Chapter 34 No Other Man Can Be Lilian's Dance Partner
"Don't sell yourself short," Dora said, "you might get lucky and someone will choose you. Besides, with your qualities, you're bound to be popular."
She was looking at her phone and then told Lillian, "I posted a message for you in the group chat asking for a dance partner. You can't be without one, that would be awful."
"No, don't. I'll figure out the dance partner issue on my own. You should find one for yourself," Lillian said, trying to stop her.
However, she was too late. Dora had already sent the message to the group.
Lillian touched her forehead with a sigh of embarrassment, "This is mortifying!"
"Embarrassing? Did you not see? There are now over two hundred messages in the group looking for dance partners."
"Then why don't you find a dance partner yourself?" Lillian asked, displeased.
"I'm new here and not yet familiar with everyone. I'll have someone introduce a dance partner to me at the event."
"You sure know how to handle things," Lillian said, looking at the ever-increasing messages in the group chat with a resigned smile. "Look, everyone's worried about ending up alone without a dance partner."
After work, Lillian deliberately delayed a bit before leaving the office, waiting for most of her colleagues to leave. Alexander had left earlier in the afternoon, but now he was back at the company to pick up Lillian and then go to pick up the kid, waiting for her in the underground parking lot.
Kevin was sitting in the front, looking at the messages in the group chat with great interest, occasionally letting out a chuckle.
"What are you looking at?" Alexander asked casually.
Kevin replied, "The administrative department announced that this year's annual party requires colleagues to partner up, and everyone's looking for dance partners in the group chat. It's quite amusing."
"The administrative department has come up with something novel this time," Alexander said nonchalantly, "How many pairs have formed already?"
"There are quite a few already," Kevin reported like a correspondent at the scene, "and for those who are popular, several people are vying to be their dance partner."
Alexander smiled and said nothing.
He glanced at the time, growing a bit impatient, and said, "Call her and ask why she hasn't come down yet. Doesn't she know I'm waiting?"
Kevin, understanding the situation, said, "Ms. Hill is probably worried about being misunderstood by her colleagues, which could lead to unnecessary trouble, that's why she's coming down late."
"Idiot!" Alexander grumbled. "Can't she think of something else? What a waste of time!"
As his words faded, Lillian bent down to open the car door and sat inside.
"I’m so sorry for making you wait, Mr. Sinclair," she quickly apologized.
"If you knew I was waiting, why didn’t you come down sooner? Are you doing this on purpose?" Alexander asked, annoyed.
"Of course not, why would I do that?" Lillian promptly denied, giving him a quick glance. She thought to herself, 'Can’t you figure out why I might be late?'
Kevin started the car and headed towards the school.
On the way, Lillian and Kevin discussed finding a date for the annual dance.
"Mr. Martin, do you need a date for the dance? Have you chosen someone?" Lillian inquired. "Do you know the new lady, Dora? I think you two would be a good match."
"Ms. Hill, I’m tagging along with Mr. Sinclair and I don’t need a date," Kevin explained.
"Oh, I see," Lillian dropped the subject.
Before getting into the car, she had set her phone to vibrate. She was worried about getting scolded if it rang. True to her prediction, her phone started vibrating incessantly.
She was puzzled by the sudden influx of messages. Checking WhatsApp, she found friend requests from colleagues. She felt too awkward to decline, so she accepted them all.
These were male colleagues from various departments, all hoping to invite her as their date. Some messages were humorous, others were direct, and some were subtle. There was a whole range of approaches.
Lillian inwardly cursed Dora for causing her this trouble. She juggled replies to her male coworkers while her phone kept vibrating.
"Ms. Hill, why are you so busy?" Kevin joked at a red light.
She sighed. "It’s this whole date thing. Suddenly a bunch of guys added me as a friend, and I can barely keep up."
"Hmm…" Kevin glanced at Alexander in the rearview mirror. Alexander's eyes were closed, seemingly indifferent.
He suggested, "Maybe it’s better not to accept any more for now. Just wait a few days."
Lillian was busy typing responses, missing the implication in Kevin's words. "I don’t even know who to choose right now. I have to pick someone handsome. I worry if I delay, they will all have partners, and I’ll have no choice left!"
"You think this is a matchmaking session or what?" Alexander's voice came from the back, his eyes still closed. Whenever he spoke in that tone, Lillian felt a bit intimidated. In a soft voice, she replied, "That's not what I mean. The annual event requires a partner, I can’t just not show up, can I?"
"Don't forget who you are," he reminded her again.
"Will you be my dance partner?" Lillian asked bluntly. "As far as status goes, you're the only one who can be my dance partner!"
Alexander suddenly opened his eyes, looked at her as she tilted her head slightly and asked. He chuckled derisively and said, "Let me make this clear, I will not be your dance partner. And don't even think about finding another man to be your dance partner!"
"So, I can forgo attending the annual company party, right?"
Kevin signaled her with his eyes and said, "Ms. Hill, Mr. Sinclair didn't mean that."
Alexander said, "The annual party is a company event, and as an employee, you must attend unless there is a special circumstance."
'So, am I supposed to be embarrassed all by myself?' Lillian thought, "It's fine not to have a dance partner, I don't really want to dance anyway."
The car stopped at the curb near the school, and Lillian and Alexander got out and walked to the school entrance to wait for Lucas. Soon, the teacher came out with the children, and Lucas, waving his hands excitedly, saw the two waiting and his eyebrows shot up.
"Goodbye!" The students waved farewell.
Lucas rushed out and leaped into their arms. "Alexander, Lillian, I need to commend you."
"Lucas, are these your mom and dad?" Lucas's classmate asked.
Lucas said loudly, "They are my second mom and dad."
Lillian laughed, finding the kids' terminology amusing.
After dinner back at home, they went upstairs to continue practicing their dance routine. Lillian suggested adding singing to the act so that they'd have two performances and not just one. Some families were preparing four or five acts.
Alexander nodded in agreement. The three of them chose a children's song and combined it with the dance, practicing for over forty minutes. That night, everything went as usual, and the three of them shared the bed again, which Lillian had grown accustomed to. It was just like sleeping somewhere else to her.
The next day, when Lillian arrived at the office, she heard Taylor announce, "The dance portion of the annual party has been canceled. We'll proceed with the performances as usual, followed by the dinner. That's that."
