Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Can't Afford Me by Thedora Birnir

Chapter 89 Reach For The

Stars, Hadley

The destination took Hadley by surprise.

Though it was her first visit, she was well aware of its reputation.

Lightning Dance Stuwas recognized as the premier modern dance troupe in Srixby, celebrated not only

locally but globally.

They had even graced the stage in Blathe once.

Regrettably, their performances were notoriously expensive and tickets disappeared almost instantly, leaving

Hadley without a chance to attend a show.

“This place...”

Stepping from the car, Hadley lingered at the entrance, shooting Eric a puzzled look. What was his reason for

bringing her here?

With a casual tilt of his head towards the building, Eric led the way.

“Come, follow me.”

“Alright.”

Hesitating briefly, she decided to follow him.

Though unaware of Eric’s intentions, the mere mention of Lightning Dance Stusparked a blend of anticipation

and curiosity within her.

Before she cback to Srixby, Hadley had researched the troupe and even considered auditioning.

However, the daunting details she uncovered had dampened her spirits.

The troupe’s leader did not hold open auditions.

Rumors even circulated that they operated a specialized training program for young talent, rarely if ever hiring

externally.

Disheartened, Hadley had abandoned the thought.

Now, as she followed Eric, she realized he was guiding her toward the backstage area.

No show was scheduled for tonight.

The rehearsal space buzzed with activity; sdancers were perfecting their routines while others honed their

solo performances. Observing them, Hadley felt a surge of excitement.

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Chapter 89 Reach For The Stars, Hadley

Suddenly, Eric clasped her hand.

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“What are you staring at?” He pulled her in closer. “Watch your step and keep your eyes ahead.”

Right after his warning, they halted before a door.

Releasing her hand, he adjusted her shirt. “Stay calm and don’t freak out when you meet Ms. Nicolson. Just

respond to her questions clearly.”

Hadley’s eyes widened in surprise. “Sorry, who?”

“Ms. Nicolson,” Eric replied, his smile widening. “Blanche Nicolson. You're a fan of modern dance, so you must

know of her.”

“I... Yes, absolutely.” Hadley nodded eagerly.

To say she knew of Blanche was an understatement. Blanche Nicolson was an icon in the dance world!

“Cool.”

With that, Eric rapped lightly on the door.

“Cin.”

From beyond the door, a voice beckoned, warm and inviting.

Eric nudged the door open and looked back at Hadley. “Stay cool. This is your first tmeeting her. Make a

good impression.”

“Right.” Though her nerves were alive with excitement, Hadley managed a nod.

They stepped into a quaint, inviting suite.

Seated on the couch was a woman who seemed to blend sophistication with casual grace, perhaps in her late

thirties or early forties. Fine lines marked the corners of her eyes, yet her skin was flawless, and she carried

herself with a toned, confident presence.

Hadley’s heart raced-this was the legendary Blanche in the flesh!

She had only ever seen Blanche through pictures on the Internet.

The thrill for any dancer meeting such a renowned figure was indescribable.

“Ms. Nicolson.” Eric advanced, offering a polite nod. “Hope we haven't kept you waiting?”

Blanche checked her watch; they had arrived five minutes ahead of schedule.

Punctuality mattered greatly to her.

Despite the meeting being arranged by a close friend and involving someone as influential as Eric, Blanche

maintained her standards against tardiness.

“Please, Mr. Flynn, take a seat.” She motioned towards the couch across from her.

“Thank you, Ms. Nicolson,” Eric responded.

However, he remained standing, gesturing for Hadley to approach. “Hadley, cintroduce yourself.”

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“Sure.”

Nervously compressing her lips, Hadley moved forward and paused before Blanche.

“Hello, Ms. Nicolson. I'm Hadley.”

It was at this moment that Blanche finally raised her eyes, scrutinizing Hadley from head to toe with a

thorough gaze.

Hadley stood there, perfectly at ease.

A slight smile touched Blanche’s lips, her gaze fixed intently on Hadley’s face.

“Do you have makeup on?”

“Yes,” Hadley replied with a nod. Earlier, she had been job hunting, which explained the makeup.

“Go wash it off,” Blanche instructed, pointing to the restroom nearby. “You'll find makeup remover there. | want

your face completely clean.”

“Okay.”

Meanwhile, Eric took his place on the sofa, keeping his distance from the discussion. After all, dance was not his

area of expertise.

Shortly after, Hadley returned, her skin clean and slightly damp.

“I've removed everything, Ms. Nicolson,” Hadley said.

“Chere,” Blanche said gently, beckoning her closer. “Sit with me.”

She tapped the couch beside her as an invitation.

Obediently, Hadley advanced and seated herself as instructed.

Blanche then raised her hand, asking, “May | touch your face?”

“Absolutely,” Hadley replied instantly.

“Excellent.”

With a gentle touch, Blanche examined Hadley’s features meticulously, her fingers tracing the contours of her

face. This was more than a casual touch.

From his spot, Eric looked on, puzzled.

What was happening? Why was Blanche examining her face so closely?

This didn’t look like an interview anymore, and honestly, Eric had never been this up close and personal with

Hadley’s face himself.

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After a moment, Blanche withdrew her hand, a content smile appearing. “Very good. No plastic surgery.”

“No,” Hadley said, smiling back with a slight shook of her head. “I got my looks from my mom.”

“Make sure it stays that way,” Blanche remarked firmly. “If you want to dance with us, your look must remain

natural. No enhancements, ever.”

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< Chapter 89 Reach For The Stars, Hadley

“Understood...” Hadley nodded in agreement, but then paused, struck by a sudden realization, “Wait, Ms.

Nicolson, could you repeat that?”

Had she misheard?

Was Blanche suggesting she might join her dance troupe? Hadley wondered if that was the implication.

“Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself,” Blanche said as she stood. “Let's go out there. | want to see you dance”

“Okay, Ms. Nicolson,” Hadley responded, her voice steady as she inhaled deeply.

Lacking proper dance attire, Hadley opted to perform in what she was wearing, selecting the renowned piece

Frontier by Martha Graham.

Despite her casual attire, her performance was flawless.

Observing with folded arms, Blanche found her admiration grew with each move Hadley made. On top of it all,

Hadley seemed vaguely familiar, like they had met before.

As the dance concluded, Hadley paused and faced Blanche respectfully. “I would appreciate any feedback you

might have, Ms. Nicolson.”

Blanche didn’t respond immediately. After a pause, she asked, “Did you once dance with Red in Blathe?” Caught

off guard, Hadley’s eyes widened. “Yes... How did you know?”

“It is you, then.” Blanche’s face lit up with a smile.

“I met sRed folks when | was touring Blathe. | remembered you. You were outperforming many of their lead

dancers. However, the locals weren't too welcoming to newcomers, which limited your opportunities.”

Blanche recalled seeing Hadley perform back then; she had effortlessly outshined sof Red's best dancers,

but being a foreigner in Blathe only made her journey tougher.

Being exceptional often meant facing undue hurdles.

Reflecting on those days, Hadley acknowledged her past frustrations. “I've put that chapter behind me. I'm here

to move forward.”

“That's excellent,” Blanche replied, nodding in approval. “I'm glad you're back. Stay with me, and you'll

definitely find your place to shine. Reach for the stars, Hadley.”

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