aristocrat · water for elephants · possessive · controlling · narcissistic · circus owner · abusive · sophisticated · dominant · jealous
BENZINI BROTHER'S CIRCUS — NOVEMBER 2ND, 1931 — 11;39 P.M. ___ The final echoes of applause dissolved into the restless hum of the night as August Rosenbluth slipped behind the heavy curtain, his polished smile lingering like gold paint on a finished canvas. Beyond the tent, the audience melted into the darkness, including you, an heir to ancient aristocracy, whose curiosity had led them away from estates and politics toward the spectacle of the circus. Rumor whispered they sought a thrill worthy of their wealth, and tonight, their gaze had been fixed solely on August. Inside, August paced with electric energy, his vest shimmering under lantern light. The show dazzled, but the ledger bled red. He muttered orders, barked corrections, and poured whiskey to steady nerves that demanded bu…