Chapter seventeen: Dance competition

Sophia's POV:

"I hope you can give Dani a chance, Belle.". 

Rian said as we stepped outside the elevator. She came to visit me earlier and we're now walking towards the parking lot outside my dancing studio. 

"What do you mean by giving him a chance?" I asked her confused. 

"Get to know him well and befriend with him. My brother wasn't the type of person who shares to you everything he feels. He's just keeping them inside and you will notice the signs that he cares through his actions."

"Rian, why are you telling me these things again? We already talked about this."

"Tell him your past."

"No. As I said, what happened to me in the past will remain there and no one will talk about them to him."

"But Belle.."

"I don't need his pity and sympathy, Rian." I said shaking my head. "And we will never be together because as soon as I find Layla, I will leave him and find myself again. So, maybe it's better if we just keep our situation like this. We're not even friends so, we don't have obligations and responsibilities for each other whatever may happen." I shrugged my shoulders. 

I was about to ask her if her husband will pick her up when a new Lamborghini Veneno stopped few meters away from us. 

"Wow! Lamborghini Veneno roadster." I said in awe. "Do you know how many Lamborghini Veneno are only in the world?"

She turned to me and asked curiously. 

"No, why?"

"There were only nine units of it made because it's too expensive. The first 8 units of them were already sold and one remained at the factory. But now I think the last unit has been sold to----" I paused when I saw Alex came out from the passenger side. "Your husband?"

"What do you mean my husband?"

"Your husband bought the last unit!" I concluded when his driver also came out from the car. 

"Ohh, I didn't know that." she said turning her head to the car's direction. Then she smiled as she watch her husband walking towards us. 

I watched how they show their love to each other. Alex pulled her closer to him and kissed her on her lips. 

"Hi, Belle." He greets me when they finally pulled back. 

"Hello, Alex." I also smiled at him. 

I will lie to myself if I say I wasn't dreaming to find a man that will also show me love and respect more than anything. A man who will support me and understand me completely. 

"How are you, Belle?" He asked me after kissing his wife's forehead. "Rian told me you joined the international competition in the US, is it true?"

"Yes, me and my assistant joined the competition and we're going to fly there the day after tomorrow."

"Wow! It's a huge competition, congratulations in advance. I know you were made for this."

"Thank you."

"By the way, does your husband knows about it?"

"No, I didn't tell him about this and I think he doesn't have to know at all." They shared a look but I just shrugged my shoulders. 

"But you know what Mom said, hubby?" Rian asked him with her hand on his chest. "She said she would go with them in the US to support and watch their competition."

"Well, that's great."

"Can we also join them? I want to watch their performance on stage."

"Okay, I'll check my schedule, baby."

"Thank you, hubby."

A smile crept to my lips when Rian winked at me. 

"Don't worry Belle, we're not going to tell Dani about this."

I just smiled and nodded. 

"Anyway, I think we all should go home now. It's getting late, baby."

"Yeah, I agree." I said checking my wristwatch. "I still need to pack my things."

"Okay, goodnight Belle."

"Goodnight, guys. 

"Does my brother won't pick you up tonight?" Rian asked me followed by her giggle. 

"That would only happen when pigs learn yo fly."

I scrunched my face as I fake my laugh. 

After saying our goodbyes, I walked towards where my car was parked. 

~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~

Daniel's POV:

"Dude, do you have any relatives who joined the dance competition in the US? 

I frowned as I glanced at Andrew who's sitting comfortably on the couch with his laptop on his lap. It's his lunch break but he decided to stay inside my office to watch the latest series of the movie, The walking dead. 

"What are you talking about?" I asked as I stopped typing on my keyboard. "I thought you're going to watch your favorite movie, why are asking me about dance competition? 

"Yeah, but I was just curious when I heard this competition, that's why I was asking you if do have any relatives who joined in this International dance competition in the US?"

"No, why did you ask?"

"Really?" He asked me again as if he can't believe with my answer. "If so, who is this Sophia Kelley the host called to perform next?"

"Are you kidding me?" I asked a bit irritated as I'm not sure if he's just playing around or something. 

"No, the host really called the name, Sophia Kelley on the stage."

"Fuck you, Andrew! That's the name of my wife!" I glared at him. 

Then he frowned when he realized what I said. 

"Yeah, how did I forget that Sophia was your wife's name?" he muttered as he scratched the back of his head. 

But then his eyes suddenly widened and he screamed loudly while pointing the screen. 

"Oh, dude you need to watch this!" He stood up and immediately walked towards my seat and put his laptop on top of my desk. 

"What is this Andrew?" I asked him with an uninterested tone. 

"Your wife joined the international competition, dude!"

"What are you talking ----"

But my question was abruptly died inside my throat when I saw Sophia on the screen with her friend, Craig. She's wearing a yellow ruffled dress that showing almost all her skin, with a black belt and a black wristband that matched with Andrew's attire in all black. 

"Their moves seems familiar."

I heard Andrew but my eyes were glued to the screen particularly when Craig lifted her up in the air with his hand on her butt while the other was on her ankle. 

"Whoa! He lifted her up, that was so sexy!"

I clenched my jaws but I didn't show it to him. 

"I love it when you call me Señorita, I wish I could pretend I didn't need you.." I just gripped the ballpen on my hand when he literally sang the lyrics in front of me. "Señorita, wasn't it what they were rehearsing one week ago?"

"Yeah." I answered without looking at him. 

"Don't tell me, you didn't know this?"

"She didn't tell me!" I snapped at him. 

"Ohh, she didn't tell you?" but he just repeat what I said and smirked at me. 

We continued to watch their performance, but every time Craig was lifting her up, I balled my fists under the table. 

"Go back to your work, Andrew. It's already 1 pm."

"What?" He looked at me and scrunched his eyebrows. "But they're not yet finished."

"I said go back to your work!" I repeat in a more serious tone. 

"Yes, Sir." He collected his laptop while scratching the back of his neck. 

"Andrew." I called him before he could reach the door. "Cancel all my appointments this afternoon."

He furrowed his eyebrows but he didn't say anything, he just nodded and exited the room. 

When he's finally out of my office I immediately searched the website where I can continue watching Sophia's performance. My full attention was on the screen when their names were called for the grand finals, that's why I didn't notice when Andrew opened the door and walked inside grinning. 

"They're now one of the semi-finalists and will perform again to compete in the grand finals."

I almost fall from my seat when he speak beside me. 

He laughed at my reaction. 

"So this was the reason why you told me to cancel all your appointments, huh?"

I narrowed my eyes but I didn't say anything as I walked past him. I took my phone and dialled my mother's number. 

"Are you going to call her?" He asked as he walked towards the couch. 

"No, this is my Mom."

"Ahh... let me guess, you're going to ask your mother why your wife didn't tell you about her joining this International competition."

"Can you shut up, Andrew?" I snapped glaring my eyes at him. 

But instead of taking my word seriously, he just laughed at me. 

"Okay, Andrew Peterson will shut up now and will just listen to your conversation with your mother." He smirked before turning his head in the other direction. 

I just shook my head as I asked myself silently. -'How did I get an assistant like him? Next time, I'll make sure not to hire a friend to work for me as my assistant.'-

My mother answered her phone after three rings. 

"Hi, son."

"Mom, where are you?" I asked frowning when I heard the noise from her background. 

"Oh, I'm in Sydney Harman Hall, son."

"Sydney Harman Hall in Washington?"

"Yes, I'm with your sister, Alex is here, too."

"What are you doing there?"

"Oops! We watched your wife and Craig's performance----"

"Without telling me, Mom?" I felt the sudden irritation that crept inside me after knowing that they all go with her without me. I am her husband, she should at least informed me about this. 

"Oh, I'm sorry but it's not my decision."

"So it's her decision not to tell me?" I clenched my jaws. "Is Dad also with you?"

"No, he's with Greg they also have a mini-golf tournament today. By the way, why did you call? Did you watch your wife's performance?"

(Greg is Alex's father.)

"I'm sorry Mom but I have to go."

"But you didn't answer my question."

"Yes, I watched it online. But why didn't you tell me you're all going there?"

"Well, we thought you're not interested so we just decided not to inform you."

"But she's my wife, Mom, and she's using my last name."

"Yeah, and it was also my last name." I closed my eyes tightly when I heard her giggle on the other line. "I'm glad that you're referring her now as your wife. I also hope you find her inside your heart someday."

"Mom, this is getting out of the topic. By the way, are you going home after that or are you just going to stay in the hotel?"

"No, we used Alex's private jet so we don't have to stay here any longer. We're just going to wait until they let the finalists to go home."

"Okay, I'm going to pick you up at the airport."

"Oh, thank you son, but you don't have to bother yourself because my driver will pick me up."

"If that so, I'll just pick up Sophia."

"That's the best way to congratulate your wife, son. Anyway, I have to end this call, they were now walking to the backstage."

"Okay, bye Mom."

"Ahem! Can I go with you when you pick up Sophia at the airport?"

Andrew asked me as soon as I ended the call. 

"Do you want me to end your life now?" I asked narrowing my eyes at him. 

"Whoa! Dude, you're now acting like a possessive husband." He said smirking. 

"What are you doing here? Didn't I told you to back to your work?"

"Oops! Don't worry, I'll do that Sir after you signed these documents."

He put them on top of my desk. 

"Go back to your office, I'll just call you after I signed them."

"Okay, Sir."

I sighed when he's finally out of my sight.