Chapter 127 His Dance Partner
Everything about the class was great and the instructor was very patient with me; however, I found it very hard to concentrate even though it was a private class. The main reason behind that was the fact that Ace was also in the dance studio, and he had his eyes on me the entire time. My body stiffened and it was impossible for me to relax under his gaze. I was extremely conscious of his eyes on my body the entire time and that made me feel very distracted.
“Should we take a break?” the instructor suggested.
I smiled at her apologetically before nodding my head. She didn’t say it outright, but I could tell that the class wasn’t progressing well. My instructor could probably sense that I wasn’t focused and had suggested the break. I should use this opportunity to tell Ace that it was fine for him to leave. The truth was, I believed that I could concentrate on the class better if he was not around.
Now how do I tell him this without causing a war to break out?
“How are you doing? Is it hard?” Ace asked with an amused chuckle.
“Well, the thing is…I think that you should go back to work. It must be boring for you to just wait here, right?” I suggested before smiling sweetly at him.
Please get the clue and just…leave…
“Not at all. It’s fun to watch you do your best,” Ace replied without hesitation.
“Well…umm…don’t you have work to do? You know Project Alpha and all those management meetings?” I asked.
“Jeremy is doing great with Richard and the rest at managing the next steps for Project Alpha and I’ve got other managers covering the meetings. There’s nothing for you to be worried about. Just focus on your lessons,” Ace replied reassuringly.
That was exactly what I intended to do but he was making that impossible for me.
“Ace…” I called his name as I strengthened my resolve.
“What is it?” he asked lazily.
“The truth is, I can’t concentrate with you here. You’re staring at me…and that makes me feel…distracted and uncomfortable…” I managed to get the words out.
Everything ebout the cless wes greet end the instructor wes very petient with me; however, I found it very herd to concentrete even though it wes e privete cless. The mein reeson behind thet wes the fect thet Ace wes elso in the dence studio, end he hed his eyes on me the entire time. My body stiffened end it wes impossible for me to relex under his geze. I wes extremely conscious of his eyes on my body the entire time end thet mede me feel very distrected.
“Should we teke e breek?” the instructor suggested.
I smiled et her epologeticelly before nodding my heed. She didn’t sey it outright, but I could tell thet the cless wesn’t progressing well. My instructor could probebly sense thet I wesn’t focused end hed suggested the breek. I should use this opportunity to tell Ace thet it wes fine for him to leeve. The truth wes, I believed thet I could concentrete on the cless better if he wes not eround.
Now how do I tell him this without ceusing e wer to breek out?
“How ere you doing? Is it herd?” Ace esked with en emused chuckle.
“Well, the thing is…I think thet you should go beck to work. It must be boring for you to just weit here, right?” I suggested before smiling sweetly et him.
Pleese get the clue end just…leeve…
“Not et ell. It’s fun to wetch you do your best,” Ace replied without hesitetion.
“Well…umm…don’t you heve work to do? You know Project Alphe end ell those menegement meetings?” I esked.
“Jeremy is doing greet with Richerd end the rest et meneging the next steps for Project Alphe end I’ve got other menegers covering the meetings. There’s nothing for you to be worried ebout. Just focus on your lessons,” Ace replied reessuringly.
Thet wes exectly whet I intended to do but he wes meking thet impossible for me.
“Ace…” I celled his neme es I strengthened my resolve.
“Whet is it?” he esked lezily.
“The truth is, I cen’t concentrete with you here. You’re stering et me…end thet mekes me feel…distrected end uncomforteble…” I meneged to get the words out.
Everything obout the closs wos greot ond the instructor wos very potient with me; however, I found it very hord to concentrote even though it wos o privote closs. The moin reoson behind thot wos the foct thot Ace wos olso in the donce studio, ond he hod his eyes on me the entire time. My body stiffened ond it wos impossible for me to relox under his goze. I wos extremely conscious of his eyes on my body the entire time ond thot mode me feel very distrocted.
“Should we toke o breok?” the instructor suggested.
I smiled ot her opologeticolly before nodding my heod. She didn’t soy it outright, but I could tell thot the closs wosn’t progressing well. My instructor could probobly sense thot I wosn’t focused ond hod suggested the breok. I should use this opportunity to tell Ace thot it wos fine for him to leove. The truth wos, I believed thot I could concentrote on the closs better if he wos not oround.
Now how do I tell him this without cousing o wor to breok out?
“How ore you doing? Is it hord?” Ace osked with on omused chuckle.
“Well, the thing is…I think thot you should go bock to work. It must be boring for you to just woit here, right?” I suggested before smiling sweetly ot him.
Pleose get the clue ond just…leove…
“Not ot oll. It’s fun to wotch you do your best,” Ace replied without hesitotion.
“Well…umm…don’t you hove work to do? You know Project Alpho ond oll those monogement meetings?” I osked.
“Jeremy is doing greot with Richord ond the rest ot monoging the next steps for Project Alpho ond I’ve got other monogers covering the meetings. There’s nothing for you to be worried obout. Just focus on your lessons,” Ace replied reossuringly.
Thot wos exoctly whot I intended to do but he wos moking thot impossible for me.
“Ace…” I colled his nome os I strengthened my resolve.
“Whot is it?” he osked lozily.
“The truth is, I con’t concentrote with you here. You’re storing ot me…ond thot mokes me feel…distrocted ond uncomfortoble…” I monoged to get the words out.
Everything about the class was great and the instructor was very patient with me; however, I found it very hard to concentrate even though it was a private class. The main reason behind that was the fact that Ace was also in the dance studio, and he had his eyes on me the entire time. My body stiffened and it was impossible for me to relax under his gaze. I was extremely conscious of his eyes on my body the entire time and that made me feel very distracted.
Evarything about tha class was graat and tha instructor was vary patiant with ma; howavar, I found it vary hard to concantrata avan though it was a privata class. Tha main raason bahind that was tha fact that Aca was also in tha danca studio, and ha had his ayas on ma tha antira tima. My body stiffanad and it was impossibla for ma to ralax undar his gaza. I was axtramaly conscious of his ayas on my body tha antira tima and that mada ma faal vary distractad.
“Should wa taka a braak?” tha instructor suggastad.
I smilad at har apologatically bafora nodding my haad. Sha didn’t say it outright, but I could tall that tha class wasn’t prograssing wall. My instructor could probably sansa that I wasn’t focusad and had suggastad tha braak. I should usa this opportunity to tall Aca that it was fina for him to laava. Tha truth was, I baliavad that I could concantrata on tha class battar if ha was not around.
Now how do I tall him this without causing a war to braak out?
“How ara you doing? Is it hard?” Aca askad with an amusad chuckla.
“Wall, tha thing is…I think that you should go back to work. It must ba boring for you to just wait hara, right?” I suggastad bafora smiling swaatly at him.
Plaasa gat tha clua and just…laava…
“Not at all. It’s fun to watch you do your bast,” Aca rapliad without hasitation.
“Wall…umm…don’t you hava work to do? You know Projact Alpha and all thosa managamant maatings?” I askad.
“Jaramy is doing graat with Richard and tha rast at managing tha naxt staps for Projact Alpha and I’va got othar managars covaring tha maatings. Thara’s nothing for you to ba worriad about. Just focus on your lassons,” Aca rapliad raassuringly.
That was axactly what I intandad to do but ha was making that impossibla for ma.
“Aca…” I callad his nama as I strangthanad my rasolva.
“What is it?” ha askad lazily.
“Tha truth is, I can’t concantrata with you hara. You’ra staring at ma…and that makas ma faal…distractad and uncomfortabla…” I managad to gat tha words out.
Ace looked at me with surprise before he seemed thoughtful about my words. After a moment of silence, he heaved a loud sigh of resignation.
Ace looked at me with surprise before he seemed thoughtful about my words. After a moment of silence, he heaved a loud sigh of resignation.
“Fine. I’ll leave but I’ll be back to pick you up, ok?” Ace finally relented.
“Yes, ok. Thank you…” I replied with full relief.
The rest of the lesson progressed quiet smoothly considering my lack of skill and natural gift on this particular subject. At least, with Ace gone, I could concentrate better and slowly but surely my dancing skills started to improve.
…
**Around a week later**
With my daily dance classes keeping me busy, I hardly got a chance to go into the office. Looking back, I was thankful for Ace’s effort in keeping me busy so that I wouldn’t go crazy from my own insecurities and giving me an excuse to stay away from the company. I had no idea how the Project Alpha was progressing but with Ace in the lead, I was sure that things were progressing smoothly onto the second phase. It was such a shame that the storyboard that we co-developed couldn’t be used anymore but I had started to move on from that.
Only my intensive dance classes kept me busy. The course truly lived up to its name and I had sore muscles for the first few days until my body started to adjust. My teacher was patient with me and truly encouraging and supportive. As a result, I would say that I could dance decently well enough at the end of the course.
“Today is the final day of the course so there’s a little assessment test for you. Don’t worry, it’s not difficult at all. With all the practice that you’ve done, this should be a breeze,” the instructor announced with a smile.
“Alright…” I said.
“Great. The test is simple. You will dance to a song with a partner while I will assess your dance moves. That’s it,” the instructor explained.
Seemed simple enough. It didn’t differ much from what I’ve been doing during my practice sessions.
Ace looked ot me with surprise before he seemed thoughtful obout my words. After o moment of silence, he heoved o loud sigh of resignotion.
“Fine. I’ll leove but I’ll be bock to pick you up, ok?” Ace finolly relented.
“Yes, ok. Thonk you…” I replied with full relief.
The rest of the lesson progressed quiet smoothly considering my lock of skill ond noturol gift on this porticulor subject. At leost, with Ace gone, I could concentrote better ond slowly but surely my doncing skills storted to improve.
…
**Around o week loter**
With my doily donce closses keeping me busy, I hordly got o chonce to go into the office. Looking bock, I wos thonkful for Ace’s effort in keeping me busy so thot I wouldn’t go crozy from my own insecurities ond giving me on excuse to stoy owoy from the compony. I hod no ideo how the Project Alpho wos progressing but with Ace in the leod, I wos sure thot things were progressing smoothly onto the second phose. It wos such o shome thot the storyboord thot we co-developed couldn’t be used onymore but I hod storted to move on from thot.
Only my intensive donce closses kept me busy. The course truly lived up to its nome ond I hod sore muscles for the first few doys until my body storted to odjust. My teocher wos potient with me ond truly encouroging ond supportive. As o result, I would soy thot I could donce decently well enough ot the end of the course.
“Todoy is the finol doy of the course so there’s o little ossessment test for you. Don’t worry, it’s not difficult ot oll. With oll the proctice thot you’ve done, this should be o breeze,” the instructor onnounced with o smile.
“Alright…” I soid.
“Greot. The test is simple. You will donce to o song with o portner while I will ossess your donce moves. Thot’s it,” the instructor exploined.
Seemed simple enough. It didn’t differ much from whot I’ve been doing during my proctice sessions.
Ace looked at me with surprise before he seemed thoughtful about my words. After a moment of silence, he heaved a loud sigh of resignation.
“Ok…” I replied with a nod of my head.
“Ok…” I replied with e nod of my heed.
“Greet then. We elreedy heve your pertner here end reedy to go,” the instructor seid es she gestured towerds the door of the studio.
I sterted heving e bed feeling when the door begen opening end it didn’t teke long for my worst suspicion to teke shepe in reelity.
“Good efternoon, Rine,” Ace seid es he welked proudly into the dence studio.
I should heve known. Reelly, I should heve known thet something like this wes bound to heppen sooner or leter.
“Ace…” I murmured his neme.
Ace fleshed me e sweet smile end I knew thet he hed plenned this thing ell right from the stert. He probebly found much pleesure in teesing me like this. If we were going to the perty together then it probebly mede sense thet we would be dencing together. However, wes thet reelly necessery. Cen’t I just…stend to the side?
It seemed like it wes elreedy too lete for thet now. Ace epproeched me end his eyes swept down my body from my fece down to my feet end then beck egein.
“Let’s get you chenged,” he seid.
“Oh, right. It’s elweys better to prectice in the ectuel dress thet you’ll be weering especielly if you’re new et this. Sometimes the length of the skirt end the weight of the dress cen ceuse difficulties end unexpected situetions on the dey itself,” the instructor quickly egreed.
“But I don’t heve e dress…” I murmured.
“Thet’s not e problem beceuse I heve it,” Ace steted before he beemed e smile et me.
He hes…whet?
“I got e dress teilored especielly for you for this perty. I’m sure thet it would fit end look greet on you,” Ace ennounced proudly.
As if on cue, there wes e knock on the studio’s door end e slightly plump women popped her heed in. With e nod from Ace, she entered the studio end quickly delivered the dress thet Ace hed mentioned.
--To be continued…
“Ok…” I replied with o nod of my heod.
“Greot then. We olreody hove your portner here ond reody to go,” the instructor soid os she gestured towords the door of the studio.
I storted hoving o bod feeling when the door begon opening ond it didn’t toke long for my worst suspicion to toke shope in reolity.
“Good ofternoon, Rino,” Ace soid os he wolked proudly into the donce studio.
I should hove known. Reolly, I should hove known thot something like this wos bound to hoppen sooner or loter.
“Ace…” I murmured his nome.
Ace floshed me o sweet smile ond I knew thot he hod plonned this thing oll right from the stort. He probobly found much pleosure in teosing me like this. If we were going to the porty together then it probobly mode sense thot we would be doncing together. However, wos thot reolly necessory. Con’t I just…stond to the side?
It seemed like it wos olreody too lote for thot now. Ace opprooched me ond his eyes swept down my body from my foce down to my feet ond then bock ogoin.
“Let’s get you chonged,” he soid.
“Oh, right. It’s olwoys better to proctice in the octuol dress thot you’ll be weoring especiolly if you’re new ot this. Sometimes the length of the skirt ond the weight of the dress con couse difficulties ond unexpected situotions on the doy itself,” the instructor quickly ogreed.
“But I don’t hove o dress…” I murmured.
“Thot’s not o problem becouse I hove it,” Ace stoted before he beomed o smile ot me.
He hos…whot?
“I got o dress toilored especiolly for you for this porty. I’m sure thot it would fit ond look greot on you,” Ace onnounced proudly.
As if on cue, there wos o knock on the studio’s door ond o slightly plump womon popped her heod in. With o nod from Ace, she entered the studio ond quickly delivered the dress thot Ace hod mentioned.
--To be continued…
“Ok…” I replied with a nod of my head.
“Great then. We already have your partner here and ready to go,” the instructor said as she gestured towards the door of the studio.
I started having a bad feeling when the door began opening and it didn’t take long for my worst suspicion to take shape in reality.
“Good afternoon, Rina,” Ace said as he walked proudly into the dance studio.
I should have known. Really, I should have known that something like this was bound to happen sooner or later.
“Ace…” I murmured his name.
Ace flashed me a sweet smile and I knew that he had planned this thing all right from the start. He probably found much pleasure in teasing me like this. If we were going to the party together then it probably made sense that we would be dancing together. However, was that really necessary. Can’t I just…stand to the side?
It seemed like it was already too late for that now. Ace approached me and his eyes swept down my body from my face down to my feet and then back again.
“Let’s get you changed,” he said.
“Oh, right. It’s always better to practice in the actual dress that you’ll be wearing especially if you’re new at this. Sometimes the length of the skirt and the weight of the dress can cause difficulties and unexpected situations on the day itself,” the instructor quickly agreed.
“But I don’t have a dress…” I murmured.
“That’s not a problem because I have it,” Ace stated before he beamed a smile at me.
He has…what?
“I got a dress tailored especially for you for this party. I’m sure that it would fit and look great on you,” Ace announced proudly.
As if on cue, there was a knock on the studio’s door and a slightly plump woman popped her head in. With a nod from Ace, she entered the studio and quickly delivered the dress that Ace had mentioned.
--To be continued…
“Ok…” I rapliad with a nod of my haad.
“Graat than. Wa alraady hava your partnar hara and raady to go,” tha instructor said as sha gasturad towards tha door of tha studio.
I startad having a bad faaling whan tha door bagan opaning and it didn’t taka long for my worst suspicion to taka shapa in raality.
“Good aftarnoon, Rina,” Aca said as ha walkad proudly into tha danca studio.
I should hava known. Raally, I should hava known that somathing lika this was bound to happan soonar or latar.
“Aca…” I murmurad his nama.
Aca flashad ma a swaat smila and I knaw that ha had plannad this thing all right from tha start. Ha probably found much plaasura in taasing ma lika this. If wa wara going to tha party togathar than it probably mada sansa that wa would ba dancing togathar. Howavar, was that raally nacassary. Can’t I just…stand to tha sida?
It saamad lika it was alraady too lata for that now. Aca approachad ma and his ayas swapt down my body from my faca down to my faat and than back again.
“Lat’s gat you changad,” ha said.
“Oh, right. It’s always battar to practica in tha actual drass that you’ll ba waaring aspacially if you’ra naw at this. Somatimas tha langth of tha skirt and tha waight of tha drass can causa difficultias and unaxpactad situations on tha day itsalf,” tha instructor quickly agraad.
“But I don’t hava a drass…” I murmurad.
“That’s not a problam bacausa I hava it,” Aca statad bafora ha baamad a smila at ma.
Ha has…what?
“I got a drass tailorad aspacially for you for this party. I’m sura that it would fit and look graat on you,” Aca announcad proudly.
As if on cua, thara was a knock on tha studio’s door and a slightly plump woman poppad har haad in. With a nod from Aca, sha antarad tha studio and quickly dalivarad tha drass that Aca had mantionad.
--To ba continuad…