Three weeks ago

"What have you done, Baby?"

I look up and see dad coming into the kitchen, he stands still with his hands on his hips. I see his face, he is not happy, he is angry. I inhale deeply and wait for his lecture. I am so used to getting lectures when I want to do something I want, and it is not anything he likes. It is every time the same.

"I want to do what I want, dad."
"You're going to Mt. Holyoke, remember?"
"But dad, this is only for the summer!"
"Do you hear yourself? You don't have to work during summer. I wanted to surprise you and your sister on a nice holiday to Kellerman's."

Ugh, yes, that stupid resort again, the owner, whose life is saved by my father, has been bothering him for years now to come to the mountain. Those are his words. I am seventeen, other people my age go on holiday with friends, to places where they can meet people, and have fun, and have sex, and drink alcohol, going to parties and all. I never cared about those things, really, I do not. But neither do I want to go to some dull resort in the mountains of New York State where only rich people go for their holiday.

"I still need to go for an interview, dad, maybe I don't even get the job."
"Well, you better not, we're going to Kellerman's, end of story."

I watch him walking away. I let out a deep sigh in an annoyed way. If it was for dad, he would not let me work at all, he would rather have me married off after college to some millionaire, so I do not have to work. Tomorrow is my interview, for the job as an assistant for someone who leads a dance school in Manhattan. From what I know about the dance school, is that they teach dances in all the styles, the building has several floors where the dance lessons are held, I have done my Goggle research. I understood from the vacancy that they go several times a year to different places in the country to give workshops and lessons, it is one of the interesting things they offer. Being away from home for several weeks, several times a year, it would be like heaven. Well, I think so, of course I first need to try to get the job.

Right, I'm going to bed now and hope for the best outcome tomorrow.

I take the piece of paper out of my pocket while I look up at the building. My gosh, that is one huge building for a dance school. I look at the street number and then at the paper. It is the right address. Okay, here we go, take a deep breath, and go inside, you can do this. The doors open automatically as I step inside the building.

"Johnny!"

I hear someone shouting. I turn and see man, he is dad's age I think, coming out of a room, it looks like an office room. Another guy, at the stairs, turns. I look at him, my mouth drops. I am sorry, I cannot help this reaction, but this man. This man…

Okay, Frances, blink now.

It is the most handsome man I have ever seen in my entire young life. Believe me, he is wearing black dancing pants, with black dancing shoes, you know those with heels for Latin dances, and he has a black tank top on. I look at his face and see him wearing sunglasses. His hair is a bit longer at the back of his head, but it is not a mullet.

"Dad?"

I look at the other man again, so that is his father. I watch him going to his son, who is putting his hands in his pockets.

"I've had it with you!"
"What now, dad?"
"Why can't you just keep your hands off your assistants, huh? What is it with you and women? Why can't you for once be serious in life? You know why I gave you this position in first place?"

I notice how most people are not looking at them, they keep doing what they are doing. Maybe I should not overhear this conversation, it is not my intention to eavesdrop. I turn to go to the reception desk. The woman behind the desk is looking at the two as well.

"Dad, I just want to enjoy life, okay?"
"You know what, I'm going to give you the most annoying position in this building, yes, with an assistant, someone you do not want to have sex with the first second you're alone with her."

Johnny snorts about that. I turn my head again to look at him, he turns and sees me, he looks at me up and down and then turns to go upstairs. What the hell was that? Did he just checked me out?

"Can I help you?"

I look at the receptionist again. I see her smiling, but not in a happy to meet you kind of way, it is more a what the hell is someone like you doing here way. I inhale deeply as she waits for me to answer the question.

"I've got an interview for the assistant position, do you know where I need to be?"
"Wait, you? How old are you? Do you even know how to dance? Look at yourself. I think you're at the wrong address."

I watch her giving me a smug smile and pushing her nose a little up. I start to frown about that attitude.

"I'm Frances Houseman, I would like to know where I need to be. I'm not here to be judged by the receptionist, okay?"
"You've got some nerves. I must grand you that, but I don't think you're up for this position anyway, it should be mine."

The man came to the reception desk, he is looking at us.

"Oh, and my name is Amanda by the way."

I try not to roll my eyes at her, the man looks at me and sees my reaction. He chuckles softly, making both Amanda and I to look at him.

"Is she judging you already?"
"Yes, it's kinda rude to be honest."
"I know, but besides her attitude, she's the best receptionist we've ever had, and who has never slept with my son."

He looks at Amanda who let out a sigh, he shakes his head and looks back at me.

"She still wishes so."
"I can't imagine why."
"I'm Ron Castle, owner of this imperium here."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Castle, I'm Frances Houseman."
"Oh yeah, you're Jake Houseman's daughter, right? I saw your application for the job."

It should not surprise me though, dad is a famous doctor in the US, and still I give the people my expression of surprise when they ask me this, or tell me they know my father. He watches my face with a smile.

"That's right, on both things you said."

He chuckles and extends his hand. I shake it as I keep watching his face. Amanda is watching us both with little eyes, she had applied for the job too and got rejected immediately, not the first time either.

"Come, let's have a little chat before I bring you to the room of doom for the real interview."
"The room of doom?"
"Yes, my son's office."
"Ah, so the job is for being your son's assistant?"
"Yes, and believe me, this is the fifth time this year already that I've opened the position for new applicants."

I frown as I follow him to his office. His assistant quickly stands up and smiles as she sees us coming inside.

"Maggie, you want to get us some coffee? And warn my son that he's having an interview in about ten minutes?"
"Right away, sir."

She quickly went away, making me look after her. He went to his desk to sit down.

"Have a seat, Frances."

I turn back to look at him and went to sit down on the empty chairs. He smiles at me as he takes his reading glasses. I watch him picking up my resume and looking at it with a smile.

"You've got no experience at all as an assistant I see."
"That's true, Mr. Castle, but you see, I just graduated from high school. I never had a job like this before."
"Really? Never? I see here standing that you've got experience with organizing charity events and so."
"Yes, but these events are from my father. He let me do this because he knows I want to do that, nothing more really, it's not really a job I think."

He takes his reading glasses off again as he keeps looking at me. He is still smiling. I am pretty sure I am not getting the job. Might not only be my inexperience, but also my age, I mean, I am still seventeen.

"And what did you exactly do with these events from your father?"
"All the things that is required to organize an event, you know, like booking the venue, looking for a good caterer, hire people, etcetera."
"And you like to do these things?"
"Yes, I do."

He keeps watching my face, I look at him, trying not to show any fear. He lays his reading glasses down on his desk and rubs his face a little.

"Well, you do have one thing that can come in handy for us."
"And that is?"
"You've got some really good connections in this world."

I knew it, just because dad is famous, and he does do a lot for charities, and yes because he is rich too, people always seem to want to get close to me or my sister, or use us for the good connections. With that I mean, celebrities and other millionaires.

"True, but why is that so important?"
"Two times a year, we got the dance convention, where people who dance, or own dance schools, and people who want to start dancing will visit, but the last few years business is getting bad, and I know it's not the dance schools or dancing in general, but these conventions are getting dull."

Sounds interesting, if you tell me, I would like to organize such a convention.

"Interesting. I never heard of these conventions."
"I see, have you ever danced before?"
"I can't dance, I can't even do the merengue, not a joke."

He chuckles about it. I giggle a little while I smile at him.

"Well, if you want the position of assistant, you'll be getting dance lessons. I mean, someone who has no clue about dancing won't really make it in this industry."
"Me? Dance lessons?"
"Yes, you, I want you to get the position. Be Johnny's assistant, and help me organize these conventions, you'll get dance lessons whenever you want and a good paycheck every month. So, what do you say?"
"Don't I first need to do the interview with your son?"
"Yes, of course."

His assistant comes back with two cups of coffee. I watch Ron thanking her and giving me a cup. I smile and sip some coffee while my head is spinning. He wants me to take the job, why? I have no experience at all, but he seems keen on it. I look at him and start to think. I am pretty sure it is not only about my connections or about dad, but there is also something else. I will find out what it is.