She throws her hands around. "Madonna mia!" The two holding clipboards flinch and I try not to laugh. "You'd think he could handle something this simple. I mean, the man runs half the District, but his daughter's wedding? No. Forget about it. That's just too hard."
"I'm sorry."
"No, don't be. This is just classic." She points to the couch. "Please sit."
Nervously, I sit opposite the terrified two. She grins and scoots in next to me.
"Sicilian weddings are big, Cassidy. Mine is a four-day event. I need performers and entertainment and activities. I have this amazing orchestra flying over from Sydney and I really want you to dance."
"Oh." I swivel around to face her.
"I've seen you on YouTube." She smiles at me. "You're beautiful. The ballet is so romantic. Please. I've budgeted $1500 for your pocket, plus accommodation and food."
"Wow." My voice squeaks slightly because a stranger who resembles some kind of a stunning Italian manga character has called me beautiful. And because $1500 will cover my studio's utility bills for six months.
Plus...
"Accommodation?"Food!
"Yes. It's a destination wedding." She interlocks her long, elegant fingers, the rock on her forefinger nearly blinding me. "Clay and I want to get married in Bali. I know it's been done, but we fell in love hiking in Ubud."
I nod and smile sweetly, trying to appear professional when what I really want to do is jump up and down and squeal with excitement. "When is it?"
"Two weeks from Saturday."
"Oh my God, that's soon."
"Yes. You're the last act I need to finalise. A last-minute act, but my favourite." She stares at me with big brown doe eyes. "Please. My father thinks you're wonderful and that man is not easy to please. I'd know. He really wants this. So do I. What do you think?"
My cheeks feel warm. "Sure. I'd love to."
"Yes!" She claps her hands. "I'm so excited."
Her glee is infectious, so I can't help but giggle. "What choreography would you like?"
"I'm happy for you to create your own. Romantic. Intense. Meaningful. My father loves to see fouettés. TheBlack Swanis his favourite." I'm in no way surprised to hear that Jimmy Storm's favourite choreography is one of Odile's. It is dark. Intense. Sensual. Odile is the epitome of a sexy female antagonist.
"Okay." I bite my bottom lip, not wanting to argue with her. Aurora seems to get what she wants. Still..."Odile is a bit dark for a wedding."
"Well, you'll be on the night before the wedding, during the final dinner before I leave Clay and go to my villa with the girls."
"She's probably still a little dark even for a pre-wedding dinner. I'll incorporate some fouettés, though, for sure."
A phone buzzes on the table in front of us, but Aurora completely ignores it. Staring at me, she asks, "Can you do twenty-five in a row?" She smiles without blinking. "I'd love to see that."
"That’s a very specific number." I chuckle uneasily. Fouettés are challenging, especially twenty-five in a row. Talk about a head spin. Ballerinas have vomited after completing less than that.
"It's my lucky number," she presses.
"Okay." I nod once. "I'll try."
She turns to look at a piece of paper on the coffee table and scowls. "Honestly, look at this. Such incompetents."
I swallow hard and stare at the table. "What am I looking at?"
"The seating chart should say, Clay Butcher and Aurora Butcher! Not Aurora Storm. I mean, it's not that hard."
When I hear the name Butcher, I fumble for words. I take a big breath in and cross one thigh over the other, biding myself time. I want to ask if that means all The Butcher Boys will be at the wedding?
