The Daughter Extraction

Glimmering in Blue

•LUNA•

I heard voices drifting through my open bedroom door from downstairs. I knew one of them had to be Alec, waiting for me to finish getting ready so we could go to the annual party together.

I just didn't know who the other person was. I highly doubted it was my father. Those two could ice the entire room if put together, where they don't speak or even look each other in the eye.

The tension between them is enough to drown anyone in misery. But I still hope, day by day, that they would get along.

I finished putting on my other earring and took one last look at myself in the mirror. The royal blue dress clung to my body like a glove. The material delicately rolled off my lower body in waves, leaving a slit on the side to reveal a little bit of skin.

It had a sweetheart neckline with silver chains hanging loosely around my arm, passing off as off-the-shoulder sleeves. My hair was curled and flowed down my back in rich volume. The black color blended perfectly into the night.

I felt a little nervous about tonight. Mainly because this would be my first time making a public appearance next to my father as someone who works hard alongside him in contributing to making our country a better place.

But it was also the first time I would be attending a social event with Alec. Although at this point, I still didn't know what we were. We were long past the issues that had caused a strain on our friendship from the start, but after his confession that night when he broke into my house, we were more than friends from then on.

Maybe tonight could be our chance to put a label on it. That was part of my plan in inviting him as my plus one. We haven't really talked about it, but I think the feeling is mutual about the idea.

I drew in a deep breath before exhaling and then smiled in the mirror. I turned around, grabbed my clutch from my vanity, and then left my bedroom.

It turned out it was Uncle Danny who was talking to Alec while they waited for me in the foyer. Dad was standing off to one side with his back turned to them, getting the finishing touches on his tie and suit from his assistant Jennifer.

The two men looked up at the same time when I descended the staircase. Uncle Danny's face warmed up with a smile, and he looked at me with pride. Whereas Alec...

I couldn't quite describe the expression on his face. It was a mixture of awe, admiration, surprise, and something else I couldn't decipher.

I finally joined them in the foyer and smiled at each of them before turning to Dad, who finally shifted his attention toward us. He grinned and leaned in to peck me on the cheek.

"You look beautiful, sweetie," he complimented after glancing at my dress for the evening.

"Thanks, Dad. Are you ready to leave?"

He eagerly nodded his head and then turned back to Jennifer. I looked at Uncle Danny, and he also kissed the top of my head before leaving the house first.

Then, it was just us standing there.

I don't think there are enough words to describe the beautiful specimen standing in front of me. He's so handsome, and the black suit fits him so well; he looked like he stepped out of a Vogue fashion shoot.

He was simply breathtaking, in a way that makes you want to stare at him forever and never look away. The muscles that were accentuated through the material of his suit made me feel the sudden urge to grab hold of his bicep and never let go.

My throat dried up after staring for a while, but the way he was also giving me the same look, probably thinking the same, held my attention, and I couldn't focus on anything but him.

"Wow." The word finally escaped from his lips in a breathless sense.

It squeezed my heart and released a dozen butterflies in my stomach.

"Pretty formal for the night, huh?"

A smile grazed his lips, and he stared straight into my eyes.

"You're perfect."

A blush crept up from my neck to my face, and I couldn't help but smile. He joined my side and extended his elbow toward me. I hooked my hand around his arm and let him lead the way outside.

Dad and Jennifer took the first car and headed to the venue. Danny took the second one, and Alec and I took the last one and followed them to the party.

Alec suddenly snaked his hand around mine and held onto it the whole time. It gave me a sense of safety and comfort, making me wish the car ride could go on for hours.

I didn't want him to let go yet.

But thirty minutes later, we pulled up outside the venue. A few parking valets were already waiting by the entrance. One jogged up to our car and waited outside. Alec quickly got out first and then opened the door for me.

He held my hand and gently helped me out of the car, the smile never leaving his face. More guests started to arrive as well, and I spotted Dad and Uncle Danny waiting up front.

I had limited the access to the reporters that were planning to show up tonight, so I only sent out a few invitations to a bunch of exclusive journalists and photographers.

They were already waiting outside, letting the photographers take pictures in a professional manner as the guests filed inside one by one.

"You're nervous," Alec whispered to my side, and I looked up at him.

He was staring straight ahead but only spared me a glance after stating the obvious.

"I am. I just want all of this to go well. This is important to Dad," I responded to him.

"But also important to you," he replied while giving my hand a small squeeze.

Our eyes met once again, and he turned to the side to fully face me.

"I know you worked hard to make this event successful, and I know you did all this because it's important to your father. But don't forget, you also did this for you. So you should be proud of yourself."

His words warmed my insides, and I felt the back of my eyes tingling.

"I know I am." He continued after a beat. I smiled at him and quickly leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

It caught him off guard, but he quickly recovered when I felt his hand on the side of my face and his lips deepening the kiss.

We pulled away after a moment, and I squeezed his hand lightly before leading the way inside to where the grand annual party awaited us.