Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Goddamn. I stare down the Strip before me. The sidewalks glint in the afternoon light, palm trees waving their fronds. A classic car putters down the road, followed by a gleaming Ferrari; a Rolls driven by a chauffeur; and a lumbering RV. I let out a snort. Everyone and their mother is here to gamble, party, or do whatever floats their boat, and who am I to stop them? Hell, I might as well play some cards and join in the fun.
As I stroll down the sidewalk, a group of choreographed dancers catches my eye and I stop for a moment to watch. It’s enchanting, actually. There are a number of ballerinas dressed in flowy white costumes waving their arms and going onto tiptoe as they sway to classical music.
“Come on in,” an announcer blares into a microphone. “The Degas is the hotel of the moment, and you’ll find the best cards here. Blackjack, roulette, poker? We have it all! Enjoy live shows and strong drinks while relaxing in the utmost luxury!”
As if in reply, the dancers sway to the left in unison, and then to the right, resembling a rippling field of wheat. Suddenly, I get it. The hotel is the Degas, like the artist Edgar Degas, who’s famed for his paintings of ballerinas. It’s said the artist was captivated by the grace and fluidity of dancers’ movements. He sought to capture the dynamism of the human body in motion, and ballet provided a perfect subject for exploring these themes.
I shrug and begin moving towards the circular entrance. It’s clever, so why the hell not? The hotel is a pink and white monstrosity, glittering in the harsh afternoon sun, but this is Vegas ... and I might as well make some money while I’m at it.
2
Ashley
Isee him as soon as he walks into the room. He’s tall, dark, and dominant with black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a commanding air. Everything about him practically screams money, from the perfectly-cut suit to the blindingly white shirt and chunky silver watch peeking out from beneath his sleeve.
Perfect.
After all, I’m here to hunt. I look like an innocent young girl, and in some ways, I still am. I’m all of eighteen and arrived in the City of Sin with stars in my eyes. I was invited by the Las Vegas National Ballet to be a founding member of their company, and my excitement was through the roof.
“Can you believe it?” I asked when I got my job offer in the mail. “They want me, Ashley Finnegan, to join the ballet corps! Oh my god, I never thought this would happen!”
Miss Lazarus, my old instructor, merely smiled as she gripped her cane.
“You were always going to make it, my dear,” she said in a voice cracked with age. “I knew you would.”
“Yes, but I’m big!” I said, still staring at the letter in my hands. “I mean, bigger,” I corrected hastily. “You know that ballerinas are so tiny and that many companies prefer a lean look, whereas I definitely have junk in the trunk.”
Miss Lazarus merely smiled kindly.
“Yes, but times change,” she intoned. “And in my opinion, the change has been long overdue in our discipline. Full-figured girls can be graceful, lithe, and enchanting, and it’s time for you to shine. I’m so excited for you, sweetheart.”
I smiled tremulously, tears on my lashes, because it was a fantasy come true. I’ve been dancing since I was a little girl, and it’s always been my dream to be a professional ballerina. But I never thought it would happen because as soon as I hit eleven or so, my body began to develop, and I lost the skinny weightlessness of a child. I became curvy and voluptuous with big breasts, thick thighs, and a round booty. Suddenly, my leotards were far too small, and I had to order the special kind with thick straps and a reinforced bust to hold my girls in. I could hardly button my tutus around my waist, and even my pointe shoes seemed to shrink overnight.
But now, the Las Vegas National Ballet has invited me, Ashley Finnegan, to join their new troupe, and I was beyond myself with joy. I dropped out of high school, packed my bags, and flew to Sin City within the next month, excited to start my new job. We curvy girls were going to rule the stage, and show the world that voluptuous women can dance with the best of them.
At first, it was even better than I expected because I moved into an apartment complex where a lot of the other ballerinas lived, and we were an exciting bunch. There were tall girls, short girls, thin girls, curvy ones, and even a girl with only one leg. I immediately befriended Belinda, and we spent a couple nights chattering about choreographing an asymmetric routine to highlight her unique disability.