted a picture of a man who was more than just a charismatic ringmaster. Every snippet of dialogue added layers to the mystery surrounding him, deepening the enigma that kept pulling me closer, despite my better judgment. As the crew finished eating, the air backstage was charged with the nervous energy of performers and the bustling of stagehands preparing for the night's rehearsal. As I meandered behind the main tent, ostensibly checking on costume changes, I stumbled upon a locked trailer tucked away in the shadows. Muffled voices seeped through its thin walls, their tones urgent and heavy with mentions of money and swift, hushed plans. I lingered a moment too long, my mind racing with curiosity and apprehension about what illicit dealings might be unfolding just steps away. My clandestine observations were abruptly interrupted when I sensed a presence behind me. Turning, I found myself face-to-face with Dante. His brow was furrowed, a mix of suspicion and something softer, perhaps concern, playing across his sharply chiseled features. My eyes were always drawn to him–the dark stubble on his jaw begged for the grazing of my fingertips and the soft curve of his full lips made me itch to taste. What would it be like to kiss a man like Dante–so in command and control of people and animals alike?
"Ava," he began, his voice low and steady, "this area is off-limits to staff without specific duties here. What brings you behind the tent tonight?"
Caught off guard, I scrambled for a plausible excuse. "I—I thought I heard something back here. Just checking to make sure everything was secure," I lied smoothly, hoping my face didn’t betray the rapid beating of my heart.
Dante studied me for a long, intense moment. My skin prickled under his gaze, my nipples puckering as I thought of his lips on me. "I appreciate your diligence," he said finally, though his eyes, dark and probing, suggested he saw through my feigned nonchalance. "Let's make sure to stay within our assigned areas, though. Safety first, Ava."
"Of course, Dante. My apologies," I said barely above a whisper, managing a small, tight smile. As he turned to leave, I exhaled a breath, my mind reeling from the close call. Back in my caravan later that evening, the envelope's unbroken seal taunted me from where I’d placed it on the small table. The day's events replayed in my mind like a loop of film, each frame filled with Dante’s intoxicating presence and the shadowy corners of circus life I was only beginning to uncover. I felt obsessed with the need to see what was really going on behind the curtain, in all respects. I focused on my assignment all day, but at night, I thought of him.
I sighed, forcing my mind to redirect to my job, again, as I opened the envelope with hesitant fingers. I pulled out several sheets of paper filled with figures and names I didn't recognize. The implications were clear, though the details were still murky. As I poured over the contents, trying to make sense of the coded messages and cryptic annotations, I realized how deeply I was now entangled in the mysteries of the circus—and with Dante, a man as dangerous as he was irresistible. My professional mission to uncover the truth was becoming dangerously intertwined with my personal desire to understand the man behind the mask. The circus, with all its thrills and shadows, had become my battleground, and Dante, my most compelling adversary.