The phone started ringing and the pitch black room glowed with the annoying white light.
She can't sleep with any light and wears the softest sleep eye covers that money can buy. But the noise of the "swan ballet" was what woke her up... And she was not having it.
Lilia Baranovskay sits up and glares at the dream destroyer as she reads Yakov's name on the screen.
"This has better be good." She clicks the answer button. She figures she might as well get it over with.
"Yakov. I already told you that I am keeping all the sliver." The divorce was taking way too long to settle. She wanted it already over and forget him and that part of her life.
"Lilia, I am not calling about that but you can have it if you do something for me."
"And why would I do anything for you. It's not like you did anything for me all the years we were married besides treat me like one of your skaters!"
He knew she did have a point.
"Because I know that you can't resist a challenge nor the scent of victory."
She thinks to herself, more fully awake.
-A challenge? Maybe that is why I married him. That and his promises and thick gold ring.-
"Okay you have one minute to convince me. If not, you never call me again especially at this time."
"Lilia, it is only 7:00!"
"I do not care. A ballerina demands beauty sleep. So speak up old man."
There was a pause. The minute on the clock started ticking away.
"I have a young skater who might have the ability to surpass Victor with proper training."
"Not possible. Victor is raw talent that skaters spend years on developing."
"Did you see that Victor isn't skating this season and has gone to play coach in Japan? He is dead to me and to the ice."
She had heard a clip about it on the news but brushed it as he is one of Yakov's skaters. She was very well acquainted with Victor. She always thought of him as undisciplined and a waste of talent. If only he applied himself and didn't depend on raw talent, he would be capable of so much more.
"Tell. Who is this new Victor?" She tried to sound tough and intimidating. Yakov did call her but she couldn't cover up the little curiosity in her voice.
"His name is Yuri Plisetsky. He is an over-confident, back talking, cursing, undisciplined 15-year-old who won gold at the junior division last year. This will be his senior debut.
"Sounds like he has more fire compared to soft Victor. I will be there at 10 o'clock to inspect and see if he is worth my time."
"Thank you Lilia. I don't think you will be disappointed."
"I better not be as your call woke me up. Good bye Yakov."
She hung up the phone and laid back down, snuggling deeper under her covers.
"Yuri Plisetsky hmmm. He has no idea what grace and beauty means because he hasn't met me. He will become the prima ballerina that will be no match against Victor. Finally, he will have a worthy opponent."
On that thought, she put on her sleep eye covers.
Yuri Plisetsky had no idea what was coming at 10 O'clock.