The Ball was held in a beautiful restored 20th century hotel ball room. It had all the trimming of beautiful hardwood floorboards, rich velvet curtains, a a huge ornate chandelier. Tables were set for three courses with white table clothes, polished silver and ornate glass where that bespoke the theme. It was like a timewarp but a beautiful one that played into Alicia's fantasy of the night being just like a fairytale minus her finding a Prince Charming. She didn't want to be disappointed by lucking out.
As night progressed, Alicia enjoyed herself. She was introduced to many influential people and danced with a few suitable men her father approved of. It was the same rigamole at social events but instead of the men looking like they were shafted with an undesirable duty they looked excited. That was until they remembered she was going to be career military and most men wanted a wife and kids which did not figure into Alicia's near future at least.
But it was alright she didn't find any of them as attractive prospects either as they lacked a certain something that she couldn't decribe or put her finger on. She just knew when they danced with her, it just felt perfunctory and their flattery empty and meaningless. It didn't give her quite the same zing as when her father told her she was beautiful but then her father knew her and even Commander Taylor's blasé comment of her 'cleaning up good'. It was his stamp of approval and frankly she lived off every scrap of positive reinforcement she could get. It was how she knew she was doing the right thing.
"I'm impressed that you took Mrs Taylor's advice and ventured out of the uniform" Her father said as he was taking his turn dancing with her on the dance floor to the live string quartet that had been playing classical music all night. They were currently waltzing, something they hadn't done since Alicia was in primary school and that was for a Fathers-Daughters dance. She had also been half the height she was nowbut the moment in time still felt as special as this. Though she was taller at 5'8 plus the heels so her 6ft tall father didn't tower over her as much as she used to.
"Me too, I think she's made me her pet project" Alicia said.
"Nothing wrong with that. She is a highly respected woman in her own right and I can see after a week some of her better qualities have rubbed off on you" Her father said before he released her from his hold and twirled her, he pulled her back and placed a hand in the middle of her back and smiled at her. "I also think it wouldn't hurt if you started showing a little more personality so you stand out from the flock"
"Are you trying to say that I'm ewe?" Alicia asked him.
"Fine, wrong tactic but I like the woman before me and I want to see her more often. Doesn't mean you have to wear dresses all the time but tonight it's like you've blossomed" he told her.
"Oh no, don't start with the platitudes of how I'm becoming a butterfly" Alicia said with a chuckle, the music drew to a close and Alicia was grateful as it meant that she wouldn't have to see her father dissolve into sentimental moment where she might cry as she wanted to keep all of Ayani's hard work intact. They stepped back and applauded the band for the song before she took her father's arm and was escorted back to their table before he went to talk to one of his comrades.
Alicia barely sat down before Ayani sat herself down in the seat next to Alicia at the table.
"So having fun?" Ayani asked her, Alicia picked up her glass of water nodded before she took a long sip of much needed water.
"Yeah, thank you again" Alicia told her.
"Anytime, I'm already thinking about what you'll be wearing at the next Military ball" Ayani said to her.
"That's a whole year away." Alicia told her.
"I know but it's good to be prepared in advance" Ayani told her as she smiled and looked over Alicia's shoulder, Alicia turned her head as found Commander Taylor coming their way. "Nathaniel, your Lieutenant is being obstinate with me" she said in a mockingly pouty manner. Taylor gave a smile as he knew he was being baited.
"Is she now? and what about?" he asked as he looked at Alicia, noting the healthy blush gracing her cheeks, it was possibly the first time he had ever seen her blush and found it adorable. He moved to stand by his wife's chair and looked down at the women.
"She won't let me plan her dress for next year's ball" Ayani told him.
"I don't think I'm qualified for this conversation" Taylor told his wife.
"I'm not asking for your imput on the designs I'm asking you to order her to be more compliant to my demands" Ayani told him in a mocking fashion so he knew not to take her seriously. Taylor looked to Alicia who looked like she thought he was going to berate her but before he could say anything she spoke.
"I'm not against meeting your demands I would just like to enjoy this dress a little longer before you make me another" Alicia said in a placating manner. Taylor could tell his wife had been razzing Alicia up and heard the music start up again. He held out to Ayani.
"May I have this dance?" Taylor asked his wife, she smiled up at him and shook her head, he could see she was exhausted and didn't blame her but he also wanted to save his lieutenant from becoming too frazzled from his wife's over enthusiastic nature when it came to fashion. He needed to give the young woman a brief reprieve.
"Thank you but no, my toes still hurt from dancing with General Philbrick but you should take Alicia for a spin as I think you're the only one who hasn't danced with her yet" Ayani said gesturing to Alicia. Taylor looked to Alicia and offered his hand to her.
"Lieutenant, may I have this dance?" he asked, he could see the slight hesitation in her before she gave a nod. It would have been seen as rude if she didn't accept his offer especially since Ayani had told him to so. So Alicia nodded and took his hand as she got to her feet and allowed him to guide her to the dance floor.
He placed his right hand in the middle of her back and held her right hand in his left while she placed her left hand on his shoulder. She felt incredibly tense as there was something about being in this position felt intimate to her as she had never been this close to him before or even touched him bar a hand shake once a BBQ. It was hard not to be taken in by how handsome he was, how strong and steady his presence felt as it wrapped around her like a warm blanket. Mmm he even smells good... shut it down Leesh and focus.. He's your boss and married to a beautiful and caring woman... he is not fantasy material... she silently berated herself as she blushed embarrassed for having such inappropiate thoughts of her boss but also annoyed at herself as she didn't want to be a cliche. The music played and he took lead but within two steps she accidently stubbed her toe on his shoe faltering their movement.
"Oh I'm sorry sir" She said embarrassed as she couldn't believe she made a misstep with her own commanding officer. Dancing with him was a mistake as it was too intimate for her, too personal because she admired him. She didn't want the admiration for him as a soldier and his career to develop into something more but then maybe it was too late. She mentally shook her head, she was letting her fantasies imprint on him and it wasn't right but then she thought that this was probably the only time they'd be this physically close and this dressed up so where was the harm for just five minutes.
"It's alright I wore my steel cap boots" he told her making levity of the situation as they started moving to the music again, he relaxed his hand a little lower on her back so as to help her relax as she was far more tense dancing with him than any of her other previous partners. He chalked it up to her being his subordinate and being afraid of doing the wrong thing and ending up on his bad side. Something he wouldn't do over her accidently tripping up on the dance floor. He was not petty like that.
"I'm also sorry for what happened last week" She said as they managed to find their rhythm and she looked up at him. He quirked an eyebrow at her.
"You apologising for painting my boots or getting yourself hospitilised because you didn't want to show weakness by requesting medical leave earlier?" he asked her, she stiffened in his arms at his question and he inwardly smacked himself for sounding so caustic.
"Both" She answered honestly, he started to feel her try to take control of their dance and quickening the pace. He gave a wry smile and wondered if she knew she was doing it or not.
"Apology accepted on both counts but next time just go to medical" he advised her.
"Yes, Sir" She said as she looked around.
"Now could you relax and let me lead?" he asked her, she immediately slowed and took over again, still oddly amused as he always the lead when he danced with his wife and she was the only woman he danced with at the balls and social functions.
"Sorry, Sir. It's a little hard to when everybody is staring at us, my autocontrol switches on" she said with a half shrug and an expression that said 'what can you do?'. He lowered his head slightly.
"You're a beautiful woman, of course they will stare and let them because you are the one with the power to allow them into your world" he told her, she looked at him slightly confused.
"Sir?" she asked.
"Tonight is a ball and I believe my wife has made you 'Cinderella' if you'll allow me to label you" he said being polite. Alicia smiled as she didn't mind the connotation as she felt like a Pauper masquerading as Princess and it wasn't a bad thing as she was enjoying herself. She would take many good memories with her tonight very much like the Cinderella her father used to tell her about when he indulged her in when she was younger.
"If I remember Cinderella goes to the ball in the most beautiful gown ever created. She and the Widowed King fall in love with each other but before they could share one kiss, the clock strikes twelve and she runs home before her gown turns to ashes but in the process loses one of her slippers. The King finds the slipper and tracks her down because he cannot imagine a life without her by his side. I think I maybe letting you down Sir because I have no interest in falling love tonight with any widower or having this dress turn to ashes" She said, looking at him, she could help being just a little sentimental in the moment as Taylor opened the door for the discussion. He chuckled at her as he secretly felt relieved at the knowledge. He did not want to lose her to another man as it would mean her resigning her commission to start a family.
"My wife will appreciate that but I have to admit I remember a different version of Cinderella" he murmured to her.
"It's the version my father told me as a little girl. I used to love hearing him tell me that story as it was the only one he ever told that was about love. I think he didn't me to obsessed about princesses, princes and fairytale happy endings" Alicia said with a shrug.
"Or perhaps he was preparing you so you understood that people can love more than one person with the same fervour" Taylor said idly. Alicia opened her mouth to say something but really didn't know what to say, she couldn't really talk about love as it was not an emotion she knew, not in the sense that her Father and Commander Taylor did. So she closed her mouth feeling it was better to remain silent and enjoy the dance while it lasted because as soon as the music drew to an end she and Taylor would go back to their current practice of remaining professionally distant from one another.
In some ways she realised she was like Cinderella as she was dancing with a man close enough to her ideal of a King but he was not widowed and she would never wish him such heartache for him. So she like Cinderella would enjoy her limited time and enjoy this one dance.