The Midnight Gang

Chapter 15

Michael's POV

After about 2 hours of Scarlett being forced to talk to Marcos' family, she had drunk 2 glasses of champagne, said 'cheers' to many toasts and then got her hands on a glass of rosé. I was supposed to keep an eye on Scarlett all night so I didn't stay right next to her but I stayed in close distance to her.

Marcos' spoke into the earpiece in my ear saying that Scarlett had to dance again. So I walked over to her but she was talking to her 2nd cousin twice removed, I think, and she was facing away from me. I walked over to her and even with her heels, she was still shorter then me, so bend down slightly and whispered into her ear,

"Your father wants you to dance again. With me or him, your choice."

Her cousin looked at me and smiled then back at Scarlett, or in this case, Astoria and said,

"You've got a good-looking boyfriend."

"Oh no, he's-" Scarlett started to say.

"Yeah, she's the best girlfriend ever. Come on, Astoria. Your father wants you to dance again."

And with that Scarlett and I walked away from the woman. The dance floor cleared again. The song started and we started dancing.

"Why did you say that?"

"Say what?"

"That I'm your girlfriend."

"People will start asking questions. It's easier this way. And your father doesn't want a lot of questions."

"Right. Okay."

She looked over at her friends and smiled at them, I suppose longing to be over there then to be here dancing with me.

She looked so beautiful when she smiled. Even when I first met her if the forest, under the moonlight she was breath-taking.

"You're staring at me again. That's the second time I've caught you doing that." She said without even looking at me.

"Sorry. It's just you've got a really pretty smile and you look wonderful in that dress."

"Thanks. But I don't think Father would appreciate you gawking at me while everybody is staring at us."

"Your Father said to make it seem like we're a couple. Before the ball started, he told me to do everything in my power for us to seem like a couple. Even if that means staring at you or kissing you."

"Who said anything about kissing me?!" She whisper yelled.

"I'm just telling you what your father said at the start of the ball."

"And when did he say you should kiss me?"

"He said at the end of your third dance with me."

"Right. So one more dance and then I'm free to go?"

"I suppose so. But you do need to stay for your Father's toast."

"At 12? Right?"

"Yeah."

The song ended.

"Now where to?"

"My friends and the alcohol." And she dragged of the dance floor over to her friends.

She had picked up yet another glass of rosé when it was time for her Father's speech.

He tapped the side of his glass to get everybody's attention.

"Hello everybody and thank you for coming. I've held this wonderful ball for my wonderful daughter, Astoria Griffin. She was the star of my life when her mother passed. Then she had to go off too boarding school in America. But now she is back in England and back in my life and I couldn't be happier. Her wonderful friends joined her at this ball, and I couldn't be happier to of met them. Her amazing boyfriend and my second in command, Michael, has led her around the dance floor twice tonight and they are perfect for each other if I do say so myself. They will now attend one final dance before leaving tonight. To Astoria, Michael, and her friends. Cheers."

An echo of 'cheers filled the room before the dance floor for us to dance our final dance.

I took her glass and placed it on the nearest table before guiding her to the dance floor and the music started.

I started to guide her around the floor.

"This is the last dance. Yes?"

"Yes, and then I can take you all home."

"Thank god."

"But your Father has insisted we kiss at the end of the dance to make the room believe we're are dating."

"Seriously?!"

"Yes." She looked over my shoulder at her Father, gave him a death stare before she faced me again.

"If we must, we must."

"We don't have to if you really don't want too."

"We don't want to upset dearest Father now do we?" She said sarcastically.

"No, we don't. Let's make this last dance count then, shall we?"

"What are you planning?"

"You'll see."

Near the end of the song, I spun her out and pulled her back in.

"Ready?"

"No. But let's get it over with."

And then I kissed her. It was like fireworks erupting in my heart.

Scarlett's POV

"Ready?" He said.

"No. But let's get it over with."

And then he kissed me. It was like fireworks erupting in my heart. It was magical.

Slowly we pulled away and looked into each other's eyes.

"Come on. I want to leave." I spoke.

"Oh yeah, right this way." He guided me out of the ballroom and into the cold night by his hand.

I shivered slightly.

"You cold?"

"A bit." "Here, take my jacket." He said as he took of his jacket, placing it over my shoulders.

"Thanks." I said wrapping at around me more.

"Are your friends coming out soon?"

"They'll be out soon, yeah."

Silence.

Michael's POV

Awkward silence.

"You're a good kisser."

"Thanks. I think."

"Your lips are so soft. And you look great in that dress. And your makeup- "

"You're rambling."

"Sorry." I muttered.

After a few minutes I spoke up again.

"Can I kiss you again?"

"What?" She asked confusingly.

"Can I kiss you again? When I kissed you in there, I felt this feeling that was so confus-" She cut me off by pulling me down by my tie and pressing her lips to mine. It took me a few seconds to register what was happening but as soon as I did, I kissed her back. I placed my hand on the small of her back before someone clearing their throat interrupted us. It was Antonio.

"Your friends are coming out shortly Astoria."

"Thanks." She mumbled. "You stopped rambling." She said to me.

"I ramble when I'm nervous."

"Then shut up and kiss me. You might not be as nervous then."

I placed my lips onto hers again, my hand still on the small of her back. Then someone cleared their throat again.

Scarlett's POV

"Scar, It's time to go. Is Michael taking us back home?" Astrid asked.

"Yes he is. Go to the limo. We'll be there in a minute."

She walked off.

"Can't get a moment of peace here, can we?" She joked.

"Come on, let's get you home." He took my hand and led me to the limo.