Azalea Faye Larau - The sweetheart socialite with a fire underneath and an up and coming ballet dancer in London striving to stay afloat in an ocean of sharks, all the while dealing with heartbreak and loss.
Harlan Emeric Marchetti - The Italian Maf...
"His mind was like a diamond. Cold, hard, and brilliant."
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The next day, I was ushered to the dance studio with an array of bodyguards who looked more than capable of killing me within a second did I try to run off. Not that I would, because something inside me knew that Harlan would be more than pleased with the chase.
"Ms. Larau, I see you've made it to class." Giulia's voice rang in my ears and I turned my head to meet my dance instructor, a barely there smile on her face but the moment she saw the two men behind me, a dark cloud loomed over her and a wave of sympathy passed between her eyes.
She knew.
"How are you... adjusting?" She chose her words carefully, knowing we had one to many keen eyes and ears watching and listening in on our conversation when I forced a small smile.
She knew all along too.
"Like I am always expected to." I answered honestly, brutally, swallowing the heavy lump in my throat when the new director entered and all of us got into our places.
His introductory speech didn't last more than ten seconds but the chilling glare he threw our way seemed to last forever.
"I chose you because I see potential, not because I see greatness. I see potential— which means we have a long journey ahead of us." He started, his thick Italian accent more than noticeable when his sharp grey eyes looked over all of us, briefly stopping at me before continuing again.
"I expect nothing but the best from you. The road is difficult and only the strongest will survive it. If any of you wishes to go, leave now, because once you are in this, there is no way out." I stood up straighter on his words as his keen eyes passed over us quickly and when no one dared to move a muscle, he nodded once to himself.
"Remember, we must be—"
"Extraordinary." I whispered under my breath just as he said the same thing and held my head up higher with confidence.
Nothing will come in my way, not even a forced and impending marriage.
I will be extraordinary.
"Tomorrow, we leave for London and classes will start the day after. Today, I will assess you all to see what part you will play in this game." He raised his chin higher and looked at us again, scanning us fully.
"Will you make it to the top, or scrape the leftovers from the bottom? The king, or the beggar?" He asked the last words and I held in my breath as his gaze slid over the group where I was standing before moving forward.
"Warm up." He said and Ms. Giulia took over, leading us through the warm ups and the rest of class while the director sat on a chair nearby, thoughtfully stroking his chin while his cane rested beside him and he judged us to see who was the best, and who was not.
