Page 10 of Cocky Nerd
“You’re a donor? Sincewhen?”
“Since lastyear.”
“You mean since I startedthere?”
“It did coincide with your employment there, sure. I’ve dined with Louisa and been to a cocktail party at herhouse.”
Louisa Boehmer is the Artistic Director of the Bay Area Ballet. She’s a retired principal dancer and a phenomenal choreographer. I worship her, even though she is not immune to the politics of art and commerce. No one is,apparently.
“I’m friendly with several board members.” He looks at me, very seriously. “You should be the Sugar Plum fairy in the Nutcracker this year. You’d be perfect. It’s a great part for you, right? I intend to tell them so when I hand them the nextcheck.”
“Uh, you are correct, sir. That would be…very much appreciated. I thought you didn’t approve of my careerchoice.”
“Things havechanged.”
“Howso?”
“I’ve changed. My perspective on things has changed. I wish to support yourendeavors.”
“Thank you. My endeavors would be grateful for your support.”Suck it, Kennedy, my Sugar Daddy’s hotter than yours!“You’d really do that forme?”
“I’ve made a lot of money, Olivia, and I know everyone says they want to make the world a better place, but I do especially intend to make the world a better place for the people I care about, and that includesyou.”
My hand goes to my heart. “Thank you, Johnny. Thankyou.”
“So you won’t mind if I try to help you in thisway?”
“No. I don’t mind. I mean, I would have a few years ago, but…I’ll graciously accept it now. I mean—I know that there’s no guarantee that I’ll get the part even so. It’s such a coveted role. But yeah. Thank you for supporting theballet.”
“You’rewelcome.”
“Wait. Have you even been to a performance? Did you come see me dance without tellingme?”
He doesn’t answer. “So you agree to the terms, asdiscussed?”
“The terms? Is there acontract?”
He opens up his messenger bag and gets up to hand me a printed-out contract, then returns to the armchair to watch me look at it. I suddenly feel uncomfortable with the formality of these terms. I stand up and walk over to the kitchen counter, to lean against it while I scan the twopages.
