AN: I wrote this story back in 3/22 but am reposting it from an alt account. Also posting in honor of today being Reputation's 5th birthday!
"Baby, let the games begin!" She could hear it in the crowd.
"Baby, let the games begin!" She could hear it in the air.
"Let the games begin, let the games begin!" She could hear it in her team.
"Baby, let the games begin, let the games begin!" She could hear it in the speakers booming overhead.
"Are you ready for it?" She could hear it in her own voice, commanding attention, silencing the crowd. What a show they were in for tonight!
The beat of the song echoed the beat of her heart, pounding faster and faster. She could feel the power of the bass surging through every inch of her body, twisting sensually around her and filling the air as she sang. With burning eyes, a fierce face, and a confident smile, she strutted up and down the runway in perfect sync with the beat. She basked in the lights and applause that surrounded her on either side.
The crowd was going wild, lights flashed and shined. She felt like she was on cloud nine and her voice soared just as high! When the song hit its first chorus, she sang with a light but longing tone, and she swayed hypnotically to the subdued tempo. At the end of the chorus, though, a mischievous and almost maddened light entered her ocean-blue eyes. "Are you ready for it?"
This was the Dangerous Debutante, Deborah Lavish, a swiftly rising star in music industry after her debut in modeling a few years prior. It hadn't taken the world long to realize that aside from a gorgeous body and face, she also had a gorgeous voice. And, as an added benefit to her, she also had quite the gorgeous wallet. It was her own little Holy Trinity. With those three assets at her side, the young Ms. Lavish quickly rose through the ranks of fame and fortune. She was by no means the proverbial shiniest star in the sky, but she was one of the fastest rising.
But even more than that, Deborah had confidence, and a lot of it. She had just the right amount of insanity and audacity to not only believe that she deserved the spotlight, but that, as far as she was concerned, it was already hers. And she wasn't just saying that because she was strutting up and down the runway. She fully believed that even without all the fancy frills of the show, she still could've easily won over an entire crowd. She was on this stage because she belonged. Even before she sang her first note, that stage was hers! No one else deserved it like she did!
Or at least, that was what she liked to tell herself. But of course, it was impossible to win every heart. In fact, Deborah didn't even have to look very far or hard to find someone who seemed completely immune to all of her charms. It was some small, mousey, doctor-lady named Angela Jekyll. The only reason Deborah knew about her at all was because her agent and manager, Ambrose Moulton, was childhood friends with Angela.
Because Angela was a doctor, though, that meant she and Deborah never crossed paths. The singer had never met the doctor before. She didn't even know what Angela looked like! But there was always a first time for everything…
"Deborah! That was incredible!" The first voice Deborah heard after her concert was Ambrose's. He was usually a very shy, tight-lipped man, but the show's energy was so infectious that even he looked ready to burst from excitement. His arms were open as he and Deborah ran at one another.
"Thank you, beloved!" Deborah gushed as she accepted Ambrose's congratulatory embrace. She smiled smugly into his shoulder, but as she continued to nuzzle him affectionately, some of that smugness faded into genuine contentment. It felt so good to be in the arms of someone she loved, and someone whom she knew loved her in return. They were not in a relationship, but as far as Deborah was concerned, they might as well have been! They were so close already that the romance existed in all but name.
The show had been ridiculously fun, but Deborah couldn't deny that the guiltiest pleasure of all was getting to hear Ambrose's thoughts. He was more than happy to heap on the praise and Deborah found herself blushing every shade of red known to man.
"You're too kind, beloved," Deborah tried to retain some of her dignity, seductively running a finger under Ambrose's chin. He laughed and pulled her back in for another hug. She was more than happy to reciprocate. Did he know he was the one she'd been singing to, and about, that night?
Knew I was a robber first time that he saw me. Stole his heart, I'm running off and never saying sorry. But if I'm a thief then he can join the heist and we'll move an island! And, and, he can pay the bail or meet me in my trailer. Every love I've known in comparison is a failure! I forget their names now, he's all mine to claim now, never be the same n—
"Ambrose, my darling, there you—!" Angela Jekyll stopped dead in her tracks when she caught sight of Deborah in Ambrose's arms. "Oh."
At the same time, Deborah whipped around. Who dared interrupt her private time with Ambrose? Who dared call him "darling"?!
"Angela!" While Deborah's face was full of disgust and wariness, Ambrose's lit up. He wasn't even thinking as he released Deborah from her hug to give Angela one instead. For a moment, each woman looked absolutely dumbstruck. A second later, both of them started turning red, but while Angela looked embarrassed and flattered, Deborah looked angry, hurt, and jealous.
"Ah. Jekyll. Ambrose's old… acquaintance?" Deborah didn't even try to hide the judgement in her voice. And she would not say "friend".
"Yes, childhood friend," Angela replied nervously. Maybe Deborah wouldn't use the f-word, but Angela would, though she looked scared to death. She was already tiny, but she seemed so intimidated by Deborah that she somehow managed to make herself even smaller.
Ordinarily, Deborah would've been pleased to see Angela cowering beneath her, but she was too preoccupied with the fact that Angela was still in Ambrose's arms to take any pleasure from Angela's obvious discomfort.
"Well, I am glad you were able to reunite with him for a time, but we were about to discuss important business matters regarding my next—" Deborah finally reached out and actually attempted to push Angela out of Ambrose's arms. It worked, to some degree, and the smaller woman stumbled back. She actually almost fell over because the moment she felt Deborah touch her, she jumped back, which unbalanced her.
"Oh, lighten up, Deborah!" Ambrose teased, effortlessly catching Angela as he grinned at Deborah. "You work too hard! You just finished an amazing show! The least you deserve is to rest and not have to worry about future concerts so soon!" His words were kind and sincere and they took Deborah by surprise. She felt her face flush again and her heart fluttered a little in her chest.
"I—! Well—! Th—that's—! That's not what I—!" she stuttered quietly, suddenly at a loss for words. She was torn. His kind words were for her, but his arms were still around someone else. Deborah looked back and forth between them, lips in a very tight, thin line.
"Very well, Ambrose," she finally said. "But I do hope we will be able to speak again before the night is over?"
"Of course, Deborah, I didn't mean that we wouldn't talk at all, but you needn't worry about business," he said, still smiling serenely. Deborah gave an imperceptible sigh, torn between her love for him and her exasperation that he'd missed what she considered to be very obvious hints.
But of course, Deborah wasn't going to make a scene, especially not in front of him, so she was forced to yield… for now. Shoving Angela was risky enough, although Deborah hadn't actually wanted her to fall. It was just meant to be a display of dominance, a warning, not an attack. She just wanted Angela to know that she would retaliate if push came to shove (which was quite literally, in this case).
Deborah took her leave after that, dipping her head in farewell to Ambrose before shooting Angela one last very nasty scowl. Angela looked down, too intimidated to even try meeting Deborah's piercing gaze. Hmph! Coward! Deborah stalked away down the hall, back towards her dressing room… alone. I hope you know what you're doing, Jekyll. I hope you know you're playing with fire. I'm letting the games begin, and I see where this is going to go. I'll be the one Ambrose chooses in the end, so I'll take my time, but when my time finally comes… will you be ready for it?