Irresistible You (19 page)

The woman nodded and smiled again. “Yes it is. It’s from
Swan Lake
, and it’s by far the most beautifully choreographed dance in all of ballet. Executed properly, it can tear your heart from your chest. Tender, wrenching and tragic, it’s a love story beyond all others.” She paused nodded and smiled knowingly. She watched the dancers closely then turned her attention to the stage. “Juliet is phenomenal in this ballet.” She nodded her head seemingly agreeing with her own assessment of Juliet’s talent.

 J.T. leaned forward in his seat and watched Juliet as she returned to center stage. The music softened. On her toes she seemed to float across the stage, her arms gracefully reaching out to her partner. J.T.’s heart softened as he watched the performance. She was truly beautiful.

Each step she took was precise and flawlessly executed. Her movements were fluid and exacting. Her technique, he assumed, was mastered through years of study, practice and performance.

“You’re not a dance student that much is obvious. You’re not a member of the press. I can smell a critic a mile away, a patron perhaps?” She smiled and winked. “But I thought I knew all the attractive male patrons on Phillip’s list,” she nodded and arched her brow, “but apparently not.”

J.T. smiled to himself. If nothing else, she was a charmer.

She watched J.T.’s reaction with interest. “Do you work here at the CBC?”

“No, I’m in the computer industry,” J.T. said using the elusive answer he’d come up with years ago in order to avoid having to answer more questions. He’d learned long ago that the average person seldom delved deeper than a cursory response.

“Software, hardware or peripherals?” the woman asked.

J.T. smiled. Apparently she wasn’t the average person. “A little of each, but I primarily develop software.”

“So tell me, why does a computer specialist come to a CBC dance rehearsal in the late afternoon, when he should be busy preparing the next generation of computer software? Are you a friend of Juliet’s perhaps?”

“We’ve met.”

“Is that right?” she said, looking at him slyly, pleased with her new knowledge. Her brow rose with interest. “In San Francisco?”

“No, we met in Manhattan.”

“Really, I wasn’t aware that Juliet had been in New York recently. I guess she and I need to have a nice little talk to catch up.”

When J.T. didn’t respond, the woman smiled and nodded again. There was definitely more to this story than he cared to discuss. She made a mental note to have a nice long chat with Juliet as soon as possible. She leaned forward and glanced at J.T.’s profile. He seemed to be entranced by Juliet.

She nodded realizing that she wasn’t going to get any more information on their curious relationship from him. “I’m a New Yorker myself. Do you still live in Manhattan or in one of the boroughs?”

“I did live in Manhattan, Upper West Side, I just recently moved.”

“Nice neighborhood. I presume by your move that you now reside in the immediate area.”

“Yes,” he said beginning to wonder about the third degree.

Juliet twirled than ran across the stage and jumped into the air as Richard followed. The woman smiled proudly. “Bravo my dears bravo, excellent,” she said in an almost whisper. “That particular jump was called a full grande jete. And Richard has just performed a grand allegro. They are extremely difficult jumps that must be timed and executed perfectly.”

“Do all the jumps have names?”

“Yes, most do.”

“Here, see, she enters again,” Lena said pointing to Juliet as she began dancing across the stage. “
A palmache
, triple pirouettes into a round
brise
, then
bre
on point and finally a series of
fouettes
.”

J.T. nodded, impressed with the dance and translations.

“The French have she wonderful words for such simple acts. In essence, Juliet walked onto the stage, spun around three times ending in final slower spin then rose up on her toes and fluttered across the stage a bit then ended with a long series of spinning turns.”

J.T. chuckled along with the woman. “You’re right. It does sound a bit more impressive in French.”

“Indeed,” she answered then changed the subject entirely. “You wouldn’t happen to be associated with Evans Enterprises, would you?”

He turned to her completely. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. Why do you ask?”

Lena tilted her head and chuckled. “Interesting,” she stated. “Where are my manners, my name is Lena Palmer. And I believe you are…” the woman said, as she held her hand out to shake.

J.T. turned and took her hand and gently shook, “…J.T. Evans, nice to finally meet you.”

“Yes, of course, I suspected as much—Taylor’s son. She mentioned that you were now in the Virginia office after traveling for years. Taylor is a brilliant artist and a wonderful person. I have several of her pieces hanging in my New York apartment.”

“I’m glad we’re finally meeting, Ms. Palmer. I’d like to talk with you about this arts center and dance studio you’re opening with my mother.”

“Of course you would, but please, call me Lena,” she said as she waved her hand for him to sit back and relax.

“As I was saying, I’d like to talk to you about my mother’s interest in the project.”

“Yes, the arts center, we’re very excited.”

Suddenly the music stopped abruptly turning both their heads back to the stage.

“Madame Lena Palmer,” Roger announced, and began applauding enthusiastically.

Lena stood and waved as the dancers joined in applauding joyfully. “Time to go to work,” she grabbed her purse and shawl then looked back at J.T. before leaving. “It was good meeting you J.T. We’ll talk again soon.”

He stood politely, “you too Madame Lena. I’ll look forward to our next conversation and my next lesson.”

“As will I.”

As soon as Lena went on stage Phillip came and sat down in the seat beside J.T. “Sorry about that. I needed to take that call. I’ve been trying to get together with Senator Randolph Kingsley for some time. He wants to sponsor a small gathering on the Hill to raise funds for the upcoming season.”

J.T. smirked at Phillips’s obvious fondness for name dropping. Before he’d left to take the call in the front office, he had mentioned at least three senators, four congressmen and a Supreme Court justice.

“As I was just saying to the Mayor just last night at dinner,” Phillip continued boastfully, “we truly need the funds. If you want this city to truly compare with the rich cultural exchange of cities around the world then you’re going to have to come up with the funds needed to truly support it.”

J.T. nodded absently keeping his eyes on Juliet as she talked with Richard, Lena and a few other members of the chorus. Eventually the stage cleared and Phillip suggested that he and J.T. continue their discussion in his office.

“Taylor and Jace have truly been our greatest and most faithful supporters.” Phillip said as he and J.T. walked down the corridor to his office. Their truly generous foundation grants and additional personal gifts have truly been phenomenal. We, the arts, are truly appreciative of their donations.”

“I’m sure my parents will continue to support your programs.”

“Marvelous, truly marvelous, although I must say J.T. I was delighted when you took me up on my offer so quickly.” Phillip said as he held the office door for J.T. to enter.   “We’re truly delighted to introduce you to the world of ballet.” Phillip rounded his desk and offering J.T. the seat across from him. “I’ve already been approached by Vanya she is anxious to personally show you our world.”

 “Actually Phillip,” J.T. said, “I understood that I would be shadowing Juliet Bridges.”

“True, true, but if you’re truly anxious and ready to get started then Vanya is available now. Vanya is a rising star here at the company. I’m sure she’ll be very instructive. Juliet is working on a very important program for the season’s finale. She’ll be extremely busy over the next few weeks. I’ve already made arrangements for Vanya to show you around. As I said she is truly a rising star.”

J.T. smiled tightly. “That is unfortunate.” The firmness in his tone left little to be misinterpreted. “Thank you but no thank you. It was good meeting you. I’ll give your best to my parents.” He said as he stood to leave.

Phillip instantly panicked seeing hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations walk out of the door. He stood and hurried to J.T.’s side. “Let me see what I can do. I’m sure I can impress upon Juliet the importance of your interest. I assure you, she’ll be more than happy to comply.”

J.T. smiled knowingly. With money came power and with power, almost anything was possible including buying and selling favors. Unfortunately, wielding power without abusing it was often the challenge for most. He used his only as a last resort. J.T. paused, turned to Phillip and smiled. “That would be acceptable.”

“Granted, she may not have as much time with you this evening but if she’s still in the building I’ll have her come and discuss more conducive arrangements satisfactory to both of you.”

They shook hands as Phillip left to find Juliet.

After the door closed J.T. turned back to the empty room. It was the same office that Juliet had led him to the night before. He walked over and looked up at the poster of her again. Serene and still, it was almost luminous. His thoughts instantly went to Juliet’s solo dance in the dark shadows of the studio. The sadness of her mood struck him again. There was definitely more to her than the smart talking woman she allowed the public to see.

Chapter Eleven

Lena perched on the dressing table, crossed her long legs and smiled as she admired her taut even skin tone in the mirror. Soft and supple, she leaned in moving her face from the left and right then rolled her chin upwards pulling her neck tightly. She smiled knowingly and pat the underside of her chin several times, her reflection was perfect.

At near sixty she was still as attractive and vibrant as ever. Styled and mannered, she was a character right out of Tennessee Williams and Margaret Mitchell. An eclectic cross between Scarlet O’Hare and Blanche Dubois, she was all southern charm but with a bite and attitude of Maggie the cat, she wasn’t one to be easily fooled.

She scanned Juliet’s dressing table. A bevy of cosmetic supplies littered the counter top. She gathered the numerous powder brushes and color pencils and placed them back into the glass holders. Then she picked up and closed the various color eye shadows, face powder and lipstick casing. Lastly she gathered combs, decorative silken flowers, and tiaras and placed them in the small velvet lined case next to the large CD player. Satisfied that she had successfully cleaned the mess on the table she grabbed a couple of tissues, removed her red lipstick and replaced it with one from the table. Smoked raspberry, the new lipstick color gave her face an added sparkle. She puckered and eyed her full mouth nodding her approval as she decided that the color was perfect with her chic outfit.

She leaned back and sat up straight holding her stomach tight and pushing her slight chest out. Thin but firm, her body was flawlessly reflective of her many years as a stage dancer and now a ballet choreographer.

She reached up and stroked the thin laced veil of gray that accented the front of her hair. Usually pulled back tight into a bun, today she had it loose and gently weighed full on her shoulders. “Do you what to tell me what that was all about?” She called loudly to Juliet still dressing in the next room.

Juliet, paused a moment to think, then continued dressing. “What, what was that all about?” She asked innocently knowing exactly what Lena was implying. But avoidance was always her first choice when it came to answering Lena’s question regarding her dance performance.

The morning’s rehearsal was horrendous. Lack of sleep and exhaustion were only part of her troubles. Having always been a quick study, she suddenly found that the simply detailed nuances off Swan Lake were a struggle to grasp. Missteps, misdirection and bad timing had led Richard to suggest that they go down to the stage for the afternoon rehearse. When the session was over she had hurriedly retreated to her dressing room.