He let go of her hands gently and skimmed her wrist of her right hand with his left, bringing her closer to him which she came willingly, took hold of her chin and made her look up to him, "Dance with me. Just like the old times."
Without warning, Ella was reminded of their dances which they both shared as a unique connection between the both. It wasn't the normal dance of holding each other in their arms and swaying but it was a very private one, which only both Ella and Roy knew about. It was Roy to have come up with the dance to mark their bond. He had wanted to feel her since she had turned thirteen; the way she was blooming up in her knowledge, her skills, her beauty. A man could only hold out as much. He still remembered the time Ella was pacing around her room with funny and rigid strides. 'Have you hurt your back?', he had asked which gave a fright to Ella. 'You can sometimes present yourself without scaring me!' Having Roy leaning on the door of her room, she sighed looking at him, 'I haven't. Why?' 'Well you were walking around like a robot, I thought that Mark had made you one.' She gave him a stink eye saying, 'I was dancing.' He looked at her and suddenly coughed. 'Stop laughing. I know you are covering it with cough. It's not like you have to go through all the necessities of being a proper lady and of being the trained heir. You just know how to laugh!' She huffed and sat on her bed turning away from Roy. He stopped himself from making her more upset and walked inside her room saying, 'Forgive me, I didn't expect your rigid walk to be dancing. Since when are you into dancing?' Young Ella took a deep breath looking at him, 'Why should I tell you? You laughed at me!' 'I didn't. I coughed. And we don't hide anything from each other.' This was what Roy had told her since a very young age to keep tabs on her. At first it was like a job for him, but later it just happened to be a habit to know everything about her. Every good, bad, embarrassing and funny thing about her. 'Don't lie to me.' Her angry voice said. Roy understood her problem and said cheerfully, 'You need help in dancing, yes? I'll help you.' His cheerful voice was nowhere too comforting for Ella as she didn't like the process of dancing. He knew that he thought right but she was still upset, 'What is it Ella?', his voice still had effects on her though differently then. When he would call her name then, she would just pour her heart out to him telling him everything that is inside her mind. So she did, 'I don't want to have any dance classes. But Mom is too demanding. Saying I need to be a proper lady. And then Papa says I need to be well-trained for the throne. I just had too much of the both of them. Always demanding all on their own. Have they asked me what I want? No! I'm just a small pony here. Twist and turn me to make the perfect daughter for them.' By the end of her display of worries, her voice had pitched higher eventually. It even made Roy feel upset looking at her like this; she was young but she wasn't anything like the ones around her age. She understood her situation quite better to decipher her parents were actually molding her to be as their desired daughter. He said softly, 'You could always refuse.' 'It's not only that Roy, it's the helplessness I feel at every step. They take up all the decisions as if I can't make any of them. I'm not that small to not know what is going on.' 'Maybe they are just looking out for you. In their own way.' 'Yes, in their own way. Not in my way.' Roy thought to put away her worries and grabbed her hands which were supporting on her knees close to her chest, pulled her from the bed and brought her in the empty space between the door and her bed. 'What are you doing now?' 'We can't dance without music!' He said and turned on the DVD player in her room which gave out a merry tone with an active pitch. She spoke, 'I told you I don't want to dance.' 'Oh, it's not your usual dance. In this we don't touch each other. We just enjoy ourselves!' Saying that he started doing moves, pushing his hips from right to left to and fro, along the beat of the music. Looking at him Ella laughed and joined him while taking hold of her frock and moving about copying his steps. It seemed funnier doing it than seeing it. All the time the both smiled and laughed at each other putting away all their worries for that moment.
The word 'Dance' was just a code for them to be touching and kissing each other. She gulped while remembering the previous times they both had done that. The innocent dance they had when she was thirteen evolved into something much more.
"Seems like you remember the last time we danced."
"Actually, I was reminded of the first time we danced." She looked into his eyes with him staring back at her; both having varied emotions behind them knowing and sharing it all in just one look. Ella was the first to break away and said, "Your guest is waiting."
"Wait for me at the first place we danced. I'll be back soon."
"I'm tired. I should sleep."
"Either you go there or we do it here now." It didn't help that she was finding it too hard to glare at him profusely especially with the words he spoke. He surely didn't want them to be doing anything here in front of the maid or the visitor not too far from where they were. She just walked away from him and out of the patio, clearly showing that she would wait there. While Roy went to greet his visitor with an evident smile on his face. The visitor, Mr. Greene who was the Head Manager of the Oil Department, looked green in his face; thinking about the news that would ruin the CEO's happy mood. He was a stout fellow with almost balding scalp and a small pot belly, nervously clutching his tie thinking of ways of relaying the news to his superior. It has always been a problem for him since he had worked for the corporation to have to be cautiously taking a step or two; first Mr. Mark Kingsly and now Mr. Roy Knight. Where did such dangerous people came from to rule upon his nightmares was a big mystery to him. If only it wasn't that important, he would have never thought of interrupting his boss' night.
"Ah George, I was only thinking about the oil. Didn't know that complaining about too much oil in my food would lead you to come running to me."
George Greene visibly gulped looking at his superior. "Are you going to start or I have to give you those oily food to taste?"
Mr. Greene then replied, "Sir, there has been a problem recently. If you are too busy I will come tomorrow. Surely, it is not that-"
"Speak." The tone was enough to let Mr. Greene know that he shouldn't waste any more time.
"The petrol supply that was to be received tonight was not up to the weight we had dealt. It was half of what was supposed to be received, Sir. I had emailed the suppliers about it for which they said that- that, um..."
"Do you feel paralyzed in between? Say it!" In response Mr. Greene took out his laptop and opened something to show the laptop to his boss.
Looking at the laptop everything was quiet around. George Greene was contemplating whether he should be saying sorry or be keeping quiet to save his head. Both the options were deadly for him. After what felt like eternity where Mr. Greene was perched up in the sofa of the drawing room in one position not even moving an inch to bring the harsh glare of his boss towards him. If possible, he would love to disappear into the sofa he was sitting on. Then came his superior's voice, "Gather up a board meeting tomorrow. There will be a proposition announced."
Mr. Greene looked at his boss puzzled. He thought that Mr. Knight would be taking his head listing out the default to be his mistake, but he coldly announced for a meeting tomorrow. He knew he should shut up but he supposed he had the moto to die tonight, "But a proposition needs the agreement of the throne", George murmured which was clearly heard by the other person present. After realizing that his thoughts came out loud, Mr. Greene covered his mouth with a gasp, looking up to his boss with frightened eyes of speaking unnecessarily.