-Present-
"Dude, Cosima," Madi whispers aggressively and then slaps the girl's arm. "Why didn't you fucking tell us you were the side-bitch of–"
"Shut up, Madi," Cosima growls back, glaring at her. "I had no fucking clue. Her last name is Cormier, not Black".
"Do you think she's the reason we even ended up here?" Jeremy comments, watching the woman in question float around the party.
"Well, if Mr. Black hadn't come to pick up his wife at Martell, he would never have recruited us, like he said. So, indirectly, yeah. But I don't know if she made sure it happened…" Madi shrugs.
"This is fucked up," Cosima stares across the room. Delphine lets go of her husband's arm as he takes a call. He says something to her, and she shakes her head.
"Are you sure?" William shrugs, still on the phone with his sister, covering the bottom. "She's right outside, it'll be a couple seconds".
"I'm sure. Tell her I hope she has a good trip and a safe flight," Delphine finishes the wine, setting it on the same table she picked it up from.
"Okay, okay. I'll be back in a minute," he kisses her on the cheek, and puts his phone back up to his mouth. "Alex, I'm on my way out, give me just a minute". Delphine watches him leave. He takes the same exit she took earlier.
"I don't get it," a voice perks her ears. She turns to see Cosima standing behind her, the rest of the group not far behind.
"What is there to get?" she wishes she had another glass of wine or champagne, just something to occupy her hands.
"Did you tell Mr. Black to recruit us?" Jeremy pipes in from behind Cosima. They all move a bit closer.
"I wasn't even sure you were the band he recruited until tonight," she shrugs. "I see you've shortened your name".
"How could you not know?" Cosima crosses her arms.
"You all just happen to get recruited the same night my talent-scout husband visits the lounge you play in…it's not likely a coincidence, but I still couldn't positively say it wasn't".
"You could've totally gotten us in way earlier," Jeremy scoffs.
"He probably doesn't want to be constantly bombarded with recommendations," Madi rolls her eyes at him.
"No, Will has specifically told me that if I ever hear something I like at Martell, then I should let him know," Delphine shrugs.
"Then why didn't you tell him?" Jack jumps into the conversation now.
"I never heard something I liked," she tries to keep her entertained smile to herself, but it's becoming difficult.
"You still showed up for weeks…months maybe…" Madi takes half a step forward, looking particularly predatorial.
"Mrs. Black," a man's voice interrupts the tension.
Delphine rolls her eyes and grits her teeth for a brief moment before turning to the source. "Mrs. Cormier or Delphine," she corrects.
"Oh, right. Sorry, Mrs. Cormier," he smiles and sticks his hands in his pockets. "Anyway, I haven't seen you since we all met up with Will at your house. How've you been?"
"Fine, thank you," she doesn't attempt to add anything to the conversation.
"Does Will still have you on a tight leash?" he smiles and chuckles as though he's making an old-ball-and-chain joke around his colleagues.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, just…the last time I saw you he said you couldn't go out for a couple weeks or something. I wish my wife could be as…civil as you".
"I forgot about that, yes. I think the word you're looking for is obedient," she grimaces internally at his exasperating compliment. "It was just one specific location, actually, the one where these four perform. I think he was jealous," she turns and nods her head at Cosima and her silent friends.
"Right, I saw your guys' video up there earlier," they all turn their heads to see a relatively small projector playing a music video. A few people are gathered in front of it, watching halfheartedly. "I don't think we've formally met, though," he hints.
"I hear the audit is going well," Delphine ignores his implied request. He looks between her and the group behind her for a moment.
"Excuse us," he smiles awkwardly at them before pulling Delphine aside. "Is that what Will is saying?"
"More or less" she shrugs. "He's already told me about your nefarious affairs".
"That man is in denial, Delphine. They're actively investigating at least two people just from our department. I don't think he's going to escape this very easily," he warns, almost pleading with his eyes. "They set up an office in the building a while ago and they just sift through boxes all day long. Why do you think they're going through Will's home office again?"
"No one has come by that I know of…" she shifts uncomfortably.
"No, not until Monday," he shakes his head. "Look, I don't know what they're going to find. All I know is that William Black is not cut out for prison".
"It can't be that bad, can it?" Both of their voices lower unconsciously. "Will said the only thing he really did was hide records or something because no one would expect him to be involved…I think…" she can't remember entirely what it was he did.
"What? No, Will negotiates contracts with new artists. And let's just say the artists see one contract and we see another. He's not an accomplice, Delphine, he practically started the whole thing," he looks at her with an intensity she's not used to seeing from him. "I'm less involved than he is, and I really don't want to go down with him. If I'm honest with you, I'm actually a bit worried he'll try to throw us under the bus and get off free".
"That is bad. I'm sorry, I had no idea," she doesn't know why she genuinely feels bad for the man. He's always been decent to her, but he's still her least favorite. He's the one who constantly calls her Mrs. Black.
"I know you don't…uh…you and William aren't as close as you appear to be at these things," he glances around, scanning the room for the man. "I won't ask you to do anything for me, but I think the rest of us would be grateful if you could at least not cover for him. Do you know what I mean?"
"Shouldn't be a problem," she crosses her arms. "I wouldn't lie for him. Will I be questioned? I've never even been to the police station…"
"Delphine," William's voice snaps, forcing their attention toward the hall door. Several other parties, including Cosima's, also hear and give him a funny look.
Delphine nods to the man and touches his arm before making her way to the door. The closer she gets, the more she can see William's eyes glow with anger.
Cosima sees this, too, and finds herself following the woman to the door. In the back of her mind she can barely register Madi asking her where the hell she's going. It's instinctual, as though she's completely blind to everything else around her.
Cosima quickly makes it to the door Delphine and her husband have already disappeared through. She takes one step out the door but quickly retreats. Poking her head into the hall, she can see Delphine leaning against the wall about twenty feet away and Mr. Black looming over her aggressively. She decides to eavesdrop for now. She doesn't know what she's doing following Delphine around anyways, but this doesn't look great.
"Nothing to say?" William raises his hands up, letting them slap back down at his sides.
"Your information is inaccurate. I was there today to meet with the owner. We're using Martell for our next show. You can ask almost anyone at my work, William. Go to Martell and ask them".
"Alex said she followed you back".
"She did. We talked for a couple seconds and then she left when the owner showed up". Cosima realizes they must be talking about her.
"You expect me to buy that?"
"I don't really expect much of anything from you, William," she snaps back. His fists whiten his knuckles.
"What about the rest of it, huh? She said you were having a full-fledged affair. Do you deny it? Are you going to stand there and tell me you didn't spend the last few months on this…this fling? Whatever mid-life crisis this girl was…"
"This girl…" Delphine starts with grinding teeth. "…was neither of those things".
"Playtime's over, darling," he warns condescendingly. "You're too old to be experimenting".
"I wasn't," she glares, her eyes staring intensely at the man. "Unlike you. A forty-something year old man who brings young budding artists and women half his age home and screws them on the couch he bought for his wife".
"Oh, don't go making up your bullshit stories, Delphine," he defends rather unconvincingly.
"God knows how many children and STDs you have by now," she sneers.
This comment seems to prick at him just right. William steps up in front of Delphine and slaps her across the face. Cosima's first instinct is to run in and stop him, but it seems Delphine is no damsel in distress. Not a second later, Delphine returns the assault, just as hard. William backs away, glaring at his wife.
"What? You want me to believe you're gay now? After almost a decade of marriage to me, a man…" he shrugs at her.
"No," she shakes her head and leans it back against the wall. "I've never been attracted to a woman before, and I'm not attracted to any now. Only this one. Just her".
"I'm sorry," he laughs maniacally. "You're telling me you really believe you have feelings for this girl?" Delphine crosses her arms and just looks him in the eye. She says nothing. "Delphine, lust doesn't count as feelings. I thought we were doing pretty good, actually. Why did you feel the need to go, as you call it, screw some stranger?"
"We were doing so well because I wasn't screwing some stranger," she scoffs. He makes it evident he doesn't understand. "I wasn't, but I wanted to. So, instead I just settled for you".
"You can't fake that kind of passion," he rolls his eyes.
"I'm sure you noticed the odd spike in passion over the last few months. Did you ever wonder why I was like that all of a sudden?" he waits for the answer, looking a bit nervous. "I didn't fake any passion. You were simply a surrogate, William. It was because I was thinking of her every time. Her body, not yours. Her lips," it's true, of course, but at this point she just wants to say things to insult and shock him. Knock him down a peg or two.
"Oh, come on. Don't talk like that. You've never been vulgar Delphine," he scrunches his face up like a foul odor is passing by. Delphine sighs, looking thoroughly exhausted with the conversation. Cosima's sure there are people giving her funny looks, too, with her head stuck out into the hallway.
"Are we done here, Will?" Delphine runs her fingers through her hair and tries to stand a little taller.
He shakes his head in thought, staring at their feet. "So, you allegedly had feelings for this girl for months. Went and saw her regularly for months. Then Alex asks you to end it and you just do? That doesn't sound like you, Delphine".
"Oh, I didn't. Did your sister tell you how long she's known about this, William? The first time she confronted me about it was the night you two came to Martell together. Weeks and weeks ago. I ignored it. The only reason I eventually complied was because she stopped asking and started threatening. I had no choice".
"Well, poor Delphine. You had to dump your little mistress," he turns and gives her a phony expression of pity. "I think you just told Alex that you ended things. Maybe a little half-assed performance from the both of you. Shit, it could've just been a little roleplay between you two. Alex wouldn't know the difference".
An irrational craze floods her with tension, as if every muscle in her body is tightening all at once. She looks straight up at her husband and steps toward him slowly. "Alex essentially forced me. She answered my phone and shoved it in my face, then sat and supervised the entire conversation. She was no passive bystander. She did half the work. The only thing I did was try to make it convincing for both Alex and the girl. So that she would be safe from all this bullshit. If your sister didn't believe me, that's not my problem".
"No, your problem is that I don't believe you, Delphine," William returns the gesture, stepping forward and into Delphine's space. The woman doesn't back down, though. "Yes, maybe I've spent some time with a few other women before. But you'll never catch me on our couch with some man's dick in my ass," he whispers aggressively in her face.
"I certainly hope not," she glares up at him. "Why waste a perfectly good bedroom?"
"Listen," he growls through his teeth, pushing Delphine back against the wall. Even as her back hits the hard material, her menacing stare never falters. "Stop acting like a teenage girl trying to find herself. I'm not going to let my wife fuck some lesbian at a hipster club just to pass the time. I will not come home and kiss lips with a goddamn rugburn".
"It doesn't matter anyways, Will," she tries to move away, but he pushes her back again. "I've already destroyed a relationship with the first person I've even had…" Delphine closes her eyes and tries to exhale slowly. She doesn't want to finish the sentence; she doesn't want to feed into his power play. She'd like to say it just to hurt him, but it's not worth it.
"What? Had feelings for?" He pushes against her sternum again like he's trying to start a fist fight on the playground. "Have you not been listening? It's not like what you and I have. You're just two horny women," he finishes his point by pressing his body against hers, reaching around to grab her ass, and drag his other hand roughly between her legs.
"Get off, don't touch me Will," she pushes hard against his chest until he willingly backs away with an evil smile, thinking he's thrown the final knockout punch. She boils, exhaling tensely through a clenched jaw, and then starts walking the opposite direction toward the main lobby.
"Where do you think you're going?" he doesn't move, still smugly thinking he's won.
"Don't wait up. I won't be home tonight," she calls, not bothering to look back.
"Are you going to find your girlfriend?" he starts to follow at this.
"You say that as if I don't already know where she is," Delphine retorts. The two are getting too far away for Cosima to hear. She looks back at the party goers, a few people glancing at her, but can't seem to locate her friends. She ignores it and starts quietly down the hall. The arguing couple are almost at the end anyways.
Cosima picks up her pace to a jog when Delphine and William turn the corner into the lobby. She stops again at the edge so that she can peek her head around and watch.
"I want a room for tonight," Delphine demands in the politest tone she can manage. "One key," she glares at William, standing close-by, hoping the new girl behind the counter gets the hint that he isn't welcome in.
"Don't you think it's a bit inconspicuous, getting a room for the night?" William taunts.
"As long as you're not in it, I'd stay in a cardboard box. But we're conveniently already in a hotel, so I'll make do," she hands her card to the terrified lobby girl.
"You want me to believe there won't be any…guests in that room tonight?"
"It's a hotel, William. Everyone's a guest," she sneers, shoving her card back in her clutch and signing for it.
Turning away after taking her room key, she heads for the main entrance and feels his hand hook on her arm, stopping her in place. "Where the hell do you think you're going now?"
"There's no smoking inside, Mr. Black," she calmly replies, ripping her arm from his grasp and continuing out the door.
"Get back here, Delphine. I'm not done–"
"Sir, is there a problem?" Cosima spots a security guard approach from the other side of the lobby.
"My wife and I are just having a discussion," he uses that authoritative voice of his and tries to get to the door where Delphine has already exited.
"Sir, you can return to your event hall or I can escort you there".
"You have got to be fucking kidding me," William scoffs and shakes his head. "Fine," he stomps back to the hallway in which Cosima is currently trying to conceal herself. She staggers backwards until she's far enough she could claim she's just on her way to the restroom or something. It takes a couple seconds, but William eventually enters the hallway with a bright red face, speeding past Cosima without even noticing her presence.
She waits until the man has rejoined the party before quietly making her way back to the end of the hall. By the time she gets there, Delphine is already back inside and moving toward the side of the lobby to find the set of elevators.
It takes no thought, Cosima dashes after her as well as she can in heels. The thick metal doors are already sealed when she gets there, the numbers above rising slowly. She slams the up arrow on the wall and watches the numbers stop at the third floor. The second set of elevator doors open and she slides through before they fully retract.
The few seconds spent levitating feel like years in limbo, so the moment a bright ding announces her stop, Cosima starts sprinting down halls. The second hall she comes to, she nearly knocks Delphine over rounding the corner.
"Delphine," she pants. "You are a hard woman to hunt down".
"Go back to the party, Cosima," she orders tiredly.
"No, please. I just want–"
"Now is really not a good time. Goodnight," Delphine turns and slips her keycard into the door they're standing in front of.
"Wait," Cosima tries to catch her but feels a painful twinge thinking about how William was just doing the same thing minutes ago. The door clicks shut and she's left standing on the other side alone. It occurs to her that this is a first. Running after a girl, being rejected, and pining outside her hotel room. Delphine's not the desperate one.
She doesn't know how to process everything she's learned. Delphine is the wife of the man who recruited her band, it's insane. And Alex, she didn't believe for second that she approved of the relationship, but she threatened Delphine? And Delphine never told her, she dealt with it all on her own. Alex forced her…she wasn't expecting that. Of course, she knew Delphine's last phone call wasn't entirely genuine, that she wasn't the bitch she claimed to be. The whole thing makes a little more sense. She still has no clue as to why she appealed to Delphine in the first place. It may be an eternal mystery.
But the biggest piece of information she took away from her spying was Delphine's feelings for her. She thought the feelings she had for Delphine were what drove her away. In a way, they were, but not how she expected. She didn't abandon Cosima because she didn't want to deal with the trouble, she left because she didn't want Cosima deal with it. It's a revelation she isn't prepared for, she doesn't know what to do with it. She doesn't know what to do with her anger. All she knows is she needs to talk to Delphine.
"Hey," she calls just loud enough to be heard through the door and gives it a few gentle knocks. There's no reply and she can't hear a sound inside. She tries again, knocks, and a little louder, "I heard everything you said". No sounds, no footsteps, no movement. "I followed you and Mr. Black and heard you talking in the hall, then in the lobby too. You have quite the sense of humor even in the middle of an argument. You're feisty," she smiles to herself. "I don't know if you saw, but the security guy made him go back to the party. He looked like a tomato with legs, he was so mad," she chuckles to herself but still hears no motion inside. "Look, I know you're exhausted probably, I get it. I just…I heard it all and I need to talk to you. I even ran in heels. The whole way – up the hall, through the lobby, to the elevators, through the halls again. Do you know how dangerous that is? I risked serious injury, just to be discarded in the hall. Do you kick puppies, too, Delphine?" The slightest sound reaches her ears. A chuckle.
A moment passes and Cosima hears the door handle turning and the door hinges squeaking softly. Delphine is leaning back on the wall next to the door. The same stance she took when she first closed the door, unable to move too far from Cosima. The brunette assumes a similar position in the door frame, crossing her arms. Delphine turns her head to see up-close the smile she'd been missing for weeks. "I guess it's back to you being the stalker now".
"Fine with me".