He holds up the program. “Your name is listed in here.”
Right. Of course.
He doesn’t offer me his name, I notice. I would feel silly asking for it again so I only offer him a small smile and walk away.
When I’m further down the hallway, I glance back but I find that he’s gone. For some reason, disappointment flutters through my chest. But that’s absurd. I don’t even know that man’s name. It’s just because he’s handsome. My father has kept me from a lot of men so for someone who looks like that man did, it’s exciting.
But thinking of my father only makes me wonder why he isn’t here tonight.
I hurry to the backstage.
“Where have you been?” Jake asks, now in his costume for the second act.
“I was changing but I’m here now. Let’s finish this.”
We dance onstage to applause. Without even thinking about it, my eyes search through the audience, looking for the man I just met. It’s hard to see with the lights but I can just make out the first few rows. It’s then that I see him.
He’s in the row behind my family. Staring at me with his intense eyes. They were so blue back in the hallway, despite the ugly fluorescent lighting. I think he’s the type of man who looks handsome no matter where he is.
As I dance the black swan, I find that I begin to move more fluidly. More… seductively. I’m being watched now by a man like him and I want to do a good job. I want him to like what he sees.
That’s not an innocent way of thinking. It’s one my father would be ashamed of.
But it’s how I feel.
So, I dance my heart out as the black swan, performing for the man who’s name I don’t even know.
When the show is over, I’m greeted by my family in my dressing room.
“You were so great,” Irina says, giving me a hug. “I hope I’m as good as you are one day.”
“You’ll get there. You practice almost harder than I do.” I turn to Ana and Sasha. “What did you two think of the show?”
Ana shrugs, on her phone while Sasha sighs. “It was good. You know ballet isn’t my thing though.”
Mom grabs the phone from Ana. “You were wonderful. If your father had been here tonight, he would have been so proud.”
“Where was Dad?”
She hesitates, which is never a good sign. “He had work.”
Work. Mafia business. He has kept his work from me and my sisters so we have never been effected by it. But we all know exactly what he does. We know people are hurt because of him. We know people have died because of him.
“But he wanted to be here.”
I force a smile onto my face. “I know. Of course.”
“Let’s head back home. Our driver is waiting for us.”
My family is rich. As in more money than anyone can dream of rich. Even though I live in New York, I’ve never taken the subway or any other public transportation. Only private drivers for us.
Irina and I link arms as we leave the theater behind us. Sasha and Ana bicker ahead of us while Mom walks with her head held high, ready to get back home.
But as we walk out the back door of the theater, I feel eyes on me. Glancing over my shoulder, I see that man watching me. The handsome one. The unnamed one.
He’s leaning against the building, just staring at me. When he notices me looking, he offers me a nod. I gulp. Why do I feel both nervous and excited knowing he’s looking at me?
“Natalya,” Mom snaps at me, making me look away.
