His Secret Palace

Chapter 9 - Waltz

In the dining area, the end of the meal is marked by a loud and insistent tinkling sound. I turn my head in the direction of the noise. Harold Yvain-Cadieux gets up from his seat. Once he has everyone’s attention, he stops hammering his crystal glass with his silver fork.

“Now that we’ve savored the delicacies concocted by our outstanding chef, Heston Blumenthal, the auction is officially closed. And here’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! The opening of the gala with a traditional waltz.”

There’s a round of applause. With a wave of his hand, Harold invites Ingrid to stand up. The first notes played out by the orchestra begin to fill the hall. It’s astounding. I’m no fan of My Fair Lady, but this majestic dancing in such a grandiose place is truly beautiful. I can see why people like films like that!

Harold and Ingrid move gracefully across the room. I can’t deny they have a certain style. They’re just as impressive as Catherine in their own way. And as I take a look around at the guests, I can see they’re thinking the exact same thing.

Little by little the guests flood onto the dance floor to Richard Strauss’ stunning music and Harold and Ingrid disappear from my field of vision. All the guests are now dancing. Maybe a few of the old ones are still sitting down…

This is my moment. I have to act fast if I’m to make sure I have time to find what I’m looking for without being spotted. I have to be stealthy. The main thing is not to get caught. As long as I don’t get burned, I’ll be fine.

I switch to Metal Gear Solid mode! I sneak forward, pivot to the side, two small steps back.., and repeat. I manage to weave my way through the crowd. Little by little, without attracting attention, I make my way to the other side of the room and get ready to head through the doors to the reception area.

Suddenly, a male voice calls out to me. I feel startled - like a rabbit in the headlights! “Where are you going like that, miss?”

I feel like I’m just about to have a heart attack… a real one! I never imagined I’d be doing something like this in such a world famous hotel! I don’t know if I’m cut out for it!

I can’t believe this! Have I been found out already? I haven’t even done anything yet! Maybe I told a few little lies, but… I feel ready to fight. I clench my fists and, without even seeing who it is, I shout back.

“I can go where the hell I like! Who are you to be chasing me around like this? You could get in trouble for that, you know?”

But it’s not what I expected…

I get a pleasant surprise! A tall, pretty ripped guy is standing in front of me. He looks so elegant too! His suit perfectly enhances his body. He’s wearing a fancy mask for the occasion which really completes the look.

Here is a man with excellent taste… but condescending manners. What does he want from me? He can tell I’m mad with him, but he keeps smirking at me. That smile reminds me of someone… Oh! It’s James! How could I not recognize him?

James takes off his mask for a moment to reveal his face. He winks at me exaggeratedly. “It’s me! James! You know, the obnoxious guy who works here? And who happens to be your boss? You remember, right?”

As James puts his mask back on, I can’t help but smile. Of course I recognize him! I’m quite surprised by the casual way he’s chatting to me!

I make fun. “Yes! I think I know who you mean now! But how was I supposed to recognize you with your mask on? I know I have a lot of talents, but I still can’t see through clothes!” Although it might be nice…

“Well the mask was only hiding a tiny part of my body…” With his devastating smile, James leans slightly towards me and gently reaches out his hand to invite me to dance.

It’s a lovely gesture, but I have more important things on my mind. The dance with the prince will have to wait. I have an investigation underway and I’m not going to get anywhere with it if I start frolicking around with my boss!

But how can I refuse? He might wonder what’s going on if I turn him down. Besides, he’s entitled to one dance. Three minutes… and then I can go! The moment I accept his proposal, James grabs my hand and pulls me to him.

I bump into James’ chest and almost fall at his feet. I let out a little laugh. I’m so clumsy! And James is so… dominant!

With his head held high, James holds my hand and guides me like a fairy tale heroine between the guests. He leads me to the center of the room.

The spotlights illuminate us for a moment, as if we were alone in this immense hall, cut off from the rest of the world. Bizarrely, it makes me feel like I’m somehow included in this world. I feel like one of the guests… a princess…. Or a duchess…

I’m there among the popstars, actors, writers, notorious politicians and other crowned heads. I’m about to waltz alongside them in this dazzling setting. It’s as if this world were my own… as if it has adopted me. As if it was my destiny that called me here…

James and I face each other in silence. He looks at me with a slight smile on his face, obviously very amused by the situation. “Are you ready for a little magic?”

“All set! As long as you don’t do a Gene Kelly on me! Because I forgot to tell you but…”

James keeps his eyes immersed in mine and, without saying a word, gently grans me by the waist and starts to twirls me around. He’s so confident! Well… it’s too late to tell him I can’t waltz. It’s a super weird rhythm… I’m not used to it!

But the same can’t be said for James. This is not his first time waltzing! That’s for sure! He masters our movements with such ease, guiding each of our steps with absolute confidence.

It’s a good job he’s here! I feel like my feet aren’t following the rhythm. Without him, I’d have fallen on my ass by now. I try to follow as best as I can. I don’t want the poor guy to feel embarrassed.

After a few spins, I relax and become aware of the contact of James’ hand against mine. I notice the softness of his skin, the firmness with which he clutches my fingers, but also his pulse beating at full speed in the palm of my hand.

I understand that dancing means exerting yourself and that our heart rates must naturally have gone up. But… should his pulse be racing that fast?

We watch each other without a word as the ballroom swirls around us. We’re like two little kids grinning on a carousel. I’m enjoying the moment. I let myself be carried away by the music and the feeling of spinning around. Without realizing it, I lean my head to the side.

There’s a smile plastered on my face that I can’t get rid of. I let out a long sigh. This feels so good. I feel like I’m letting myself go too much. I straighten up, a little uneasy.

James notices and leans over to whisper in my ear. “Is everything all right? You’re not too dizzy? Do you want me to go slower?”

I nod my head and smile at him to hide my embarrassment. But I’m not sure that’s enough. James starts talking to fill in the awkward silence.

“The galas are an annual event to celebrate the laying of the foundation stone here at the Secret Palace. They were started by my grandmother, Jean. But the Secret Palace wasn’t always a hotel. It was a family home and later, jean turned it into a landmark establishment it has become. She wanted to share this splendid building which she herself has enjoyed throughout her youth with folk from all over the world. Much like we’re doing tonight… you and I…”

The way James talks fascinates me. His words, sculpted by his hoarse yet soft voice, are designed to captivate my ears. They are whispered, but perfectly intelligible. They sound so sensual.

Shit! I have to pull myself together! Mer, Mer, Mer… Yes, the dance and this conversation are really nice, but you have something else to do! You need to get out of here and stop pretending you’re Princess Diana for two seconds.

I feel as if I’m totally spellbound, as if I’ve been carried away by the words he’s whispering to me. Is that his way of trying it on…? I’m feeling like this because of where we are! It’s all this pomp! Or… maybe it’s James’ perfume! It’s so powerful and intoxicating…

James is moving a little closer to me, like some kind of predator gently tightening his grip on his prey. But I’m not his prey! Or anyone else’s prey, for that matter! Even so… he’s predator who knows what he is doing…

I realize that I can break free and run away if I want to… but I don’t want to. This predator may be thinking of cornering his prey. But the prey is choosing to let him. “My grandmother wouldn’t hold it against you, but I’d like to point out that your outfit isn’t exactly what is expected at an event like this…”

I know he’s right. And he’s entitled to make a comment. But he doesn’t seem to mind… judging by the way he’s looking at me. Before I have time to answer, James reassures me with a big smile. “Don’t worry. It looks great on you. You look absolutely stunning.”

Say, he doesn’t skimp on compliments! I don’t think it’s a charm act. And that’s what bothers me. I clearly don’t see myself that way! I’m not ‘stunning’. I’m in little confused here. But, I can see a deep sincerity in James’ eyes.

“Perhaps that’s what real charm is. No pretense, no tactics, just natural elegance. Even with the slit down the back…” James smirks and says looking in a certain way.

I follow James’ gaze. Right behind me, Mr. Kauffman is dancing with a woman in her fifties while ogling my lower back. He’s like Tex Avery’s wolf with his eyes rolling back in his head, his tongue almost hanging out, and his jaw about drop.

I’d like to pull that tongue out of his mouth… and there’s something else I’d like to pull too…

He can’t be serious! I can’t believe he’s staring at me like that in front of everyone! James doesn’t give me time to react. He suddenly takes me away from the client, by pirouetting me to the other side of the dance floor.

We bump into one of the guests who grumble at us under our breath. We laugh… and James takes me further away… and I decided to lead the dance. After all, if James can do a few spins, so can I!

James gives me a surprised look at this reversal of roles and performs a graceful spin before coming back to me. “We can also change up the style a little if you prefer…” James moves closer. Our hips are now almost touching.

I may not be a waltz specialist, but I know that’s not what we were doing here! Through his mask, James’ eyes glimmer.

It’s weird. Does James dance all his waltzes this way? Does he dance with all the women like this?

Our bodies sway to the rhythm of the orchestra. James is getting closer and closer. Our moves are getting more and more sensual….

I let my eyes wander over James’ body and his very sensual way of moving. It’s like bewitching dance, as if I were a cobra in front of a snake charmer…

If I didn’t have my really important mission, I’d definitely have other things on my mind right now…

James on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have anything on his mind other than dancing with me and letting our bodies seek each other out… But how far can we go? How is this dance to end? What does he want from this?

James let our bodies ripple against each other. Everything is so natural with him. There’s nothing forceful about it. He excludes so much self-confidence, strength and serenity. I can’t do anything to stop my body from rubbing against his.

I feel his breath sliding down my neck, his fingers caressing the curve of my back. His pecs pressing up against my breasts. And there’s no reason why I should deprive myself some initiatives if I want to enjoy things a little more… and I intend to do so!

I slip my hand between his jacket and his pelvis and, with my fingertips, feel his back muscles under his shirt. They’re so hard! I have the feeling that nothing but us exists in this moment. It’s as if the world has frozen around us.

It’s as if this moment belongs only to us and to no one else. It’s as if it was given to us… just the two of us. It’s as if there are no guests here tonight. It’s as if I’m not a fake junior concierge. It’s as if there’s no boss-employee relationship between us. It’s just the two of us – simply, naturally, intensity.

Suddenly, I’m overcome with panic and I remember that there are hotel guests and other members of staff all around us. What if someone saw us? I’ve been doing my best to avoid prying eyes! And now I’m doing just the opposite…

If Margaret were to find out that I’m dancing with James instead of doing my job, that would be the end of it. She’d definitely fire me!

And I’d have no excuse! If she caught us in the act, I could improvise some sort of crappy lie, but it wouldn’t change a thing!

I look down, knowing that if I look him in the eyes, I won’t be able to walk away. I try to move back but he lifts my chin and looks at me with an incredible intensity. “I’m going about this the wrong way, aren’t I? Do you not find our dance… enjoyable?”

Of course I do… and that’s the problem! I feel like I’m under a spell… “Of course! That’s not the point! Actually… I’d love to keep dancing but…”

James put his index finger on my half-opened lips. He looks at me as if he wants more than just a dance… Suddenly he tilts me back, supporting my back firmly. It’s as if we’re dancing a beautiful tango! It’s a skillful, powerful and delicate gesture.

James turns my head… literally and figuratively. I feel a little lost… a little out of place.