Ingrid felt so pressured that she could not move, her eyes were so perplexed on the turn of events.The night is still young and the people are just warming up a bit for the party.
Clifford lingered and waited for her response. But then, a lady wearing a deep V neck floor length with floral aplique c.o.c.ktail gown in fiery red approached them and touched Clifford"s arms. He looked at the slender hands then onto the soft and fair skin arms till her face.
The lady wears a seductive smile, inviting and tempting any man to indulge in her charm.
"Clifford, darling..." she called him in a hoa.r.s.e voice. Clifford just stared at the woman coldly and did not move an inch.
"I"ve been looking for a chance to dance with you." Everyone was ashamed of the woman"s aggressiveness.
"Sorry, Georgina, but I already have a date." Clifford takes off the woman"s hand that is snaked on his forearm and without hesitation takes Ingrid"s right hand and clasp his hands on her.
Slowly the people looked at their side and observed them from a distance, everyone gasp when they heard Clifford"s declaration.
Ingrid"s mouth gapes at his words.
"Excuse me?" she said it gritting her teeth. Clifford looked at her with a captivating smile, bends a little and whispered on her ear.
"Just play along.." his breath tickled her ears and his voice send some invitation that she should indulge.
Clifford and Ingrid went to the dance floor and all the people scattered which left them alone. He slowly lifted her hand and carried it to his shoulder while his other hand went down on her lower back and he pressed his hand tightly making contact with his body.
"Ugh those smell again..." Ingrid loves the smell of him.
Lance observed them from a distance; his face was burning with annoyance. He"s been searching her for years only to be s.n.a.t.c.hed away from her, again.
"I apologize for my son"s behavior, Mr. McNaught." Helen Briggs was so apologetic to their son"s action.
Lance smiled. "It"s okay, Mrs. Briggs, even I would do the same if I am Ingrid"s suitor."
Helen sealed her lips not to comment further knowing that her son never behaved in such manner especially towards a woman.
Lance on the other hand controlled his emotions not to show it on his face. He composed himself and prevented himself to look where Clifford and Ingrid danced.
Lance is the son of Harry McNaught, a close family friend of the Howards. When Lance was celebrating his birthday, he was five years old at that time and John"s daughter was only one year old, during this occasion Harry joked to John.
"What if we arrange the marriage of our children in the near future?" Harry said out of the blue. John laughed at his friend at that time, she was carrying her daughter. Then they both looked at their children and an idea struck to John"s mind.
He called for his wife to take a picture of their children. Harry"s son obediently sat on the chair, but the baby girl whined and did not stop unless her father took her. The boy just stared at the whining baby girl, he descend from his seat and go over the girl and hugged her from behind. Suddenly, the girl gradually stopped whining, slowly the boy cradled her and placed her on the chair and he sat beside her.
Hurriedly, their mothers and a photographer took their pictures and were kept by them up until now.
"Dad, is she the one I"ll be marrying someday?" the couples were astounded on the child"s innocent query. The two men could not believe that all along the child was listening to their conversation.
Harry bended his knee and levelled his eyes on his son, "If the time is right and if fate permits it..."