Ms. Madison nodded repeatedly. They didnât need students who focused on drama rather than dancing.
When recruiting students in the future, they must carefully examine their character.
Whispers spread among the other students, who were unaware the dance studio had quietly changed hands. Worst of all, they had been gossiping about their new bossâs wife! âSo you want her to fire me?â
Ophelia became anxious. âJust because I donât like Ivy doesnât mean you can fire me on a whim. You have no right to do this. Iâve paid my tuition, and Iâm a student here!â
Balfour scoffed coldly. âIâm the owner of this place, and I have the right to do so. Your tuition will be refunded in full-we wonât shortchange you. Youâve been attending classes for free, so quit making a scene.â
Balfourâs gaze seemed to see right through Ophelia, who lost the will to complain.
âYou canât do thisâ¦â
âWhy canât I? Ivy is the bossâs wife. Maybe if you apologize, sheâll let you stay.â
Hearing Balfourâs suggestion, Ophelia bit her lip, a look of defiance on her face.
Ivy pulled at Balfourâs arm. âLetâs just go. Weâve got more important things to deal with at home. We donât need to waste time with them.â
For Ivy, this dance studio was now a thing of the past. Whether Ophelia apologized or not was inconsequential.
Balfour didnât budge, instead holding Ivyâs hand in his palm.
âYouâre magnanimous. You donât hold grudges. But some people just push their luck.â
He then turned to Ophelia. âWhatâs the matter? Too proud to apologize? Ivyâs in charge, and she decides whether or not you can stay. How dare you start trouble here? Youâre the one who messed up.
If I were you, Iâd apologize right away. Maybe then sheâll have mercy and let you stay-as long as you have no problem with your position here.â
With that, Balfour led Ivy to the door, ready to leave.
Ophelia panicked and called out Ivyâs name.
âIvy⦠no, I mean, Ms. Dunhill! I was wrong. I shouldnât have believed the nonsense online and slandered you. I shouldnât have said those things. It was all my fault. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me and let me continue learning dance here? This dance studio means so much to me, and the other studiosâ¦â
Prices at other dance studios were prohibitive for their ordinary families. Thatâs why their dance studio was always so popular.
Since Balfour had taken over the studio, he had made a considerable investment, put towards expansion and recruitment.
This way, they could accommodate more students in the future.