J.T. frowned searching for a flaw in the plan. He sat down and looked across the desk at his cousin. “It’s too easy, too obvious.”
“Not necessarily, sometimes simple is best,” Trey said.
“How long are we supposed to have been involved?”
“Not long enough to be serious, but not too short to make it sound frivolous.”
J.T. smiled then chuckled. “Ten months.”
Trey nodded in agreement. “Perfect.”
It was perfect, simple, and direct and was guaranteed to get Mamma Lou off his back before she even got started. “Okay, I’ll do it. I’m supposed to go to the ballet tonight to meet Mom and Lena Palmer. And I’ll also talk to Juliet while I’m there. Hopefully I can settle everything tonight.”
J.T. stood to leave as Trey opened his top drawer and pulled a small round packet from the desk. “Hey,” he called out to get J.T.’s attention. J.T. turned around just as Trey tossed the packet to him. He caught it easily then turned it in his hand to read the contents.
“Thanks, it just might come in handy.”
“In that case,” Trey reached into the draw and tossed two more. “Enjoy.”
Chapter Three
Thunderous applause silenced all critics of her performance. Tonight, age, was apparently just a number, because she was sheer perfection. Juliet Bridges held the smug smile as she arched her back straighter and pointed her toe. She stood in forth position, her right foot slightly in front of her left, toes pointed in opposite directions, back straight and neck and head held high and confident. She knew without a doubt that she had danced brilliantly.
The heavy curtain rose slowly and two perfectly paired dancers skipped from center to front stage at the centerline as the remaining corps de ballet took a modest step forward and nodded appreciatively. The audience leaped to their feet having thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
The performance was taken from several classical and modern ballets, with vignettes narrated by the company’s artistic director, Peter Flemings. Juliet performed the dual roles of Odette and Odile in
Swan Lake
, Terpsichore in
Apollo
and Kitri in
Don Quixote
, then as a soloist in
Stars and Stripes
. But it was her signature role of
Carmen
that ended the program and she was brilliant. Not since Dorothy Dandridge
had the role been performed so perfectly. The brash, brazen, hussy she played seemed to draw from her inner soul. She smiled brightly and curtsied low, gracefully extending her arm, bending it just enough for effect.
A plump round child hurried on stage from the left wing carrying two dozen roses in her chubby hands. With golden Shirley Temple ringlets, wearing a dress a size too small and carelessly clicking her patent leather tap heels she glanced at the audience then froze midway. Her rose colored cheeks brightened and reddened to full bloom. Her perfectly paired lips formed a deliberate
O
as her baby blue eyes filled and were about to burst. Then she caught sight of her grandmother waving to her from the wing prompting her to continue to the pair waiting at center stage.
She hurried to Juliet and clumsily she handed her the bouquets then backed away slowly. She turned, smiled at the sea of smiling faces in the audience then ran into her grandmother’s open arms. Everyone laughed at the less than precocious cherub.
“Where do they get these kids?” Richard Griffin asked, breathing hard, his British accent more pronounced than usual. He tilted his head slightly and bowed thankfully to the audience as his expression froze in a perpetual stage smile.
“Be nice,” Juliet said, still smiling graciously to the audience. Still poised with an aura of celebrity surrounding her, she curtsied gracefully.
“Yes, yes, I know,” Richard said, holding her hand firmly then letting go to allow her to take two steps forward and bow solo. “I heard her grandmother is one of D.C’s largest patrons. They say she’s got about two hundred, fifty million dollars and loves the ballet.”
“Exactly,” Juliet confirmed.
Richard, her pas de deux partner and friend was on loan from the British Ballet Company in London. Born and raised of British and Caribbean parents, he was an enigma in the dance world. He was a straight man, who took full advantage of his status. Like a child in a candy store, he had spread his favors around and granted private audiences with most of the women in the troupe and among the dance patrons in a great number of companies around the world.
His shameless reputation preceded him. And when Juliet took the summer to guest dance in London he was the perfect tour guide and gentlemen. So when the Capitol Ballet Company issued a special invitation for him to perform in Washington for the season he jumped at the opportunity. Juliet reciprocated his kindness on this side of the Atlantic.
Although he and Juliet had been friends since they met in London, she never fell for his particular charms. Hence, after months of attempts to seduce her, he finally gave up and instead became her friend.
“But do I care?” he continued.
“You’d better,” Juliet said as she returned to his side. “The company needs the cash.”
“Ah, but you’ve forgotten, this isn’t my company,” he said, with a similar smile plastered across his face. The pair took one last bow as the curtain came down. They hurried off stage, replaced by the dance company’s soloist dancers, Vanya Kastavah and her pas de deux partner, Damon Hall.
Juliet and Richard stood in the wings gently dabbing the perspiration from their brow and neck, careful not to disturb the delicate stage makeup. They watched as Vanya and Damon bowed to the generous applause.
Richard peered over Juliet’s head and looked into the prime orchestra seats and the center parterre box seats. “Is your illustrious congressman here yet?”
“You know perfectly well that he’s a senator,” she corrected dryly. “And I have no idea. He said he might show up tonight if he can get away.”
“I don’t see him.”
She peeked around the heavy curtain then squinted out at the applauding crowd. The house lights were still turned down so the visible audience was relegated to only those sitting in the very front rows. “They all look like a bunch of faceless mannequins from here.”
“Now, now, go on there, that’s not the right attitude. Where’s your gratitude? This is your public, they adore you. Just look at their faces.”
“You look at them, I’m exhausted. All I can think about right now is my pillow and about fifteen hours of sleep.”
“I know you’re not missing the fundraiser tonight.”
“What’s one more fundraiser? Let them use Vanya. I’m sure she’ll be delighted to play diva for the evening.”
“Our black Russian princess would absolutely love that. She can’t wait to fill your tutu and become the principal dancer.”
“She needs a hell of a lot more than what she has to fill this tutu. Her feet are questionable and her technique could use some serious work. Not to mention she’s got a major anorexic thing going on.”
“Hold on. Do I sense a catfight coming on?”
“Hardly, Vanya is the least of my worries. She’s so far out of my league she needs the psychic hotline and a bloodhound to find half the skills I’ve already forgotten.”
“You two are so much alike to be such mortal enemies,” Richard observed.
Juliet smirked and shook her head then turned to him. “Mortal enemies, mortal enemies, seriously, where do you get these dire proclamations from?” she asked.
“Sorry love, I was watching the BBC again.”
“You’re mental.”
“Of course I am, and you adore me for it.”
Juliet chuckled and shook her head. She focused her attention back on stage as she watched Vanya go through her usual post performance ritual. “Vanya does remind me of myself at that age, so hungry for the spotlight yet still needing to grow up emotionally.”
“You need to mentor her.”
Juliet’s sudden burst of unexpected laughter even caught her by surprise. She quickly caught herself and continued to wipe the perspiration away.
The curtain fell again cueing Vanya and Damon to leave as the chorus hurried onto the stage. The curtain rose, the chorus took their bows, stepped forward and bowed again just as the curtain lowered a third time.
The crowd continued to roar. Juliet took Richard’s hand as Roger Payne, the stage manager, beckoned wildly for them to return to their position at center stage. As the red velvet curtain rose again, they skipped down stage then to each side giving the entire audience full view for one last curtain call.
Juliet stepped forward and bowed gracefully. As she returned to Richard’s side the pair took several steps forward, separated, then opened their arms and saluted the conductor, the orchestra and the assembled dancers behind them. When they came together again the conversation continued. Together, they took two steps forward. He took her hand again and they both bowed.
“Still, she’s breathing down your neck, Love. She attended every gala and fundraiser this season and is seriously sucking up to Phillip Waverly.”
Juliet pulled a single rose from her bouquet and handed it to Richard. He took it and gracefully bowed to her. “So let her, I’m tired of being trotted around like a show pony, just to please a bunch of moneybags.”
“Hey, don’t bite the hand that feeds us. Beside, some of those moneybags aren’t half bad.”
“You didn’t?” Juliet said just before they parted and stepped aside. Vanya and Damon returned to the stage and the chorus hurried off.
Each single performer took a solitary bow then Damon took Juliet’s hand as Richard took Vanya’s hand. Each man bowed to his dancer then they returned to their respective partners.
“Beg your pardon?” Richard said as soon as he and Juliet were reunited.
“Don’t play innocent with me, you know the rules, never, never touch the purse strings. Just make sure that the powers that be don’t find out,” she chided him then begged for an answer. “Which one?”
“A true gentleman never kisses and tells.”
“Since when were you a gentleman,” Now alone on stage they prepared for the final bow sending the roaring audience into hysterical applause.
“You are in a seriously nasty mood, PMS?”
“Shut up.”
“Ooh you are cheeky tonight,” he shivered jokingly. “Sounds like you’ve still got some
Carmen
left in you.”
“
Carmen
ain’t got nothin’ on me,” she boasted.
“Apparently not,” he said.
She circled around him going further down stage. After a deep bow and curtsy, they stepped back and waited until the final curtain fell.
As soon as the edge of the curtain hit the floor, Richard leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Will I still see you at the fundraiser this evening?” he asked emphasizing each word, making his meaning clear knowing her tendency to change her mind when it came to public appearances.
“I promised Patricia that we’d go tonight,” Juliet said as she began moving her mouth animatedly to relax the strained muscles from her smile.
“Good, I’ll see you later then,” Richard said. Juliet nodded.
As soon as Richard walked off, the lead wardrobe mistress, Nadine Palmer, hurried on stage to meet her. “You were wonderful Juliet.”
“Of course I was,” Juliet said confidently.
Nadine shook her head not at all surprised by the remark. “Your friend Patricia Franklin called twice and Senator Kingsley regrets that he is unable meet you this evening,” Nadine said as she took the two flower bouquets and handed them to her assistant. She wrapped a thick terry robe around Juliet’s shoulders and handed her a soft white towel.