Read Online Plain Return (The Plain Fame Series Book 4) by Sarah Price - Free Book Online

attitude, constant interruptions, and invasive hands that kept repositioning her hips and shoulders. He wanted her to look up at the mirror-lined walls while he was constantly pointing out what she was doing wrong, and never what she did right. Just the manner in which he talked to her made Amanda want to run from the room and never return.
    “Amanda,” he said, making an effort to sound patient. “You have to learn these basic moves.” He walked over and stood before her, his arms crossed over his chest. His dark eyes studied her face. He was taller than her, but lean of build, and he always wore black slacks and a white button-down shirt with no collar. If there was something nice she could say about Stedman, it was that he had a real passion for dance. “This is a tour. A megamillion-dollar investment. Viper hired me to teach you to dance.”
    She looked down at her feet, ashamed of her reaction. This was for Alejandro, after all. The upcoming tour meant a lot to him and not just for financial reasons. “I know that.”
    “Good!” Stedman clapped his hands and smiled. “Then let’s get your body moving a bit more, shall we? And remember, Amanda, that when you are onstage, everything needs to be bigger than you think.” He demonstrated by extending his left arm to the side, a slow and deliberate movement. “Reach to the sides, but don’t let your shoulders lift. Keep them down and back. Proper posture is essential . . .”
    “I don’t even understand what that means,” she mumbled.
    He rolled his eyes and reached out, placing his hands on her shoulders. He pressed down. “Relax,” he snapped. “It’s all about the lines, Amanda. Keep your shoulders down and create a clean line here.” As if to demonstrate his point, he ran his hand up her back. “Pretend an imaginary thread is running up your spine to your neck and out the top of your head. It’s a line.”
    She pressed her lips together, hating his hands on her body.
    “Much better!”
    “I don’t even know what I did,” she said, annoyed at his forced praise.
    He ignored her. “Muscle memory, Amanda. That’s what will happen when you do this enough times.”
    Her eyes flickered toward the clock. When would Dali walk through the door to save her?
    “I saw that,” he said, reaching out and grabbing her hand. “You still have another thirty minutes. Let’s go.”
    When the door finally opened and Dali slipped inside, Amanda wanted to run to her. But she couldn’t have, even if she’d tried. Her legs ached from trying to keep up with Stedman.
    “Practice over the weekend,” he told her. “Remember that the music, the lyrics, and the actual dance are only part of a performance. It’s your presence that they want to see. We’re just completing the package.”
    Ignoring him, Amanda hurried off the dance floor.
    “And work on your posture!” he called after her. “Elongate your spine! And keep those shoulders down!”
    Amanda gave him a look that said exactly what she was feeling. She sat down and removed the special dance shoes that he’d made her wear for her lesson.
    When he made a disapproving noise, Amanda shoved the dance shoes into their black drawstring bag and grabbed her sandals. She couldn’t leave fast enough, and she made a mental note to speak to Alejandro about the situation over the weekend. If she had anything to say about it, she would not be returning, that was for sure and certain.
    “Please, I want to go home,” she said to Dali as she followed her assistant toward the door. “I simply cannot stand all of these appointments!”
    Abruptly, Dali stopped and turned around, pausing to smooth back Amanda’s hair and hand her a pair of sunglasses.
    “What’s this?” Amanda asked, staring at the glasses.
    “There are people outside.”
    Dali said this as if she was answering a question about the weather or something else that couldn’t be any less important. Amanda frowned. “People?”
    Dali glanced at her