Chased By The Bad Boy

Chapter 7: May I Have This Dance With You?

It was hard to keep myself focused on finding a good outfit with Aiden when I couldn’t stop thinking about where I was going to be or what was going to happen tonight. 

I clearly wasn’t too keen on attending a party I knew I’d have to act like a proper Donovan for and the only thing actually exciting me was being able to go with Luna - to see what look she would be going for for a Ball and to see her have fun. It would be our first Ball together and dance after years since Senior Prom. 

I hoped that once I got past all the elites and the business side of things, I would be able to make the most out of the night. 

“Theo!” 

I shook my head back to reality as I turned to my side where Aiden was staring at me with widened eyes. 

“What?” I looked at him confused. 

“Dude, I’ve been trying to get your attention for like five minutes now. Where is your head at?” He raised his brow at me as he held two different suits next to him. 

“Left one. It matches the shoes more.” I told him my opinion in the hopes of making him forget I was totally out of it seconds ago. 

He turned to differentiate between the two suits he was holding and let out an “ah” as he realized I was right. “Good eye. I’ll get the left one then.” He gave back the other suit to the lady and then looked at me with an expression that told me I definitely did not get away from his interrogation. 

“So, are you going to tell me or do I have to constantly annoy you about it?” He asked and I rolled my eyes, mostly at the fact that I knew I had no choice because Aiden was really good at getting me to speak up about things. 

Besides Luna, Aiden was by far the one person that knew all my secrets. He knew me like the back of his hand as I did him. 

I let out a sigh as I slumped on the couch in the suit shop. “It’s this Ball, man. I told my parents about it last night and mom was thrilled. She’s already sent me a list of the people that will be there and those that I should- no scratch that, need to talk to.” 

“Isn’t that a good thing? They’re excited for you.” Aiden replied while picking bow-ties by the glass display. 

He knew my relationship with my parents had been tainted after I lost my younger sister and their youngest child. It was a tough few years, but we managed to rekindle that after everything that happened. I understood why Aiden would think this was a good thing, but at the same time it was because he didn’t know another reason why I planned this whole trip before our second year began in college. 

I was trying to escape from my reality as a Donovan. 

“I… need to tell you something.” I said to Aiden and he immediately turned his focus on me, his expression a curious one. 

“They’re putting me on the board soon. I mean, even before graduation soon. Probably before senior year even starts.” I confessed to Aiden as I stood up from the couch to walk over to where he was standing. 

“You know how heavy it is to be a part of Donovan Enterprises. I don’t think I’m ready and I planned this trip with that in mind - to get away from that life with Luna, with you guys, even for just a few weeks. Apparently the universe has it against me because that Ball is going to lead me right back to it.” I sighed heavily as I looked down on the glass display and one bow-tie caught my attention. 

“Ah, man…” Aiden said with a sympathetic tone. “You were born to take over the family business.” He continued as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

“But, it doesn’t mean that you have to be burdened by it. Sooner or later you will have to take over, but right now you can be both Theo and a Donovan at the Ball. Think of it as changing from Bruce Wayne to Batman.” Aiden gave me a smile and I chuckled at his example. 

“You’re annoying… but you’re right.” A half smile formed on my lips at the thought. I can talk with the people my parents asked me to talk with for about an hour or so maybe, and after that I can just focus on Luna. This was going to work out. I hope it will. 

“That bow-tie fits your suit, by the way.” I said as I pointed to one of the black ones inside the glass. 

“When did you become so good with picking clothes?” Aiden looked at me slightly amused. 

“I didn’t. You, my friend, are just very indecisive.” I told him with a pat on the back as a way to poke fun at him and he clicked his tongue at me.

“You’re the one who hasn’t picked a tuxedo yet, you know.” Aiden sneered. 

I let out a light scoff before walking over to one of the racks and grabbing a dark matte black tuxedo without even giving it a second glance. Aiden’s mouth opened wide in shock and I shot him a smirk.

“I already did the second we walked in.” 

-

I was all fits of nervousness. I had finished getting ready about an hour ago since we set to meet up back at the hotel so I had nothing else to do and busy myself with. Aiden had to go get a quick coffee with an old family friend we chanced upon earlier who was also staying in the hotel and going to the Ball. 

Sometimes I dislike how small the world is. I could just imagine how many of those ‘family friends’ I was going to meet later. I let out a sigh as I momentarily closed my eyes to let the nerves sink in. 

“Just calm down, Theo.” I whispered to myself as I breathed in and out. Tonight I can be both Bruce Wayne and Batman just as Aiden said. There was no problem with that. 

As I was walking down the shops inside Copacabana Palace, I realized that the decorations up along the halls of the hotel were rather familiar. Hydrangea blooms, magnolia foliage, goldenrod flowers, and grapes surround the floors and walls. You could almost go blind from the glitz and glamour of the whole place. Sparkles and glitters on every corner and bright lights colored purple, green, and gold were abundant. 

I walked over to the entrance of the grand ballroom and spotted a small board decorated with the same colors and in big bold letters Mardi Gras Palace Ball. Masks required. 

“Oh.” I muttered to myself in the realization that that was one piece of information Alexa forgot to tell us all when we went looking for outfits. 

At least I had quite enough time to go back to the shops and hopefully find something there. 

Luckily, there was a pop-up shop of some sort directly related to the theme and so there were more than enough masks to pick from. Guests flocked the place as well and I would have to guess that most of them were looking for the required masks too. 

After I managed to let myself get past them, I spotted blue and silver flick masks that immediately reminded me of Alexa’s dress. It was a good thing she sent a picture of her wearing her dress to Aiden to which he showed me because now I know which would fit. Taking the pair of matching masks, I hoped to find something like that for Luna and I. 

The problem was that I had no idea what she was going to wear. Not the color, not the style, anything. I messaged her about it but it seems she was too shy to share and I learned from Alexa that it was because she spent over her budget. 

I couldn’t help but let out a light chuckle imagining Luna’s struggle spending my money because I knew how much she was too conscious about that. Either way I was excited to see what this grand dress would be. 

My eyes widened when it caught something at the side. There was a small glass display at the edge of the pop-up shop with simpler masks so it seems the other guests were not too enthusiastic about it. They gathered mostly at the ones with jewels and diamonds on the masks. 

The venetian masquerade type of mask took my attention with its simplicity yet the charm it held. It was fastened with ribbon ties and I appreciated that as I hated having to hold masks with those stick things. It always seemed rather inconvenient to me. 

I got the embroidered one for Luna and as I was grabbing the plain black one for myself, another hand appeared and we took a hold of the same thing. 

“Oh, oh. Desculpe, mano. (Sorry, bro.)” I dropped my hold on the mask just as he did and we smiled at each other politely. 

“It’s fine. You can take it.” I reassured him.

“Oh, you speak english?” I nodded and he let out a somewhat sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness, my Portuguese is terrible.” We both laughed.

“You can have it, though. I will just get another one.” He insisted, but I wasn’t the type to accept gestures like that. I think it must have been Luna’s influence on me to always be the one that gives and as much as possible don’t take so I couldn’t accept what the guy was offering to me. 

“No, no. I insist. You take it.” I took the mask and handed it to him and he stared at me blankly. I could sense he was a bit confused at my persistence over a mask. 

Just as he was about to speak up, one of the staff in the shop popped up and we both made way for her as she began to place more masks on the same display. It turns out there was more than one and we both turned to each other and let out a small laugh. 

“Have a good time at the ball.” “You too.” 

We said our goodbyes and went our own ways, two pairs of masks in my hand and when I checked the time, my heart almost leapt out of my chest. 

Shit. Ten minutes left. 

“Ola, amigo!” I turned to the side as Aiden walked to me, his face with a slight tint of red and not even his newly bought suit could hide the fact that he was straight up tipsy… before the party even started. So much for that ‘coffee’. He never had a good alcohol tolerance. Compared to me, that is.

“You do know it’s the Spanish people that use that term, not Brazilians, right?” He brushed me off as he started bobbing his head to non-existent music. 

“Exactly how many drinks did you have?” I asked as I grabbed him by his shoulders to get his attention. 

“A little too many caipirinhas, amigo. A little too- Oh! Is that a gift for Luna?” Aiden was immediately distracted as he took the paper bag in my hand, opening it without a second thought. 

“Oooh, masks? What or who are we hiding from?” He asked while bringing out the blue and silver mask from the bag and dangling it in the air. It was a good thing locals weren’t very curious people, but it was the tourists, the ones I knew were visitors for the Ball that were giving us weird looks. 

“Wait! This matches my tux!” He realized as he put it against his dark blue suit and wowed continuously. 

Aiden sober was a quiet guy, but Aiden with a few drinks was the complete opposite. It had been a while since I saw him this way so I couldn’t help but be amused, but the time for the Ball was nearing so more and more guests were coming in and I doubt a drunk Aiden would be a good first view. 

“Come on, you drunk. Let’s freshen you up before we meet our dates.” I shook my head as I pulled him away from the crowd that was forming outside the ballroom. 

“Get in here.” I pulled Aiden inside the bathroom, standing him in front of one of the sinks and turned on the faucet. “Now wash your tipsiness away.” I ordered him and he gave me a thumbs up.

The one thing that doesn’t change between sober and non sober Aiden was his innate habit to follow people’s request or order easily which made things much easier.

“I’ll wait for you outside.” After he nodded, I made my way out of the bathroom. 

It was a few minutes to eight in the evening and as I was somewhat internally reassuring myself that everything was going to go well tonight, I turned to my left and it was as if the whole world slowed down and at the same time my heart began to beat rapidly. 

She was dressed in a stunning red dress, carpet-worthy, at that. The type of red that oozed passion and energy and she reveled in that with every curve of her body. Strong and powerful, something deep inside was being stimulated the more my eyes fixated on her beauty. 

Although she was turned around, I could see her from the reflection on the mirror. My eyes couldn’t help but land at the slit at the side of her leg, reaching almost her hips, but stopping at just the right spot to show off skin in a way that was elegantly revealing. 

The off-shoulder and one sleeve hanging off made her chest pop out and I felt something inside of me light up like a match and the burning sensation continued to get stronger the more I looked at her. 

She had more makeup than usual, but even so it wasn’t too much. It was the red lipstick that made me almost drop everything to pull her in and slam my lips onto hers, but I would feel slightly bad for smudging it. 

And then she smiled and it felt like the first time I saw her back in high school when she used to hide herself, when she wasn’t all too confident yet, but to me, she was already perfect. I wanted her. I needed her. 

“My Princess.”

She turned around a little surprised and I couldn’t help but smile a little wider at how unbelievably adorable she could look. She stares at me for a few seconds before calling me her Prince Charming, and I couldn’t lie, it made me blush. 

I took her hand and hooked it on my arm and she giddily looked up at me. “You look nice.” She said to me rather shyly. 

A small smile formed on my lips as I turned to face her, my hand raised up to caress her cheek as I stared deeply into her emerald green eyes. “And you look like a dream come true.” 

She instantly blushed at my comment, looking away slightly as she bit her lip. 

“Seriously. You are so beautiful.” I couldn’t help but look at her, really look at her like she was the only girl in this entire place and all my life I’ve been waiting for this moment. She completed me in so many ways I don’t think she will ever know. 

Luna pursed her lips and I lightly chuckled. “Okay, okay. Let’s go. I don’t want to make you melt onto the floor from shyness.” I reassured her, knowing my girlfriend was not too good with compliments… yet. I planned to change that, even if it meant telling her she was beautiful every minute for her to get used to it. 

Alexa and Aiden followed closely behind us as we walked hand in hand to the ballroom. People wearing different gowns, dresses, tuxedos, and suits gathered all around us. Smiles and laughter filled the place and the second we stepped in, gasps echoed all over. 

Luna’s grip on my hand tightened and I turned to her, her face was in awe and her eyes twinkled in absolute delight and sheer shock. 

Suddenly, a familiar tune began to play before we could even reach our table and the two of us turned to each other. 

“Is that-” “No way.” We said to each other with a chuckle of disbelief and happiness, eyes widened in amazement.

In another country, a place we’ve never even been to, how was it possible that the song we danced to during Prom would be playing here? 

“Go, you two!” We turned around to see a snickering and encouraging Alexa and then we realized she might have had a hand on this, but nonetheless, we were grateful. 

Cheeks blushing, hearts thumping, I knew what I had to do. 

I turned to her, one of the lights in the venue made her eyes sparkled and my heart skipped a beat. I pulled out the masks I was holding and handed one to her.

“It’s Mardi Gras. We need the mask.” I told her and helped put it on her as she helped me.

Even with her face half covered, she still looked as stunning as ever. God, Luna Valentine was more perfect than perfect. That word just couldn’t do her beauty justice.

“Hey…” I said softly and she instantly looked at me, eyes widened in anticipation. 

“May I have this dance with you?”