Max's office.
"Please have your seat."
His rich voice compelled her. She was a little bit on the edge but she was having her friend's back.
"Zoe."
She said, reaching out her right hand. He didn't take it, he stood up instead.
Zoe felt embarrassed and somewhat stupid for being too forward. But was she really?
The customs of rich men sucked several bags of annoyance.
Max walked over to her and took the hand she had recently dropped. He gave the back of her hand a slight peck, his soft lips caressing her velvet skin.
"Max."
He said as soon as he raised his head.
She didn't know which to choose, whether rude or romantic. Well both began with 'r'.
"Apologies if that was somehow off."
He said as he settled back into his luxurious office chair. A rich smile flaming his smooth face. He wasn't only cute, but hot.
"No, it's fine. Only that I wasn't expecting it."
She admitted to him. She was forcing a smile. She was a little bit nervous but after all she was there. Let's give it all twould take.
For once, she took note of what he was wearing. Same tuxedo suit, though blue colour that time. He was wearing a rosy cologne and his well pressed white shirt stood out amongst the whole beaut.
She had been distracted enough.
"You're the lady from Trespat right?"
He asked finally. His gaze was tender on her, yet she felt like twas pressing words out of her.
"True that."
She sat well on the chair. Enough of being a dickhead. She was ready to own up to the whole plan.
"How about your other friend. Shame I couldn't talk to her, my fiance walked in."
He paused suddenly then said again, his face wielding a light frown,
"Dumb me."
He punched in a sequence of numbers and put a call through on the telephone.
"Two cups of coffee please."
He said, his mild voice changed to a stern one while speaking over the phone. He hung the call.
"I didn't think I wanted coffee."
She said, giving him a stylish look. Now she was being an ass. That was meant to be a payback.
"Oh, sorry. I should had asked before making a call. I could as well tell her to nevermind."
He said reaching for the telephone again. She shot quickly,
"No, it's fine."
What was she doing? She was wasting time. She should just get to business and forget that she was there.
That was the typical Zoe.
He smiled and frowned immediately. His mild voice about to change,
"Why are you here, Zoe."
What she said seemed to had messed with him. But she could see that he was trying to be professional about it.
"Right."
Zoe said rather shocked. There was a sudden call from the door, then the caller was let in.
A lady dressed in a black skirt few inches above the knees walked in. Her fancy blouse made professional by the black bowtie to matched with her wine shoe. White blouse.
The lady placed the cups of coffee as instructed and walked out.
Max took a swig and stared at her.
"Are you some hidden client or?"
For a moment Zoe thought that his stern voice was inspired by pride but what did she care. Let the plan come through.
"No, not really. Paul, a college mate of mine who said he was your friend or something said he was told that you want a dance instructor for both you and your finance. A dance instructor for the Waltz. For your wedding."
He nodded his head slightly and said,
"Me precisely. Alexa to some extent knows how to sway to the rhythm. She could had thought me but we're very much busy with the company business."
He paused and continued almost immediately.
"By the way, this Paul, where did you meet him?. Twould rather be unwise of me to ask where he works."
His voice still stern but with less pressure. She took a sip of the coffee and,
"Yeah, at the party. Met him at the party, closely in time with when Alexis came to you."
"Alexa."
He corrected.
"The decision isn't mine to make, you know."
His elbows were on the table, his palms supporting both his jaw and chin. Zoe could read all the Psalms in the Bible that he could say yes.
"I'll speak with Alexa, she seems to have someone -- oh, there she comes."
Zoe turned immediately. Alexa opened the door and walked in.
She was as tall as Zoe, round face, small nose, well shaped lips and milk skins. Her eyelashes flamed the curves of her smile as she shot it at Max.
Zoe looked back at Max and whispered immediately,
"She comes to your office too?"
Max was rather displeased by that and that was emphasized in his response,
"I'm not sure what that has to do with the waltz."
He looked away from her to Alexa who walked over to him and kissed him in the lips, mumbling into his mouth.
Zoe felt -- she couldn't describe the emotion. Their chances seemed slim. She as well might just text Dia right away telling her to forget about the Max guy.
One thing which was certain was the fact Alexa was sure the jealous type. Those jealous type who would go to any extent to secure what's theirs. Somewhat reasonable.
"Hi!"
Alexa waved at Zoe. Zoe didn't know what to do in response. Zoe forced a smile back. Alexa wasn't the prey.
"Meet Zoe, a secretary to her dance instructor friend."
Max said to Alexa.
Zoe wasn't comfortable. The fucking studio was hers!!! She was just lending Dia for the meantime till Max would be theirs.
She couldn't possibly explain that to any of the two. She scoffed.
"But I already told you my cousin is best at Waltz. Why keep pushing her away? It's quite unfair. You know the 12 steep Waltz show, she choreographed it."
Alexa argued,
"Sit here."
Max pat his thighs as Alexa shrugged but finally sat.
"Your cousin is family. Let someone else take a benefit of Rowe's wealth."
His mild voice was back. He pecked her and looked at Zoe who was already standing. She felt disrespected.
"I think I should go."
Zoe said. Max pleaded with her,
"Sorry about that. Drop your business card, we'll get back to you."
Zoe fumbled through her bag clasped to her side. She handed him the card.
"Why didn't your friend come herself?"
That was Alexa. Max intervened,
"You go Zoe, we'll give you a call."
Zoe stared at Alexa for a while. She felt like strangling her. She nodded. She didn't know if that was the right thing to do.
She walked out obviously annoyed.
Rude rich folks.
2 Weeks later. The Dance Studio. "Tell me about this Waltz. Not very much of a reader." Max's well-chizeled face melted into a sheepish smile. He had Dia in his arms in a dancing position. The both of them were in the middle of the dance studio. There was no background music, they seemed to be doing it to Dia's rhythm. Max seemed to be getting better with it. The practice had been on since few days. "The name of the dance comes from the German word waltzen, meaning to turn or to glide. It is thought to have developed either from the folk music and associated dances of rural west Austria, in the Tyrol region, or from an earlier dance, the volta, from the 16th century." Dia explained, repaying back a light smile. She was beautiful, and Max was beginning to be smothered by both her aura and elegance. "Any other thing I should
Three days later. Treasure island. Petite Suite. Las Vegas. "When again would we meet?" The rich voice of the man embroidered with the British accent seemed to be blown across the luxurious room. He kissed her, tasting her lips differently at every time their lips met. He couldn't count the numbers of times they've kissed, but each time had its perks. "Maybe never again." Dia meant to disappoint him as said, shortly after she fought her mouth free. His broad face, and well cut nose were contoured at that. "You didn't enjoy the three days?" There was this inflection on the 't' sounds as well as the 'ay' in day. One of the things she liked about him. "I guess I do." She muttered. She had her eyes glued on him but was very much far away in thought
The restaurant. "What was that on the phone?" Zoe's gaze was demanding as it worked Dia over. Dia would try to tame the beast in her for a while. "What?" Dia reached for the burger and took a bite. She wasn't mad to the point of starvation. "Really? The attitude and all. Where did you get those from." Zoe took a bite of her Apple pie too. She looked sharply around as usual. She held Dia again in her gaze. "Is that why you invited me over?" There was an interval while she spoke. Reference was given to the mastication of the food. "Are you kidding me, bitch?" "Watch it, Zoe!" Dia dropped the burger she had just picked . They were beginning to steer the attention of people present.
Dance Studio. "Empty threat, eh?" Dia muttered, staring at the plastic sign at the top of the gate which led into the studio. WALTZ A WHILE, was the inscription on it. Twas golden but had some brown stripes. She thought Zoe had promised to lock the studio from her or probably she was in there waiting for her. She hadn't wanted to go to the studio in the first place, but Max was very much out of her hand. She didn't have his number yet, and he might come around. She bunk the thought and strayed into the studio. Twas as calm as usual inside. There was no one in the studio. The dance floor was very neat and to the far end of the east was a grand piano. That luxury had cost Zoe a fortune. She remembered Zoe saving her ass off to get it. "Dia!" Dia was distrac
Rowe's multi-billionaire Castle. "But what are you thinking? The wedding is just few weeks away." Rowe's tough face folded into a bulky frown, though he knew that deep down he was as soft as a tissue whenever it boiled down to his only son, Max. Max was his only heir, though he had another son somewhere which he had held back from Max. Max was seated on a luxurious milk colored leathered sofa. Twas a full-floor condo. The view from the living room had a great water opposite. The lapping of the water is reflected by the transparent glass filtering the panorama. Rowe's apartment was a paradise of its own form. Several rooms and sitting rooms. Though that main parlour was the choice of all, especially when they were having such delicate discourse. Most of them believed that the view had a peace to it. Such peace which was needed t
The next day. "The door is shut, sir. Seems she's got an off." The driver of the black limousine called at well-built man with well shaped face seated at the back. Twas Max. The glass of the door by which he was seated was unwind for a clearer view of what the driver had said. "I don't think we came too early. Or did we?" Max asked not sure to whom he had directed the question. His face was still glued to the locked door of the studio. There were lots of things to owed that too. Given by what happened between himself and Dia the other day. He opened the door of the limo and stepped out. His Italian shoe warming the bitumen. He was greeted by the bellowing breeze. His grey suit could counter the coziness. "I got this. Go on." He ordered the
Dia and Grandma's house. "Not now." Dia cussed as she heard the thick and rich voice come from the sitting room. For a while she thought of pretending as though she was dead. If that in any way would help her avoid the morning talk. And for fuck sake, why would he stop by that early in the morning. Twas just 10am. Whatever. She couldn't hear clearly, the conversation was indistinct. But she needed no soothsayer to tell her that the discussion they were having was about her. She would just retire to the bed and pretend as though she was a sleeping log. Then she heard the pressured call, "Dia!!! Your father is here." Her grandma was approaching her room. "Oh... Shit!" She flung into the bed and tucked herself into the fluffy c
Jane's Dance Studio. "It's quite a wonder." Dia watched the lips of the old woman dance to the words. She didn't owe the woman an explanation, she only needed a last help from her. She wasn't sure whether or not the woman was in. She was only waiting. "Could you, please?" She pleaded. That was the second time, but it seemed to her as though she had said it like a kabillion times. She wasn't so good at being polite. "I don't know how that would seem to her. She shouldn't had held it back from you." Dia didn't know why Jane kept stretching the short rubber of conversation. Probably because it seemed elastic to her. "It must had slipped her mind." Dia defended, though she knew that Jane could be as obstinate as fuck. "Please Jane, I have an u