Free Irresistible You by Celeste O. Norfleet Page A

intense was when the second leads, Vanya Kastavah and Damon Hall, arrived.
    Smiling brightly Vanya looked around the room. Juliet was noticeably absent as usual. Her ego swelled. She had delayed her arrival as long as she dared. Making a grand entrance took ingenuity and timing, both of which she was blessed with. Having guessed that Juliet would pass on the gala—showing her usual disrespect for the patrons—Vanya was pleased that she was left alone to take advantage of the opportunity.
    She was born for this her mother always told her. Her mother, an African-American diplomat’s assistant, who’d married a Russian dancer knew as soon as she sent her daughter to her first ballet class that she would be center stage. Holding her head high, Vanya looked around scanning the crowd. Remembering her mother’s words well, she took her place center stage.
    She worked the room like a professional. She had learned from the best. Madame Jacqueline was an exceptional instructor with a superior eye for talent. She was the founder, artistic director and choreographer of the Cheva Ballet Group, a small poorly maintained studio in the southwestern part of Russia. The moment Madame Jacqueline laid eyes on Vanya she was spellbound. Vanya had been her pupil for the next six years and in that time she had learned a lot about dance and about life.
    At the tender age of thirteen she had left her father’s homeland and come to America to dance with a world famous company. But now, at the age of eighteen, instead of fulfilling her mother’s prophecy, she had been relegated to the second position and soloist because Juliet Bridges was jealous of her talent and her youth.
    Everyone knew that Juliet was well past her prime. But no one had enough courage to stand up to her. It was time for new blood at center stage, and the new blood was her.
    Vanya greeted her fans with all the poise and grace of a queen ascending her throne. She smiled and laughed while strategically planning her next casual meeting. She held her hand out to be kissed as soon as she walked up to her fans. They loved it, they loved her.
    The women, thrilled at meeting her, marveled at her prettiness and her small waiflike frame. The men were attracted to her body and sensuality, and were excited by the possibilities. She knew the game and played it to perfection. Every new face in the crowd noticed her she made sure of that. As Madame Jacqueline always said, the more the patrons loved you, the further your star will rise and the brighter it will shine. She learned early on that money moved the ballet world, not talent.
    Vanya swayed her narrow hips across the room and stood by Chester. She tiptoed to whisper in his ear. “Who is that man? I’ve seen him before.”
    Chester leaned down and inched closer to Vanya. The nearness of her tiny body sent a lustful shiver down his. He couldn’t wait to get out of there and take Vanya to his bed. As a dancer she was limber, as a woman she was seductive and as a Russian she was her father’s child.
    “What man?” Chester asked.
    “Him, over there in the blue, talking with Peter and Richard,” Vanya pointed out.
    Chester looked across the room and found J.T. in her line of vision. “You probably do recognize him. That’s J.T. Evans from E-Corp.”
    “What’s E-Corp?”
    “It’s a major player in the computer software industry. J.T.’s in the business section of the newspapers or magazine a least once a month. His family is one of the wealthiest African-American families in the States.”
    An interested smiled tipped her full lips upwards. The moment he mentioned wealthher interest level was piqued. He was just what she was looking for, all she needed was a wealthy benefactor and Juliet would be out of her way. J.T. Evans was perfect. All she had to do was pay him a little attention and she’d have everything she ever wanted. She smiled sweetly as Chester continued. “He came to meet Juliet.”
    “What?” Her sweet