Chapter 300 A Dance With Fate
Ella
The transition from the basement’s cool, rustic ambiance to the vibrancy of the party was almost jarring. As Logan and I re-entered the ballroom, I was immediately struck by the whirl of colors, the soft strains of music, and the kaleidoscope of voices melding together in a symphony of laughter and chatter.
From the throng emerged a familiar face. Leonard Barrett, Logan’s father, with his steel- gray hair slicked back, and a tall, commanding presence. His piercing blue eyes, which Logan. had apparently inherited, immediately locked onto mine.
I had met the man once before, and our encounter hadn’t been the warmest. His reputation in the business world as a ruthless. mogul was well-earned, but in person, it was his charisma that was truly overpowering.
“Ah, Ella,” Leonard greeted, the corner of his lips turning up slightly. “You look even more radiant than when I last saw you.”
I offered a polite smile, trying to keep my composure in front of the daunting Mafia boss. “Thank you, Mr. Barrett. It’s good to see you again.”
“Please, call me Leonard,” he corrected with a slight twinkle in his eye. “May I have this dance?”
It wasn’t so much a question as it was a declaration. I shot Logan a brief, anxious glance, but he just raised an eyebrow, seemingly as curious as I was about his father’s intentions.
The orchestra transitioned into a slow, haunting waltz. Leonard held out his hand, and after a slight hesitation, I placed mine in it. He led me onto the dance floor, and soon we were twirling amidst a sea of dancing couples.
As the dance progressed, Leonard’s movements seemed to become even more calculated and precise. He led with an authority) that was hard to resist, highly reminiscent of Logan’s own capacity for leadership.
But more daunting than his steps was the weight of his gaze, constantly fixed on me, assessing and evaluating.
The music flowed around us and our feet moved in synchrony on the dance floor, but there was a palpable tension between Leonard and me. It was not just a dance-it was a power play, a game of wits. But it was clear Leonard had more cards up his sleeve.
“You surprised quite a few people tonight,” Leonard remarked, his gaze sharp, appraising. I met his eyes. “Oh?” I asked. “What do you mean, Leonard?”
“I’m referring to your… little escapade with the escort,” he continued, a hint of amusement coloring his voice. “Bravo, really. It was quite the show.”
I swallowed, recalling the earlier incident. The bruised face of the escort, the silent plea in her eyes, tears in the restroom. The way the man’s cruel grip on her arm released as soon as he saw Logan’s men advancing on him..
I had whispered the incident I had found in the bathroom to Logan, never expecting it to result in a violent confrontation.
“I just pointed out something concerning I saw to Logan,” I said. “I never expected anyone to get hurt.”
Leonard’s laugh was soft, but there was no warmth in it.”My dear Ella, in this dark world of ours, one should never act without assuming the worst consequences. Actions, however small, ripple farther than you think.”
“But that man…”
“Don’t get me wrong,” Leonard said, his cold smile widening. “He deserved every bit of what he got. He’s been a thorn in our side for a while. Thanks to your keen eyes, a valuable lesson was imparted on him tonight.”
His words were cold, almost indifferent to the fact that the man had been removed from the party on a stretcher.
I felt a twinge of regret, but I pushed it down. “I just did what I felt was right,” I said quietly. “No
one should treat another human that way.”
“Ah, the idealism of youth.” Leonard sighed, almost theatrically. “But be careful. Cross the wrong person with such righteousness, and the results…” He let the words hang in the air, his grip on my hand tightening ever so slightly, “…could be detrimental.”
The implied threat made my heart race, but I refused to let him see me falter. “What do you mean?”
Leonard looked deep into my eyes, his icy blue gaze almost hypnotic. “How is your little sister, Daisy? She must be, what, sixteen now?”
My blood ran cold. How did he know about Daisy? I had kept her as far away from this world as possible. The hint of a threat in his words was unmistakable.
“What a bastard,” Ema growled, perturbed by Leonard’s thinly veiled implication. “How dare he bring up Daisy.” “Easy, Ema,” I cooed, calming her. “I’m angry, too. But let’s think rationally about this. For now, at least.”
“Fine,” Ema seemed to bristle inside of me. “But if he ever touches a hair on her head, I’ll rip him to shreds.”
“And I’ll allow you.”
Leonard’s mentioning of my sister made my blood boil. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a response. Instead of answering, I held his gaze defiantly. I felt a low growl resonate deep within me, my wolf stirring.
“Daisy has no part in any of this,” I finally said, my voice so low it was almost a growl. He chuckled, twirling me around the dance floor gracefully, yet with a hint of possession. “Everything’s connected in our world, Ella. The sooner you understand that, the better off you will be.”
There was a pause. I felt my heart pounding like a war drum inside my chest, but somehow, I managed to stay calm.
“Speaking of your family,” Leonard said, “how are they? How’s your father? I’m hoping to meet him soon.”
My heart rate quickened. This was precisely what I had feared. “They’re well, thank you for asking. Currently, they’re overseas and won’t be back until next year.” It was a lie, of course. A lie, but a necessary one.
Leonard’s eyebrow quirked. “Funny, I could’ve sworn Edrick Morgan recently held a press conference in your home city.” Internally cursing, I quickly said, “Yes, they left shortly after that. A much-needed vacation.”
His eyes narrowed just slightly, but his grip remained firm as he spun me around. “I had hoped to approach them with certain business opportunities. Thought it might be beneficial for both our families.”
“I’m sure they’d be interested,” I replied cautiously, my mind racing. “I’ll let them know as soon as I speak with them.”
Leonard smirked, his eyes never leaving mine. “Do that. And perhaps, next year, we can all sit down and discuss things properly.”
The weight of the implications wasn’t lost on me. He was effectively putting both me and my family on notice. Unbeknownst to him, though, my contract with Logan would be up in one year. Our arrangement would be over before Leonard would ever have the chance to meet my father.
As the song neared its end, Leonard drew me closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I like you, Ella. You have fire. But remember, in this dance of ours, one misstep can be…costly.”
The music stopped, and as he released me, the warmth of his hands seemed to linger on my skin. “Thank you for the dance,” I managed to say, my voice betraying the slightest tremor. He gave me a curt nod. “Until next time, Ms. Morgan.”
I retreated, finding Logan who had been keenly watching from the sidelines. His expression was unreadable. “Quite the dance partner you found there,” I remarked, attempting to lighten the mood.
Logan grinned, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Trust my father to never miss an opportunity.”
“Well,” I said, “if that was his version of a welcome dance, I’d hate to see a farewell.”
Logan laughed, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Let’s not find out. Come on, it’s time for the afterparty.”
