Chapter 3
Three
The gala is exactly like every other ballet fundraiser I’ve ever been to.
It’s at someone’s opulent penthouse apartment that they probably don’t actually live in, the lights are dimmed, the music is bland and tasteless, the food and drinks passed by servers who mostly look like my peers.
They seem to give me quizzical glances whenever I encounter them; they’re probably wondering why I’m dressed up to attend this old peoples’ party.
I am also wondering that, seeing as how I am one doctor’s visit away from being permanently retired from the New York City Ballet.
“Look sharp,” my father whispers, digging his elbow into my side.
I gawp, experiencing a blinding flash of pain that shoots down my right leg.
“Ow!” I whisper. “Jesus!”
“You had better be glad that your mother can’t hear you taking the Lord’s name in vain like that,” he hisses. “Now I need to circulate. You keep your head up and look like you’re having a decent time.”
“What? You haven’t told me why we are here!”
But my dad is already moving away, his dark skin sticking out like a sore thumb amongst a sea of white people. I touch my hair, conscious that I, too, am the exception that proves the rule.
“Ella!”
I turn and see my former colleague Clarissa, clinging to the arm of a much older man. Her smile widens, turning sharklike.
“I thought you would have flown back home by now. Where is it? Mississippi? Alabama?”
I glance around, trying to decide if I should engage her or whether I can just find a bathroom and hide. But no, out of the corner of my eye, I can see more ballerinas take notice.
Like my me-maw always said, sometimes it’s better to kill them with kindness. I smile at Clarissa, showing every one of my teeth.
“Clarissa. How’s the arabesque? Is it still proving too hard for you? You know, I bet that there are probably some classes at the YMCA that would be helpful. I know, they are basic and for little kids—”
She sneers at me, tossing her head. “You got what was coming to you—”
“Ella! Omigod!” My best friend Kaia screams, pushing Clarissa aside gently and throwing herself at me. She is heavily pregnant and glowing, looking chic in all black.
“Kaia!” I say, genuinely overjoyed. “I had no idea that you would be here!”
As she grabs me around the waist and hugs me hard, I laugh.
“My name is still on the guest list. For now, anyway.”
“Not for long,” Clarissa gripes.
Kaia’s head swivels toward her. “I’m sorry, who are you?”
Clarissa glares at Kaia. “I’m new to the company. I was brought in to replace all the dancers who got hurt or…” She looks down at Kaia’s heavy belly. “Dropped out. That’s who I am. Who are you?”
Kaia’s smile hardens. “Believe it or not, I probably sign your paychecks.” She makes a show of extending her right hand, with its truly huge diamond ring glinting in the low light.
“I’m Kaia Fordham, Calum Fordham’s spouse.
And you are going to back the hell off and leave Ella the fuck alone, or I’ll have your ass fired at the next Board of Directors meeting. ”
Clarissa turns a truly ghastly shade of white and flees, taking the clueless man whose arm she holds along with her.
I raise my eyebrows at Kaia, tipping an imaginary hat at her. “Wow, great job scaring the shit out of her.”
“Well, you know. I learned it from you,” Kaia says, squeezing me once more. “You stuck up for me time and time again. This is just repaying the favor now that I have the ring.” She waves her hand and rolls her eyes. “God, this whole world is so full of shallow people.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” I sigh, then take a step back, admiring Kaia’s baby bump. “You’re like… seriously looking fierce.”
“I’m seven and a half months pregnant and already ready to call it all off.
Anybody that tells you that pregnancy is a beautiful miracle is really not telling you the truth.
” She rests her hands on her stomach, jerking her head towards the wall.
“Do you mind? There are a cluster of sofas over there and they have been calling my name since I got here.”
“I’ve never met a couch I didn’t like. Lead the way,” I chuckle.
A few minutes later, we’re installed on a monstrously sized sofa made of dark blue silk. Kaia flags down several waiters, meaning they bring us plates of food and offer to freshen our drinks nearly constantly.
“This is the life,” Kaia says, toeing off her high heels. “People bringing me food, no stuffy old geezers trying to feel me up. It’s funny that I only had to become pregnant, and thus unattractive, in order to enjoy one of these gala events.”
Giving her a little side eye, I smirk. “It won’t last forever. Your figure is going to bounce back and then you will be stuck with the rest of us women again.”
“I still have time to work on a plan.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “So? It’s been like two freaking weeks since I’ve seen you! What have you been doing?”
Rolling a shoulder, I shrug.
“Trying to figure out a plan B, I guess. All my life, all I have worked toward and all I have focused on is ballet. Being the best, being the thinnest, being beautiful but in peak physical condition. And then…” I smack my hand against my open palm, producing a crack.
“I ended my career before it even really got started.”
“Have you had any luck figuring out what your next step should be?”
“No. I’ve spent a lifetime trying to ignore every single other possibility. Boyfriends, parties, traveling… I’ve never done anything. I’ve never gone anywhere! And now I’m trying to widen my scope and I’m just… I’m having a really hard time with it.”
My last sentence leaves me in an exhalation of air. Kaia wrinkles her nose and pats my forearm.
“You’ll figure something out. You’re smart and you’re great at a lot more than just ballet. You just need time and space to make a plan.”
“What I need is money.” Wrinkling my nose up, I make a disgusted sound.
“I’m going to run out of it very soon. The ballet is paying me a little right now, but nowhere near full pay.
And I’m not likely to garner a rich patron now that I’m about to fail out of the whole ballet company.
So whatever I do next, I have to earn actual money. ”
Kaia gives me a thoughtful look.
“You know, Calum’s friend is still looking for a nanny. His daughter is a little on the wild side, but I’m sure the pay would be… well, whatever you ask. Keir has money that puts Calum’s fortune to shame.”
She sips her soda, looking speculative. I wrinkle my nose.
“What makes you think that I’m any good with little kids?”
“His daughter is six. So you wouldn’t have to change her diapers or anything. I think you’d be great at taking care of a child. And the most important thing is that being an au pair would give you time to figure out what your passions are.”
Scrunching up my face, I release a dramatic sigh. “I don’t know, Kaia.”
“Come meet Keir and then you can decide.” She pushes herself up, plucking at her dress. She looks at me, expectant.
“What, you mean now?”
“Yes! He’s in town for the weekend.”
She grabs my arm, tugging me to my feet.
As she drags me through the crowd, I try to adjust my dress, making sure it covers everything.
Kaia marches onward, heading straight toward a dark-suited clutch of men.
Both are tall, but one is built like a tree while the other isn’t nearly so broad.
One has dark hair, a slightly trimmer figure, and the sort of furrowed expression that I have come to associate with him.
It’s Calum, Kaia’s husband and the owner of our ballet company.
The other one is an imposing figure with dark hair and a trace of dark stubble clinging to his cheeks.
He seems to be made of solid muscle and when he shifts, his hair hints at a deep auburn undertone.
Is that the mysterious Keir that Kaia’s been going on and on about?
My dad appears at the corner of my eye, seemingly headed toward me. He gestures to me to wait a minute so I tug at my hand, feeling a frown gathering on my face.
Kaia stops and looks back, then clocks my dad. “Is that?”
“My dad, yes.” I paste on a smile as my father elbows his way through the crowd. “Dad, this is my friend Kaia. Kaia, this is my dad.”
She lets go of me and shakes my dad’s hand. My dad sizes her up.
“Would this be the same Kaia that married Calum Fordham? If so, it’s nice to meet you, young lady.”
My cheeks heat.
“Daddy, don’t be embarrassing.”
Kaia gives him an awkward smile. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Washington. Yes, I married Calum last fall. I was actually just about to introduce Ella to a friend of Calum’s. I thought that maybe he would be a good resource for a job when she decides to leave the ballet.”
“Call me Malcolm.” My father pumps her hand vigorously, looking like she just told him the winning lottery numbers. “It’s truly a pleasure, Ms. Washington. Can I have a minute to talk to Ella privately? Then I will release her into your capable hands.”
Kaia looks at me, waiting for my quick nod before flashing a quick smile.
“I’ll be over here. Come over when you’re ready.” She turns and heads toward her husband.
My dad wastes exactly two seconds before drawing me close and whispering to me.
“My whole plan tonight was to get you together with Lord Grayrose and ask for a job for you.”
My lips thin and I can't lift my head. “Daddy, who on earth is Lord Grayrose?”
“Your little friend calls him Keir, which is absurdly informal. He’s a very wealthy and very well-connected man from the foremost political family in Scotland. Getting a job with him would essentially mean unlimited possibilities.”
“Um, daddy. Kaia is just suggesting me for a position as a nanny, not some high paid position or anything. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about this casual meeting.”
My father grips me by both shoulders, looking me dead in the eyes.
“It is very important that you make the best impression possible when you meet Lord Grayrose. Do you understand?”
“Not really.” I narrow my eyes on my father’s face. “What is this about, daddy?”
He releases me with a sound of displeasure. “Do not screw this up, young lady. He’s a very important man. So whatever you have to do to impress him, make sure you do it well and enthusiastically. You hear?”
“I guess so,” I say, squinting.
He leans toward me, his face contracting like he’s about to punish me. I can’t help the automatic agreement that spills out of my mouth.
“Okay! Yes, Daddy. I will make sure that Lord Grayrose likes me!”
A hard smirk passes over his lips.
“Good. I have to get back to the hotel. But I will expect a full report in the morning. And for your sake, you had better hope that Lord Grayrose is interested in hiring you on.”
“Okay…” I say.
But my father just turns to leave, vanishing behind a bunch of men in suits. I see a passing waiter and snag a glass of champagne, downing the entire thing in a few gulps.
Then I run my hands over my dress, press my lips together, and head toward Kaia, Calum, and Keir.