Chapter 25.1: May I have this dance?

The next day Nancy and Nick woke to find an empty bed next to them as they checked the balcony to see Jason and Ivy were asleep in each other's embrace. It did spark a little anger in Nancy as Nick quickly ushered her to shower first.

Nick wondered if it was really all an act as he watched his friend sleep peacefully by Ivy. It crossed his mind about last night's sudden movement in the room and he figured Ivy did indeed have issues with the dark as he decided to do them both a favor of resting properly after an uncomfortable night and bring Nancy out for a car ride after breakfast. 

Nick left a text message to update Jason of their whereabouts and counted his blessings that Nancy was still taking her antidepressant medication which did a huge favor for everyone.

The heat radiated from the scorching sun woke Jason as he slipped off the chair to check the room was empty. He checked Nick's message but he didn't want to change his plans. He knew Ivy needed distractions as she seemed to be under a lot of pressure lately. 

He carried Ivy and tucked her into bed to let her sleep in while he showered and booked a car to rent for the day. While he made the reservations, Ivy woke and quickly went to shower as well. While showering, she noticed Nick and Nancy weren't around and wondered if they saw them by the balcony. As last night's event unfolded in her mind, she couldn't help but to feel butterflies in her stomach.

Standing in front of the mirror while drying herself, she could see her face blushing as she quickly washed her face and walked out of the washroom. Jason was standing by the mirror styling his hair which captivated Ivy for a moment.

"Hey… you're ready? We have somewhere to go…" Jason asked after putting on finishing touches to his hair and went to take his phone and wallet. Ivy stood watching his every move for a long while till Jason walked up to her and raised her chin. In an instant she flinched with her twinkling eyes.

"Sorry…" She blushed and quickly took her phone and pouch before walking out of the room with him.

Jason sent Ivy to the restaurant to order takeaways as a distraction from his surprise while he went to collect the car keys from the receptionist. When Ivy was ready, she saw a text message to wait at the front lobby. She was surprised to find him driving a car in Landsfield as she hopped on.

"Where did you get this?" Ivy asked the moment she entered the car with their packed lunch, grinning while pointing at the car.

"Secret…" He winked as he drove away from the lobby. Ivy didn't seem to look disturbed as she unpacked their lunch. 

"Quick grab a bite… You must be hungry…" Jason urged as she nodded.

Instead of taking the first bite from the fried rice she ordered, she offered it to Jason. Jason was taken by surprise while driving as he quickly took the bite and kept his eyes on the road.

He nearly stepped on the break when he saw Ivy took a bite next from the same spoon and prepared another spoonful of rice for him. 

Ivy widened her eyes in panic as she jerked forward, struggling to balance herself while Jason stepped on the breaks and blocked her from going any further forward with an arm. 

"Sorry... Are you alright?" Jason asked worriedly as he stopped the car to check on Ivy.

"I'm fine… Drive properly. I will feed you lunch…" Ivy managed to calm herself and urged him to continue driving as she lifted the next spoonful of rice to him. 

"Don't you want to use another spoon?" Jason mumbled loud enough for her to hear. 

"What's wrong with it? Besides, I always share utensils with Andrew and Sandra. It's not like either one of us has contagious diseases…" She snarled at him before feeding him another spoon of rice as he smiled.

"Where are we going?" Ivy asked while he took the bite.

"Hmmm… Somewhere I have always been told but haven't gotten the chance to go…" Jason explained while he ate another spoonful of rice.

"The peak of the city?" Ivy nonchalantly asked as Jason widened his eyes in surprise.

"You knew about it?" Jason mumbled. "Of course, that's a tourist attraction here anyway…" Ivy said while she ate another spoon of rice.

"Are we there to avoid bumping into Nancy too much?" Ivy half mumbled the question not knowing if she wanted to know the truth which was obvious or was she expecting a wishful thinking answer such as a date.

"Hmmm…" Jason hummed in agreement as he continued to drive which left Ivy a little disappointed at her wishful thinking but scolded herself that it was all an act. She shook her thoughts away as she continued to feed him lunch in silence. With a long road ahead to drive, the view outside the window was so soothing that Ivy fell asleep after they finished lunch just as he had planned.

The frequent interludes of acting with her seemed to have made them both grow more comfortable with each other that the thought of revealing her identity to her father crossed his mind.

He needed to make plans to slowly start letting Mr. Ophal know about Ivy's existence and lift some hope she would understand his actions which seemed to be selfish. When the time comes, he only wishes she would live a happier life with her big family and even if she disregards their friendship after this, it wouldn't matter to him.

At the thought of it, he winced at the sadness he felt in his heart thinking about never contacting Ivy again. He sighed as he fought with himself to stop stalling time in making the move to save his company.

When Ivy stirred awake, she found herself in the car covered by a sweater as Jason stood in front of the car and enjoyed the spectacular view himself. Ivy smiled to herself watching Jason finally had time for himself and rest despite the busy schedule he always had. She stepped out of the car to join him.

"How could you not wake me up and watch all this by yourself?" Ivy teased as Jason smiled.

"Good morning Princess…" Jason helped her to straighten some of her messy hair as she breathed in the fresh air. Ivy's heart fumbled at being called Princess by Jason like how Phoenix always called her as her eyes twinkled watching him fixing her hair. He pinched her nose to tease her as she smacked him.

"It feels so good here…" Ivy mumbled to herself as Jason nodded. It then crossed Ivy's mind that tonight's event might be a big one that they needed two emcees.

"What's the event about tonight?" She asked as Jason crossed his arm.

"It's for a good friend of Nick and myself. It's his engagement reception…" Jason explained.

"No wonder the both of you had to partake by being the emcees…" Ivy replied as an idea crossed Jason's mind about receptions like this.

"There is a special task for you but it is just in case…" He hesitated for a moment to tell her his idea as Ivy raised an eyebrow curiously but he continued to stall time.

"Oh come on Jason, spill the beans!" Ivy whined as she shook him. He flashed a smile watching her reaction. 

"It's an engagement banquet…" He finally said and her face grew eager as she listened to him. 

"So, they have a waltz session and it wouldn't be appropriate to reject someone who asked you for a dance. Well again, it's just in case." He explained quickly, thinking she would get his point to dance with him as she blinked with a poker face. 

She was trying to link her job backstage with having to waltz but couldn't find any connections. 

"Do you waltz?" Jason asked watching her blinking in confusion while thinking intensely and he understood instantly.

"So, you don't know how?" He stood straight laughing at her as she pinched his cheeks in retaliation but he managed to grab hold of her arms as he was taller.

"Yes, I don't but I don't see the need for me to waltz since if the event reaches to that part of the agenda then I could just leave the ballroom for a while or continue to stay backstage?" She questioned as she pulled back her arms from his hand and folded them.

"Like I said, it's a precaution. It's pretty simple to waltz anyway. I can teach you... Provided you are willing to learn?" He winked at her, trying not to show himself being eager for her to agree. 

She looked out at the view in front of them for a distraction while thinking of an excuse to reject him for being caught off guard so suddenly. She was trying to talk herself out of the deal as she didn't like to dance but waltz was something she thought she could give it a try since it was also useful in the future for business dealings perhaps. With Jason still standing coolly by her side but kept stealing glances of her thinking, she ended up giving in and nodded in agreement.

He cheered happily when she agreed as he knew when she was caught off guard, it would push her to the edge which usually ended up having her being submissive. 

Lessons were easy since she learned fast and he taught well that it took her less than an hour to master the steps of a square box waltz and left box turn waltz. They practiced and rested on top of the lookout point till it was time to leave and prepare for the event.