Lo turned away and ascended the stairs. Now that Dough had been taken care of, he had to embark on his quest to find Bria.
“You did fabulous. I can’t wait to see how these come out.”
Bria smiled at the photographer as she lifted off the small ottoman. It had been a long shoot—fourteen hours to be exact, and she was beat.
“Thank you so much. I was nervous, but I think they're going to come out great.”
“Oh, they will,” the small Black woman raved. “You didn’t even have to do too much, and I can already tell these will be some of the best photos of my career. We’ll be in touch once the campaign goes live.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Bria traveled to the dressing room to undress and put on her clothes. Glancing at her watch, she noticed the time was approaching to meet Stella for dinner. Once she was ready, Bria walked outside and got inside the service car. She was exhausted but there was something about being in New York City that lifted her spirit. It literally was a city that never came to a pause. There was so much to do with a melting pot of people and cultures that left her inspired. She had been there for a week and Bria had thoughts of actually staying.
Her stay in NYC was meant for business but it had quickly become a getaway from the man she was legally attached to. Not only did she suffer a wrist sprain but the unveiling of who Lo was transpired as well. He would never forgive her for cheating on him. Whenever he was upset, he’d quickly remind her of how she’d stepped out on their marriage. Witnessing him threaten to throw her under the bus in front of everyone was enough to place distance between the two. Bria had thought long, toying with the idea of walking away and sadly, she had made her choice.
There was a part of her that wished she and Lo could have worked out. He was magical when he was in the right headspace. Bria burned with desire from just one look from him. He captivated her with no effort, but he was a mess. Lo was like a beautiful mansion with unkempt rooms. She saw the beauty of him, but she couldn’t get past the filth. Bria had given all that she had, but she couldn’t endure any more of this ride called Kylo.
Bria walked inside Per Se and was escorted to the table where Stella was.
“Hey, sorry I’m late,” Bria greeted. “You know how traffic can be, and the shoot went longer than expected.”
Stella rose from her chair and gave her a hug. “No worries. I was just checking some emails.”
Bria sat and placed her bag on the open chair. “You would bring me to the place that serves finger food.”
Stella snickered, sipping from her martini. “It’s not finger food.”
“Girl, please. You know I need a full plate. Not these lil’ cute plates they serve in here. Anyways.” She propped her elbow on the table. “You got any updates?”
Placing her glass down, Stella sighed. “I do and one of them, you're not gonna want to hear.”
Bria’s stomach dropped instantly. “What is it?”
“They gave the role for Swan Lake to Katie.”
A sharp exhale expelled from Bria’s mouth. It was filled with exhaustion, rejection, and sadness. All she wanted was to continue excelling in her career despite her personal life being in shambles.
“I know it sucks,” Stella empathized.
“Yeah, it does,” Bria agreed with an attitude. “I’m seriously thinking about retiring from this industry. I’m tired of fighting.”
The spirit of defeat rode Bria’s back for years. Each time she didn’t get a part, she knew it was because of the hue of her skin. Being one of the few Black women in ballet had become so draining.
“Bria, don't. You're a brilliant dancer. It’s been a pleasure to represent you for the last seven years. You have accomplished so much in your career. All the magazine shoots, countless accolades, and being one of the few Black principal dancers at American Ballet Theatre. I know it’s been a struggle but Bria, you have accomplished more than most. Don't let this setback get you down.”
She exhaled. “Yeah, you're right. I just get so defeated when I know I'm better than someone and I still get looked over.”
“Listen, I get it. I truly do. It’s one of the reasons I fight so hard for you and my other clients. And because you're so good and I am too, I did get you booked for The Nutcracker.”
A smile tugged on Bria’s lips. “Now that’s something to get excited for.”
“It is. I’m hoping your wrist will be one hundred percent by then. How is it going with that?”
She glanced at the splint on her left wrist. “Thankfully, it was a mild sprain. For the first week, I iced it and elevated it. I think that helped with the healing process.”
Bria was so thankful that her wrist hadn’t been broken. It would’ve been a setback to her career if she sustained an injury like that.
“That’s good. Are you going to be prepared for your class tomorrow?”
