"Security, surround the car, we're walking in ten seconds" a calm yet urgent voice pressed through a radio as Lauren and Fallon sat thigh to thigh in an expensive black car "I don't want to see a single break in the chain, these women are worth more than your retirement funds combined"
"On it boss" another nodded, tightening the ear peace now fixed securely into the side of his head "We're ready on go"
Cameras roared at the sight of the matte black door handle being held onto by a member of Lauren's staff. Nobody dared blink incase they missed a single second of their presence, the frequent public appearance a gift unusual for the time of year
"Five seconds" the urgent voice alarmed "Stay far enough away for the cameras to get their shots"
Everyone readied into position, the sweaty index fingers covering the snap button of their cameras now shaking with anticipation to get the perfect shot. A hand bent to pull open the side door of the black suv, revealing an ivory ankle and glossy black heel followed by Lauren's tall, toned body
Immediately flashes of white filled the space, Lauren's mono stare and immaculate makeup glittering like the night sky behind them, People gasped, as if not having seen her a million times before "Fuck, she's magnificent" a rouge member of the press chuckled "What a shot"
Lauren gave the press a few moments of her time while Fallon joined quickly behind, her slender legs and piercing blue eyes meeting the cameras for the double snap they were all so badly craving. The women alone were incredible, but together, they were power
"Let's move on" the urgent voice reminded "We need to keep it going" Lauren did as told, aware of how feral the red carpet snappers could be. Fallon too, wondering behind with a confident strut "Thank you ladies"
"Thank god" Fallon grumbled as she heard the door slam behind her "I don't think the cameras will ever leave me feeling safe"
"You're being dramatic" smirked Lauren, handing her make believe bag off to an assistant now passing over her phone, a device she wasn't allowed to possess unless in private quarters "You live to show off those expensive diamonds around your wrist, you're welcome by the way"
Fallon cocked a brow "I said thank you four times, LJ. Would you like it in writing now too?"
"Drop the attitude, we have a long evening ahead of us" Lauren scoffed with a smile, following the venue runners towards the panel in front of the same stage Camila had auditioned on only a couple of months prior "It's that time of year again, let's hope we have a better intake than last year!"
"Impossible" Fallon chuckled "You got a girlfriend and a global superstar out of the last round"
Lauren playfully rolled her eyes and checked her watch, allowing a makeup artist to fix her glowing cheeks before the crowds of hopeful dancers entered the space in front "My global superstar wants to be a behind the scenes talent, there's room for another in the fame estate"
Fallon cocked her head with a nod "I still think Camila is making a mistake, she is an excellent face for your brand"
"I care about her feelings more than my brand Fallon" Lauren scoffed "It's her choice"
"So you're not even a little stung by her choice to step back?" Lauren sucked in a deep breath and took a side glance into Fallon's tempting blue eyes "Come on, ratings have never been so high?"
The elder flexed her fingers and straightened her spine "There's a few days before we sign her release contract from the press, I'll talk to her"
"Wise choice" Fallon hummed confidently, her cocky smile forcing Lauren to roll her eyes once again as Normani and Dinah joined either side of the desk to ready the panel "Maybe watching the auditions will remind her of exactly what she worked so hard for in the first place"
Lauren clamped her jaw "Here's to hoping, I've never seen passion like it"
Camila really was watching, she arrived a while earlier after being asked by Lauren to assist the other teachers in delivering the audition routine to the new hopefuls. Admittedly, she felt pride, knowing how far she had come it was incredible, it didn't however stop her from feeling nervous
Lauren and Fallon arrived just before the auditions were to start, it was more of a status move, ensuring their importance sat only with the final say. Camila made sure to position herself near the front of the stage, her view of the dancers and Lauren on an equal footing
"She's progressed a lot LJ" Fallon spoke from beside as she laid eyes on the caramel thighs dangling over the back of a stadium chair "Her temper is nowhere near where it used to be, the emotional tolerance too"
Lauren smirked, rolling her tongue into the corner of her mouth as she too laid her gaze across Camila's comfortable expression "She is more than progression, she is the embodiment of persistence and strength! Girls like her were always set up to fail"
"Like you" Fallon hummed with a cocky wink, glad to be proud of her best friend "Two of a kind huh!"
"You didn't have it easy either Fallon" Lauren spoke calmly, watching the room flood with hopeful dancers peeking behind palms to glance at her and the power she held "Your strength is admirable"
"Don't make me blush" Fallon scoffed "I don't need anymore red in this cheek!"
Lauren rolled her eyes into a laughing smile that a few new dancers were lucky enough to witness from below "Let's get this done ladies, high standards and cut throat decisions!"
Hundreds of dancers graced the stage with the aim to impress the panel enough to gain a spot at the academy. With around three thousand people in attendance, there could only be ten successful performers. Thankfully, Lauren had a very special way of filtering them out
The last set of dancers flew onto the stage with beaming smiles and clammy palms, all they had to do was impress the woman enough to make the final one hundred for cutting. Careful eyes examined their movements and made sure to analyse the general vibe of the individual
Lauren however was taking her notes from somewhere slightly different this year. When every dancer took their ten second solo, she made sure to subtly glance across at Camila, noting down her reaction to the bodies with a trust in her stomach that meant the difference between cut or keep
Camila was honest, brutally so. Lauren knew this and decided to use it to her advantage, for the first time in years, auditioning had never seemed so easy "Perfect" she smirked to herself as the final one hundred crowded around the front of the stage
"If you have been selected for the final one hundred, please make your way backstage before the next round of cuts" a stage hand announced, leaving the venue empty while Lauren addressed her panel
"I'm happy" Lauren shrugged with a cocky grin even Fallon knew not to challenge "I don't have any adjustments this far"
"It's only going to get harder from here" Dinah huffed "They're all pretty good"
"Don't worry" Lauren smirked "I have an excellent strategy to weed out the weak"
Fallon lifted a palm against her jaw "You're a twisted individual LJ, you know that?"
Lauren chuckled, shocked that Fallon had caught her train of thought "What? She's my biggest weapon!" She spoke "I know that if they can't handle her, they can't handle me" she winked back before standing from her seat "I'll be right back"
Lauren made her way across the venue towards Camila now occupied by her phone. She cleared her throat and sat beside the girl almost jumping into her arms for a kiss "You ok?" She beamed with joy "You look hot today!"
"Thanks" Lauren smiled with a subtle lip bite "I made sure to wear your favourite dress" she winked "I'll need your help getting out of it later though"
Camila felt her cheeks darken for a moment as Lauren shuffled a little closer "I'd be happy to, I'm sure I can help you out of those pretty panties too"
Lauren narrowed her eyes and slid a hidden palm across the younger girls thigh "Only if you let me return the favour"
"What do you want boss lady" Camila winked, knowing she had the elder wrapped around her little finger "You didn't just come over here to flirt with me, I'm not that dense"
Lauren scoffed, reaching forward for the girls chin to drag it upwards into her gaze. Camila gasped in shock, smirking under her breath as the piercing eyes in front displayed that of a discontent "I'll flirt with you whenever I want to baby?" she began, sliding her other palm further up against her thigh, causing Camila to swallow hard "I don't care who's watching, I don't care who's listening! If I want you, I'm gonna tell you, ok?"
"Ok" Camila stumbled "I get it" she struggled, feeling the woman's fingertips nearing the hem of her shorts. For a moment, she almost forgot how dominant the elder could really be, a moment ago she was cocky, now she was nothing close
"Good!" Lauren smirked with power before leaning into the girls ear "I don't like repeating myself, now, I have a very special job for you"