The atmosphere was awkward, so Danny quickly broke the ice. “What did you get for Alexander,
Ashlyn?”
Ashlyn felt embarrassed, but she stayed calm. “I hand picked this, Alexander. Please take it.” She
thought he’d say something, but he still didn’t.
Jack and Danny glanced at each other. The old Jack would have stood up for Ashlyn, but tonight, he
turned his head away and pretended that he saw nothing. Danny looked around to see if anyone could
be of help. When he saw Elise, he 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, she simply said, “Yes.” Then, she took the present out.
“Here, Alexander. Happy birthday.”
Alexander looked at her, then at her present. For some reason, he wanted to know what her gift was,
but he had to stay calm and collected. “Danny, take the gift.”
Danny quickly took Elise’s gift. He paused for a moment, then he took Ashlyn’s as well.
Ashlyn heaved a sigh of relief after her gift was taken. Unbeknownst to her, Alexander never wanted to
take her 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 her that way, but after what happened, she could feel
his contempt toward her. However, she 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 he asked her, but she 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 he actually opened Elise’s to take a look.
Ashlyn now knew Alexander never cared about her gift in the first place, and her 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 she got a fox
mask, while her number was fifty-six. Well, who’s the unlucky guy? Dancing wasn’t her forte after all. In
fact, it was one of her worst talents. She stood silently among the crowd, a glass of champagne in
hand. Everyone got their partners eventually, but her partner still didn’t show up, much to her
frustration. Did nobody get my number?
Just when she was asking herself that, a tall man in a bear mask came up to her, and he 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 he got Elise
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as well, so he chuckled. “Fate wants us together, it seems. Or as some might say, plot device.”
Elise wondered why he said that, but she didn’t have the time to question him. Alexander had extended
his hand, and she held it after a moment of hesitation, letting him lead her 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, she said, “I’m sorry. I stepped on
your foot.”
Alexander gave her an encouraging look. “It’s fine. Take it slow.”
It was embarrassing for Elise, but still she followed his instructions, though guests who danced close to
her swore they heard her apologizing a lot.
Every time she said sorry, Alexander just reassured her patiently. “It’s fine. You can do it.”
His encouragement was starting to work, and she slowly got into the tempo. Eventually, she caught up
to him and made no mistakes in her dance.
“Not bad.” He gave her genuine praise.
Elise felt embarrassed, but she 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 her away from the dance floor.
Once they got out, Alexander praised, “Not bad.”
Elise quickly answered, “All thanks to you.”
Alexander looked at her and continued, “But that’s also because you’re a good learner.”
She tucked her hair behind her 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 her despite the mask. Ever since what happened last time,
she had been distancing herself from him, but now he 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 her any chance to escape because he had already extended his hand. “My fair
lady, may I have a dance with you?”
There was love in his eyes, as if he had a lot of things to say to her.
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