Chapter 8

***Kenya***.

I danced to the high tempo of the music playing in the practice arena. I was sweating and my breath came out rapidly. Yet, I wasn't ready to stop my tired body

During the course of my dancing, a bit of my hair had come off my bun, plastered against my forehead. I needed to perfect my timing to the dance, so that I could get selected for the part.

For the first time since I started dancing with my company, I was being given a chance to audition for an important role. The part of the black swan. I was currently alone in the J'aime dance school. Everyone else had gone for the day, hours ago, leaving only me. It was Friday night, already 7pm, and I knew that most people, like myself, needed the weekend to relax.

Stopping for a moment to take a breath, I allowed my tired legs to lead me to the vending machine in the refreshment area, where I grabbed a bottle of water. As I finished taking a swig, my eyes fell upon the news item on the television and my heart instantly skipped a beat. There was news about Levi Ruthford concerning the tour he had given the entire nation about the real Levi Ruthford.

A jolt of elation traveled across my body at the awareness that Levi had truly taken my advice. *Transparency*. Yes, he had been truly transparent with America this time. He had poured his entire self out for the whole of America to see. Pleasure trailed through my body as I watched his face pop up on the screen.

All day, since this afternoon, the entire news channels had been abuzz about the tour Shirley O'Brian of NYN had with Levi Ruthford. He had taken her down memory lane. A past which I was certain must have been too hard for him to visit. I was surprised to learn that at some point in life, Levi and his late mother had moved into Hell's Kitchen, because his then late father had squandered all their money on women and gambling. Their house, the Ruthford mansion, lost and all their assets. They had moved there, where his mother had worked as a waitress in a pizza parlor.

Throughout the entire tour, Levi had shown great composure and had been expressionless. He had answered every question that Shirley had thrown at him. And had even defended himself well, when Shirley had raised questions about his arrest in connection with the murder of five of New York's top business men, as an adolescent. Even about speculations of him murdering his wife. His only response had been to remind Shirley that he had been substantially cleared, of those suspicions, years ago.

I had found it hard to believe that this upright man had ever been linked to suspicions of murder. A man who promised to make an amendment to the abortion bill in New York, in favor of life for unborn children. Thankfully, with this new insight on Levi, the polls had shifted in his favor and people were screaming his support. Even the women who had previously shown displeasure at his lack of a functional family, seemed to have been appeased by his sudden confession of getting married in a few days.

I didn't know if that declaration from him of getting married in a few days sat well with me. When I had first heard that declaration from his lips earlier in the segment, a tight knot had formed in my throat.

Now bathing in one of the dance school's showers, I felt hurt that he had known he was getting married and had played with my feelings as such.

*What if I had fallen for him and had given my all to him? He had made me feel so so desirable.*

Despite the fact that he had known I had a limp. It hadn't mattered to him. But he had only done that to tease me, I realized now. And now I wondered how I was to have thought him upright, if he could have thought to have a dalliance with a vulnerable me. Knowing he was engaged. Allowing the cold water trail down my body, I let my tears wash away.

After I came out of the shower, I wrapped a bathrobe around my body and strode to one of the cubicles to pick out my clothes. Then I heard a high whistle. Turning abruptly to the sound, I came face to face with Hank, watching me from beneath a dark gaze. My eyes widened at the sight of him before me, dressed in an all-black hoodie and chinos. He looked foreboding as he stood against one of the shelves, his hands folded across his chest.

"Hello, Kenya." Hank drawled, as he let a dirty gaze travel across my undressed form. I clutched tight to the robe wrapped round me and watched him warily.

"Wwhat are you doing here, Hank? And how did you get in here?" I asked, alarmed.

Hank chuckled bitterly as he came off the shelf and closed the distance between us.

"Wrong questions baby." He lifted a hand and trailed a lazy index finger along my left cheek. I flinched in disgust at the touch and turned my face away from him. He dragged my face roughly to his and smiled, darkly. His handsome face, marred by a sneer.

"You know, if you had only let me, Kenya Pleasure you the way I wanted, I mean, we wouldn't be in this. You force my hand, baby"

He pulled my lips and forcefully kissed me. I was trembling. The next instant, he yelled in agony, as I bit his lower lip. The action forced him to let me go. I didn't even wait a second longer. I simply ran out of the room, away from Hank's madness.

I heard a furious roar from him, as I ran. He shouted my name, but I didn't stop.