Sugar Baby Beautiful(57)

“I’ll do it. I just need to speak with my boss. Where should I meet you?”

“You’ll get a call to come to Darcy Entertainment for the paperwork. After that you start.” He got up. “Not that I’m not happy you are doing this, but why? Theo said there was no way in hell you would do this.”

Normally, I would have shut him down. I didn’t dance anymore, but I wanted to. Acting, riding on the back of motorcycle, hiking, flying in a hot-air balloon…. Theo had expanded my world so quickly, in such a short amount time, I wanted more. For the first time, I needed to do more with myself than serve coffee, answer phones, and pick up after teenagers. It’s like I’d been living on pause, and he hit the play button.

“Felicity?”

“You were right. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I did it again,” I lied. The truth was too embarrassing.

“I’ll get everything settled. See you at noon.”

I waved as he rushed out, already dialing his cell phone. I knew it was Theo, and for a moment I wondered if he would call me just to ask what the hell I was thinking. But honestly I didn’t know. I wasn’t thinking, I was acting. Maybe taking baby steps, like dancing again, being the old me again, I’d be able to let go of my past.

“You aren’t coming back here, are you?” Manny stood, arms crossed, staring through the window at Walt, who got into his Mercedes.

“I just need—”

“Another week?”

“Two….”I drifted off, backing away and preparing for him to yell at me again.

But he didn’t yell. He looked at me calmly and said, “Go, Felicity.”

“Just like that?”

“Yes, just like that.” He moved around me. “You’re always studying but never bother going to school. You’re always working and never spending any money. I’ve wanted to know what the hell you are going to do with your life. If you have any dreams. Seems like you’re starting to. When you’re done, if it’s not what you want, you can come back.”

I’m sure my mouth fell open. Even Rosemary looked at him in shock. But he ignored us, taking the empty trays to the kitchen.

“Was I gone for one week or one year? Because Manny is whole new person,” I said.

“He got a part in a TV drama. He’s walking on his own cloud right now. But either way, you know he’s right. This is awesome. Neither of us knew you danced.” She took the pot from me, placing it on the table, and grabbed my notepad, signaling for my apron. “Don’t forget about us when you’re on Broadway or something.”

“I don’t know about Broadway. I have no idea how I’m going to survive. I haven’t danced in eight years.”

“Why?”

I didn’t have to answer when my phone rang. Theo. Standing straighter, turning from Rosemary, I cleared my throat and answered. “Hello?”

“Is this Ms. Felicity Harper?” someone asked.

My shoulders fell. “Yeah.”

“This is Mr. Darcy’s secretary. We’ve been informed you will be dancing for Darcy Entertainment. When is a good time for you to come in and go over the contract?”

“Umm, I can be there in the next hour or so?”

“See you then. A badge will be waiting for you in the lobby.” When she hung up, I stared at the number. Why had his secretary called from his personal phone, and why did it bother me so damn much?

“Was that Mr. Darcy?” Rosemary giggled. “I guess it isn’t over."



1:49 p.m.

“He’ll be right with you.” His secretary placed a cup of tea in front of me, giving me a polite smile. She was a brunette with bright blue eyes and a nice hourglass figure. She wore a black pencil skirt, which hugged every curve, and a white shirt. When she bent over to rearrange the things on his desk, I saw the tops of her breasts.

“Scarlett,” he said behind me. I felt the urge all of a sudden to fix my hair and maybe check if there was anything in my teeth. “Please hold my calls for half an hour. This won’t take long.”

“Do you need anything—”

“No.”

She nodded, walking to the door. It closed with a small click, and he unbuttoned the top of his suit jacket, taking a seat behind his mahogany desk.

“Your secretary is pretty.” Goddamn it. Really, Felicity? That is the best you can think of to say to him?

“Yes, she is.” He lifted the document in front of him. “You didn’t bring a lawyer?”

“I don’t have one.” I wanted him to look at me! But instead he spoke as if I were no longer important to him. Like I was no one.