We stand inside the venue, watching the guests coming inside. We are waiting for Penny, in the meantime a few people have come to say hello, acquaintances, people who come to every event from my father. Millionaires who do not know what to do with their money. They are the best guests to have because they donate the most money. Johnny is watching me, and admiring me. I turn my head and see his eyes. I give him a smile and he smiles back at me. My phone starts to ring. I take it out of my purse and see Penny's number.

"It's Penny."

I answer the call as I look at him, he is looking curious at me.

"Baby, they won't let me in."
"But you're on the list."
"I see my name standing on it, but they don't believe it's me, even if I show them my id."

I inhale deeply, I should make a note about not hiring that security company anymore. They always do this.

"Wait there, I'll be right there."
"Okay, thanks, Baby."

I end the call and look at him again.

"Something wrong with Pen?"
"They won't let her in, I need to go and get her, will you be alright for a few minutes?"
"I won't die, Baby."

I roll my eyes at him, and he gives me a teasing smile. I walk away and he looks after me, inhaling deeply and then exhaling quickly. My father is greeting people and he sees Johnny standing alone. He starts to frown and look around for me. Justin Timberlake is walking around, he is one of the members from N'Sync, then he sees Johnny and went to him. Johnny looks at him coming and starts to frown.

"Hey, I'm Justin Timberlake, I haven't seen you here before."
"I know who you are, I'm Johnny Castle, it's my first time at this event."
"Do I know you from somewhere?"
"Castle's Dance Imperium?"
"That huge dancing school in Manhattan?"
"Yes, it's my father's company."
"Right, have you been invited too?"
"How do you mean?"

On that moment I came back inside with Penny next to me. We went to Johnny. When I see Justin standing next to Johnny, I stop in my track. Penny looks at me and then at the two men.

"Something wrong, Baby?"
"Not sure."
"What do you mean?"
"I see my boss standing next to my ex, what possibly could go wrong?"

Penny looks at Justin again and starts to frown.

"Isn't that?"
"Yes, that's him. I'll tell you another time."

I take a deep breath and walk on, Penny quickly following me.

"You want something to drink?"

The two men look at me. I see Johnny frowning. I bet he has seen my expression. He looks at Penny who went to him and gives him a kiss on his cheek. He gives her a smile. Justin is watching them for a moment and then looks at me with a smile.

"Hey, Baby, it's good to see you again."
"Justin."

I deeply inhale as I am not looking at him now, Johnny is looking from me to Justin, sees the smile on his face and then looks back at me. He made the link and got confused. I see his confused expression, which is still really adorable.

"I just introduced myself to Johnny Castle."
"Yes, I can see that."
"Do you know him from somewhere? He said you've invited him."
"Yes, Justin, he's my boss."
"What do you mean?"
"As I say, he's my boss, I'm his assistant."
"You invite your boss to your father's event?"
"Yes, is that a problem?"

Justin looks at Johnny and Penny, then back at me. I can see him feeling a little agitated. I can see him getting confused as well.

"I need to go, the boys are waiting."
"Have fun."
"I'll see you later, okay?"
"Why?"
"I need to talk to you."
"Why?"

He looks at Penny and Johnny and then back at me.

"Can we do that in private?"

Penny wants to take Johnny with her, but he is not moving an inch from my side. I did notice he has moved himself a little closer to me. I sigh deeply.

"You can say what you want to me while they are here. I've got nothing to hide."
"It's about us."
"There's no us anymore, Justin."
"Baby, since we broke up, I feel so miserable."
"Maybe you should look for someone else."
"I tried, but all I want is you. I want you back."

I feel Johnny standing against me now. Penny sees Johnny's face who is watching Justin with a careful eye. I can feel him laying his hand on my lower back. I look at him and see his expression. I look back at Justin who is watching Johnny now as well.

"Justin, we had a great time. Really, as being my first boyfriend you gave me a wonderful time and so many wonderful memories, but you know as well as I do that we're just teenagers, we're young, and we just wanted to explore."
"I know we're young, but that doesn't mean we can't be together."
"Justin, I'm not in love with you anymore. You need to move on, we don't work, and I think you know that as well."

Justin sighs, then he gives Johnny one more look and turns. I watch him walking away and Johnny takes his hand away. His support was needed. I felt stronger with him next to me. I turn to him, and he smiles at me. Penny is watching us.

"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"Is my bow tie alright?"

I look at his bow tie and lift my hands to correct it a little bit. He looks at Penny and smiles.

"What's on your mind, Pen?"
"A lot, what's going on here?"
"Nothing, what makes you think there's something going on?"
"You two are way too close."

I look at Penny and see her face. She is not smiling anymore.

"We understand each other."
"You two have sex?"
"No, what makes you think that?"

Penny sighs and folds her arms.

"Pen, we had some great conversations during the time I stayed at Baby's. We understand each other. I know you understand me as well, but Baby knows how it feels with things like my father."
"Ah, okay, now I feel left out."

Johnny moves and grabs her into a tight hug. She pats his back a few times before he let her go. He smiles at her and she smiles back.

"You're still my bestie."
"Well, fine, but still."

I chuckle and give her a hug too. She smiles at me and then she looks around.

"So…"

I look at Johnny who puts his hands in his pockets.

"Your ex-boyfriend is Justin Timberlake?"
"Yes, is that a problem?"
"I didn't know you dated a boyband member."

I roll my eyes at him. Penny chuckles about it.

"He wasn't when we had a relationship. He became one right after we broke up."

The two of them start to laugh about that. I roll my eyes and see dad coming. I smile as I watch him. Mom is following him with a smile on her face. Dad takes my hands and gives me a kiss on my forehead. Mom gives me a kiss on my cheek.

"What did Justin wanted?"
"Oh, the usual."

Johnny looks at me as he thinks, dad looks at him with a smile.

"Johnny, I think you'll make quite some impression here."
"You think?"
"I'm sure."

Dad pats his shoulder once and looks at Penny. She is smiling at him.

"Hey, Penny, how are you?"
"I'm great, it's been a long time."
"You should come and visit us some time, I understood you're Johnny's best friend?"
"Yes, we're best friends for nearly our whole lives."
"You've got a great best friend."

Penny becomes curious about something as she looks at my father, who is smiling at her and then looks at Johnny with a smile. Johnny rolls his eyes. Mom and I chuckle about it. Since our talk from this afternoon dad has turned totally around. Mom seems truly happy about it. I bet they had a lot of discussions about me before.

"Come, I'll show you the table."

Penny and mom nod and follow me to the organization table as I call it. It is in the front, but a little at the side, with still a full good view at the stage. It is not the biggest table, but it is the table where my family sits and a few others who helped me, and now Johnny and Penny will sit there too. Mom told me to put myself in between Johnny and Penny. Dad stops Johnny who turns his head to look at my father.

"Johnny?"
"Yes?"
"We haven't really had a good talk before."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, that I didn't really took the time to get to know you. I just assumed things from what I heard and formed an opinion about you from those things I heard."
"Some of those things are probably true."
"That might be, but I can see your real heart."
"What do you mean?"
"I can see you're a good guy, you got your heart on the right place, and you even carry it on your sleeve. I know you seek my daughter's support a lot."
"We understand each other."
"I know. I can see you feel something for her."

Johnny looks down and puts his hands in his pockets. Dad is watching him with a smile.

"You should tell my daughter your feelings."
"She wants to keep things professional. She will lose her job when I start a relationship with her, my father was very clear about that when your daughter came for the interview."

Dad starts to frown about that. Johnny looks up and sees his face.

"I've never said this to anyone before. I would like to keep this between us, if you don't mind?"
"Of course, you can tell me anything."
"I'm in love with your daughter."

Dad watches his face closely and sees that Johnny means those words.

"I don't know when this started, all I know is that I want to be with her and make her happy, but I respect her decision, so I'm trying to stay professional."
"I can see you find it a hard thing to do."
"I do, it's very hard, but I don't want to push her into anything. I know many people think I'm entitled, and maybe I am, seeing what I have. I've done a lot of bad things, made a lot of bad decisions in my life as well. Like dropping out of high school, not going to college, fooling around a lot."

Dad is putting his hands in his pockets as he listens to Johnny who is pouring his heart out. I turn to look at where they are and I see them standing there, talking, I start to frown and wonder what they are talking about. Mom came closer to me and looks at them as well.

"Everyone comes with a baggage, son, and you're still young, you still can change your life."
"Baby is changing my life. If anything, I wish I could be like her."

Dad starts to smile now. Johnny sees his smile and starts to smile as well.

"If it makes you feel a little better about this, you've got my permission. I want my daughter to have the best of the best in life. I know we haven't been really agreeing on the life choices, but if she chooses you eventually, then I'll be more than happy. I know she can be who she truly is when she's with you, and you're good for her. Just promise me one thing."
"What thing?"
"If you ever tell her your feelings, and they're mutual, please never hurt her, or break her heart."
"I promise you I'll never hurt her in any kind of way."

Dad lays his hand on Johnny's upper back and pushes him to go with him to the table. Johnny looks around and then sees me standing next to mom. I see him starting to smile. I cannot help it, look at him, he is so gorgeous in a tuxedo, and his smile is breath taking. I can see a change. I look at dad and see him smiling too as he is talking to Johnny. I start to frown again.

"Come, Baby, you need tell your father he needs to do his opening speech."

I look at mom and nod. She lays her hand on my cheek and smiles. A few employees are bringing the guests to their appointed seats. Johnny arrives at the table. Dad came to me and gave me a kiss on my forehead. Mom sits down.

"Sit down please, I'll be right back."

I take dad's hand and walk to the side of the stage. Johnny looks after us. Penny is sitting down and looks at him while she is thinking. She knows him better than anyone else, maybe expect for me now. He looks at her and smiles, Penny inhales deeply, she can see his eyes. She has seen him before having a crush on someone, but she has never seen him being truly in love with someone. I look at dad as we stand still next to the stage.

"You want me to come on stage with you?"
"No, pumpkin, I can handle it this time. You should sit down and enjoy the evening, you deserve it with everything you've been doing."
"All right, dad, good luck with your speech."

He smiles as I give him a kiss on his cheek.

"I'm so proud of you."

With that he turns and steps onto the stage. People became quiet and look at him. I quickly go back to the table and sit between Johnny and Penny. I look at dad with smile.