Chapter 5 Strange behaviour

Ethan stood close to some people, speaking to them about business. The get-together was Olivia's idea, even though he had declined at first. Socializing wasn't something he fancied. His mind travelled to the interpreter she had brought, she always had different ways of surprising him each time. She was really good at her job.

His eyes travelled around till they landed on Olivia, she was walking towards him, with someone behind her. Ethan held his breath for a few seconds when he saw Emily approaching, in an evening dress. She was… lovely. He shook his head a bit and looked away. What the hell was he thinking.

Ethan wasn't the only one to notice Emily. Everyone in the room couldn’t help but gaze at the unfamiliar face. Who was this pretty woman? Ethan cleared his throat and looked anywhere else than Olivia and Emily. “Sir” Olivia called out to him. When she got to where he was standing. “Yes,” Ethan answered but made sure he wasn't looking at Emily, even though his mind was on her. She didn't look much different from before, but there was this charm he didn't notice she had before. She was really stunning, he was too nonchalant to notice it before.

Has he been working for too long, where were thoughts like this coming from? Maybe he needed sleep, then his head would be clearer. “Sir” Olivia called out to Ethan again. She noticed that his mind was preoccupied with something else.

“The Japanese investors are here already” Olivia informed her boss, who looked like he was daze.

Emily who was standing behind Olivia, wondered what his problem was. Was he embarrassed because of her presence At his ‘small party’? Emily could feel everyone piercing gazes on her, but she chose to ignore it. She just wanted to get through the night, without attracting much attention to herself, but the opposite of that was happening.

“Yes, I should go and meet them now” Ethan replied to Olivia, who looked a bit confused. He excused himself from the people he was talking to and walked off. “Let's go” Olivia said to the nervous-looking girl behind her.

Emily trailed behind Olivia. Her eyes when on Ethan, and she watched as he exchanged handshakes with the investors she had a translator for earlier that day. When she got to where they were with Ethan. Olivia greeted them in the basic Japanese she knew and it was Emily's turn to greet them. The man, who she assumed was the boss was happy to see her again and extended his hand readily for a handshake.

“Anata wa subarashīdesu ne [you look stunning]” He complimented Emily and a blush crept up to her cheeks.

“Arigatōgozaimasu [Thank you sir]” Emily thanked him. Ethan watched her reaction and guessed what the man had said to her. He felt a little upset about it and didn't even understand why.

The older man kept complimenting Emily who was blushing a few minutes ago, and looked a bit nervous and uncomfortable. Ethan was able to notice a slight change in her demeanour since he found himself watching her. Emily only smiled slightly now, she didn't want to be here anymore, but it was a job she had accepted. She was never doing this again. This was the last time.

The older man kept talking to Emily and smiling, and Emily got more uncomfortable with each passing second. The height of it was when he took Emily's hands in his and asked her to dance with him. Emily declined politely but he was persistent. Olivia was about to help, even though she didn't know what he was saying, but Ethan beat her to it.

Ethan couldn't take it anymore. He should have just ignored it like he always did. But he couldn't, he just couldn't…

He moved close to Emily and whispered in a cold “Come with me ” His act startled Emily and Olivia also. Olivia didn't notice Miss Baker doing anything wrong, was the way she interacted with the investors got on his nerves. Emily thought the same too. She smiled politely at the investors and excused herself with Ethan.

“Is there a problem sir?” Emily asked as she trailed behind him through the crowd. A side of her was a bit happy because the older man had just asked her to dance with him, but he was making her really uncomfortable. She knew he was trying to flirt with her and it got on her nerves.

Ethan stopped right in the middle of the dance floor and Emily almost bumped right into him. Was he mad at her? He had a grim look on when he turned to her. Emily could feel those piercing gazes once again on her. She hated it so much, well it was Ethan who was causing it. Why did he stop in the middle of the dance floor? This was the type of attention she avoided.

Ethan let out a deep breath and let out his hand for her to take. Emily stared at him and his stretched-out hand in confusion. Was he asking her to dance with him!? In front of everyone?. What the hell was his problem? If Emily was nervous when she first arrived at the “Together”, the nervousness was ten times now. She could see really gorgeous ladies glaring daggers at her like she was snatching their man.

Emily smiled nervously at him “No thank you sir” She declined politely and was about to scurry away, but Ethan took her hands stopping her from going. “What was this behavior”

Emily stared at him completely surprised, same with Olivia and everyone else. What was happening? The music which had slowed down before started to rise in volume. “Just dance with me,” Ethan said in a low, cold voice, with no warmth or emotion. Emily wanted to scoff, why was he forcing her to dance. Her eyes scanned the room and saw everyone staring at both of them. If she left the dance floor now it would embarrass both of them.

“Okay,” Emily replied reluctantly. “But I… I don't know how to dance, "she added. Emily never had a reason to learn how to dance. She never attended parties like this and really sucked at dancing. “Just follow my lead,” Ethan replied. She took his second hand and his hand slowly travelled to her back, there wasn't much contact between them. He kept her close enough but not too close. Emily saw the way the other people On the dance floor held their partners and knew he was trying to avoid doing that. She appreciated that she didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea. Even though she knew they already did because of the way they were staring at her.

Emily's hands reluctantly travelled from his arm to his shoulder and then he started to move.