I prefer...

When Dahlia walked out of the restroom, she came face to face with another annoying human. Stephan Leni. He smiled gently at her but it got on her nerve. However she hid her displeasure with a nice pretty stoic face.

"is everything okay?" he asked.

"yes, why?"

"you took a while in there" he said. Dahlia narrowed her eyes at him.

"did you follow me here, Mr Leni?" she asked. Stephan chuckled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his bald head.

"yes, sorry. I know it is not very gentleman on my part but I just wanted to check on you"

"I don't need you to check on me, Mr Leni. I am fine" just as she said that, Elena walked out of the restroom and threw her a glare before proceeding to the party hall.

"hum…" he took a step closer to her. "yes, you are a capable woman. I would like to invite you"

"where?" she asked.

" to have dinner. I guess you are still in town for a while. I really would appreciate it if you grant me a small amount of your time" he asked expectantly. Dahlia on her side remained stoic.

"I will think about it." She replied, knowing fully well that she wouldn't. She just said that to make sure he leaves her alone. He would be rejoicing in his mirage of victory and he will never see her again.

Then she walked passed him and headed back to the party hall. Now she was fed up with those humans. She was reminded of the reasons why she hated being around humans. She really wanted to leave.

When she entered the party hall, there was a slow music playing, people were dancing around the dance floor. Her eyes coursed through the hall and she found Eder at a table discussing with women and Elena was seating right next to him, flirting with him and whispering to his ears.

"would you like to join me for a dance?" Stephan asked extending his hand. Dahlia didn't even consider the idea.

"no" she replied curtly and walked away going back to her seat. She glared at Eder's back. Stephan came to seat near her. With two whiskey glasses.

"a drink?" he asked.

"no. I don't like whiskey. I prefer…" she trailed off when a glass of wine held by a big hand she knew appeared before her eyes. Her eyes trailed up from his hand through his arm until his face, which was too close. "wine" she said alas with what seemed to Eder like a smile.

"are you alright?" he asked gently. She narrowed her eyes at him but still took the wine glass slowly. Her fingers grazing his hand subtly.

"yes, thank you" she replied but Eder felt that something was wrong.

"are you sure?"

"yes" she said again and looked away.

Eder turned to Stephan "I think you are awaited there" Stephan understood the hint and left. He didn't need to be told twice. Eder then sat next to Dahlia.

"you seem… displeased"

"I want to leave" she said. Eder frowned.

"already?"

"if you are too busy to leave, no problem. I can go back alone" Dahlia told him casually sipping her wine.

"no, surely not" Eder objected immediately. Then he took her hand and leaned closer "why are you so in the hurry? Anything disturbing you?" he asked seriously.

"nothing" she tried to sound calm. Looking into his eyes right now, Dahlia was sure he would make a fuss if she told him something disturbed her.

"are you angry at me?"

"I am not"

"then you wouldn't mind joining me for a dance" he proposed.

Dahlia wanted to tell him no, but she just said she was not angry, saying no would be contradictory.

Eder smiled when he saw that she was not opposing, he pulled her up and led her to the dance floor.

***

A while earlier, Eder had followed Stephan to a table where, Mr Arbo, his daughter Verna, Another man he didn't know and two women he also didn't know, were seating.

"ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you, Mr Eder Galann"

"oh, from the Galan Empire" one man said standing up to shake Eder's hand. "it's a pleasure to finally meet you" the man said.

"and you are?" Eder asked.

"this is Joshan Werns a big man in the agricultural industry" Stephan said. They sat with them and they started chatting lightly. A little about business, a little about life and in the end, the men left the table with different excuses and Eder was left alone with the women.

Eder occasionally glanced at the door to see Dahlia coming, but the women at the table were holding him down with their discussion.

"are you waiting for someone, Mr Galann?" Verna asked with a sweet voice.

"yes, my partner"

"you seem to care much about that partner of yours"

"yes, I do" he replied and glanced at the door, he saw Elena coming out and walking over to him. He wondered if Dahlia was fine. He stood up to check but Elena stood on his way.

"going somewhere?" she asked with a raised brow.

"excuse me. I have to check-"

"on your partner?" she finished for him. Eder finally looked at her. She had to talk about his partner to get his attention. He had never gave her so much attention before.

"is she alright?"

"yes, she is adding touches to her make up. You can seat with us and wait" Eder hesitated. "she's a big girl she can fend for herself"

"yeah, that she can" Eder muttered.

"you see, seat with me a bit" she held his arm and pulled him to the table. "unless you doesn't deem me fit of you anymore" Eder sat down and glanced at the door again.

"oh please, you won't check the door every now and then as if waiting for a little helpless girl" Eder didn't say anything. Elena crossed her legs, causing her dress which had a split to uncover her thigh and she leaned closer to Eder.

"you know, I really missed you" she started with a low sensual voice. "did you ?"