That afternoon, after the hotel sent someone to deliver some clothes, Estrella looked at the beautiful evening gown for a while before turning to Lucas.
"Is this also part of the plan?"
Lucas used two fingers to hook his attire for the evening across his back and faced the calm Estrella with a smile:
"Nope."
"You are… asking me out?"
"Who knows? Maybe I'm asking Mrs D'asilva Xing out?"
With a smile that demanded to be punched off his face, Lucas made to go to his room.
"Anyway, despite the war some people are still living very well. Why not have a taste before leaving?"
He closed his door and left Estrella with her unresolved confusion. She might present a calm front most of the time, but he was learning to read her.
After all, he didn't want to be too forward after what happened last time at sea. He was certain that they had something going on, but at the same time, it seemed that some work needed to be done.
That night, Lucas stopped the car they had rented previously before the Opera National. The place's architecture was not bad and the decorations made the front low-key but attention grabbing as a high class place should be for the occasion.
There were cars and people around, with most avoiding an ostentatious showing, opting for less tacky display of their affluence.
Lucas got out and took a look around as he adjusted his smoking. With the necessary observation done, he went to the other side of the car with assured steps and a smile radiating confidence and opened the passenger's side door as he gave Estrella his hand to help her get down.
Looking at the dark blue high-heels with fair legs that were the first to leave the car, he must say that even if he was the one that had chosen what she wore and had seen her when she first came out of her room, he was anticipating the outcome of showing off with her at his arm.
As she got down, she showed the shimmering satin duchesse gown she was wearing, with its crisscross draping, which, while not showing too much, toned the shoulders and collarbone.
The floor black dress was super slim fit and draped at the waist, emphasizing the latter and the exposed parts due to the short sleeves and the off-the-shoulder neckline were covered by a shawl, the delicate material of which prevented it from totally obscuring the necklace even as the latter did its job of highlighting the dress and the beauty of its owner.
Lucas' smile widened as he felt her pulse from her wrist for a moment because beneath her calm façade, Estrella was reacting more than she was showing.
They sat in their box and watched the presentation start. With this being the first time that he didn't watch it through a screen, Lucas was quite interested in how the actors were playing their role.
"From what I saw, the opera was just a part of the evening program, right?"
"And what did you see?" Lucas asked back in a low voice.
"The opera is not just for the affluent but most people here tonight are of high status and I doubt that a single opera presentation made them all decide to come tonight."
"You are right but we will just enjoy a bit of the second program later before leaving those people to their games. Do you remember what I told you when we went to the botanical garden?"
Even with the light being just enough to chase away the darkness, he managed to notice her blushing a little. It seemed that the embarrassment had not left yet. He continued:
"I said that you were like the queen and that with your return, the garden centered around you. So don't mind the details, just enjoy the evening."
Laughing a bit at her state, he changed the subject:
"Have you ever seen the presentation going on before?"
"No. I have heard about "The Phantom of the opera" before but I have never seen the presentation. You seem to like it?"
"Indeed. The songs are not bad and the story is interesting."
"Why? Do you find yourself ugly?"
He scoffed at her attempt.
"Please, if I didn't find modeling too bothersome, I would have been on international stages by now."
He ignored her rare little mocking laugh and continued:
"I'm just looking at the behavior of the said phantom in the story. I also have my complexes but unlike him, with not much holding me back anymore, I'm thinking of allowing myself to be egoist in the pursuit of my goals."
He fixed his gaze on her as he said that to convey what was needed.
They then silently watched the presentation to the end before leaving for another hall. This one was more bright with a buffet on the side and an orchestra on the prepared stage.
With the previous music ending and a new one starting, he ignored the buffet and turned to Estrella:
"Would you do me the honor?"
"Did you learn how to dance in the army?"
Even as she said that, she gave him his hand and followed him to the dance floor. He held her by the waist and they faced each other as he smiled:
"No, but you know, you can be a superhuman with your brain lagging too far behind. So memory, control and some online tutorials and you can impress a woman."
"Who said I was impressed?"
"Who said I was talking about you?"
Looking at Lucas' smile, Estrella took a deep breath and rolled her eyes.
"Speaking of which, we need to talk about your enhancements at some points."
Seeing Estrella ignore him, Lucas twirled her to the tempo of the as he continued:
"Is there a particular reason you are being secretive about them?"
"Is there a particular reason why you brought me here?"
Taking his cue, he abandoned the previous questioning.
"Of course to dance with a beauty."
He focused on their movements and took control of the rhythm. Getting to the center of the dance floor with a few steps, he started demonstrating the results of his self-learning, taking advantage of their flexibility and coordination, earning them more attention and space.
He made her hair dance and her gown flutter, thanking the slit in the back of the dress for allowing ease of movement. He looked into her eyes as they became less calm and more alive, charged with emotions as the dance became something more with their passions intertwining.
And as the music ended, he turned her just in time to get her back against him with his hands on her abdomen. To crown the night, he pushed the hair that framed her face and hid her earrings to the side and placed his lips on her neck.
With the way their chests were heaving, you would doubt that these two people could breath in water. Ignoring the applause, Lucas left the hall with Estrella. They went to the parking lot where he pushed her back against the car, though she didn't present any resistance.
He held her by the waist and started to explore the passion they set ablaze in the hall previously. As their tongues battled, he lowered his hands to push the victory streak when she suddenly stopped responding. She gently pushed him away as he was confused but after looking into her eyes he smiled and let her into the car.
As it seemed, the last time after leaving the Mariana trench, her state of mind should have been less steady and she had just gone with the flow. He didn't doubt that she had some feelings for him but if what he suspected was true, then there were not many that had her strength.
He started the car with the key he had the bellboy bring him during the presentation against a nice tip and left the building. However, instead of taking the previous road, he went behind the opera and stopped before the garbage dump.
Estrella watched as he pushed it aside, and took two sports bags from behind it. He threw them into the trunk, changed gear, then left the alley.
"What was that?"
"Logistic support."
"We are getting to work then?"
"We leave tomorrow."
With that last answer from Lucas, a comfortable silence made its nest in the car as it made its way on the roads that, even at this late hour, were not deserted.