Dinner and Dancing

Ariel came out of her room as the other two women came up to her and she smiled at them. It was five thirty now and they should really be going down. Sally was the one who knocked on Malachi's door. They could hear laughter on the other side. It was Alec who answered the door with a smile.

"Hello beautiful." He said to Deirdre and moved out next to her.

"Enjoy yourself?" She asked smiling back at him and he gave a shrug.

"More than normal I guess. A good group, sharp I enjoy that." He answered and they moved down the hall as Malachi stepped out near Ariel. At the back of the group, Cameron had a very hungry look as he took in Sally. At least Ariel thought so and she was almost embarrassed seeing it. He pulled her closer and whispered something in her ear. Sally blushed a little pushing at Cameron's shoulder.

"Behave. Malachi I thought you were training him." She playfully complained as Cameron took Sally around the waist. His hand low on her backside.

"He didn't attack you the second the door opened right? I think that is a very good indication training is working."

"Until later, she likes it rough." She punched his arm. Lee was leaning against the wall there chuckling at the two of them.

"You look beautiful Ariel." Cameron said looking her over. "Not as gorgeous as you of course."

"Smooth." Sally commented. "That's why I love you." She lightly kissed him. Her lipstick not smudging. "Come on Lee you can escort me too, that way I look more important." Sally said and Lee gave her a smile and salute taking her by her other arm.

"Ready?" Malachi asked Ariel offering his arm to her. She really did look beautiful. The dress was stunning on her and she herself was eye-catching. She looked like a woman who was at ease dressed up the way she was. That she knew who and what she was.

"Not really." She corrected with a release of breath that betrayed her nerves.

"You'll be fine, just stick to talking with men. They'll just nod and agree with everything you have to say. They won't think straight." He gave her a boyish smile. She felt a slight blush.

"That's uncomfortable." She said as they walked down to the elevator to get in with Sally and the other two. Her sister having already gone down.

"That's reality." Cameron stated and down they went. Sally made a kind of surprised noise. She had leaned against Cameron for a moment.

"Oh my god Cameron." She said in a whisper. "Are you armed?" He gave her a dark look.

"Just why do you think I'm here? It's what my family does. Malachi and Ariel are my detail along with Lee's. My father has Lord Vento. We aren't really guests."

"Since you've already taken a bullet. I feel very safe." Malachi said jokingly, but he too was armed. Not with a gun like Cameron was, not that it was noticeable but still. No he just had a blade on him. Just in case someone wanted to get up close and personal.

"Suddenly I feel like we're in a bad movie or something." Ariel commented and there were smiles all around.

"Not to worry." Lee said. "The worst that will happen is probably a heart attack. The mean age has to be sixty five." Another round of laughter. The doors opened and they moved toward the pavilion area, Sally and Alec joining them.

They were greeted by the door and then ushered in. There were three rather long tables with white cloths, beautiful china and silverware. They moved in, Malachi chose a spot and pulled out the chair for Ariel who took it sitting down. He then sat on her left, Sally and Cameron sat to Malachi's left with Cameron next to him. Deirdre however sat with Alec at the table just behind them. Ariel looked toward them quizzically.

"Alec's mother is the head programmer with the Aeronautics commission who overseas all interplanetary flights. He's in his phone a lot because of is work."

"I see." Ariel said, now that she thought about it, no one who wasn't someone was here. Either you were a date, or you were important. After all Cameron might be playing bodyguard but his father ran head of security, with Vento, and even Standish holdings. He oversaw that everything coming and going was checked, that law was upheld and in place.

She glanced around and saw Lord Vento at this table but farther up. Michael was sitting on his right with Tessa there as well. Both looking very respectable. The next table over she saw Alectro talking with an older gentleman and a man she knew must be his guard. No one was worried about him attempting something here. That was foolish, these people were the ones that gave them money for their goods. He was not going to bite the hand that fed him.

Ariel looked at Malachi as he was talking with Cameron about something. He always looked good dressed up. How easy it was for him, she bet it only took him a few minutes. Throw on some dress clothes, and calm the hair and bam. Done.

There was a bit of murmuring that started and Ariel looked up toward the front where a severe looking man came in with a girl no more than thirteen. She looked very pretty wearing a pink dress that nearly touched the floor. Her hair was a light brown as were her eyes, but she looked kind of sad. She wasn't sure who this was, but thought that they might be familiar. That she saw thing in a magazine or something.

"That's Bernard Galhime, and his daughter Victoria." Ariel nodded then. This was a very important man and if he backed you then you were set for life. He oversaw four different settlements and was in control of the city Kemphi on Groa. He was probably arguably the richest man alive. Ariel knew that his daughter had been born mute. She'd seen their pictures in articles that she had read. Normally very private and didn't come to many gatherings, it would seem that this was an exception this time. So he was probably in need of something, or looking for someone.

He came into the room escorting his daughter. Her mother had died when she was eight in a crash. Landing of the spacecraft had gone horribly wrong and all were lost in that flight. Since then he had backed a few manufactures to create safer instruments for flight, and landing gear. One thing that she remembered reading was that he had seen every doctor possible to get Victoria a voice. But it seemed the vocal cords were so underdeveloped nothing could be done about it.

He had a dark shade of hair and blue eyes which swept the room seeming to take everyone in. He moved to the table where Alectro was but didn't sit by him. He sat farther up letting his daughter sit first and then himself.

"She looks sad." Ariel said.

"From what I hear she is very isolated, especially since she can't talk." Said Mrs. Kornou who sat down next to Ariel and she gave her a smile. After that the tables filled. Ariel was lost in quite a bit of conversation with her neighbor and from across the way as well. Malachi to was talking with those that asked him questions and they hadn't even been served yet. Still she felt like her head was spinning. So much to remember and all the gossip flying around.

The food came and it was very good, Ariel ate lightly and then dessert was given. After that it was a bit more talking before most started to move toward the ballroom area where music was playing. Ariel stood with Malachi. They moved with Sally and Cameron toward the ballroom. Cameron looked rather serious and that was an odd change for him. He might be a light hearted person, but he took his job seriously. They just made it into the ballroom and started talking with two older gentlemen when someone tapped Ariel on the shoulder.

"May I have a dance?"

"Oh." Ariel said glancing at Malachi who clearly was trying to hide the smile while he looked at the man who was speaking to him. She looked at Leewater and inwardly she cringed. Damn it, she saw Malachi's slight smile and clearly wasn't going to stop her. Jerk.

"Alright, but just one." She said sternly and he nodded looking ecstatic. Leewater led her out on the dance floor. He was older than her and clearly interested. She just wasn't but she was being nice.

"You're a very beautiful woman Miss Standish."

"Thank you." Ariel said feeling awkward with this man she didn't know. He danced well and kept her closer than she liked. It was just one dance she told herself. This was not marriage.

"Forgive me for being so frank, but are you currently with anyone?"

"Well…" she started looking away from him. Now he'd really be on her and not leave her alone.

"I thought so." He said suddenly with a sigh. Her gaze came up to him oddly. He thought what? she hadn't said anything. "Not like someone like you stays single, he is lucky. I wasn't sure seeing you were here with Vento." He seemed to have inferred from her awkward start.

"Yes, my sister wasn't able to travel." She said, the song ended and he gave her a brief kiss on her knuckles and smiled at her.

"I will send you a contact with my company. I think that you and your sister's holdings have a lot of promise. I think we could work something out. Just in case your current suitor doesn't meet your expectations. You'll know how to get a hold of me." Ariel flushed a bit, wow that was… straight forward.

"That's very kind of you. Thank you." She answered with a smile and then moved back over to Malachi.

"Give him the slip, did you?" He smiled at her and the blush on her face.

"He figured I was already taken. I didn't correct him." Malachi just chuckled at her, and held out a hand.

"Dance? I need a break from talking." She smiled at him.

"Really? You look like a person that is very social." He took her hand and led her out to the dance floor where others were out dancing as well.

"Sometimes it can be a bit much." He admitted and put a hand on her waist. The other taking her hand just a simple dance, nothing more. Ariel was happy to dance with him. It meant that she didn't have to talk, and didn't have to worry about someone else coming up to her as Leewater had. Plus she liked Malachi so this was easy, for the most part.

"You really do look stunning Ariel." He complimented to her glancing around the room for a moment. Sally and Cameron were also dancing not too far away. "You should hear some of the comments, and a few have even asked me about you while you were dancing. Just subtlety," He said with a wink, "but definitely hinted."

"What did you say?" She asked suddenly panicked. Looking around the room quickly like she might spot one that was eyeing her up or something. He laughed turning her and bringing her back a bit closer to him. Inside Malachi really wanted to pull her right to him. He found that secretly he didn't want the space he had to give less others note. Many here knew that Ariel was Natasha's sister now. Wouldn't look good to just pull Ariel right against him and dance. Even if he wanted to.

"I said that you would love any attention they were willing to give." Her face paled and she looked like she was going to be sick.

"You didn't!" She couldn't handle a bunch of Leewaters. What if they wanted something from her she wasn't able to give? She thought she just had to talk with them.

'I'm kidding." He said laughing at her again. "I told them that you had just started seeing someone. Easy enough, some will be deterred, others a bit more cautious." She really didn't realize that she was easily one of the most beautiful women in the room.

He sure as hell found her attractive. He'd watched Leewater dancing with her and the obvious interest in his body language and actions. Her not so much, which for some reason made him rather happy to see. Which it shouldn't but it did. It wasn't like he could change that feeling, and a couple had come up to him to ask about her. He straight told them she wasn't available.

"Not funny Malachi." she said relaxing and moving with him. She let him lead and followed easily. Not that it wasn't customary for the man to lead in this kind of dancing but still. He could feel the curve of her hip and side through the soft material of her dress. It was a bit of a concentrated effort to not look her over. Not that he hadn't already done that a few times indiscreetly. His mind may have drifted places it shouldn't. Seriously though, look at her.

"I thought it was."

"You would." She said giving a bit of her own smile. He guided them back over to the side of the room. Here they stopped dancing and started to talk with others. Ariel danced with a few more people along with Cameron once. Who was worse than Malachi teasing her, and she did again dance with Malachi and once with Lord Vento. She felt like she was getting a work out at this social.

"May I have a dance?" Said a rather dark voice and she looked up at Alectro. Her heart nearly hit the floor. Oh no she couldn't do that, however she felt that she kind of had to. "That is if your date doesn't mind."

"It is up to her." Malachi said but his demeanor went extremely cold. His eyes narrowed a bit. Cameron looked up alertly and shifted a tad for a better position on Malachi's left. Lee was a few feet back talking with a younger girl but he was paying attention.

"Such a lucky man, able to choose what woman he would like to have on his arm at what time."

"What you suggest is extremely rude. My sister was unable to travel. I don't wish a dance with one that would hint my family is lacking in their ability to act a civil human being. Just be ruled by wanton behavior." Ariel reprimanded sharply and Alectro gave her a cool smile.

"I meant no disrespect, just that ones such as you and your sister might not realize the wolf in sheep's clothing you have intertwined with. Taking advantage of such kind and unsuspecting women is wrong."

"Why don't I show you what kind of wolf I can be?" Malachi said darkly. "I haven't led anyone on, nor has my father." Alectro gave a shrug.

"Just one dance Alectro. I would appreciate you leaving the Ventos alone for it. They have shown me and my sister much kindness and have been open and honest with us."

"Is that so?" Alectro said his gaze staying on Malachi's who wasn't intimidated by the slightest and Alectro knew it. His hate for the younger Vento grew even more. He just gave him a smile and took Ariel out to the dance floor.

"Watch them closely." Malachi said to Cameron whom he trusted most. Cameron just nodded, but he noticed how dark Malachi had become all of a sudden. It made the hair on Cameron's skin raise just a bit. That animal part reacting to Malachi's more dominate and aggressive output.

Malachi moved to where someone had called his name. However the entire time he watched Alectro dancing with Ariel. He didn't like it one bit. He wanted her away from him, he was dangerous and Ariel wasn't one that fought first. He would take advantage of her, but he also knew that Ariel was a loyal person. He wasn't worried about her betraying them or anything. Still he hated the sight of her with him.