3 Chapter
Here I am in New York. I’ve wanted to go back to the city where I was born,” Ethan thought to himself as he entered his bright and spacious apartment.
He used to be a great international Latin dancer who had a lot of awards and a national medalist. But he gave it all up because of a serious leg injury and torn ligaments. But he still had connections in the show business. He had to do more serious things, he began to sponsor all sorts of projects, and he had a lot of help. He’s thirty years old now. Dancing is his whole life, or should I say was. How to combine his love for dancing and an opportunity to earn money on sponsorship? It’s not an easy question, but he’s already found the answer.
Ethan earned enough money and now he is ready for his project. All the more he has a good friend, who has long been involved in the dancing environment. After all, he is a teacher and dance coach at the best art school – Juilliard. He can pick up a good team for my dance project.
“Maybe I’ll find my love there, because my ex-girlfriend dumped me.” Suddenly, Ethan’s phone rang. It was Sam, his best friend and naturally the man who would have to make the best team of his dancers for him.
“Hey, Sam, it’s really good to hear from you.”
“Ethan, I’m so glad to hear that. But why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“Sam, what’s with the jealousy scene? You’re like a jealous girl who likes to make jealous scenes.”
” I’m not, Ethan. I’ve just been waiting a long time for you to come. You’ve been gone for three years.”
“I’m here now. How have you been? ” he asked.
“Nothing good. Problem upon problem. The dancers don’t obey. They want to be stars, but they don’t do anything about it. They think I have to do everything for them.”
“You’re like a daddy to them there, Sam,” Ethan decided to tease him a little.
” No, I’m not. My best dancer has a lot of problems and psychological trauma.”
“What happened?” Ethan asked.
“Recently her parents were shot.”
“That’s terrible, yes, poor girl.”
“That’s what I’m talking about. And I have a ballroom dancing competition in a month. And I can’t find a dancer as well-trained and talented as Pen. She’s been dancing since she was three years old and she’s been doing it most of her life. I will not find a replacement for her!” Sighs heavily friend.
” What a beautiful name she has.”
“She herself is a very beautiful and sweet girl. And very capable. You should have seen her.”
“Is she capable of everything?” Ethan asked Sam, to which the latter became angry with him.
“Ethan, stop it, she’s not for you. She’s only seventeen, you’re too old for her.”
“I didn’t think I’d think I was old at thirty. I’m just the right age.”
“She’s not for you, period.”
“Okay, Sam, don’t get so worked up,” Ethan said to his friend.
“You okay? Don’t you ever get tired of throwing your money away?” Sam asked Sam straight up.
” You know, I am. If you could find the right person, I wouldn’t say a word against it.”
“Then find one.”
“Sam, that’s why I’m gonna need you.”
” What are you talking about now?”
” I want to find a dancer in your band to promote.”
“Oh, wow! You want that person to be your pipe dream? Why a girl? I only have dancers in pairs.”
“Well, a couple’s fine,” Ethan said.
“That’s nice. Listen, you can come to the dance hall tomorrow to watch my dancers and see how they dance, we have a class tomorrow.”
“That’s a good idea. I agree,” Ethan told him.
“Good then. I’ll see you tomorrow at three o’clock.”
“Will Penelope be there tomorrow, too?”
“Ethan, don’t even think about it,” his friend warned him again. He was so worried about his dancer that Ethan even thought Sam had warm feelings for her.
“I was just wondering,” Ethan decided to justify himself.
“I warned you. The girl’s going through a lot of emotional stuff right now, and I don’t want you to add to it.”
“I know what you mean. Let’s not bring it up again.”
“That’s great. I have to run, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Sam said goodbye and unplugged the phone.
“Tomorrow I’ll look at everybody, and I’ll see his favorite dancer, Pen, and make my choice.
I’m thirty years old, and I might still be dancing if it weren’t for that damn injury. It’s all my own fault,” Ethan blamed himself, remembering the past.
“Okay, I’m going to meet my friends tonight at the Arizona restaurant, because they already called me and sent me a Facebook message just a few minutes ago,” Ethan thought as he scrolled through his social media page.
” Ethan, we’re waiting for you at Arizona. Kevin, Michael and George.”
“Eight o’clock tonight. No tardiness. Dress code is the same color shirts and pants: dark blue shirts and black pants, don’t forget. Kevin.”
“At Arizona. Michael,” his friends reminded him once again. Ethan read it, and with one message replied to everyone:
” I got it.”
He logged off the Internet, closed the lid of his laptop, and decided to take a shower after the long flight. After all, he was flying from Rio de Janeiro. A hot and insanely beautiful city.
Pen kept looking at her phone, waiting for David to call, because he had promised to ask her about the waitressing job. It wasn’t a shame for her; she just really needed the money right now.
” Pen, stop loitering around the room,” her friend called out.
“You know I’m waiting for that call.”
“Everything will be all right, I think he’ll persuade his father, especially since you asked him to.”
“I believe him,” Pen said, and her phone rang.
” Yes,” she answered at once.
” Pen, I have spoken. Everything is all right. You can come to the internship tonight at five o’clock. Moli will show you around,” David told Pen the good news.
” ‘Thank you and your father.”
“Pen, I’ve warned you about the consequences. But I want to tell you again. People of high society eat lunch and dinner in our restaurant. The elite.”
“I remember everything, don’t worry, I’ll manage,” Pen tried to convince him.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
“I warned you,” David said and turned off the phone.
” They’re taking me, can you imagine?” Pen told Nicky with joy in her voice.
“I knew it would be all right. What time do you have to be at the restaurant?”
“By five o’clock. I’ll probably get out early so I can get there in time.”
“It’s a short distance from our house,” Nicki told her.
” Yes, and that’s a good thing. At least I don’t have to pay for public transportation.”
“Yeah, that’s a big plus, too. Pen, just put on something nice.”
“You mean, like, vulgar?”
“No, what do you mean? How could you think so badly of me? Just not a floor-length dress like you like to wear to hide your beautiful figure and shape. At least down to your knees.”
“Don’t you want it above the knees?” Pen asked her irritably.
“No, you shouldn’t. You ought to have makeup done. Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately? You’ve become like a zombie. Pale skin, black eyes, and a lifeless appearance.”
” Maybe you’re right,” Pen said in agreement and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She used to be cheerful, cheerful, but now she had lost all hope of happiness. She wanted to cry, but she pulled herself together. Her friend had seen enough of her tears and tantrums that turned into nervous breakdowns. Now she had made a promise to herself to move on and to go through life with a smile on her face, to spite all her enemies, to spite her sister and her jealousies.
“Make me a beautiful makeup and pick out the most gorgeous dress,” she asked her friend, who was pleased with Pen’s choice.
“Everything will be done,” Niki answered and began to conjure up Pen’s appearance. She took all her cosmetics out of the box and threw them on the bed, trying to find the right shade of eye shadow for Pen, and the right color of lipstick to accentuate her already scarlet lips. Her bright blue eyes, she accentuated with light lilac eyeshadow, her lips with bright red lipstick. She tied her dark blond hair into a tight ponytail.
When Pen looked at herself in the mirror, she didn’t recognize herself, because now she looked not like a seventeen-year-old girl, but like a twenty-five-year-old woman.
“That’s not all,” her friend warned her, and took a dress out of her closet for her. It was dark red, knee-length, and had a plunging neckline.
“Are you serious? “Pen asked and looked at her friend’s dress.
“Why? It’s just a little something to show off your charms. That way you can earn a good tip.”
” No, I’m not wearing it,” Pen said.
“Oh, come on, come on. It’s not at all vulgar.”
“Nicky, it totally exposes my breasts to other people’s eyes.”
“All right, it’s no use arguing with you,” Nicki agreed, and she took a more demure, Pen-style dress off the rack-a purple cotton dress that was below the knees.
” Do you like it now?” she inquired, showing her the dress.
” It’s better,” Pen decided, and she took the dress from Nicky and began to change.
” It’s gorgeous,” Nicky enthused when she saw Pen in the dress. It did not spoil her in any way, and covered her breasts completely.
“I like it,” Pen said and turned several times in front of the mirror.
” It’s perfect and so is your makeup,” said Pen.
” She was right. Now for the shoes,” Pen said to Pen, who was holding out a box of shoes for her.
Pen took the box and pulled out the shoes. The color of the shoes was crimson.
“Are you serious?” Pan got indignant.
– I do not have others, – responded Nicky disappointed.
“Then I’ll put on my ballet shoes,” Pen decided and returned the box to Nicky.
” Do as you like,” she agreed and didn’t argue anymore.
” Well, that’s it, I have to go,” Pen said as she looked at her watch. The hand of the clock showed exactly 4:40 p. m.
” Yes, have a nice evening at work,” Nicky wished her.
” Thank you, but it’s only an internship.”
“Well, internships then. ”
“Thank you,” Pen thanked her, opened the door, and stepped outside.