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The company director had given Elai a direct warning to avoid contact with Asher Tarkova during the meeting in his office, which was something usually pretty easy to do as far as Elai was concerned. Asher could dole out ugly, uncensored and unsolicited comments and opinions about other dancers in the company, including him. Elai grew up surrounded by negativity and strife, and dance was the one thing he performed with enough intensity in order to release the whirlwind of emotions inside him. The last person in the world he wanted to be around was Asher, whose nasty critiques and pessimistic attitude changed the positive atmosphere of the studio into a tense, hostile place.<br/>
<br/>
Inserting Elai and Asher into a party atmosphere at the Company Gala was a recipe for disaster.  It seemed obvious that no matter how much Elai was attempting to avoid all contact with his rival, Asher was seeking him out wherever he was located in the ballroom. Elai returned from the hors d'oeuvre buffet table with a small plate that held four lobster salad toast finger sandwiches, two spinach phyllo tartlets, and a refill of chilled water, only to discover a somewhat inebriated Asher had once again offended several members of the corps de ballet during his brief absence.<br/>
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Elai found a corner on the far fringes of the group who had resumed their conversation despite Asher's icy retort, where he could prop his water glass on a nearby windowsill.  He was content to remain leaning in his corner of solitude, until Asher made his approach. Elai's blue gaze lifted as Asher's body cast an imperious shadow over him. <br/>
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Elai released  a soft sigh in an effort to slow down his growing irritation with Asher, because he'd  just gotten settled. Now he'd have to find another place where Asher wouldn't be in his face. To make matters worse Asher had to rehash his memory of their recent changing room incident and Elai really just wanted to forget about what happened entirely.<br/>
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<b>"Asher. Now isn't the time or the place, okay? I really don't want to talk about it. I just want to relax, be alone, and eat my food in peace. So please, just leave me alone."</b><br/>
<br/>
Elai grabbed his plate and water with the intention of excusing himself, leaving his place of escape behind for greener pastures elsewhere. Eventually he found another area of respite among the patrons in order to maintain a safe distance away from Asher. Elai didn't want any additional trouble or friction between them, especially at a gala celebration the evening before opening night. Elai actually had planned to cut the party short tonight and head home early to get a good night's sleep. Outward appearances aside, Elai also made use of a fake smile so it appeared everything was fine when it wasn't.<br/>
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Lately, he wore a mask of normalcy whenever he was required to attend a ballet-centered event, because he was well aware of the real tension behind the scenes. Happiness glowed on the surface, but inwardly Elai was growing weary of the daily battles, mean-spirited pranks and arguments. The last incident between the two dancers had turned violent enough that Elai nearly was throttled to death in the changing room. If not for the intervention of other dancers and staff to break up the altercation, Elai might not have recovered. <br/>
<br/>
It was fairly obvious to Elai that the same unpleasant energy still lingered with Asher long after the altercation in the changing room, and it was difficult at best for Elai to continue the charade that it wasn't. He found pretending everything was okay very insincere. Elai hoped for a possibility to look for an exit to slip out of without being noticed and just leave the gala. Casually listening to another boring conversation between party-goers, he scrutinized the windows and doorways, as he nibbled on the lobster toast. Elai silently observed that the servers were using a door that apparently led to the kitchen.<br/>
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<i>And kitchens always had service doors that exited to the back of the building, didn't they? he thought to himself. </i><br/>
<br/>
Slowly Elai gravitated in the general direction of that particular door in the hopes of breaking free of this media circus. He wanted to escape the confines of his Dolce &amp; Gabbana tuxedo and walk into the crisp night air and hail a cab. He wanted to jump directly into a set of <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.zillowstatic.com%2Fp_f%2FISeorxn316a1ns0000000000.jpg&amp;hash=7d1c0e89d4434fcb846c133ee1c6af89" href="https://photos.zillowstatic.com/p_f/ISeorxn316a1ns0000000000.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">crisp, clean bedsheets.</a> In moments Elai could be cocooned in the warm comfort of his luxury one bedroom condo apartment on the twelfth floor at <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.zillowstatic.com%2Fp_f%2FISyrvic8q3nidg0000000000.jpg&amp;hash=ce8a705ef1f33eaf261b45c25c2b1c70" href="https://photos.zillowstatic.com/p_f/ISyrvic8q3nidg0000000000.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">101 West End.</a> He could already feel the warm streams of water from the <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.zillowstatic.com%2Fp_f%2FISint157x42k2s0000000000.jpg&amp;hash=5f2f5b6607b2c5829b7d33cdf978a6aa" href="https://photos.zillowstatic.com/p_f/ISint157x42k2s0000000000.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">shower,</a> and see the rivulets of moisture coursing down his body. <br/>
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<i>Now, if Asher would leave him the fuck alone.</i> Elai would be pleased as the punch in the Waterford crystal bowl on the hors d'oeuvres table.<br/>
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