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Sofia lifted a hand to her lips to hold back a gasp and a handful of curses She wasn’t wealthy, for one thing Her father ht be one of the richest people in the world, but that didn’t ht under his roof until after her mother’s death when Sofia was just thirteen She’d followed herthat financial line and refusing his support a long tio Her father equated money with power, and she wouldn’t let him dictate her life Ballet was her defiance—her choice of art over the alhty dollar

Her father knew he couldn’t control her choices Not even Vitaly Koslov in all his arrogance would arrange for her to ues Not after an exhausting overseas dance schedule and nine hours in the air across seven time zones Would he?

A ringing noise distracted her from the question and she peered around, only to realize the chime came from her pocket Her cell phone Shethe device, she muted the volume, but not before half the dancers on the plane turned to stare Including the group nearby who’d been gossiping about her

None of them looked particularly shamefaced

Sofia hurried toward an open seat and buckled into the wide leather chair for descent She checked the inco text on her phone while the pilot

Her closest friend, Jasreed to help Sofia with a PR initiative this year to take her dance career to the next level Jasreed to for Dance azine

Reporter and one camera operator for Dance will meet you in ter off a successful world tour! Touch up your a pants, please

Panic crawled up her throat at the idea of itated about the other dancers’ comments Still, she pulled out her travel duffel and fished around the botto to coood that Antonia had ht be high-handed and overbearing, but he’d known about the Dance azine interview She’d told him there was a chance the reporter would want to meet her at the airport He wouldn’t purposely embarrass her

Unless he fully intended to put her on the spot? Prevent her fro a new man on her while the cameras rolled?

Impossible She shook off the idea as too over the top, even for hiloss wand out when her phone chie from Jasmine

WARNING—the camera person freelances for the tabloids I’m not worried about you, of course, but maybe warn the other dancers? Good luck!

The plane wheels hit the tar the phone froloss, she knew no a disaster If Antonia was correct about her father’s plans and sou would be terrible It would under a publicist in the first place

Celebrated choreographer Idris Fortier was in town this week and he planned to create a ballet to premiere in New York Sofia would audition for a feature role—as would every other wohtest opportunity

Maybe it already had

Steeling herself for whatever happened in the ter heart Forewarned was forearossipy colleague had given her a heads-up on her father’s plan With cahtest ue with hiood PR opportunity when she had the chance of a lifetime to be the featured dancer in a new Idris Fortier ballet

She would think of this as a performance and she would nail it, no e had to offer That’s what she did, damn it