“Yeah, but don’t worry about them. They aren’t important.”
“Okay. Did you name them?”
“No. Benedict did. He said it made his workday more interesting. I didn’t object, since it didn’t take up much of his time. And ‘Witch’ is pretty benign.”
“They should probably kiss his feet for not naming them Bitch,” I murmur.
>
The way Western celebrities behave never fails to surprise me because it’s so different from the way Korean models and actors behave. Many of them delay dating or getting married as long as possible. Scandals are career killers, especially if it involves cheating or an affair—or worse, drunk driving, assault or some other matter. One of my favorite dramas had a fairly significant secondary character eliminated because the actor playing that role got caught driving drunk.
“He would never name them Bitch. That’s too easy,” Declan says, then checks the time. “She’s late.”
She? Oh… He must be talking about his next appointment.
The phone I’m holding buzzes and a new text pops up.
–Private Me: Not that I have a phone or working Internet—because I definitely do NOT and Declan shouldn’t call and bother me no matter what—but I feel like I should let you know Nancy’s not coming today. Apparently she was arrested for driving under the influence.
Oh, wow. I was just thinking about drunk driving, and voilà…
–Me: Who is this? And who’s Nancy?
Benedict should’ve left me a cheat sheet for all these weird names on this phone!
–Private Me: This is Benedict. Is this Yuna?
–Me: Yeah. Who’s Nancy?
–Privative Me: Declan’s dance instructor, who’s supposed to be there right now. You’ll have to figure out someone who can take her place.
Dance instructor? Is Declan trying to be in a boy band, too? Isn’t he too old for that?
I look up from the phone. “Your dance instructor isn’t coming.”
“What?” Declan’s face hardens immediately. “Why not?”
“She’s in jail for drunk driving.”
He looks like he wants to strangle somebody. Probably Nancy. I hope she doesn’t come by later to do a makeup lesson, because he doesn’t look like he’ll be in the mood for it.
“I paid her in advance!” he grates out.
“That probably was the problem.”
“Obviously! She used my money to drink like an idiot before getting in her car!”
Or gamble. Or do drugs. But I keep that to myself. Declan already looks upset enough. “Benedict says I should get you a new instructor.”
“Can you find one right now?” He runs a hand roughly through his hair, mussing it. “I need to be comfortable with the moves before Friday.”
“I don’t know. I might not be able to find someone who can fit you in right now.” I really miss Ms. Kim. If she were here, she’d have a new dance instructor for Declan in the next two seconds.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” He looks around, clearly at a loss.
His reaction is making me feel like a failure, even though I’m not the one in jail for being an idiot. I purse my lips. Almost anything can be learned by watching YouTube videos. But he’s acting like he has to have in-person instruction.
I inhale. Come on, Yuna. You can do this!