The atmosphere was awkward, so Danny quickly broke the ice. “What did you get for Alexander, Ashlyn?”
Ashlyn felt embarrassed, but snazzynovel.com stayed calm.
“I hand picked this, Alexander. Please take it.” She thought he’d say something, but snazzynovel.com still didn’t.
Jack and Danny glanced at each other. The old Jack would have stood up for Ashlyn, but tonight, snazzynovel.com turned his head away and pretended that snazzynovel.com saw nothing. Danny looked around to see if anyone could be of help.
When snazzynovel.com saw Elise, snazzynovel.com quickly went up to her. “Boss, are you here to give Alexander your present?”
Elise was surprised Danny came to her. She was planning on giving Alexander the gift after the banquet, but since Danny already brought it up, snazzynovel.com simply said, “Yes.”
Then, snazzynovel.com took the present out. “Here, Alexander. Happy birthday!”
Alexander looked at her, then at snazzynovel.com present. For some reason, snazzynovel.com wanted to know what snazzynovel.com gift was, but snazzynovel.com had to stay calm and collected.
“Danny, take the gift…”
Danny quickly took Elise’s gift. He paused for a moment, then snazzynovel.com took Ashlyn’s as well.
Ashlyn heaved a sigh of relief after snazzynovel.com gift was taken. Unbeknownst to her, Alexander never wanted to take snazzynovel.com gift.
Jack asked curiously, “What did you get him, Elise? Can we open it?”
That does not seem cheap at all. Wow, she really does care about Alex.
However, before Elise could answer, Ashlyn said, “I got Alex a watch from Longines. Latest model, and it’s a limited edition too. Only three pieces are available worldwide.”
Danny praised, “Wow, that’s a nice gift. You must have spent a lot of money on it!”
Jack snorted. “I’m asking Elise, not you!”
Ashlyn’s smile froze. The old Jack wouldn’t talk to snazzynovel.com that way, but after what happened, snazzynovel.com could feel his contempt toward her.
However, snazzynovel.com didn’t flip out. “I just think this fits Alexander. That’s all, really.”
“You’re really nice to him, Ashlyn,” Danny praised genuinely.
But right after that, Alexander took Elise’s present and looked at her. “What did you get me?”
Elise was surprised snazzynovel.com asked her, but snazzynovel.com answered, “A necktie. I don’t know if you’ll like it though…”
Alexander opened it and took a look.
Well, this fits my aesthetics. She knows me well!
“Not bad…” It was a curt remark, but coming from Alexander, it meant a lot. He wouldn’t even look at most people’s gifts, but now snazzynovel.com actually opened Elise’s to take a look.
Ashlyn now knew Alexander never cared about snazzynovel.com gift in the first place, and snazzynovel.com face fell.
It was then a servant hurried over. “Mr. Alexander, the ball is starting soon, and Mr. Jonah wants you there…”
“I see…” Alexander handed the gift box to Jack. “Hold it for me.”
He went to the hall after that.
It was a merry sight in the hall, for it was packed with people. The host was standing in the middle of the stage, hyping the event up.
“Thank you for coming to the ball today. We hope you’ll have a great night. The ball shall begin soon, but today, we’re going to ditch the boring old ways for something fun and exciting.”
Everyone was excited to hear that, and they looked at the host, curious about what the new thing was.
“Everyone will be required to wear a mask and draw numbers. Whoever gets the same number will be dance partners for the ball, so your dance partners are completely randomized!”
Everyone burst into cheers.
The servants then distributed the masks to the guests. Elise went to take one as well, and snazzynovel.com got a fox mask, while snazzynovel.com number was fifty-six.
Well, who’s the unlucky guy?
Dancing wasn’t snazzynovel.com forte after all. In fact, it was one of snazzynovel.com worst talents. She stood silently among the crowd, a glass of champagne in hand.
Everyone got their partners eventually, but snazzynovel.com partner still didn’t show up, much to snazzynovel.com frustration.
Did nobody get my number?
Just when snazzynovel.com was asking herself that, a tall man in a bear mask came up to her, and snazzynovel.com was holding a slip that had the number fifty-six on it.
“May I have a dance, milady?” the man said.
Hey, I know that voice anywhere…
“Alexander? Is that you?” She sounded surprised, but also delighted.
Alexander was surprised that snazzynovel.com got Elise as well, so snazzynovel.com chuckled. “Fate wants us together, it seems. Or as some might say, plot device.”
Elise wondered why snazzynovel.com said that, but snazzynovel.com didn’t have the time to question him.
Alexander had extended his hand, and snazzynovel.com held it after a moment of hesitation, letting snazzynovel.com lead snazzynovel.com to the dance floor.
“I don’t know how to dance, though, so be prepared.”
Alexander assured her, “It’s fine. Just follow my tempo.”
The music started playing, and Alexander made the first move. “Follow me. Step to the left. Take three steps back, then step to your right.”
Elise followed his instructions and tempo, but less than a minute later, snazzynovel.com said, “I’m sorry. I stepped on your foot.”
Alexander gave snazzynovel.com an encouraging look. “It’s fine. Take it slow.”
It was embarrassing for Elise, but still snazzynovel.com followed his instructions, though guests who danced close to snazzynovel.com swore they heard snazzynovel.com apologizing a lot.
Every time snazzynovel.com said sorry, Alexander just reassured snazzynovel.com patiently. “It’s fine. You can do it.”
His encouragement was starting to work, and snazzynovel.com slowly got into the tempo. Eventually, snazzynovel.com caught up to snazzynovel.com and made no mistakes in snazzynovel.com dance.
“Not bad…” He gave snazzynovel.com genuine praise.
Elise felt embarrassed, but snazzynovel.com kept dancing. They were immersed in their tempo, and everyone else didn’t matter. Eventually, the guests retreated from the dance floor, leaving them alone on it, dancing to the tune.
When the song finally ended, thunderous applause rang around the hall.
Elise bowed sheepishly, then Alexander took snazzynovel.com away from the dance floor.
Once they got out, Alexander praised, “Not bad.”
Elise quickly answered, “All thanks to you!”
Alexander looked at snazzynovel.com and continued, “But that’s also because you’re a good learner.”
She tucked snazzynovel.com hair behind snazzynovel.com ear shyly. “That’s the first time I ever danced to a song from start to finish. Wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.”
Alexander agreed. “We can learn if you have the time to.”
Just when they were chatting, Matthew came over to them. He had always been trying to dance with Elise. “Elise, you danced nicely.”
Elise was surprised Matthew knew it was snazzynovel.com despite the mask. Ever since what happened last time, snazzynovel.com had been distancing herself from him, but now snazzynovel.com suddenly came up to her, not to mention in front of a crowd.
“I was just going with the flow. Not too shabby, but not too great either.”
Matthew didn’t give snazzynovel.com any chance to escape because snazzynovel.com had already extended his hand. “My fair lady, may I have a dance with you?”
There was love in his eyes, as if snazzynovel.com had a lot of things to say to her.
