BXBX NOVEL Chapter 62 - THE PARTY
Chapter 62 - THE PARTY
I felt the weight of someone\'s gaze upon my shoulders. I tried to ignore the unsettling feeling aside but it only bothered me more. All eyes had been nailed on us the moment Ryze ushered me to the dance floor and that\'s when I felt someone\'s intently looking at me, there was something utterly familiar about the stare which I failed to fathom, call it instinct or something, but it was indeed familiar.
Ryze was the third oldest among my eight brothers and by far the most good-looking. Without a doubt my brothers are all refined men with striking features but Rhyze has a smooth, angelic face which I find attractive.
He has soft phoenix eyes who appeared lively all the time. It was framed by perfectly arched eyelashes that could make a woman green with envy, and sometimes on the unfortunate side, made our younger brothers tease him frequently.
His lips were thin and shapely as if they belonged to a woman. His perfectly chiseled nose enhanced his gentle features. He looked like a male version of me.
My wandering eyes surveyed the densely packed crowd with growing unease, I didn\'t expect that we would have a sea of visitors tonight when I was only expecting no more than two hundred But the guests gathered around us with keen no eyes, watching me dance with Ryze with curious keen eyes were no less than four hundred guests.
"Nervous?" Ryze whispered in his usual gentle tone. It\'s one of the traits I admire from my brother, he was the only Crawford man I know who was eternally calm and soft-spoken. It seems he was the only one who didn\'t inherit the notorious Crawford temper. Unfortunately, Ryze has a different calling. He was more purpose-driven inclined to fulfill his greatest dream—to be a priest.
"A little bit," I replied, giving him the sweetest smile I could muster which he responded with the same eager smile that made his eyes crinkle at the corner.
"Don\'t be. Now that you\'re a Crawford, you have nothing to be afraid of.? They should be the ones who should feel nervous. You have nine Crawford men watching your back." Ryze\'s smile broadened, it was so warm and genuine and I found my heart-melting.
"Thank you, Ryze," I mumbled.
I was momentarily distracted when a familiar song began to play in the background. It was happier by Ed Sheeran. My eyes widened in curious fascination wondering who had chosen the music.
I thought I\'d forgotten the unsettling stare but it returned, this time it felt heavier. As if by accident, my eyes landed on the dimly lit corner of the grand hall where a bar counter is located. Seated on the bar stool was a man wearing a shirt which I couldn\'t guess if it was white or grey since the light couldn\'t reach the corner.
There was something utterly familiar, despite being hidden into the shadows, there was something about him that simply stood out. Despite him wearing a rather out of place outfit, composed of a t-shirt and jeans in the room full of people indulging in the grandeur of their attires,? he still looks so proud, tall, and intimidating.
"I shall turn you over to Ethan, he looked as if he wanted to strangle me for keeping you longer than I should."
A turned my head to him, chuckling at the humor in his voice. He landed a soft, gentle kiss on my cheeks before letting me go.
When I turned my gaze back to the corner of the room, the bar stool was now empty, the man was nowhere to be found and there was no trace of him as if he evaporated into the air. I wondered if I\'d imagined him or he was a ghost after vanishing as fast as he arrived.
I was left with no further time to locate the man by Ethan\'s arrival. "Shall I have this dance, princess?" He said grinning happily after Ryze stepped aside giving him the chance to occupy his place.
"My pleasure Sir," I replied, grinning back.
The song changed and I found myself enjoying it as Ethan whirled me to the dance floor with the excellent grace of someone who frequented the dance floor. I wonder how many girls have danced with him before and surely enjoyed the moment with him.
The moment was so magical, so enchanting that I found myself lost for words to describe how I felt at the moment. I felt so special tonight like a princess dancing in the center of the room, while hundreds of eyes watched me with unconcealed admiration.
I feel so high at the moment as if I had taken some forbidden drugs that sent my pulse rate jittering with excitement. In fact, I felt as if I am the most beautiful woman in the room. Perhaps it was because I was surrounded by the most good-looking men in Cordova that I found myself so damn special. I too was well aware of the fact some women inside the room were eyeing me with raw envy as eight dashing men swept me off my feet with a dance.
I forgot that about my uncertainties, I too forgot that I was uncomfortable.
After the dance with Ethan, Skye followed, then there was Caleb after him was Rhylle and then there was Troy. I was expecting my feet to feel exhausted during the fifth dance but I have more energy than I thought. Surprised by my enthusiasm and gusto, I managed to dance with Calix, then with Blithe, and the last with Keith.
When the music died down, the dance I thought was the last wasn\'t the end, coming towards me at the center of the room with a proud gleam on his eyes was Alexander Crawford, my father.
"Can I have this last dance, though I doubt this would actually be the last dance since a dozen of men are dying to take their turn?"
"I am honored to have this dance, Papa," I replied with eagerness, ignoring his last remark.
The room plunged into a? sudden hush as Alexander Crawford honored me with a dance.
"Thank you for all of this Pa. This is the most memorable experience I ever had." After a long empty silence, I manage to say the words. Despite my efforts to suppress the tears, I end up spilling them.
"You don\'t need to thank me, Beatrix. I want you to know that I\'m so proud of you. I will do everything to make you happy." Alexander replied I have never seen so much tenderness in his eyes before.
The dance ended with Alexander wrapping me into a tight hug. I swear I have nothing more to ask. I got everything at my feet. Above all, I am happy and contented.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this toast is for my only? daughter, Beatrix Crawford, the heiress of Crawford Chain of Business!" Alexander announced raising a toast in the air.
After the toast, the dance floor was opened for the guests to indulge in a dance. I was planning to retire early, my body finally succumbed to exhaustion. After eyeing Faith peacefully asleep in Ethan\'s arms, I finally decided I had had enough of the party.
"Can I have this dance?"
I groaned. So much for my plans to retire early. A man with piercing brown eyes stood in front of me, his lips curled into a smile that no woman could resist. Good Lord! I muttered inwardly realizing that I have to stay a little longer.
He was tall, my head barely reached his shoulders. He has this smooth warm honey hair that which I suddenly found myself wanting to brush my fingers into his wild unruly hair.
He was handsome… too handsome ….A model perhaps? An actor? He was too out of my league. I thought eyeing his broad muscular shoulders and perfectly chiseled body which his tuxedo wasn\'t able to conceal.
When he smiled, I suddenly have a clear view of his pearly white teeth which had me guessing if he was actually a toothpaste commercial model.
"S-sure." I stuttered. Blushing.
The last thing I knew, I was being directed to the dance floor.
"Don\'t be scared." He whispered, gently guiding my hands around his neck. His arms slithered down the curve of my waist.
What a perfect gentleman. I thought as he danced with ease. I could feel my palms trembling as I held his neck.
Butterflies were churning my stomach as he holds me. For a moment, the room faded to the distance. There were only the two of us standing on the dance floor. Even the noise seems to drift far away. I am only aware of his breathing and so my own.
The dance stopped I became aware that the song ended. Once more I was back into reality.
"Goodnight Se?orita Beatrix." He murmurs in his sexy, sultry voice that nearly made my eyes close. "I shall see you tomorrow," he said meaningfully. After that, he was gone leaving me reeling with shock.