I was frozen in my spot as the General eyed as much as he could of my body. I was so ashamed that I had been caught that I couldn't think straight and the only thing that popped into my mind was that my face was heating up for the thousandth time that day, it appear as if General Winter had the power to make me blush for whatever reason. The General just laughed and clapped his hands.

"It was you, then"

He got up from his seat and walked over to me, putting his heavy hands over my small shoulders; he leaned down and whispered in my ear seductively. I was trembling slightly as I didn't know what was going to happen, but when I felt his hot breath on my ear I felt something I couldn't understand.

"It was you who made me feel butterflies in my stomach when I saw your exquisite dancing"

I was in a complete state of shock. The General had just said he liked my dancing and had called it "exquisite". I was so confused and I found myself not being able to think straight once again. I turned around and looked at him right in the eyes. Our faces were inches apart and I could feel his breath in my lips. I was feeling warm inside, but at that moment, I didn't know what I was feeling. I was too innocent.

"D-Did you like m-my dancing?"

I stuttered with a very soft voice, almost a whisper. The General smirked and caressed the side of my face, my smooth cheek and twirled his fingers in my soft hair.

"It was beautiful... just like you are"

Then I was at a loss of words and my mind was a haze. My hands trembled and tangled themselves in the ends of my scarf, as I was feeling at unease at the closeness of the General and his words. In my mind, I couldn't believe that the words the General was whispering were true. I thought myself as pretty, but I didn't think anyone else would notice, especially not a man.

"Do you think I'm beautiful?"

Then I felt the tip of the General's finger running up from my neck to my chin, enjoying the smooth feeling of my skin, which tingled every time the General touched it. The General said he thought so and hoped that I didn't think anything bad from him. I said no, of course I wouldn't think anything bad from such a kind man. He said I was really beautiful once again and inched closer to my face. I knew what was going to happen, so I closed my eyes and waited to feel the contact of his lips with mine, but then I suddenly heard something.

"Ekaterina, I won't need you today, you can go if you want to. I will test your brother out"

"Yes, sir"

I heard my sister say from the other side of the door. The General had taken advantage when I closed my eyes and walked to the door, leaving me behind with a stupid look on my face. I had never felt so stupid in my entire life, thinking that he would kiss me! Then the General turned around to face me, I could still feel my blush tinting my pale cheeks. He smiled at me and walked over to his chair, putting his hands behind his back.

"I want you to do something for me. Your first job"

I was expectant to hear what the General wanted from me so I nodded and waited for him to answer my silent question.

"I want you to dance for me"

I felt like my mind had left my body at that moment and couldn't believe what I had just heard. I felt my face heating up and a nervous feeling take over my entire body. The General was waiting for my answer and looked like, judging by the expression on his face when I blushed, he was enjoying seeing me look so uncomfortable. It seemed as if he had complete control over the situation and over me.

"But... b-but I don't know how to dance properly"

"I don't care about proper dancing, Ivan; I just want to see your dancing"

I knew I couldn't say no to the General so easily and I also knew that there was no chance of my sister catching me, as I have already heard her leaving before saying goodbye to me from her office. So I decided to man up and do it.

"I will"

I said with determination and the General applauded as he took as seat and intertwined his fingers, placing his elbows over the armrests of his chair. I looked at him once again and said to myself.

"Come on, Ivan, you can do it"

I removed my coat and left it on my seat. Because of the fireplace and the blush in my face and down my neck I could feel the once cold room turning warmer and warmer. So I walked to the middle of the room and took of my scarf, extending my arms up in the air while holding the pink scarf. I turned around, giving the General a good view of my round backside, although I didn't do it with that intention.

I started moving my hips slowly, gyrating them timidly and then began playing with my scarf, tracing patterns in the air. I twirled around several times, so many times that I stopped counting after the twelfth, and then I stopped abruptly, with my back at the General. I gyrated my shoulders and then began moving my hips once again. I could feel the General's lustful gaze on me, but that only encouraged me to continue as I knew he liked it and didn't think it was sloppy, like I was so scared of.

When I finished dancing, I got on my knees and, lifting my scarf up in the air, I leaned my head back in a triumphant pose. The General stood up and applauded, with a wicked smile on his face. I was exhausted and sweating a little from the heat in the room. Or was it me that was hot? I never knew. The General helped me up and put his hands on my shoulders.

"You are a natural. You were born with the gift, Ivan"

The General's hands slid from my shoulders down my back to my bottom, where he left them as he approached my face. He was a little taller than me and that made me feel something inside. Like if it was something good that this man, for whom I had just danced, was taller and broader than me. At that moment, I realised that I loved the feeling of being watched intently while dancing. It made me feel beautiful and something else. My feelings at that time were not all too clear; I just knew I had just given a step closer to my dream of dancing professionally.

"Thank you, General"

The General kissed my hand and gave me a little pat on my backside.