The last time I felt like this…
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 10
"The waltz of hope"
Candy was with her friends at her apartment getting ready for the big ball. She had given her two best friends invitations; Annabelle and Tricia were going with their boyfriends.
- Candy, you don't have a date? Asked Annabelle
- You know I'm not going to be alone at the party, you'll see…
- But you could've gone with your one of your friends
- I only wanted to go with Terrence
- So why didn't you ask him?
- Because…it was too… personal. I didn't want to cross the line between being professional and my private life…
- But it's what you want! Said Annabelle
- I know… and I regretted not asking him… he's going with Liza Read
- Liza Reed? Daniel's adorable sister? What could he see in her?
- Apparently, he owed her a favour, and she came to collect by asking him to go with her to the dance, said Candy with a weary tone
She thought about the flash she had at the office when Liza left.
- By the way, Annabelle, I had another flash at the office that day after Liza left…
- Oh you're telling me just now?
- I'm going to send it to you by email…
Tricia was listening to them surprised to see that the two friends had taken that story seriously…
- You're really serious? Asked Tricia, I thought you didn't believe it Candy…
- I don't know what to believe, honestly, Tricia, but we'll see where this story takes us
- It's fascinating, said Tricia, you should write a book on it Annabelle
- I'm one step ahead of you, Tricia…
- My God, you're serious, and if it's a best seller, we become millionaires?
- Easy, said Candy, before we start counting the money we don't have, I have to solve my problem first…
- Of course, said Annabelle, that goes without saying. You're the star…
- Are you ready, can we leave, asked Candy
- Yes, the guy are waiting for us downstairs, said Tricia
They were all wearing beautiful white dresses, ample at the skirts so they can move easily while they dance. The reception had to happen in one of the room of the United Nations building. Annabelle's and Tricia's dates, were waiting for them downstairs in a while limo.
- You're wonderful, said Vincent seeing the 3 ladies
- Breathtaking! Said Sterling Tricia's boyfriend
- Thank you sirs! Said the ladies at the same time
- Come on, said Vincent, the evening is just beginning very well
They went to the ball talking about a lot of thing in the car.
- CB, said Vincent, you don't have a date?
- Oh don't worry about me, I'm going to spend my evening dancing, you'll see, said Candy smiling
- I don't doubt it, he said, but you're going to reserve a dance for me…
- If Annabelle doesn't have any objections, said Candy
- Of course not, Candy! Come on! Said Annabelle
- And one for me, said Sterling
- Of course said Candy
- You'll be lucky if you can have her for a minute, said Annabelle, you've never seen Candy in a reception, especially at the United Nations in the world where she knows everybody…
- I can't wait to see that, said Vincent
- Annabelle is exaggerating, said Candy, I don't know that many people…
- Don't believe me, you'll see, said Annabelle smiling
Annabelle, as a reporter, had been to receptions and she had seen Candy in action… Candy smiled and Tricia held her hand.
- Before the end of the night, men are going to be fighting to dance with you, said Tricia
They arrived as the United Nation building, and there were a lot of cars. That's why it was better to go with the driver; at least he was going to take care of the parking.
- Here we are, said Annabelle
- Wow, said Tricia, I already see 3 celebrities over there… oh thank you Candy! You rock!
- You're welcome Tricia, have fun…
- I intend to…
There were reporters, photographers and cameramen. Candy and her friends were blinded by the photographers' flashes. The room was big, separated in two, a part of the buffet and the beverages, and the other part with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra playing soft music waiting for the ball to start. Candy, as a matter of fact new a lot of people and she introduced them to he friends. She met a young military attaché named Michel Gallant. They had met in Budapest, when Candy's father was working there.
- Michel! Said Candy smiling
- Candice-Blanche! Said Michel hugging her briefly in his arms, always very pretty
- And you too. The tuxedo suits you as well as your uniform… but I still like the uniform better…
- How are you parents?
- They're fine, still in Bangkok…
- Yes, I know. Thailand must be very interesting…I hope I'm sent to Asia on my next assignment
- Asia is fascinating…. Where's your other half?
- Francesca? She's not here. She wasn't feeling good…
- I learned for her father, I'm sorry
- Thanks. Since her mother is American, she's spending a few months here…
- I'll come and see her to present her my condolences; you think she's going to be glad to see me?
- Of course. Your rivalry is ancient history… even if I would've been with you today, if you wanted me…
- You deserve a woman who is in love with you, Michel and that woman is Francesca, not me…
- Have you finally fallen in love with someone? We're taking bets….
- On my love life?
- Yes. We're wondering how long it's going to take…
- Really? You have nothing else to do with your time?
- When the daughter of the British Ambassador, who is also the most beautiful and the most generous, is refusing every eligible bachelors of embassies, we're starting to wonder…
- Stop making me blush… I'll se you later, Michel? I'm going to go see my friends.
Candy left to stop that conversation. She met Dora and Thomas.
- Candice-Bianca! Said Dora, you're alone?
- All alone, like a big girl, said Candy kissing them
- Could you reserve me a dance, then? Said Thomas
- Of course, Thomas, you're always on my dance book, said Candy smiling
- Where's your handsome boss? Ask Dora
- I don't know, he didn't come with me and I don't know if he's already here of not….
- Why didn't you invite him?
- Because he's my boss, Dora
- Candice-Bianca, I know you…. You've got a thing for him!
- Dorita
- And it's an event… don't let him slip through your fingers. For once, you're in love!
- He's my boss, repeated Candy; nothing is going to happen… I'll see your guys later…
While she was walking, she met Daniel Reed alone: he has a big smile.
- Hello pretty one! He said
- Daniel… what an unpleasant surprise…
- You're going to reserve a dance for me, at least
- Don't hold your breath….
- You don't have a date… I would be glad to be your date…
- I'm sure you brought a poor girl here that you dumped… go be with her
- I don't need another girl; it's you I want…
- Too bad for you, because I would never be with you…
Dinah Grandchester was standing next to her brother Terrence and Liza Reed and they were looking at Candy and Neil.
- What is Daniel doing with her? Said Liza, didn't he get enough of her when she was working for my father?
- She must've been good in bed, because it's like he can't get enough of her, said Dinah bitter
- She was your brother's mistress? Asked Terrence
- Yes, then he got tired of her, and she quit trying to find another rich boss; you, said Liza
"I wanted to tell you that Candice White is a former maid, a stable girl and a thief and it wouldn't be good for the son of the duke to be seen with her…" heard Terrence in his head
- I only hired her when her department she was working in, was absorbed by another, said Terrence, she wasn't looking for a job in my department, I'm the one who wanted an expert in languages…
- She's not an expert in languages only, said Liza
- Liza, said Terrence, we're not here to talk ill of my assistant, we're here to dance. I'm going to go get something to drink, do you want something?
- A martini, please Terrence, said Liza smiling
Terrence left to go get the drinks, but mostly to get away from Liza and Dinah. The two ladies continued talking when they found themselves alone.
- Liza, you know Daniel is after that pious hypocrite…
- But I don't want Terrence to be interested in her, said Liza
- It's too late for that; he swears by her… and I think that he's taking his time to seduce her because he doesn't want to part from her…And he doesn't care about your lies that she slept with your brother….
- Then I have to seduce Terrence as fast as I can, do like you, get pregnant…
- For me, it was an accident, and it didn't work with your brother, he wants his dear Candice-Blanche more than ever…
- What do they all see in that bleached blond?
- I don't know, said Dinah, but her little saint routine game is working; all the guys want to have her
- Saint? You think she's a virgin?
- According to your brother, she is…
- My brother couldn't seduce her that's all! No one is a virgin these days!
The dance had started and the couples were starting to waltz under the magnificent music played by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Terry met Candy who was now talking to Michel again.
- Candice-Blanche, good evening… said Terrence smiling
- Good evening Terrence, said Candy smiling
They looked at each other for a moment. Michel had followed their looks. Candy had never looked at him the way she was looking at this man, who was he? Like she had read his mind, she said:
- Terrence, may I introduce you to Michel, he's a military attaché at the French Embassy, Michel, this is Terrence, my boss
"Her boss!!! Said Michel in his head"
Candy was in love with her boss!
- Pleased to meet you , said the two men at the same time shaking hands
- Are you alone? Asked Terry to Michel
- Yes. My fiancée wasn't feeling good, she had just lost her father not too long ago, the Italian Ambassador, pancreatic cancer…
- I'm sorry said Terry
- Thanks, said Michel
- Candice-Blanche, your friends, ambassador's daughters like you seemed to have found diplomats to marry them… I'm still surprise you're single, said Terrence
- Well, its not lack of wedding proposals, I can assure you, said Michel smiling, we're even taking bets trying to guess when she's finally going to be hit by Cupid…
- That's funny said Terry smiling
- I don't think it's funny, said Candy, taking bets on me like I was a horse….
- Well hurry up and fall in love, so it's going to stop, said Michel
- Well I'm not going to jump on the first guy so you would stop your betting, said Candy laughing
- I sure hope so, said Michel, because I would've wanted to be that first guy…
- Michel
- Would you do me the honour of dancing with me Candice-Blanche? Said Michel
- Of course. Excuse us Terrence, she said leaving with Michel
Terrence was looking at her going to the dance floor with Michel. He wanted to dance with her, and she was going to dance with her. But what he really wanted was to dance with her all night. He went back near is sister and Liza who were still talking about Candy.
- Here you are, said Dinah, are you done talking to your secretary?
- Dinah… where's you date, by the way? He's not making you dance? Asked Terry
Dinah was sulking. Terry took advantage to invite Liza to dance, and also to put an end to the conversation with his sister which was taking a weird turn. Dinah was getting impatient, you have to say that he stupid Daniel Reed wasn't doing anything to take care of his sister's situation.
On the dance floor, Terry was looking for Candy with his eyes, she was still dancing with Michel and she was smiling, she was so beautiful.
- Terry, said Liza, you're looking at other women while you're dancing with me?
- I'm dancing with you Liza, can't you think about something else?
- It's like you can't stop looking at your secretary…You like her, don't you? I'm wondering what you are waiting for to seduce her and get rid of her…
- You're going to stop talking about her that way. You could tell your brother to take his responsibilities…
- I tried, believe me, he won't budge. I don't know what that bleached blond did to him, but he's got the same look as you when he looks at her….
Terry didn't answer. He hated that he was in the middle of that story, but he had made a promise to his sister…sort of…Which he bitterly regretted now. The only thing was, that he didn't want to seduce Candy to get rid of her he wanted to marry her and live with her until the end of time, because he felt good with her and that he uses to draw her ever since he was little. He will have to tell Candy the truth, but he had to choose the right moment, he didn't want to loose her.
Candy was with her friends talking.
- Annabelle was right CB, said Vincent, you know a lot of people…
- I've travelled a lot too, said Candy smiling
- And all these languages you speak, said Sterling, you're amazing!
Candy burst out laughing. An older man, very elegant with the British accent, came to talk to her.
- Candice-Blanche? He said, good evening
- Uncle Oliver! Said Candy jumping to his neck…
- How are you? Your father told me you were here in New York, and you don't even come and see me?
- I'm sorry; I've been very busy with my job…
- Yes, you father told me you were working, you could've come and see me…
- Yes, like I could've stayed with my father, Uncle Oliver…Let me introduce you to my friends; Annabelle, Tricia, Vincent and Sterling…my Uncle Olivier Lightfellow, the British Ambassador to the United Nations…
- Your Excellency, said Vincent and Sterling
- Pleased to meet you, Your Excellency said Annabelle and Tricia
- Gentlemen, ladies, said the Ambassador, I'm please to meet you…
- Where is Aunt Mirna? Asked Candy
- On the dance floor. Would you do me the honour of dancing with me?
- Of course, Your Excellency, said Candy laughing
She went to dance with the British Ambassador, under her friends fascinated eyes.
- You wouldn't know , by looking at her that she knows all these important people, she's so simple, said Vincent, you wouldn't know she speaks all these languages…
- She's really fascinating, said Sterling
- She's only got eyes for her boss, guys, said Annabelle laughing, are you going to make us dance of you're going to continue singing Candy praises all evening?
- Of course, said Vincent, you want to dance honey?
- With pleasure, said Annabelle, laughing
- Patricia? Said Sterling
- Let's go, said Tricia laughing
People were dancing and having a lot of fun. Candy saw Terry on the dance floor while she was dancing with the Ambassador. Their eyes me briefly. At the end of the dance, while she was walking with the Ambassador, she met Terry with Dinah, his sister.
- Terrence, how are you? Asked Candy smiling
- I'm fine, Candice-Blanche, said Terry
- Let me introduce you to the British Ambassador to the UN, His Excellency Oliver Lightfellow. Uncle Oliver, Terrence Grandchester, my boss and his sister Dinah…
- Pleased to meet you, Your Excellency, said Terrence smiling
- Please to meet you, said Dinah smiling, have you known each other for long?
- Candice-Blanche's father and I were sent to the same embassy years ago before we both become Ambassadors, it was in Brussels
- Yes, said Candy, now they are both ambassadors…
- That's great, said Terry
- I see people I know, said the Ambassador, Candy, are you coming…
- Let's go. See you later, Terrence. Dinah…
She walked away with the Ambassador. Dinah was sulking.
- I want to strangle your little secretary…, said Dinah, when are you going to get rid of her?
- I have no intentions of getting rid of the best assistant I've ever had… said Terrence
- Terrence my belly is going to start showing
- I said, I was going to help you, but I can't guaranty you that your loser will come back to you…
- Terry stop calling him that
- He's a loser, Dinah, and you know it. You could've done so much better… but you wanted the heir of Reed Enterprises
- Terry…
- Let's go dancing, said Terry before Liza gets here
- I'm wondering what you're doing with her, you can't stand her…
- I'm returning a favour… and in the future, I'm going to avoid this kind of favour… to be with Liza Reed is a plague!
They burst out laughing together and they continued dancing.
A little later, Candy was with her friends talking, while they eat and drink.
- So, are you having fun?
- It's wonderful, said Tricia, that's how you have fun in receptions?
- It's like a routine for me, said Candy, I use to go with my parents ever since I was little
- You're used to make conversation with anybody, that's great! Said Annabelle, my article is going to be great, I'm going to spend a big part of the night writing it…
- Good for you, said Candy, I'm going to sleep like a baby
- You're not tired of dancing, Candy, said Tricia, you're always on the dance floor
- Not at all, said Candy, it's so fun to dance…
Meanwhile, Terry was trying to avoid dancing with Liza, which was not an easy thing, because she was sticking to him like a second skin.
- Terrence, said Liza, you haven't made me dance long enough…
- Liza
- Please, you have to dance the next waltz with me…
- Yes, said Dinah, Terrence, it's been at leas 5 dances you missed
- Dinah, instead of counting the number of dances I've missed, why don't you look for Daniel? Said Terry
- I don't know where he is… she said with a weary tone
- Well, look for him…
Another waltz was starting, and the music was very pretty and very familiar to Terry. He stopped talking and he was frozen on the spot.
- Terrence, said Liza, are we going to dance?
- No, he said looking for someone with his eyes
Candy had someone who wanted to dance with her, it was Michel. She had heard the music of the waltz that was just starting…
- You want to dance with me Candy?
- No, she said looking for someone with her eyes
Her friend looked at her surprised. What was going on? Candy didn't refuse anybody, aside from Daniel Reed. Candy continued looking for someone with her eyes, until they met Terrence's. They looked at each other and they walked toward each other. They were like two magnets drawn to each other. The music of this waltz had, in a way, hypnotised them. They went on the dance floor, they bowed and they started to dance. Without saying a single word, they were looking at each other while they were dancing and they felt good together, and they had no intention of separating; dancing together was a very good thing and the sensation was incredible and dizzy. Especially, since the beginning of the evening, they both dreamt of one thing; dance together. Every time Terry wanted to dance with Candy, she was already on the dance floor. But this time, when they heard the music of this particular waltz, they knew instinctively that they needed to dance it with each other and nobody else.
Candy's friends, Terry's sister and Liza Reed, had all looked at the scene, stunned, they didn't understand what had just happened. Annabelle and her overactive imagination, said to herself that it probably had something to do with their former life, and she thought it was fascinating. Candy had danced with a lot of partners, but she had never seen the chemistry she had when she danced with Terrence Grandchester, her boss, that she might have met in a former life. "Might"? Annabelle was sure that her best friend and her boss knew each other in the beginning of the 20th century, and they had to separate for some reason…It was the first time she really saw the connection between Candy and Terrence, and there was no doubt in her mind, those two were made to be together.
On the dance floor, Candy and Terry continued dancing like they were on a cloud.
They hear a music from afar. Candy is thinking in her head;
"That's the music I danced on with Anthony"
She closes her eyes and she sees herself dancing with Anthony. Terry stands up.
- It's nice isn't it? Princess Juliet, would you do me the honour of dancing this waltz with me? He said bowing and giving her his hand
Candy accepts and they start dancing, and smiling. She's thinking about Anthony, the music, but she was dancing with Terry…The light of the sun through the branches, it was beautiful
The flash stopped.
Candy continued dancing and savouring the joy of being in Terrence's arms.
- Candice-Blanche, what are you dreaming about?
Candy felt like déjà vu when she heard Terrence's question.
- I was thinking about this waltz that's making me float on a cloud….
- Me too. But it's a pleasure to dance with you, Candice-Blanche
- It's a pleasure to dance with you, Terrence
- You want to dance the next waltzes with me?
- Your date is not going to be upset?
- My date is a plague, I want to get rid of….
- But…
- I helped you in Chicago with the African business man. I'm begging you to help me…
- And I thought you wanted to dance with me because I was a nice partner…
- Candice-Blanche, if it were up to me, I would've danced with you from the beginning … I'd rather dance with you for the rest of the evening; I have to get rid of Liza Reed…
- For the tango in Chicago, all right Terrence, I'm going to stay with you as long as you need me…
- Thank you Candice-Blanche
She was happy because he'd rather stay with her and he couldn't ask for anything more, than to spend the rest of the evening with Candy in his arms. The familiar waltz was over and another one started, Candy and Terry continued dancing together for the rest of the ball, without leaving the dance floor and making sure that they were far away from Liza Reed. Candy and Terry were in 7th heaven.
Annabelle saw what was happening and she smiled inside. Candy couldn't get enough of her boss. If she really did love him in a former life, this time around the feeling were going to be as strong if not more, to try to correct what had happened before.
Liza Reed was sulking; Terrence had disappeared on her ever since he went dancing with his secretary.
- Where's your brother? Asked Liza to Dinah
- I could ask you the same question, said Dinah
- I can't believe that both our brothers are in love with the same insipid bleached blond! She's good…
- She's not doing anything, that's just it… and they are after her like little dogs… but my baby…
- Her angelic looks don't fool me for a second; she's a slut and find a way to show it to my brother, so he would see the kind of girl she is…
- Even if it's with Terrence?
- I love Terrence, but if bedding his secretary is going to knock some senses into my brother's head… she will probably be very angry with Terrence to have used her she's going to quit
- What if she sues him for sexual harassment?
- She too well educated for that… I hate to admit it, but the diplomat's daughter is very well raised. She won't sue him, when she wanted it…
- Yes, but if she learns that Terry hired her to keep her away from Daniel, she's going to be hurt…
- That's a risk to run, but I'm sure she's not going to do anything, she way to good for that
- I hope you're right
- You have to take the bull by the horns Dinah
They looked at the dance floor and they saw Candy and Terry dancing like there were alone in the world.