Chapter 22 The Dance (Part 1)

"Why not Lucas?"
Mia pauses for a second as she pours the milk, then says, "I don't deserve someone as pure and innocent as him."
"Pure and innocent? Seriously?" I'm slightly surprised; this is the first time I've heard Mia describe a male.
"Forget it! What just happened? Did you have a fuss with Alpha Ethan again? I thought you would have enjoyed a happy and passionate moment with him last night." Mia manages to change the subject.
"Did you find happiness and passion in my face? He's a total jerk!" I let Ethan go off to play with the cat climbing frame on his own and then tell Mia about Liam.
"Although his bossiness is uncomfortable, have you ever thought that maybe there's something else why he's doing this?" Mia asks, setting down her mug.
"What do you mean?"
"Actually, Lucas saw Ansel and his mate lecturing some hooded punks near a bar last night on the way back. So Lucas stopped to see what was going on. One, in particular, had curly hair and was supposed to be the Liam you mentioned. He said he would never contact you again." Mia recounts what she saw last night.
"Are you saying that Ansel used violence to threaten Liam?" I ask.
"Nope. It was the little bastard and his friend buying a new kind of drug. And he bought a double serving. From what I heard from Ansel, it seemed like the little bastard was planning to share those drugs with you. No, to be exact, to get you addicted to that drug." Mia says, looking serious and not joking.
"That's impossible!" I stand up in shock, unable to believe what I'm hearing. I have heard Andrew say that Liam was such a good kid. He was always friendly to me. How can he do something like this?
"Calm down. I confronted the jerk about why he did that. He said it was because he stole money from his family to buy drugs. He thought you got good pay after you became the assistant of Blue Moon Group's Alpha. So, to pay back the money before his father found out, he planned to take photos of you while you were smoking drugs as evidence and then threaten you. It would be best if you were addicted to the drug so he would have an ATM later." Mia sighs and completes her experience of yesterday.
[I find you very attractive to rats.]
I sit down out of breath, unable to think of anything other than what Mr. Clapton said.
Mr. Clapton already knew what kind of person Liam was, and, most likely, he was ready to tell me about it, but I interrupted him.
"Ahhhh!" I scratch my hair in distress, "I'm such an idiot. I was mad at Mr. Clapton. He didn't want to put me in danger, and I refused to listen to his explanation."
Mia wraps her arm around my shoulders to comfort me, "Relax, Ella, I guess Alpha Ethan has feelings for you. Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought you back to his apartment last night. Besides, this little apartment hasn't been blown to pieces so far, so he's not really mad at you."
Although Mia's words are a bit exaggerated, I still feel I should apologize to him. I glance at the two gift boxes next to the couch and decide to go to the dance tonight to apologize to Mr. Clapton face to face.
"Wanna get your hair done with me for a change of mood? You're not going to wear a ponytail and a gown to the dance tonight, are you?" Mia suggests, shaking my ponytail.
"But I don't have a hair salon appointment," I say. I plan to use a curling iron to do a simple shoulder-length curl.
Mia smiles at me, showing her white teeth, "What do you think your friend's pack does? Blueland Hair Salon has 10 branches in New York. Don't worry. I'll have them schedule another head stylist to come over after lunch. Alpha Ethan will be hooked on you when you come with your best haircut and put on your dress."
Oh, I don't expect him to be charmed by me anymore. I just hope he'll accept my apology.
***6 hours later***
"Miss, may I have a dance with you?"
"Sorry, I'm waiting for my dance partner."
The second round is the masquerade dance, and it's already started. I decline the gentleman's invitation for the third time.
There is no familiar figure in the crowd, and I know Mr. Clapton is not there. He is really pissed off at me. I take a sip of sparkling water from my champagne glass.
I stand in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the lavish banquet hall. I look at the colorful night view of the city and listen to the elegant dance music. My patience in waiting for Mr. Clapton's appearance is like these little bubbles in sparkling water disappearing little by little. I sigh and drink the glass of sparkling water in one gulp.
"If you were drinking champagne right now, shall I call security to stand by?"
I recognize it as Lucas's voice, then notice the champagne in Lucas's hand and say, "Sorry I wasted your champagne last night."
"Oh, please, I wouldn't have seen that funny scene if you hadn't. You know what? Last night you bit Ethie's hand and then hugged his arm and wouldn't let the cops touch him. The cops' eyes almost dropped in surprise when they found out who Ethie was." Lucas waves his hand and laughs out loud.
"I honestly can't remember most of what happened last night. By the way, didn't you find Mia? I remember she just went to the drink bar after the first round of dancing." I ask, trying to get a different topic.
Lucas shakes his head, wearing a lost look, "She won't dance with me. I don't know what it will take to make her give me a chance to woo her."
I want to say something to comfort Lucas, but a waiter approaches us.
"Master Lucas, my lord, Alpha Jacob would like to have a word with you." The waiter whispers to Lucas.
"Father is here?" Lucas' eyes widen in surprise as if he did not expect his father to come to the banquet. But he quickly regains his composure and apologizes to me, "I'm sorry, Ella, my father, seems to have something for me. Excuse me."
"That's okay. Umm..." I smile and hesitate to ask Lucas if Mr. Clapton will come tonight.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, you look beautiful tonight, and this dress suits you perfectly. I will definitely invite you to my studio next time." Lucas praises and then raises a glass of champagne at me before following the waiter out.
Looking at Lucas's back, I swallow the lump in my throat as if to swallow that unasked question into my stomach. I intend to go to the beverage counter for another glass of sparkling apple water. If I didn't meet Mr. Clapton by the end of this one, then I'd go back to my apartment, watch a movie with Ethan and struggle with how to apologize to him in a voice call or email.
"There you are, you thief!"
A familiar piercing voice rings behind me, and a dizzyingly heavy perfume wafts into my nostrils.
I turn to stare at the two girls in front of me. I recognize the redhead in the deep V evening gown in sparkling pink as Camilla Something. The other purple-haired lady holding Camilla's arm is wearing a purple strapless gown. I have never seen her before.
"Good evening, Camilla," I shouldn't have called her by her first name because I don't know her that well. But to my shame, I forget her last name.
"Milla, is she the girl you mentioned?" The lady with purple hair asks, her deep purple eyes behind her mask revealing her contempt for me. But she immediately gives me a friendly-looking smile after I sense it.