Back at work

I walk back inside after I went to get coffee for us. Penny is still at the hospital. We would have been organizing everything for going to Kellerman's, but I do not know if we really should go. Every lesson and show is based on Johnny and Penny doing this together, the pressure would be too much for Johnny alone, and we do not have anyone else who could fall in for Penny.

Amanda sees me coming inside.

"Hey, girl, how you're doing?"

I look up and see her smiling at me. I look around to see if she was looking at someone behind me and then look back at her being somewhat confused. I point at myself while I went closer to the reception desk.

"Why are you instantly acting all nice to me?"
"Why not? I figured since you're still having your job after three weeks or so, that you might not be as what I first thought you were."
"And that is?"
"A gold-digger, who only seeks out a new victim, and that victim is Johnny, but I can see you like doing your job."

My eyebrows go up about that. I guess she is reflecting her own self image onto me to make her feel good about herself. And I still do not understand why she is still being a receptionist. I keep looking at her face. She sees my serious face, and he smile drops.

"I thought that after three weeks working here I would see you improving a little on your attitude, but I see you're still the same."
"You're not my boss."
"True, and I'm not a gold-digger, if you really want to know, I'm a billionaire myself, I don't need a man for his money, which is actually a disgusting thing to do and it's sad to see women lowering their own decency just for some green paper."

She starts to snort at me when I said that. I keep looking at her face.

"Yes, I know it sounds unbelievable, I'm surprised you haven't done your research about me, all you do is sitting behind this desk, not answering the phone when it starts ringing, being condescending to the customers, not to mention to your superiors, making mean remarks about people's looks and openly flirting with my boss, which is by the way my boyfriend. So, if you don't want to lose your job, start trying your best, okay?"

With that I turn and went to the stairs. Amanda looks after me with her mouth open, having an expression of disbelief on her face. Ron stands in the doorway, he has seen and heard the whole thing. He wanted to ask Amanda to make some copies, but he starts to think about what I said to her.

"Boyfriend? What a joke."

Amanda says to herself in disbelief. Ron walks to the reception desk and stands still having his arms folded. She sees him and starts to smile her Amanda way again. All fake and all.

"What can I do for you, boss?"
"Amanda, stop the crap."
"I don't know what you mean?"
"I've heard everything you said to Baby."
"Baby? You're calling her Baby too?"
"Yes, because that's the nickname my son gave her when he was eight."

Her eyebrows go up when Ron said that. He sees her astonishment and sighs deeply.

"Look, you've got no clue about Baby's background, like she said, you clearly haven't done your research. And neither do you know anything about my son's background, besides his bad reputation. I hired you because I saw something in you, someone who is ambitious. I want to ask you something."

She keeps looking at him, not saying anything, but he can see her getting smaller with the second.

"Did you take this job just to try to get a shot with my son or not?"

She looks away from him, he can see the tears forming in her eyes.

"I see, you know, my son was a womanizer, but he wasn't a pathetic one, he could see your desperation, that's why he ignored you all together. Plus, he told me after you worked here for about a week that you're not qualified for this job, but I kept you on this position, just because I thought you could change and grow. I wanted to give you a chance."

She sniffs and takes a tissue to dry her eyes. Ron thinks about this and came to an idea.

"You still want to grow in my company?"
"What do you mean?"
"If you want to do something else than this job."
"I would love to, but I've got no degrees, or experiences."
"But you do love to dance, right?"
"I do, dancing is my life."

He starts to smile and gives her a nod. She looks a little confused when she sees his smile. She was truly scared of getting fired.

"Call Baby, and ask her if she wants to come down with my son to my office, then make copies of this and come to my office as well."
"Okay, how many copies?"
"Ten."

He hands out the papers, she takes them as she watch him going back to his office. She sighs deeply and calls my phone.

"Johnny Castle's office speaking."
"It's Amanda."
"What do you want, Amanda?"
"The boss asked if you and Johnny can come down to his office."
"Why?"
"I don't know, he just told me to call you and say that."
"All right, thanks, we'll be there in a minute."

I lay the horn down and look at Johnny who is looking at some papers. He is frowning. He is very concretrated. His frown is truly adorable.

"What are you doing?"

He looks up and starts to smile at me. I stand up and went to him. He sits back and I sit myself on his lap. He gives me a kiss as he lays his arms around me.

"I'm sorting a few things for Max Kellerman, that man is impossible."

I giggle and start to kiss him. He moans a little as he kisses me back.

"Hmm, this kiss is nice."
"I know, but your father has asked us to come to his office."

I see him starting to frown again. I let my fingers glide over his brow as he looks at my face.

"Let's go, I want to tell dad about our idea as well."

I smile and give him one more kiss before I get off his lap. He stands up and looks at me up and down while biting his lip.

We see Amanda sitting at Ron's desk. I start to frown when I look at her. Johnny is a little confused too. Ron smiles as he sees us coming inside. His assistant wants to take extra chairs for us.

"It's okay, Maggie, I can handle this."

She nods and sits back down. Johnny takes the chairs and I sit down next to Amanda. I look at her, she is not looking at me but looking down. I wonder what this is about.

"I asked you three to come to my office because I've got some ideas."
"What ideas, dad?"
"I've been observing a few things that are going on here."
"Things like?"

Ron looks at his son and then at me and Amanda. He nods his head. Johnny looks at us a little confused.

"I overheard their conversation, and it made me think."
"What has happened this time?"

Johnny looks at me and I inhale deeply. I look at Amanda again who does not dare to look up at me or Johnny, let it be at Ron.

"Amanda was rude, condescending and judgmental, like always."
"Did you handled her the Baby way?"

I look at his face and see him starting to smile. The Baby way? Is that what he calls it when I am acting like a boss. He chuckles a little.

"Baby, I know you, and I know how you handle rude employees."
"You call that the Baby way?"
"Yes, because no one else can do what you do without losing respect."

Amanda is watching us now. He takes my hand and gives me a kiss. I look at Ron again and he nods in approval. Still, what is going on here?

"Son, I know you've been telling me so often that Amanda is not qualified for the job she's doing."
"Well, that's because she's plain rude to our customers, she rarely answers the phone, and let's face it, dad, she's hunting my skin since the first second she's working here."

Amanda starts to cry. I look at her and see her falling apart from what Johnny just said. I stand up and went to Maggie, she looks up at me, I point at the box of tissues. Maggie gives it to me, and I went to sit down again, holding the box up to Amanda. She looks at me, sees my smile, and takes a tissue to dry her tears. Johnny is admiring me, but so is Ron.

"What are your real dreams, Amanda?"

She sighs as she thinks about my question. She looks at Ron who is only watching us, then she looks back at me.

"Dancing is my life."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I dance since I was three. I wish to become a professional, but it's impossible to get there."
"Dreams can come true when you really want them to come true. Why did you take the job as receptionist? And please, give me the real reason."
"I thought I could grow from there, getting promoted to dance instructor eventually."
"What style?"
"Ballroom, and I admire Johnny so much, he's such a great dancer, and I thought if I could get him I would get there too."

Johnny gets agitated about this. I look at him and see the frustrations. I lay my hand on his thigh.

"So, you wanted to use me?"
"I'm so sorry."
"Dad, fire her please."

Ron holds his hand up to stop his son, he looks at me and nods. He likes where this is going. I can see that on his face, I give him a nod back and look at Amanda again. Johnny let out a deep sigh, I feel his hand taking mine to relax a little more.

"You do understand that it's not a good way to get what you want, right?"
"I do, and I feel so stupid."
"You've indeed been acting stupid, but I can see your passion."

She looks at my face, and sees I am still smiling. Why would I not help someone who seems to have such a big dream, but just decided to choose the wrong way to get it come true. I know Amanda and I always seem to clash, but I think it is just because of jealousy coming from her side.

"You called me a gold-digger, did you thought I would do exactly that what you were trying for years?"

She looks down at the tissue in her hands. I can see she feels really bad for what she did, I can see there is more to her than she has been showing everyone.

"I'm not a dancer. Johnny is teaching me, and I love it, but I'll never be as passionate as he is, or as you are because I can see your passion, and I can see your regret, but what I'm good at, and what I really love, is organizing events, assisting Johnny and helping people, especially helping people getting their dreams come true."

She looks up at me again, then at Johnny, who nods at her, he still does not look so happy about her confession. Hmm, an idea just pops into my head, not sure what Johnny or Ron will think about this, but I know it will help Amanda, and hopefully she will be changing her attitude when I help her. So, I have to try this.

"I'm going to help you."

I see her face, and I give her a nod and a smile. Then she looks at Ron, who is getting curious, and then at Johnny who starts to smile. He knew I would come with something to make this right. Ron had an idea as well, but he wants to hear mine first. I keep looking at her face, seeing her getting curious now as well.

"What have you been studying?"
"Nothing specific, I didn't go to college."
"But you finished high school?"
"Yes, five years ago."

I look for a pen and a piece of paper. Ron takes a pen and his post-its block and gives it to me, I thank him as I take them from him. I write something down while I keep talking to Amanda.

"Would you want to go to college?"
"Am I not too old for that?"
"No one is too old to study, what do you think of Juilliard?"

Her eyebrows went up. I see her thinking and then frowning.

"I'll never get in, their auditioning system is like infamous, they break people who go for an audition."
"I get that, but I'm not talking about going full-time to Juilliard."
"I'm confused."
"Juilliard has an adult study section, did you know that?"
"No, what does that mean?"
"This section is for adults who still dream of becoming a dancer, or a dance instructor but won't be able to do audition for the full-time study."
"How do you know this, Baby?"

I look at Ron, I see his curiosity, I start to smile and give him a nod.

"I've got connections. I know it sounds weird coming from a seventeen-year-old, but I've got connections in all the colleges in New York State."

Ron starts to smile and gives me a nod, Johnny is still admiring me for my Baby way, and as I look at Amanda, I can see her astonishment.

"Now, from what I know, most adult classes are in the evenings, this means you still can keep working on daytime."
"I don't get fired?"
"You're not going to be a receptionist anymore."
"I'm confused, Baby."

I look at Johnny and sit straight, I see his confusion about that. I turn a little and takes his hands in mine while I smile at him. He is looking closely at my face and inhales deeply. I think that he knows what is going to come now.

"I know this might be against your feelings."
"But?"
"I want Amanda to be your part-time assistant when I go to NYU."
"But..."

I hold my hand up, stopping him from protesting, he needs to listen first before he can make a protest about what is on my mind now.

"Listen, I think this is good, you told me you didn't want me to work if I go to college."
"I do, but you don't need to work, you're a billionaire."
"Stop stating the obvious, you know I love to work. I want to make a compromise."
"I do, but Baby, aren't you scared she's going to try anything when you're not around?"

I look at Amanda whose astonishment only had grown. I look back at him with a smile.

"I trust you, and I'm sure she won't even dare to try anything when she'll be my employee, and when I've taught her to be a good one too."
"What do you mean?"

The question came from Ron, I look at him and give him a nod. Johnny is starting to smile now while the other two are truly confused. He gets what I am saying.

"I'm going to hire Amanda as my assistant."
"I'm confused, you've got your own company?"

I look at Ron and smile, I give him a nod.

"I've got several employees working for me. I'm an entrepreneur, I guess you haven't done your research either."

Johnny chuckles about his father's astonishment. Of course, Johnny knows, we have been talking a lot between the sex and the cuddling, and I have let him done his research when I could see he did not believed me either.

"I know what you're thinking, but if Amanda wants to be a dance instructor, then I want to give her the opportunity to learn to become one until she can work for you as a dance instructor. If you're up to the idea that is."

Ron looks at Amanda whose astonishment is still huge, and she is speechless. I look at Johnny again who is smiling again, he could have guessed that I would do something like that, and I think that him knowing Amanda will be my employee, it gives him a more safer feeling, that she would not dare to do anything when she is his assistant.

"So, I don't really have to pay you?"
"Indeed, if you prefer not to pay me anymore, I'm fine with that too."

Ron looks at his son and sees Johnny's smile, he is frowning a little.

"Are you okay with this, son?"
"Yes, but on one condition."
"And that is?"
"When Baby goes to college, she won't be working anymore, I want her to only focus on her study."

Johnny looks back at me. I knew he would say that. That was actually my compromise, but with one exception. I cannot and will not give up on dad's events, they are my main business, and I want to expand my business with organizing more events, like Ron's dance conventions, that is my future plan for my company. I know, dear reader, I should have informed you about this as well, but maybe you could have guessed something already, or maybe not. I guess I want you to enjoy this story and not bore you with business talk, it is after all about my happily ever after.

"I agree on that, but with one exception."
"And that is?"
"I will keep organizing dad's events, they're my main business, I can't stop doing them and I'll be organize your father's dance conventions too."
"Yes, I would love if you can take them over. I've been asking around about your reputation, and you've got some big reputation from what I heard."

Johnny leans in to kiss me. I lay my hand on his lower jaw as I kiss him back. I giggle a little as he opens his eyes with a smile.

"I'll never take that away from you, Baby."
"Then you agree on having Amanda as your part-time assistant when I'm going to college?"
"Yes, I agree, it would be good for her."

I look at Amanda and see her still being speechless. I take the post-it I have been writing on and hand it out to her. She is still looking at me.

"So, what do you think of this idea?"
"I'm confused, you really want me to study at Juilliard and work part-time as your assistant?"
"Yes, if you're up for it?"
"What if I'm not good enough, and I suck at my study?"
"If that's the case, we'll look for something else."
"What about salary? I need the money."

I knew she would be asking that. I keep smiling as I nudge her to take the paper, she carefully takes it and looks at what I have written on it.

"The phone-number and name are from the person who leads the adult section at Juilliard. I know him personally. You don't have to do audition for the adult section, they take everyone. Give him a call to schedule an introduction meeting, okay? I'll go with you."
"Okay, but how am I going to pay for this?"
"You're not paying for the study, I'm going to do that."
"I'll never be able to pay you back."
"You don't have to. I'm offering you this opportunity to make something of your life. I just want something in return from you, and that's you're going to do your best and work hard for what you want, and that you listen to me when I teach you to be Johnny's assistant."

She was looking at me and then looks at the post-it again. I see her frown forming.

"What's this number at the bottom of the post-it?"

I look at it for a second and back at her face, she is looking at me.

"That's your salary."

Her mouth drops as she looks at the number again.

"Is this per month?"
"Yes."
"It's double from what I earn now, are you for real?"
"I am, and I know you'll be working hard, so I think you deserve to earn this but remember, I'm not going to make it easy on you, and you're going with us to Kellerman's, I'm not going to give you a holiday so easily."

I wink at her and she scoffs a little about that. Ron starts to smile now, he can see why I am so loved with so many people, though he made a mental note to do some research about me.

And for you, reader, to clear the sky a little, I got the fame for being the youngest female entrepreneur in history. I will tell you more about that later.

"I don't know what to say."
"Just thank me, but as for today, if you want, you can keep working as receptionist so Ron can look for someone else who can start tomorrow already. As from tomorrow on, you'll be my assistant and I expect punctuality and kindness."
"I won't disappoint you."
"Good to hear."

I can see she is emotional about this, and I can see she is truly thankful for getting an opportunity, and that I seem to have forgiven her for her attitude towards me. I smile as I see her starting to smile now.

"Thank you."

I give her a nod and turn to look at Johnny.

"I need to call my solicitor to put up a contract for Amanda."

I stand up and lean in to give my boyfriend a sweet kiss. My boyfriend, how good that sounds, don't you think? They watch me walking away.