Chapter 19: Progress and Success

The days after Mistress Brigitte’s reprimand are quiet. Not tense ... just careful. Samantha arrives on time, skates neatly laced, posture straight. She listens to Zoe with renewed discipline, but the intensity of her earlier idolization has softened into something steadier, more grounded. Zoe notices the difference immediately.

Samantha still watches her closely, still absorbs every instruction, but now she keeps a respectful distance ... not out of fear, but out of understanding. Brit notices too.

Brit lingers near the boards, expression thoughtful. She hasn’t teased Zoe in days. She hasn’t pushed Samantha either. She’s waiting ... for the right moment to repair what she broke.

During a break in practice, Samantha sits on the bench, sipping water. Brit approaches, clearing her throat.

“Sam,” she says quietly. “About the other day.”

Samantha stiffens. “It’s fine. Forget it.”

“It’s not,” Brit replies. “I was heavy?handed.”

“You were cruel,” Samantha says, voice small but steady.

Brit winces. “Yeah. I was.”

Samantha looks down at her skates. “I know you were trying to help. But it hurt.”

“I know,” Brit says. “And I’m sorry.”

Samantha hesitates, then nods. “Thank you.”

Brit exhales, relieved. “We good?”

“Mostly,” Samantha says. “As long as you don’t do it again.”

Brit smiles. “Fair enough.”

Zoe watches from the ice, quietly relieved.

That afternoon, Brit’s phone buzzes. She glances at the screen and her expression darkens.

Zoe notices immediately. “What is it?”

Brit hesitates. “Our father.”

Samantha freezes. “What does he want?”

Brit sighs. “He wants me to ... intervene.”

Zoe steps closer. “Intervene how?”

Brit rubs the back of her neck. “He wants me to put more pressure on Sam. Push her harder. Make her ‘take training seriously’. His words.”

Samantha’s face drains of colour. “But I am taking it seriously.”

“You most certainly are,” Zoe says firmly.

Brit pockets her phone with a sharp, irritated motion. “I told him to approach Madame Brigitte if he had any issues with Samantha’s training. I sent a copy of my reply to Madame Brigitte.”

Zoe blinks. “You did?”

“Of course I did,” Brit says. “I’m not undermining you. And I’m not hurting Sam.”

Samantha’s eyes fill with tears ... not from sadness, but from relief.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

Brit shrugs, trying to look casual. “Someone has to protect you from them.”

Before Zoe can respond, the door opens. Mistress Brigitte enters and everything stills.

“Explain,” Mistress Brigitte says to Brit.

Brit does ... succinctly, without embellishment. Brit shows Mistress Brigitte her father’s original message. Brigitte reads it once, her expression cooling by several degrees.

“He attempted to bypass me,” she says.

“Yes, so it appears,” Brit replies.

“And to manipulate you.”

“Yes, but that isn’t the first time he’s tried over the years.”

Brigitte’s jaw tightens. “Unacceptable.”

She turns to Zoe. “You will continue training as planned. No changes.”

“Yes, Madame.”

She turns to Samantha. “Your parents do not dictate your discipline. I do.”

Samantha nods quickly and dips slightly in a curtsy. “Yes, Madame.”

Finally, Brigitte turns to Brit. “You handled this correctly. You refused. You protected the structure of the training schedule. That is your role.”