22 Chapter
Pen took the dress off the rack and began to put it on. When she had put the dress on and straightened it out, she put her shoes on her feet.
She twirled a few more times in front of the mirror and was about to leave, when suddenly there was a knock in the dressing room.
“Yes,” she answered, and the door opened. Pen expected to see anyone but Ethan. But he was the one who came into the dressing room now.
“Sam is calling for you now,” he decided to say the first thing that came into his head. After all, Sam didn’t call her.
“Is that why you’re here?”
“You look great,” he remarked, how beautiful Pen was.
“Thank you, is that all?” she scoffed at him, but he was ready for it.
“No, not all,” he answered and took a step forward.
“I have to go,” she said and wanted to pass, but he wouldn’t let her. He blocked the way.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
” Let me pass!”
“Let’s talk, I beg you,” he didn’t want to spoil her mood, but he couldn’t help it. He knew that his future depended on her answer. He would leave if she didn’t forgive him.
“I’ve already told you everything, leave me alone,” she shouted, and pushing her away, she left the dressing room.
She immediately went backstage, waiting for her exit with David. She and David were the last to perform, and that made Pen very nervous as they waited their turn.
-“We’re down to our last contestant, the number 10 couple, Penelope and David. They will perform a passionate rumba dance for us. Let’s welcome our dancers,” the host announced, and Pen and David walked to the stage.
Everyone greeted them with applause. Their song “Addicted To You” came on, which Sam took too long to choose for their dance.
They began to dance. David took Pen’s hand and drew her closer to him.
A step, a second step, a third step. The music itself, makes you get into the whole atmosphere, get sexier and loosen up on stage. Give yourself over completely to the movements.
David began to step on Pen, taking three steps in a row forward, Pen took backward. Then repeated everything exactly the opposite.
Then turning, David already had his arms around her waist, pressing her against him. At this point Ethan was ready to tear it up, but realized it was just a dance.
David. Six steps forward. Turning.
Pen. Six steps back. Pivot.
Slowly, quickly, quickly. Slowly. They were changing movements in rhythm, it was very hard. If you faltered at a certain point, it would get all messed up.
Pivot under the arm to the right. Pivot under the arm to the left. David pressed against Pen with his hips, making a few rhythmic movements and moving back away from her. Pen’s hips moved, knees bent as she danced solo already. After a moment, she found herself pinned again by David from behind. His hand rested on her bare thigh. The movements became more penetrating as David ran his hand down her neck and over her breasts. Then he grabbed her hand and began to twirl it around, she was moving her hand near her face at that moment, enticing David, seducing him. David then leaned to the right as Pen held his hand, and began to lean to the left side, not feeling the support, but convinced that he would not let her fall. He brought her back sharply, and leaned in with her as Pen lowered herself and made a seductive movement with her hips, slowly lowering and just as slowly rising. Then Pen wrapped her leg around his waist and he began to twirl her around as the tune was coming to an end, he lowered her slowly to the floor until she was lying down, and hovered over her. Everyone was waiting for that moment, for him to kiss her.
And then, the last chord, and David kisses Pen tenderly on the lips.
The entire audience gave a standing ovation, and so did the judges as Pen and David rose.
“Bravo, bravo,” Sam shouted, delighted by this reaction from the audience and the judges.
“They really are talented,” Ethan said.
“So, we’ll announce the results a little later; you have time to come to your senses,” the host joked.
Half an hour passed before everyone was invited to the stage to announce the winner. Pen was very nervous, her palms sweating, even though she knew that tonight was actually the best of the pair. Sam hadn’t bet on their pair for nothing.
“It was time to announce the winner of the competition and present the trophy to the champions! ”
“So, the winners of the international ballroom dancing competition are couple number ten, Penelope Diaz and David Cold.”
“Yay, we won,” Sam rushed to hug Pen and David. Ethan didn’t dare approach them.
“Pen, today is not only your birthday, but today is the day that gives you a start to a new life.”
“I’m insanely happy, Sam. Insanely happy.”
“You know that without Ethan, it wouldn’t have happened. Thank him, please.”
“Sam, I don’t want to. I can’t. ”
“Get over yourself. You’re a strong girl.”
“I’ll try, but I can’t promise.”
“Pen, we won, and that’s something to celebrate. How do you feel about that? David asked her.”
“You know I’m treating tonight.”
“The birthday girl, how could I forget that.”
“Fun, I promise, and there will be plenty of booze, too.”
“Will our sponsor be at the event, too?”
“Ethan Maloney is not a friend of mine. It’s not for him. When the young people are having fun, the old people have no business being there,” she answered David’s question, and looked in the direction of Ethan, who wasn’t happy with everything that was going on. So be it. It’s his problem. It’s too bad George isn’t here, I’d like to see him. I’ve been avoiding Ethan even more since I talked to him, and I guess I’m doing the right thing,” she thought.
At 8:00 p. m. sharp, the party, organized to celebrate Pen’s victory in the pageant as well as her birthday, began.
Ethan hadn’t been in the mood all day, so Sam decided to go up to him and find out what was wrong.
“Ethan, aren’t you glad we won?”
“Of course I am, Sam. The boys deserved it.”
“Then what’s wrong with your mood?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“But why? You and I are not strangers, explain it to me.”
“I’ve decided to leave for good.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sam, I’m leaving America. There’s nothing for me to do here. You don’t need my help anymore. I’m glad I helped you, but that’s the end of my business in New York.”
“Is this about her?” Sam figured it out.
“She’s not the only reason, Sam.”
“But she’s the main reason, Ethan. I warned you to stay away from her, and it turns out she had to avoid you so she wouldn’t hurt you.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Talk to her, maybe things will change for the better.”
“I made a decision, and I’m not used to changing it.”
“I didn’t think she could win your heart. Or rather, I thought you’d just play around and leave her and break your heart.”
“She’s the one I’ve been looking for all my life. Stubborn, stubborn, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I’m won over by her.”
“Ethan, talk to her before you go,” Sam asked him before he left.