Ric didn't know why he found it so hilarious that Serena was so desperate to escape Marcus, and she didn't even know who he really was. The fireworks that would ensue when she finally did realise the truth, though, would be a delight to see. Unless she turned on him, and tore him apart for not saving her. Not that Serena Campbell needed saving, she was a strong woman, forged in fire, and able to cut through the bullshit of life.

So really, he couldn't keep the wide grin off his face as he danced past her. From the gist of the conversation he overheard, Marcus was going on and on about all the horrid traits of his ex-wife. The beautiful thing about that was the fact that neither person was aware that they knew exactly who he was talking about. Ric laughed lowly, and Serena glared at him, the black look so comical on her face.

"Is there something funny, Ric?"

He looked down at the donor on his arm and shrugged a little. "Just thinking about my colleague and her current dance partner. She does not look like she's having a good time."

The woman glanced over to try and see who he was talking about, and smiled. "She does look like she is a little tense. I wouldn't mind if you go rescue her, and it might just net you some extra money for your ward."

The playful look on her face almost convinced him to drop her right then and there, to go and rescue Serena from Marcus's clutches, but then the look on Serena's face changed a little, looking more relaxed, so he felt safe not to rush in like a white knight. "I might take you up on that, if it looks like she gets in over her head. It looks to be going a little better now."

The woman nodded and they continued their dance, the music washing over him and helping him to relax. As the up tempo song changed into a slower one, he pulled the woman closer to him, and he watched Serena over her shoulder, seeing how Marcus tugged on Serena's body, drawing her flush against him. Ric did not like the looks of that, at all, and he knew that Bernie would be seething at the sight of her ex-husband manhandling her love.

Serena's back stiffened as she reached up and smoothly maneuvered Marcus's hand back up to a more respectable place on her waist. And to his surprise, he found himself practically growling with annoyance when the hand began to migrate lower just seconds later, even as Serena moved back slightly, trying to put a proper distance between them. "We're going to head over there now, as I think things are starting to get a little out of hand."

"Thank God."

He smiled as he began to weave them through the crowd, finding little hole and spaces, zigging where others zagged, and finally, finally, they were right next to Marcus and Serena. The man was blathering on about something inane, and Serena's face held murder in her jaw. "If you'll excuse me, I need to talk with Ms. Campbell about something," Ric smoothly said as he tapped Marcus's shoulder. The other man gave him a nasty look as they stopped dancing, but from the way Serena's shoulders sagged with relief, he knew that he had made the right call.

"Serena and I were having a lovely time dancing," Marcus petulantly began, only for Serena to cut him off.

"Mister Griffin! I've been looking for you for ages! Shall we?"

Serena deftly moved away from Marcus and into Ric's open arms. It was nothing to close his embrace around Serena, to let her come into his space and use him as a buffer between Marcus and herself, and they disappeared into the throng. He was shocked when she hugged him tightly as they started to slow dance, her breathing shallow and labored. "Are you all right?" he murmured as he rubbed her back lightly, taking care not to touch her bare skin where the dress dipped low.

"No, I'm not. And I am not drunk enough to ignore the passes he's making at me. Marcus is an odious, officious, prick!" She released a harsh breath through her nose before pulling back slightly and looking up into his eyes. "Seriously, if you hadn't swooped in, I might have hauled off and smacked him."

He chuckled as they continued to sway to the music, taking care to blend into the crowd whenever Marcus appeared in a hole. He didn't want to have the man cut back in before he had gotten Serena calmed down a little. This night was supposed to be fun, entertaining, and not having her end up in jail. "I cannot see you slapping him, Serena. After all, you have greater self-control than that."

She hummed noncommittally under her breath as she rested her head on his chest once more. "I'm finding my patience worn ever thinner by Bernie being gone. I wish that she was here to rescue me, and hold me close. You're humoring me, but I appreciate the gesture." The veil between them had been pulled away, and Ric knew that he was hearing her vulnerable side coming out, since she sounded so sad in that moment.

"Well, I just want to ensure that our donations remain high, and if you offend him, well, that can't happen, now can it?"

Serena smacked his back lightly. "Not funny, Ric. Not at all."

"I was trying to settle your nerves a little. Did it work?"

She shook her head, though the way her body melted against him told him that she was a little more relaxed now, and he laughed as he dipped her low, listening to her gasp of surprise. "Or are you trying to give me a heart attack now?"

"The element of surprise should never be that large a shock." She shrugged a little as she bit her lip, giving him a tender look. She was open to him, and he wanted to keep it that way, knowing she would need the good vibes should Marcus try to get her attention once more. "Has Bernie never taken you dancing, then?"

"There wasn't time before she left. We only had one real date, and we didn't even call it that. We didn't even kiss goodnight!" Bright tears sparkled in her eyes as she glanced to the side. Somehow, he knew that she wouldn't let those tears fall, however, that they were reserved for Bernie, when she returned, and he reached up to lightly chuck her chin before twirling her around. A bright laugh rang through the air as she came back to his arms, smiling a little more than she had before, even though there was still tears in her eyes.

"Well, I hope that she is able to take you dancing as soon as she's home."

"That is if everything is all right between us once she's home. After Imelda's little stunt, I would have thought she would have been rushing right back, but instead, she lingers on in Ukraine! Does she not know how much we miss her?"

Serena's voice broke on that last word, and he decided to throw caution to the wind as he kissed her cheek delicately. "Maybe she just doesn't know how to fix the longing." She nodded as she gave him a quivering smile.

And just as she was about to open her mouth to say something, Marcus Dunn, damn his black heart, came up to their sides, and looked hungrily, possessively, at Serena, and Ric tightened his grip around her waist, not entirely certain that he wanted to let her go.