Page 6 of Falling for the Bosshole

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Ana feltbutterflies in her stomach as she waited by the stage wing. She was number 12 on the list. One more girl and it was her turn to give it a go. She had wanted this for so long, but now that she was actually about to show them her skills, she was suddenly afraid. What if they didn’t think she was good enough?

“Nerves,” she muttered, shaking her fingers and flexing her toes. She was a ball of energy, waiting to explode.

“Excuse Me,” The girl going next remarked.

“Nothing,” I’m just nervous,” she admitted.

“Yeah, me too. Who wouldn’t be? Dancing for Lash Mancini. I mean, just look at him,” she gestured to where Lash sat, together with Jonathan Engels, and a couple of other choreographers. “I would give up an arm to be here with him every day. How can an owner of a dance company be so dreamy and not gay? “The girl added.

“Maybe he is,” Ana bantered.

“Have you been living under a rock? He is currently dating Lili Chong. Her face is everywhere – in billboards, magazines, fashion runways…”

Ana wished the girl would stop talking. She wanted to forget all about Lash Mancini being there. Humiliation was the last thing she wanted to bring with her on stage. Now that she was actually in her black jazz pants, a form-fitting top, and soft leather shoes, she was starting to feel like a dancer once again. With her hair pinned up and away from her face, she no longer looked like a waif. She was even grateful for not being first in line. Every girl who went ahead was asked to choose from an audition tape they sent earlier. She knew exactly which piece she wanted to perform.

Back in the dressing rooms, which smelled of dancer’s perfume, hairspray, and stage make-up, there was nervous chatter as they waited for audition to begin. Ana mostly heard Lash Mancini’s name mentioned and how each girl wanted to impress him. She wanted that too, but not in the way these girls meant to impress him. Maybe he had forgotten the incident earlier between them? Ana crossed her fingers and hoped so.

“Ana Garcia, please come on stage,” she heard Jonathan call her name.

Ana took a deep breath and ambled toward the front of the stage. She had chosen an audition tape, which she called “The Fish Market.” It was the very first dance tape that she choreographed. Through the years as she gathered more confidence in her dancing style, the steps evolved, making it one of the most poignant pieces she had ever done. It was her interpretation of a fish market back in Torrevieja, where her mom brought her as a child. It held many memories for her- happy and sad - and had the greatest number of views on her YouTube channel.

Ana stood at center stage, eyes closed, with her back straight and arms stretched to the sky, waiting for the music to cue. Her mind was ready to soar when she heard the microphone come alive.

“Uh, Miss Garcia…”

Ana’s eyes flew open. It wasn’t Jonathan's voice she heard. It was Lash Mancini speaking.

“Yes,” Ana squeaked as her arms flopped to her side.

“We’ve seen audition after audition based on tapes that were sent earlier. Do you intend to do the same,” He asked.

“Yes,” Ana replied. She wondered where this was going.

“If you want to be considered for the part, I suggest you don’t.”

“W-what do you want me to do?” Ana was confused.

She came here to audition, and now he was telling her – telling everyone – he didn’t want to see another audition tape? What did the man want? “He wants to get back at you for calling him all those names,” the thought flashed through her mind.

“Jonathan here tells me you’re good with improv,” Lash said. “I want you to show us something that is unrehearsed, something that you can create on the spot.”

That didn’t sound like a difficult request.

“What is it exactly you want me to show you,” Ana asked. Maybe the guy was on her side after all.

A few seconds elapsed before Lash spoke again. “Dance and sex have always been intertwined. If you have studied the history of dance, you should know that dance has always been used to convey sexual passion in its many facets. Illicit and sacred love, sublimation, sex roles between man and woman, erotic fantasies, even orgasm … this has all been translated in dance form. Show us something similar. How would you interpret in dance form your sexual feelings for another man?”

Ana was stunned. This wasn’t what she anticipated. The words “sex,” “erotic fantasies,” “orgasm,” and “sexual feelings for another man,” rang in her ear. Was he some pervert who delighted in getting his revenge? Ana was sure he wanted to humiliate her in front of everyone. And he was doing it in a way that felt so familiar. It was Lucio, her ex-boyfriend, all over again. And why should she be surprised? All men wanted the same thing from her. Lash Mancini was like everyone else. Except that he was the most hateful in the bunch because he was using dance as a means to hide his intentions.

Ana stood on the center stage, unable to speak. All eyes were directed at her. But it was the hazel green eyes of Lash Mancini that bored through her soul. She never felt so much loathing for anyone before.

“We’re not getting any younger here, Miss Garcia,” Lash taunted.

Something snapped inside Ana. The difficulties of her childhood, the choices she had had to make to pursue a hidden passion, the chase from Barcelona to New York that culminated in her being taunted, right here right now. it was like dark clouds heralding a storm.

“All right,” she replied, concealing all her emotions.