Chapter 83

Dancing with Victor was so much fun. Diana and Adam enjoyed it too. They quietly whispered to each other as we moved across the dance floor.

My next dance was with Harry. He danced as well as his son, and he had a wonderful sense of humor like his wife.

After the dance was over, Harry went to speak to some of the other men while I looked for Victor.

But before I could leave the dance floor, someone grabbed my arm, and there was a familiar, smug face closed in on mine.

“I believe this is our dance,” Noah said.

I hadn’t seen him since my ball when he tried to drag me outside.

I didn’t want to dance with Noah, so I strained my neck, looking for Victor.

“It’s just a dance, Daisy,” Noah said. He put an arm on my waist, and I had no choice but to dance with him. And one dance wasn’t worth making a scene over.

“Don’t trust this one, Daisy,” Diana said. “I feel bad vibrations coming from him.”

“I don’t trust him, and I feel the same vibrations. But I should be safe. We are in a room full of people.”

About twenty seconds into the dance, Noah missed a step and almost stomped on my foot.

“You should consider dance lessons, Daisy,” he complained. “You are so clumsy.”

Diana told me what to say to him. “You were the one who wanted to dance with me. If you don’t like the way I dance, then stay away from me.”

“You could use lessons in manners, too,” Noah said. When he saw the shocked look on my face, he added, “I’m sure I could teach you.”

“Remain calm. The dance will be over soon,” Diana advised. “Then you can get away from him. You should tell Victor about his behavior.”

“I wish I knew where he is,” I said as I tried to look around for him.

“You should pay more attention to your dance partner,” Noah said. “It’s no wonder you step all over my feet. I wish my mother didn't have her heart set on you for her daughter-in-law.”

“Me either,” I told Diana.

“His mother must be more awful than him to have raised such a son and demand he harass and bully the female he wants for a bride.”

The dance with Noah came to an end. Noah tried to follow me as I hurried toward where I last saw Victor.

He was nowhere to be found, but I spotted Lana in a crowd of other Lunas. She saw me looking her way and motioned for me to come to her.

“This is Alex Wilson’s daughter, Daisy,” Lana told the other woman as I reached her side.

There were gasps all around from the other Lunas.

“I never would have guessed this was her!” one Luna exclaimed. “I adore your gown. And who does your hair? That style is marvelous.”

“Why was everyone saying such horrible things about her appearance?” Another asked, unable to hide her amazement. “She’s charming.”

A third touched my shoulder. “My dear, you are not what I expected at all. The gossip surrounding you is completely unjust.”

Another Luna walked up to them, but before Lana could introduce us, the other Luna started gushing over a painting that hung behind them.

“I absolutely adore this painting,” she said.

“It is interesting how lines are blurred ever so slightly, and the colors are masterfully layered,” Lana agreed. “I've never seen a Delacroix quite like it.”

“Who was Delacroix?” I asked, genuinely interested in the beautiful painting.

“A seventeenth-century artist,” Lana replied. “Look him up sometime.”

The other women smirked, and Lana quickly changed the subject by complimenting one of them on their lovely golden brown ball gown.

“Is it from Gisele’s Villa?” I asked, trying to show interest in the Lunas.

But a moment later, I wished a hole would open up in the floor and swallow me when all of them, except Lana, began laughing at me.

“I see you have your work cut out for you, Lana. You must teach her not to show her complete ignorance of fashion to others in society,” the Luna in the brown ball gown said.

I didn’t understand what I had said that was wrong, but I knew it had been a big blunder because Lana was blushing.

Lana nodded and whispered in my ear, “Daisy, why don’t you go back to dancing? Many young gentlemen would love to dance with you.”

My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I needed to escape everyone for a few minutes.

“First, where is the ladies' room?” I whispered into Lana‘s ear.

“Through that doorway and then make a left at the end of the hall,” she replied. “There’s a private powder room behind the second door on your right.”

I thanked her and hurried from the ballroom.

As I walked away from Lana, I whispered to myself, “Why am I never good enough for this new position in my life? I try hard to be what the Alphas expect me to be, but I fail every time.”

I made my way down the long hallway and turned left. I spotted the second door on my right and reached for the doorknob when a hand landed on my shoulder.

“Where are you going in such a hurry,” Noah demanded and gripped my upper arm. “It was nice of you to find a place for us to be alone. I knew you wanted to be with me.”

“Don’t show him any fear,” Diana said. “He is bolder when you are timid. Order him away from you.”

I took a deep breath and did my best to hide my fear. Despite what Diana said, I sensed something dark about Noah.

“You need to release me and go away,” I said. It took all my willpower to keep my voice from shaking or stuttering.

“You need to stop playing coy with me,” Noah said with a smirk. “I know you feel the chemistry between us too.”

Speechless, I repeated the words Diana told me to say.

“There is nothing between us. I don’t like you, and I don’t want anything to do with you. Leave me alone.”

My strong words surprised him, and he let go of my arm.

I turned away from him and rushed into the bathroom, but before I could close the door and lock it, he pushed inside the room with me.

“You need to have more respect for the males in your life,” Noah growled. “That’s a lesson I will also teach you.”

“It’s time to call for help, Daisy,” Diana insisted. She screamed inside my mind, “Adam, Victor, help us. Noah has us trapped inside a bathroom. Daisy is frightened, and so am I.”

“Please, just leave me alone,” I said and tried to back away from him. “Victor and I both told you that we are engaged, and I am not interested in you.”

“Tell him you and Victor are Fated Mates,” Diana said. “Even a jerk like Noah should respect that.”

“It was discovered after my first shift that Victor and I are Fated Mates,” I told Noah. “But I’m sure that there are plenty of other girls who would love to marry you.”

Noah stepped closer. “I could have any other girl I want, but my mother insists I must have you for my wife.”

Anger temporarily overruled my fear. “You and your mother just want my inheritance,” I said. “But you can’t make me marry you if I don’t want to.”

“There are ways I can get you to do anything I want,” Noah insisted.

What did he mean? The look in his eyes sent chills down my spine.