Before Him Comes Me (34 page)

            "Victoria,
do you really think I
’
d
let you waste your time on something that wasn
’
t going to benefit
you in some way?  You will not end up on the cutting room floor. I can
assure you.  Besides, I have already addressed that in your
contract."  

            I
remind Ken that I choreograph for videos, not perform in them. Not to pat
myself on the back and brag a bit, but I am
beyond this music video dance sequence she thinks
I am perfect for. Ken insists, and tells me it is just the perfect vehicle and
the timing is right for my career. It will get me the exposure I need. I hate
to admit it, but Ken is right. I can't compete for the rest of my life, and
need to think about where my future is headed. Remember, I started very late in
this dance world, and have not stopped or slowed down for five years
straight.  So against my better judgement I finally agree to do the video.

            "Since
I am agreeing to do this, I will need you to clear my calendar for next week,
and make the arrangements for
all the travel and lodging," I ramble off quickly
to him.

            "Victoria,
do I need to remind you that is what you pay your assistant, Ashley, for?"
  Ken fires
back.

            Before
I can answer his question, he tells me he is sending Ashley all the information
she will need in an email. He is also having the contract I need to sign
messengered over. I will need to sign it this morning and send it back, so he
can get it overnighted to LA, to Sonny
’
s management team. 

            I
don't need to be reminded by Ken about my assistant, Ashley Jones.
She came to me when I
first bought the NYC studio. I was looking for someone to help me manage my
studio and my personal affairs. From the moment she arrived for the interview,
I knew she was the right choice for the job. She
’
d arrived early, and
witnessed me losing control as I juggled multiple phone calls while trying to
make myself a cup of coffee.  Without a word, Ashley grabbed the phone
right out of my hand and effortlessly handled the onslaught of calls so that I
could get my head together with a much-needed jolt of caffeine.  

           
From that moment
forward, she has been my assistant. She
’
s my right hand, and takes care of everything
for me. Ashley is like the sister I never had. Not only is she an amazing
assistant she is also a great friend. My shopping buddy, my dinner date and my
shoulder to cry on. Yep, I still cry and she is always there for me. Even
though Ashley is efficient and great at her job she has her insecurities just
like me. You know the usual stuff all of us women suffer about. That's where I
come in. Religiously I drag her kicking and screaming to the salon every month
but I know deep down she enjoys some of the beauty rituals I make her experience.
 She's into the facials, mani's and pedi's but draws the line for spray
tans and waxing.  Even though she doesn't share my obsession with beauty
products and makeup the girl can apply a wing liner with perfection. I know
underneath those jeans and t-shirts she wears to work everyday is a smoking hot
body. One day I'll get her to discover her inner goddess. Mark my words.

           
When I walk into my
studio office, I can tell by the phone conversation Ashley is involved in that
she is already busy booking my flight and hotel for my trip to Los Angeles.
When she finishes the call I am waiting for her comments, because she has an
opinion for just about everything I do. 

            "So
you are going to LA to do a music video?" she quizzes me.

            I
can tell by her tone she does not think this is a good idea,
 so I head for the
door to enter the dance studio. 

            "Don't
run off anywhere!
 
I need you to sign this contract before you start your day," she yells
after me, waving papers in the air.  

            "Yes,
Ashley, I am going to LA to shoot a music video.
  It
’
s too early in the
morning; I
’
ve already had to
deal with Ken
’
s ass.” and I
scribble my signature on the contract. 

            I
know I don't have to read any of it. Ken takes good care of me, and he has
never given me
any
bad career advice. He was another benefit of moving to NYC. I met him through
Mateo when I came here. Mateo told me he could be trusted, and has become a
close friend as well. Mateo and I are an amazing dance couple, but without Ken
and his great skills as a publicist we would never have become such a household
name in the dance world. 

            "Who
is this Latin Superstar called Sonny de la Cruz? If I don't know who this guy
is,
you
certainly have no
idea who he is. Do they know you don
’
t speak Spanish?" Ashley asks.

            I
don't need to answer her because she can tell by the look I just gave her that
I don't care if they know this or not. This
language issue seems to come up quite a bit.
Since I am a Latin dancer, people assume I speak Spanish. Mateo always is
traveling with me and takes care of translating when I need to know something.
I just have had no time or really any interest in learning. 

            "I
can't wait to hear about this venture when you return from shooting your little
music video with an artist you know nothing about, Victoria," Ashley
sarcastically remarks as I walk out the office, ignoring her as I slam the door
behind me.

About
the author

I have always been the storyteller
amongst my family and friends.  So after meeting a romance author at work
one day and discovering I had a story to tell I took her advice and sat down to
write.  I tried her suggested method and immediately walked away from it.
Two months later I opened my iPad and used the Notes app without even a
keyboard and started writing. I wrote book 1 & 2 of my trilogy on my iPad.
Once I started writing I couldn't stop the story from flowing. 

           
Two years ago
when I started on this writing journey I walked away from watching television
and opened my mind and heart and made changes in my life. Music became my muse
and my inspiration. When I'm not writing you will find me with a set headphones
on listening to music on my beautiful patio dreaming up a new story idea.

           
Thank you
Alexandria Sure for this opportunity to share my story. I remember when we
first introduced to each other. You have been the best cheerleader and support
for me. We did it! 

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Twitter @DiAnneSandvik

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Email:
[email protected]

Before
Him Comes Me

Alexandria
Sure