Chapter 5: The Masquerade Ballroom Dancing Party

“What? A dance party? With Asher?” Calantha couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

“That’s right, but don’t worry, it’s a Masquerade Ballroom Dancing party. You will use a mask, and you just have to dance with Asher without having to communicate with him.” Selena said.

“But I’ve never gone to a dance party. Excuse me, Lady Selena. I can’t join this party.” Calantha refused.

“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you.” Selena said.

“Why won’t you join?” Calantha asked. She didn’t think Selena would let her meet Asher before the wedding. This is really too risky.

“I’m busy.” Selena said.

In fact, on the day that the Masquerade Ballroom Dancing Party takes place, Selena and John would date and danced together in a luxurious and discreet restaurant. But she won’t tell Calantha the truth.

And, of course, compared to Asher, John was much more important to Selena.

“How could Asher Pittman find out who was going to dance with him that night? Only this afternoon, he was mistaken.” Selena thought.

“Aren’t you worried that Asher will discover our secret?” Calantha asked. Her hands were sweaty.

“If you’re so worried that Asher will discover that secret, should you join me in creating the perfect plan?” Selena said.

“Lady Selena is so optimistic.” Calantha thought. She wished she could be as optimistic as Lady Selena.

“I understand you’re anxious, Miss Ellis. But remember that this afternoon, our Young Master Pittman made a disastrous mistake.” Layla walked into the living room, held on her hand plate with fruit. “Come on, have some fruit, Miss Ellis. Vitamins are good for your skin.”

Layla put the fruit platter down on the table and reminded her.

“Take a nap to regain your spirit full of energy. And don’t forget to remove all makeup before bed.” Layla reminded her.

Calantha blushed. Layla reminded her of her appearance twice today. And she felt ashamed.

Calantha nodded because she didn’t know how to respond to Layla.

Calantha knit her hands together and then separated them. This action proved she was panicking. What happened this afternoon scared Calantha, and this announcement from Selena completely knocked her down.

Calantha tried to convince Selena, but she failed. Selena upheld her decision and was certain that nothing was going to happen, as Layla was going with Calantha. To ease Calantha’s anxiety, Selena also promised that she would take all the blame if Asher found out about Calantha’s identity.

Calantha went to her room in a nervous mood. She couldn’t sleep and paced in her bedroom.

“Damn, anxiety is tormenting me every second.” Calantha thought, and she tired of thinking too much.

Calantha walked out of the room. She wanted to calm her, even though she didn’t know what she was going to do.

Lady Selena, Layla, the butler. They were all asleep. There was not a light in the mansion.

Calantha suddenly felt her anxiety really redundant. She was obviously not the only one who’s prepared for this plan, and the one who benefits from it wasn’t just her.

But she was the most worried one.

Calantha went to the kitchen and poured her a glass of warm water.

“What should happen, It will happen. Even if I’m worried, I can’t change anything.” Calantha understood.

“Now, let’s go to bed.” She said it to herself.

…

The next day, when Calantha arrived at the practice room, Selena, Layla, and a man were waiting.

Selena was very close to him. She sat next to him, putting her head on his shoulder. She was telling him about something very interesting. The man smiled attentively and stroked Selena’s hair.

The man had black hair and brown eyes. His appearance was not very prominent. But when he looked into Selena’s eyes, Calantha knew it was love, true love.

“Good morning, Miss Ellis.” Layla said. Layla’s words successfully caught everyone’s attention in the room, and they recognized Calantha’s appearance.

“Good morning, everyone.” Calantha replied.

“Calantha, I’m going to dance with John, so watch closely.” Selena said.

Calantha nodded, sat on the large armchair, and observed them.

Selena and John dance beautifully. Their bodies mingled, as if they understood each other to every thought. The way they look at each other, it’s like there’s only one left in the world. Selena wore a beautiful, bright white prom dress like a princess, and John was like her prince.

Calantha did not know what kind of dance they were dancing, because her previous life circumstances wouldn’t allow it.

Calantha suddenly remembered when she was little. Calantha also loved romantic fairy tales. She wished she would become a princess and find her prince on her third birthday.

But the harshness of life made her forget her wish.

Calantha tried to get out of her thoughts about the past and focus on watching them, but she couldn’t remember any moves.

Selena and John finished dancing.

Calantha gave them a round of applause.

“Very nice, I wish I knew the name of that dance.” Calantha said.

“Calantha, that’s Waltz.” Selena said. “All right, Layla will be your dance partner and I’ll guide you on how to waltz dance.”

Practicing for the Masquerade Ballroom Dancing party excited Calantha. She liked to dance and listen to music. But that did not mean it was easy for Calantha.

“Her body is too stiff, her expression is quite embarrassing. Don’t be shy, Calantha. Just relax.” That’s what Selena commented.

Calantha had practiced relentlessly with Layla, sometimes with the butler.

Finally, she could get a nod from Selena and the afternoon before the day that the Masquerade Ballroom Dancing Party took place.

…

The prom dress Calantha would wear to join the Masquerade Ballroom Dancing party was a black prom dress with a mask in the same color as the prom dress.

They held the party in the lobby of a majestic mansion of the Pittman family.

The venue for the party did not surprise the elites. Because the Pittman family were not only famous for their wealth and power, but also for their generosity.

Calantha came to the party in time. She did not feel comfortable here, because she could not communicate with anyone. The only thing she could do was go to the garden to take the air, waited to dance with Asher and then returned to Lady Selena’s mansion.

The garden has only red roses. Calantha could hear the harmonious waltz. It urged you to dance and enjoy the melody of the music. However, Calantha did not dare to enter the lobby and found a dance partner.

She imagined herself a dance partner, and dancing alone. Calantha focused, and she didn’t realize there was a man who had been watching her for so long.

He walked towards Calantha and as she did the body rotation; he caught hold of her small waist and held her to his lap.

Suddenly, Calantha didn’t react in time. She put her head on the man’s solid chest, smelling the strong, masculine pinewood perfume.

The man rubbed her waist with one hand and stroked her hair with the other hand. He asked in a husky voice,

“Don’t you join with everyone?”

Calantha immediately recognized he was Asher.

She dared not raise her head to look at him, nor answer. She just shook her head and then nodded softly.

Asher laughed quietly. His laughter was husky. Calantha could feel his warm breath tickled her ear. Calantha’s cheeks flushed red and hot. She was shy.

“Wait for me?” Asher asked quietly.

Calantha nodded.

Asher stroked Calantha’s cheeks, looking at her with mesmerizing eyes.

Asher admitted to himself, his heart was beating faster, she rocked him. Calantha was beautiful today, she wore a black prom dress, ginger hair with a high bun, a red rose was placed above her ear. Not only that, she was well-behaved, not refusing to have intimate contact with him.

“Just dance with you for a while. I’m about to have a flight to California.” Asher said and he kiss on Calantha’s hair. “I can’t give you all night. Sorry.”

Calantha nodded.

They danced Waltz together in the moonlight and in the red roses field.