Chapter 89

This place took Sienna by surprise. She had never been here before, but she had certainly heard of Lightning Dance, Jetacrity's premier modern dance studio. It was renowned internationally and even performed at Flirty. Unfortunately, ticket prices were exorbitant, and obtaining one was nearly impossible. Sienna had never been lucky enough to see a performance.

“Well…” Sienna stepped out of the car, standing at the entrance with a puzzled look. She turned to Josiah, wondering, Why did he bring me here?

Josiah locked the car and motioned for her to follow with a slight nod of his chin. “Come on.”

“Okay,” Sienna hesitated, but eventually followed. She didn’t know why Josiah had brought her, but her admiration for Lightning Dance made her willing to comply. Before returning to Jetacrity, Sienna had investigated the studio, hoping to apply for a position. Unfortunately, she learned the leader of Lightning Dance did not hold open auditions; every dancer was personally selected. Rumors circulated that Lightning Dance recruited only talented children, making open hiring unnecessary. Sienna had given up on the idea entirely.

Now, following Josiah, she found herself heading backstage. No performance was scheduled tonight, yet the backstage area bustled. Several practice rooms were filled with people rehearsing choreography and practicing techniques. The sight filled Sienna's heart with longing.

Suddenly, she felt a tug on her hand.

“What are you staring at?” Josiah grabbed her hand and pulled her closer. “Watch where you’re going. And stop gawking.”

As he spoke, they stopped before a door. Letting go of her hand, Josiah briefly adjusted her outfit. “Don’t be nervous. Just answer her questions directly. You’ll meet Ms. Scott in a moment.”

Sienna froze. “Who did you say?” she blurted out.

“Ms. Scott,” Josiah replied, clearly amused. “Brenda Scott. You’re a modern dancer and haven’t heard of her?”

“I… of course I have,” Sienna stammered, nodding quickly. Brenda’s name was practically legendary.

“Good,” Josiah said, lifting his hand to knock.

“Come in,” a clear, pleasant voice called from inside.

Josiah opened the door, stepping in and turning back to Sienna. “Relax. First impressions matter—make it a good one.”

“Got it.” Sienna nodded, though her excitement made her feel unsteady.

The room was a small suite. On the sofa sat a woman who appeared to be in her late thirties or early forties. Despite faint lines at the corners of her eyes, her skin was taut, her figure graceful, and her presence exuded elegance. Sienna’s heart raced. This had to be Brenda. Sienna had never met Brenda in person, but she had seen photos online. For a modern dancer, meeting Brenda was a dream come true, a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

“Ms. Scott, good evening,” Josiah greeted her, stepping closer and bowing slightly. “We’re on time, aren’t we?”

“Yes,” Brenda said, glancing at her watch. They were five minutes early. Brenda was known for her punctuality. Even though Josiah had been introduced by a friend, if he had been late today, she wouldn’t have tolerated it.

Chapter 591 (continued from previous chapter)

“Please, have a seat, Mr. Flynn,” Brenda said, gesturing to the sofa opposite her.

“Thank you, Ms. Scott.” Josiah didn’t sit immediately. Instead, he turned to Sienna, motioning for her to step forward. “Sienna, come here and say hello to Ms. Scott.”

“Okay,” Sienna pressed her lips together nervously and took a step forward, standing with her hands at her sides. “Ms. Scott, hello, I’m Sienna Shaw.”

For the first time, Brenda looked up, giving Sienna a careful once-over. Sienna stood perfectly still, showing no signs of discomfort under the scrutiny.

Brenda’s lips curved slightly, though her expression remained calm as she fixed her gaze on Sienna’s face. “You’re wearing makeup?”

“Yes,” Sienna nodded. “I went job hunting today, so of course, I put on makeup.”

“Go take it off,” Brenda pointed toward the restroom. “There’s makeup remover inside. Make sure it’s completely gone.”

“Got it, Ms. Scott,” Sienna nodded obediently.

Josiah settled onto the sofa, deciding not to interfere. This was their matter, and he wasn’t a dance expert.

A short while later, Sienna emerged, her face freshly cleansed and still slightly damp. “Ms. Scott, it’s done.”

“Come here,” Brenda gestured for her to sit down, patting the spot beside her.

Sienna took a couple of steps forward and sat down.

Brenda raised her hand and asked, “May I touch your face?”

Sienna had no objections.

“Okay.” Brenda’s fingers began to trace over Sienna’s features, applying a bit of pressure as she evaluated whether Sienna’s face was natural or surgically enhanced.

Off to the side, Josiah frowned. “What’s she doing, touching Sienna’s face like that? Seriously? Thomas didn’t say anything about this. I haven’t even touched her face that carefully,” he thought irritably.

Thankfully, Brenda soon withdrew her hand, a faint smile playing on her lips. She seemed satisfied. “Good. No cosmetic surgery.”

“Correct,” Sienna responded with a smile.

“Remember this,” Brenda said firmly. “If you want to dance under my direction, you can’t alter this face. Keep it natural for the rest of your life.”

“Understood…” Sienna nodded, but a moment later, she froze in shock. “Ms. Scott, what did you just say?”

‘Did I mishear that? Did Ms. Scott just say I’d be dancing under her? Does she mean what I think she means?’ Sienna wondered, her thoughts racing.

“Hey, don’t get ahead of yourself,” Brenda said, rising to her feet. “Come with me to the practice room. I need to see what you can do.”

“Okay, Ms. Scott.”

Sienna took a deep breath to steady herself. She hadn’t brought her dancewear, so she performed in her regular clothes, choosing Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring. Despite the lack of proper attire, her performance was unaffected.

Brenda stood with her arms crossed, her satisfaction growing with every move Sienna made. There was an unmistakable sense of familiarity, like she had seen Sienna somewhere before.

When the performance ended, Sienna stopped and stood at attention. “Ms. Scott, I’m looking for your feedback.”

Instead of answering, Brenda asked, “Did you used to dance at RED Dance in Flirty?”

Sienna froze, completely caught off guard. “Yes, but… how do you know that?”

“So it is you,” Brenda smiled. “When I was on tour in Flirty, I met some of the RED Dance performers. I remember you well. Your dancing was outstanding, far better than some of their lead dancers.”

“Unfortunately, Mordonish tends to suppress Zoerain’s talent, so you were likely held back,” she explained. Brenda had seen Sienna perform back then, and even compared to RED Dance’s lead performers, Sienna had shone brighter. But being a Zorrain dancer trying to make a name in Flirty was nearly impossible. Sometimes, the more exceptional someone was, the more resistance they faced.

Hearing Brenda recount this, Sienna felt a pang of sadness. “That’s all behind me now. I’ve come back home.”

“It’s fine.” Brenda nodded in approval. “It’s good that you’ve returned. From now on, you’ll be dancing with me. Here, you’ll find the stage you deserve. Shine bright, Sienna.”