Page 18 of Falling for the Bosshole
“Follow my lead,” Ricardo insisted.
From beside her, Jonathan spoke and said, “Go Ana. Now’s a good time as any to find out if you two look good dancing together.”
Ana had no choice except to concede as Ricardo led her to the dance floor. She knew the basic eight-count steps, but that was it.
“How difficult can this be,” she thought, as Ricardo’s arm slid across her back. His other hand clasped her right hand in a firm grip. He pulled her close to him so that his nose was only a few inches away from her face in a basic tango position.
The dancer in Ana took over as Ricardo led. Ana found herself matching Ricardo’s timing and speed. There was no specific pattern to follow, but his arm across her back signaled the measured and slithery movements, sometimes slow and sometimes quick. Ana began to enjoy the dance as her confidence built.
“This is like auditioning again for the first time,” the thought occurred.
Jonathan needed to know if there was chemistry between them. Besides, it would be one less worry in Lash’s mind if he saw how well they danced together, Ana assumed, stealing a glance at her boss. He was looking at them intently from where he sat.
Ana imitated Ricardo’s sharp head movements, adding her own drama to the dance, sensually swaying her hips, as Ricardo ran his hand across her back. He tipped her back, holding her close, before stealing a quick peck on her cheek. Ana giggled as he led her across the floor, their legs working together in perfect rhythm. When the music reached its crescendo, Ricardo spun her around then held her close chest to chest. Ana wrapped one leg across the back of his thigh as the music ended.
“That was fun,” Ana said, turning to her partner, who pulled her close and hugged her.
A round of applause greeted them as they faced the guests and curtsied. Ana searched for Lash wanting to see the same approval that the crowd displayed. His chair was empty, and he was nowhere in sight. She felt disappointment wash all over her.
Ana joined the circle of dancers who were talking with Jonathan.
“Ana, that was great. I know you and Ricardo will make a perfect pair,” he enthused.
The rest of the dancers seemed to approve as they applauded and hugged her. Ana looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lash. He was still nowhere to be found. Jonathan asked to speak and announced that there would be some changes in the routine that everyone had been working on. A cry of displeasure erupted among the girls. Sudden changes in any routine meant additional hours of practice, something no one appreciated.
“Don’t you worry,” Jonathan assured them, “Lash decided that the changes will affect mostly Ana and Ricardo’s parts in the program. The rest of you bitches can rest easy and have a good time tonight,” Jonathan said, shooing them away with a laugh.
Ana wondered what changes Jonathan referred to. But since she and Ricardo still had to rehearse together, she didn’t put too much importance on Jonathan’s announcement. She headed for the powder room, wanting to repair her make-up as the rest of the cast and crew hit the dance floor.
As she exited the powder room, a waiter approached and handed her a note. The note read, “meet me at the solarium. There’s something I need to show you. L.”
“L” could only mean Lash, Ana thought.
But where the hell was the solarium, she wondered as she passed the glass alcove overhung with vine trellises. She noticed that one of the paneling she thought was part of the wall was ajar. Ana stopped and peeked inside.
“Lash?” Ana called out as she entered.
She gasped as rows greeted her eyes upon rows of plants, shrubs, and various flowers of multicolored hues in pretty wicker baskets. She looked up and was surprised to see the stars. The roof of the greenhouse was a retractable tent cover and was pulled back.
“Over here,” she heard him call out.
Ana followed the sound of his voice and saw him near foliage with stunning colors of red-orange, purple, and magenta. He had a shot glass in his hand. He raised it to his lips and drained the contents.
His face was unreadable as she approached him.
“You wanted to see me?” Ana asked. She thought he looked anxious and appeared to be struggling with an inner turmoil she couldn’t understand.
A few seconds passed. “Ricardo… dancing with him tonight…do you think you can work with him,” Lash asked.
Ana breathed a sigh of relief. Was Lash worried she wouldn’t want to work with Ricardo after knowing how desperately he needed Horne Calloway’s endorsement? Silly, she thought.
“Yes, of course. I can work with him,” Ana replied, adding enthusiasm to her voice and hoping he would be reassured. “I promised you, didn’t I? I’ll do everything I can to make opening night a success for you…for your mom’s memory,” Ana added softly.
“Thank you,” he replied distractedly.
A strange look crossed his face. One that Ana couldn’t understand. “What’s wrong, Lash? Are you having doubts about Ricardo and me?”
“No. No, it’s not that,” Lash replied as he came closer.