They played many of the hits that made the show popular, some were our versions and some were the originals. Akon was making a guest appearance as well as several other artists that had coached our crew of fledgling singers. Ryan only left my side long enough to make a special request which was for the DJ to play Kryptonite. When we began our dance, the floor opened up as the majority of the people made space for the two of us to take over. I was having the time of my life.
We stopped long enough to grab a drink, Ryan was grabbing for champagne, but I reminded him he was flying us home tonight and I might be able to keep us in the air, but I needed a sober pilot for take-offs and landings. Besides, I didn’t want to see what the effects of a drink or two could do to one’s reflexes behind a Lamborghini.
The lights lowered as the DJ’s voice came over the microphone, “And now we have a special request for Miss Annalisa.”
I arched an eyebrow at Ryan, “What did you request?”
“I didn’t request anything, I swear. I’ve been with you the whole time except for asking them to play Kryptonite.”
Akon came on stage and the music began. He was singing ‘Right Now.’
“We can’t waste a special request,” he said taking my hand and leading me back onto the dance floor. He was smiling as he lip-sank to the song. That was one thing superman couldn’t do-he couldn’t hold a tune.
“You had to have requested this song,” I stated. “I wish you could fly with me? I miss how you lie with me? I wish you could dine with me? Ah, the grind part though…”
“I didn’t request the song, but I do recall the grind,” he smiled, pulling me close.
“I never-”
“No, no, no, Annalisa, think before you say never. Remember the night you were kissing my neck? You had those hips working against me pretty hard and I’ll never forget that.”
I know my face turned deep red as I recalled I had done exactly that the night I went a little too far over the line, “So you’re saying you did request this song.”
He laughed, again, “I’m sorry. I don’t know who is sending out this dedication, but baby girl, it wasn’t me.”
I was puzzled, but the mystery faded from my mind as the next song began. The twins, Melissa and Melanie, approached and said they wanted a turn with the hottest guy on the floor. He was blushing as I watched them dance him away from me.
“My turn,” came a male voice. Cedric was standing there pulling my hand toward the opposite side of the floor.
I hadn’t spoken to him very much, it seemed he spent most of his time running interference between ownership and the producers, but I knew him well enough to dance with him. The only problem was he kept pulling me farther and farther away from the crowd and I was starting to get nervous. I finally had to refuse. “Cedric if we go much farther we’ll be down the hallway-I’m not going down the hall to dance.”
“Well, Leese, I have to admit I’m setting you up.”
The next song changed as they said it was an anonymous request to a special lady. ‘Far Away’ by Nickelback began to play.
My heart began to increase in speed, “What do you mean?”
“I had strict orders to separate you and Ryan on the dance floor so the owner could finally get to meet you. He’s kind of private, but he’s had his eye on you for a while. He requested this song for you.”
I didn’t like the sound of this. I didn’t know who the owner was, but a creepy guy who stays in the shadows and watches from afar didn’t sound like someone I wanted to meet. But, then again, it was the owner and I supposed it would be extremely rude to refuse.
Cedric had me spinning as he continued toward the office door. One more spin. I heard the door open and then I was caught in a steel embrace.
I never heard Cedric walk away, though I knew he was gone. I couldn’t hear the music or the party going on because my world simply stopped as I stared into the most beautiful green eyes on the planet. “Micah,” I whispered the name that my heart had been begging to hear for so long.
“Baby,” came the velvet reply. He was singing to me, “…I love you. I have loved you all along. And I miss you, been far away for far too long… On my knees, I'll ask, last chance for one last dance, 'cause with you, I'd withstand all of hell to hold your hand.”
My legs came out from under me, but he knew me well enough to expect the reaction as he held me up, suspended by a fraction of an inch from the floor. His mouth closed the gap between us and I floated into heaven; my arms encircling his neck, my fingers running through his hair. It was real. He was in my arms and his kiss was stripping me of all the reasons why I had left him. I didn’t want it to end, but he eventually pulled breathlessly away from me.
“Oh, Micah,” I whispered as our lips parted, “I’ve missed you so badly.” My tears were flowing freely down my cheeks.
There was a look of confusion on his face, pain intermingled with the expression, but it didn’t stop him from pressing me against the wall with his body as he came back for another kiss.
“Take me-” I started to say when something broke the spell I was under. Micah’s expression went deadly blank immediately as his head turned to what had ended my words.
“Stay the hell away from her or I’ll kill you,” he hissed with so much intent that it sent a chill like ice being injected into my veins.
I turned my face to see Ryan’s stunned expression as I was locked in Micah’s hold.
“Leese, baby girl, you can’t.”
Micah pulled away from me as he growled out for Ryan not to call me baby. The explosion was about to take place, and I knew what would happen to my best friend if it did.
“No, Micah,” I cried, holding on for dear life to his shirt, “don’t touch him.”
“You’ve got to let her choose, Micah. This isn’t about me or you, it’s up to her.”
It wasn’t wise to talk to Micah when he was in such a volatile mind set, but I could see Ryan’s words were breaking through the void.
He was right. It was up to me and only he and I knew the repercussions of what that decision would mean for Micah. I had never expected to be face to face with him and make the choice between right and wrong.
Micah could read the indecision on my face, the hurt and the pain I was suddenly in as I looked from one to the other.
He was afraid, but willing as he backed away to give me a moment to decide, “Don’t do it. Je t’aime, Annalisa. Please, baby, don’t leave me twice-I couldn’t take it. Tell me now that you want to be with me. I’ll take you away from here and make love to you until the world fades-don’t leave me, again.”
The tears welled over my eyes and poured down my cheeks because I knew there was only one right decision to make. I could feel my heart being ripped out of my chest as I gripped his wrists to keep him from encircling me. I raised up to put a tender kiss on his mouth; then I backed slightly away. I couldn’t take my eyes away from his even though I didn’t want to be looking into them when I knew what I had to say, “Get me out of here…Ryan,” I breathed.
Ryan was reaching for my arm as Micah suddenly exploded to get to him.
“NO MICAH!” I yelled, putting myself in harm’s way to keep the animal inside him from attacking. My hand was firmly on his chest as I pushed him back. He was struggling hard to regain control over his emotions as he looked at my face.
“I made my decision; honor it, please… I have to leave.”
I watched defeat crush him as he slumped away from my hand. Ryan grabbed my free hand, and we ran for the door.
I didn’t remember getting into the Lamborghini, or even getting into the airplane. I do remember lying on the floor in the back of the plane feeling like I was going to die. I must have laid there for the entire flight back to Colorado because the next thing I was conscious of was Ryan trying to get me to sit up.