The Heiress (Book 2 of the Forbidden Series)

13

Layla tapped on Alexander's door at nine in the evening. She had gone to her grandfather’s studio the night before to audition a band for the recording. It had taken longer than she had thought and the day had gotten away from her. But she was done now and ready to make it up to him. He had not been in any of the facilities, so she figured he was sulking in his room. When he did not answer Layla nudged the door open to find the room empty.

She went upstairs to ask if anyone knew where he had gone. It was his day off, and he was free to come and go as he pleased. Rolland had informed her he had seen Alexander leaving in the midafternoon looking rather upset and had not come home yet.

“Did he say where he was going?”

“It’s not my place to ask, nor was it my business. He is a big bambino and free to do as he wishes on his time.” Rolland said firmly. Things had been awkward between him and Alexander due to Rolland’s loyalty and longtime friendship with her father. He truly liked the boy but did not know how to act around him. He did not wish to alienate Alexander nor did he wish to irritate David. He wished to stay out of it altogether.

Layla waited all night for Alexander to return to the estate. When he did not, she decided to turn in for the evening at three in the morning. She had to wake early the next morning for a recording session. She tossed and turned all night, her thoughts consumed with where Alexander had gone. What was he doing? Who was he with? She could not sleep a wink.

***

Alexander strolled into the estate early that morning his head pounding from the events of the night before. After the game, they had all hit the clubs until close and then rolled through the Candy Shop. He had slept maybe an hour, and he was sure he might still be drunk. He had borrowed some mouthwash and strong mint gum before heading home. His head dizzy and his body numbed Alexander hoped for a quiet day. If he could line up some outside work where he could be alone, he would sober up by lunch and get through the day.

He went straight to his room to change his clothes which smelled of smoke and beer. A quick shower and he was dressed, as ready as he could be for the long day ahead of him. Moving down the hall, he paused at the dance studio room. Dane was alone inside practicing his show for his release party that evening. His steps were choppy and unsure. The boy had rhythm but no skill. He was young and uneducated in that aspect, much to Alexander’s surprise. He would have thought David would have shown his son a few moves, then again, he was getting up there in years and probably could not do most of them anymore. The man was in good shape for his age, but even in good shape, he could not stop the corrosion of skills over time.

Dane spun around and spotted Alexander watching. Alexander immediately moved from the door to leave. Dane probably did not want to be observed in his attempts. He paused when he heard his name called. Dane had come to the door staring down the hall at him. “Alex, you said you were a dancer, right?”

“Um… yes.”

“What did you think?” Dane asked coming into the hall. His questioning eyes boring into Alexander awaiting an answer. Alexander contemplated his reply. Was the boy the type that could take criticism? His hesitation told Dane everything he needed to know. “It sucks, I knew it.” He tugged at his hair in frustration. “I’ve got the silky voice and silver tongue, but I can’t dance. I’m going to look like an i***t tonight.”

Alexander felt for him. It was hard to get up there and worry about the reaction. It had to be worse for Dane. So much was expected from him and he could not deliver. Alexander decided if he started late today he would work through his lunch; he did not anticipate being all too hungry today anyway. “Come on,” Alexander said as he went inside the room with Dane. He offered to assist in putting together a few steps.

Dane played his CD, selecting his first single he planned to present at the party. Alexander closed his eyes listening to the beat and lyrics. The music filled his body, every cell until he felt the need to move. Once it ended Alexander opened his eyes. He had not made one move but felt the music flowing through him. The pace and content of the song mapping out the steps in his mind. “Play it back.” He instructed.

Dane started the song over and stood wide-eyed amazed as Alexander put motion to his song. His steps were sure and fluent. His body and hips rolled to the changing beat. He was impressed, and he joined in mimicking Alexander’s movement. Standing to his side, it took him a few repeats to get the hang of it. Then Dane and Alexander worked on the boy’s timing. Once Dane had the timing and the steps down, Alexander taught him how to smooth the finished product out to make it look and feel flawlessly natural. Dane then worked on his multitasking by concentrating on singing without messing up the steps.

***

It was almost lunch when Rolland and David went looking for Alexander. He had not done any work that morning, and David was determined to find the slacker before he left for Mike’s studios to check on Layla’s recording progress. He found Alexander and Dane in the dance studio. Alexander was singing back up and harmonizing with Dane as the two ran through the choreographing for Dane’s presentation that night. David was taken aback by Alexander’s tremendous skill. The man was incredibly talented on the dancefloor. He could have been looking at himself forty years ago.

David watched in silence impressed with his son’s progress; Alexander must have been a good teacher to have succeeded where David had failed. He had prepared Dane for the party, and it was going to be a sensational routine. As much as he did not like Alexander he had to admit the boy had a way of tapping into his children’s potential and bringing the best out of them. David decided not to interrupt the creative process.

He went back to Rolland and told him to take the day off; the house would not go to hell in one day. He instructed Rolland to give Alexander the day off as well should he see Alexander any time soon but not to interrupt the two. He shrugged on his suit jacket at the door and then turned to Rolland. “And see that Alexander attends Dane’s release tonight; make sure he understands I’m not asking. Have Kat take the boy shopping. If he is going to attend a high profile gathering like that, I don’t want him looking like a hood.”

Rolland grinned with a knowing gleam in his old eyes. “The boy is growing on you, isn’t he?”

David would not admit it, but he admired Alexander’s talent. The boy had tremendous potential under the right circumstances. He might not like having him dating Layla but the work he did around the estate was always exceptional, and he had other skills. David was a businessman, like Alexander or not; he never passed up a chance to nurture natural talent. “Have the boy presentable. Tell Kat I’ll call her later to see how things are going.”

***

Alexander stood awkwardly shifting from foot to foot as the shop owner stepped around him eyeing him up scratching his snowy chin as he thought. Kat sat a few feet away in a plush armchair sipping on complimentary tea. “We need you to work miracles Hue; he needs to be ready in the next three hours.”

“At least I have a good foundation to build on.” The old man slapped Alexander’s chest. “The lad is a brick house. Won’t be too hard to make him amazing.” His eyes widened as an idea came to him. Hue stepped back trying to invasion Alexander in the outfit he had in mind. “Oh yes, my eyes, I think I have just the thing.” He scurried away to the back rooms like a stiff chimp.

Alexander stared at Kat with pleading eyes. “Is this necessary? I’m not comfortable with that guy.”

Kat smiled. He was rather flamboyant, but he was the best. “Don’t worry; you are going to cause car accidents when he is done with you. He is very good.”

Hue returned holding up a selection and instructed Alexander to go change in the private room. “He will make the top ten sexiest men in this.” It took a few minutes before Alexander came out, feeling kind of out of sorts.

Kat looked at him trying to place what was wrong with it. “It’s nice, but it doesn’t suit his personality.”

Hue stared at the way Alexander carried himself and then at the choice of clothing he had come in. “He is a little rough around the edges, isn’t he?”

Alexander stepped forward insulted. “Yo, step off pops, I ain’t gotta take this.”

Hue smiled. “Step off… ain’t gotta.” He repeated with great amusement. “You are a ghetto boy, aren’t you? Ok, I got a new vision. Don’t worry Hue will make you fabulous.” He left and returned quickly ushering Alexander back into the change room. He chose a few accessories to complete the look. Alexander came back out with the finished product. Hue clapped his hands applauding his handiwork.

Kat rose from her seat her mouth agape. She was speechless; he was incredibly breathtaking. The dark wine colour dress shirt and black slacks hugged his lean shape like it had been specially tailored for him. Emphasizing his god given gifts without being tight or restricting. The colour complimented his olive skin tone and bedroom eyes. The shoes, belt, and chain adding the right amount of rock n’ roll charisma to his wardrobe. The collar of his shirt was loose, and the top three buttons were left undone giving him a relaxed air about him. With a smooth motion, he put on the dark designed sunglasses Hue had chosen to complete the look.

His ebony hair dusted his collar, and wild stray strands dropped in his handsome face. Kat opened her purse that she had placed on the floor by her seat and removed a travel sized bottle of hair gel. She put a small amount in her hands and reached for his hair. Alexander flinched and dodged the attempt to groom him. “Trust me,” she smiled warmly, “when we’re done with you people will be saying ‘David who’?”

***

David’s voice came over the intercom from the control room telling Layla it was time to wrap it up for the night. Normally he was willing to work through the night, but tonight his previous engagements had him and her tied up for the duration of the evening. He held up a dress bag through the window from her favourite store and singled for Layla to come and get it.

“Use the office to change. Your makeup and hair supplies are in that bag. You should have everything you need. You have half an hour, and then we leave from here.” He instructed signing off on the final paperwork of the day. Layla was so excited to have a new dress she kissed her father’s cheek and gathered her things.

After she was gone one of his assistants looked at him with questioning eyes. “Thirty minutes?”

David smiled. He had been around women for a lifetime, and one thing always remained the same at any class or age they always took longer than what they had. “If I want to leave in an hour, I say thirty minutes. It ensures I leave on time.” He handed the finished documents over and picked up his outfit in the dry cleaners bag from the leather couch. “Also, I want you to contact these clients.” He instructed taking a list from his pocket and handing it to his assistant.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Tell them I have a new choreographer I want them to take a look at for their next videos and set up the meetings starting… next week. Put together a disc of all their upcoming singles and have them delivered to the party tonight. Make sure they’re labelled clearly. I want you to draw up a freelance contract and set up an expense budget. Then put out an ad for a new house servant. The one I have isn’t going to work out.” He paused before walking out the door, with an afterthought. “Make sure the applicants are competent but aim for middle-aged and ugly, one houseboy bedding my daughter is enough for me,” David grumbled under his breath as he exited. His assistant stared blankly after that last comment.