Chapter 9

Back in Chicago, out of the blue Carl called Candy to apologize. He wondered if she wanted to go out to a new year party with him. Candy thanked him for the thought but she politely declined. She decided she couldn't live that life that anymore. She always dreamed of a husband as a warm companion who treated her like a friend, whom she could talk endlessly about anything and not an icy cold man who treated her like a burden every time she opened her mouth.

Call me selfish, Candy thought to herself, but I really don't want to live like that anymore.

Meanwhile, Neal was invited to new year party in the governor's mansion to represent the Ardlay family. He's been thinking about how to get a date to accompany him. For a month, he had been hoping for the problem to solve by itself, but it didn't. In the last minute the problem was still there, unsolved. This party was very important for the company. He knew he had to go. He decided to use his last resort for help. He called his cousin, Candy.

"I need to represent the Ardlay company in a new year party. I don't have a date, I don't want to look for a date, I really don't want to have an unknown woman in my arms. Besides due to family nature of the Ardlay company, I think you are a suitable candidate. So I wonder if you could accompany me."

Candy agreed right away.

"Then, do you think I could borrow you from Tom for a few hours?"

"Sure, he needs to have a late shift at that time. It's fine"

That night Neal came to pick up Candy for the ball. Her heart almost stopped beating seeing his handsome look in the tuxedo. He wore a white bow with matching white shirt and dark suite. The overall attire accentuated the look of his slender body and dark skin so much that it took her breadth away.

Neal introduced Candy to everyone as his cousin, Sir William's daughter. Family business with family couple, it dispelled rumors. She danced with him for the first dance and some more later. While he talked with other guests, he encouraged Candy to dance with someone else, too. Among the crowds, she met one of her potential suitors whom Neal introduced to her in the past and danced with him. She also danced with several other men.

All these men didn't impress her at all. She didn't even feel a minuscule fraction of the thrill she felt when Neal's warm hand was holding hers. The penetrating look of his amber eyes brought the sensation of a thousand needles piercing her inner stomach. She really wanted to rest her head on his chest and cling to his arms. Too bad, she knew that most eyes were staring at them since he represented one of the most, if not, the most important enterprise in the ball. A scandal would be the last thing she wanted to stir. She wondered if he felt something about her too. From the outside, he behaved like a perfect, polite, courteous cousin who held her an arm away, with not even a slight romantic hint betrayed in his attitude.

The party finished before midnight.

"Thanks for accompanying me," said Neal as they walked to the car.

"You're welcome," said Candy. "It was fun!"

"We still have a few hours before midnight. Do you want me to drop you off in the hospital? You still have time to have a new year party with Tom," said Neal.

"Tom needs to work tonight, I can't just go to visit him and have a new year party with him just because I am his girlfriend," said Candy trying to find an excuse not to be with Tom. "What if we go to the new year celebration in the lakefront. We wait there until midnight."

Neal was about to object but her gentle voice had a commanding effect for him not to do otherwise. He then told his driver to take them to the lakefront. They took a walk around the lake waiting for the spectacle. Candy felt so happy to have him by her side. She felt so joyful and excited just like the merry atmosphere around her. They mingled with the crowd and waited joyfully for the midnight to come.

All went smoothly until around midnight when the loud merry atmosphere suddenly became quite... All the celebration noise melted to passionate kissing scene by all other couples around them. To Neal and Candy, the quietness spoke louder than the earlier noise. It made them aware of the romantic atmosphere around them.

They stood awkwardly in front of each other wondering what they should do or could do. Each tried to steal a look at the other seeing how he or she was doing and at one point their look met and locked. Neal was looking at Candy and she was looking at him with an inviting look. He wondered if he's hallucinating, but he's so sure he could see her chest moving up and down more and more rapidly. Pushed by the surrounding atmosphere, although his brain told him otherwise, his heart couldn't help to make him bend to kiss her.

It was a tender, gentle soft kiss carrying a deep love he had had for her. It was pure, honest, and unpretentious. Unexpectedly to him, she eagerly kissed him back. Her reaction was irresistible, he helplessly accepted her kiss and continued kissing her, unable to reject no matter how much his head told him to stop and that he shouldn't do it. He gripped her in his arms as though he would never let her go. Millions of words wouldn't suffice to describe the fulfilled longing he finally had at that instant seconds. Everything in that room seemed to disappear except her and only her remained...

Suddenly, the loud sound of trumpets and noises of the firework brought him back to the cruel reality. He let her go abruptly and made a jump step backward looking at her with a guilty look.

"I'm so sorry," Neal said giving an awful look. "I crossed the line."

He hurriedly took a handkerchief from his pocket and was about to wipe Candy's lips when she held his hand gently.

"Don't be sorry. Neal, I love you..."

He looked at her in horror and hurriedly shook his head. "Candy, we shouldn't do this." He avoided Candy's eyes and said, "The party is over, we should go home too."

He was silent throughout the ride. When they parted, he hugged her lightly, it was almost just like a light touch on her arms. He then said meekly, "Happy new year." Then he asked his driver to leave right away without giving her time to response.

Candy could only watch him leaving. She thought of his kiss which was deep, loving, passionate, honest...She felt excited at heart.

He loves me, he loves me! Candy thought excitedly. There's no way he could kiss like that if he doesn't love me.

Find me a potential suitor, Candy thought to herself, I don't want them, I want you.

Candy called her driver to take her to Tom. Time to tell him her real feeling and do some action to fight for the love of her life. Ms. Pony had given her the last needed boost to execute the plan that had been lingering in her head for sometimes.

Tom was surprised to see her in the hospital at two o'clock in the morning.

"Tom, I appreciate your courtship. I enjoyed it, but I think we're not meant to be together," said Candy directly.

"Did you meet someone new in the party?" Tom asked.

"No. It's someone I have known for a long time... I think I like this person a lot."

"Do I know him?"

"I'll tell you later. Even I am not sure that he likes me," said Candy declining to tell him about the identity.

"Candy, he's your cousin, correct?" Tom said with an understanding smile.

"Tom...?" said Candy surprised wondering how he knew it.

"It's too obvious, Candy. I think the only person who doesn't know that you like him is him. Go for him. Good luck," Tom said with a smile. "We are friends, right?" He offered his hand for a handshake.

"More than ever," instead of shaking his hand, Candy hugged him appreciating his support and friendship.

-To Be Continued -

Carl: Candy's ex-fiance. They broke up in chapter 7.

Tom: The man Candy dated after she broke up with Carl. They met in chapter 7.

Thanks for reading!