7. PEARLS

Their steps were in sync when they walked inside the hall. Everyone's head turned their way.

Aerwyna's breath shortened, her grip tightening on his bicep. Noticing her action he pulled her to his side more. She stiffened at his touch but kept her demeanour composed. His closeness did something to her, she never felt in her whole life.

Plastering a grin on her face she let him take the lead as he guided her to the middle of the hall. Uncountable murmurs hit her ears, making her clench her grip tightly on his forearm. She never did something which will make people notice her actions.

Her smile slowly dropping.

Seeing her lips shrink back to their normal size, he felt a tug on his heart. The beating organ clenched tightly making him close his eye. And when he opened his eyes, he searched for her face. Sensing her leaning on him, he unknowingly gently freed his arm from his arm.

Something dulled in her eyes, tugging his heart more. But the dullness was replaced with shine as he circled his arm around her back. Making the hues rush to her cheeks. Tilting his head to glance at his shoes, he chuckled.

Everything felt out of the world. She felt like she was new to the earth. It was all new and irregular. Feeling dizzy, she leaned into him. His fresh cologne calming her senses.

A maid holding a microphone in his hand stopped by them.

Nodding at him appreciatively, he took it and took their positions in the middle of the hall.

"Good evening." He silenced everyone with his greeting.

"Today we are here gathered to celebrate my dearest grandma's birthday."

Turning to his grandma he continued,- "I hope you wake up to your every birthday and be there on ours too. I hope you all enjoy the party and dance.

Thank you." He kept his speech short and precise.

The old lady seating on the chair beside the grand piano smiled at him appreciatively.

Nodding at her, he walked to the other corner guiding her with him. Confusion marred on her face as she walked beside him.

"Now what?" Questioning, she tucked her hairs behind her ear. A small action living him dumbstruck.

"Enjoy the party." He shrugged and picked up the glass of beer.

"I thought we were gonna dance." She leaned near his ear to whisper as they saw his granny making her way to them.

"If you want to dance, you can just say so." Smirking, he sneaked his arms around her waist. Her eyes popping wide at his eyes.

"What are you doing?" A whisper of screech escaped from her mouth as she tried to get away from his hold.

Her heart beat rising seeing his grandma nearing more.

"Let me get something to eat." Saying she jerked away from his hold, but in a snap of flash was back into his arms.

Tightening his grip, he smirked. A smirk she wanted to erase and a smirk which never let her keep her focus on the task.

"Denzel." A call from his grandma made the his smirk wipe of his face.

Getting the chance, she scurried away with a heart beating in her ears.

"What the freaking broccoli?!" Exclaiming to herself, she let herself walk to the buffet.

She didn't had any appetite but it was good to look busy rather than meeting strangers. Her fingers gripped over her white pearly necklace which wore just for the party. Lazily, she glanced around the hall. No where in the centuries could she belong to these rich, extravagant families.

They had class, a taste. A mocking smile formed its way on the word of taste. Taste always belonged to those rich people. Poors didn't even have any taste.

Only if she could afford this all. But realizing her own financial state, she shook her head and glanced around more to distract herself from her own disturbing thoughts.

Her eyes caught the frame of a man, who stabbed her. The same man who was the reason why she was here on the first place. The same man who made her blush for the first time. The same man whom she hated. The same man whom she couldn't get away her thoughts.

The man who pulled her into him and drowned her into his sea. The man who was the reason she learned about word 'revenge'.

Twisting pearls around her fingers, she felt them loosening and they fell around her like rain drops scattering around her. Kneeling down she stretched her fingers to pick up the pearls. But was stopped by his grip on her wrist. Her heart thumping aloud. It was such a small gesture.

Her furrowed eyes found Denzel gripping her wrist. It was hard to say what was he thinking with his bare face. Today he was wearing a masquerade, it was impossible to even take a guess.

"Maids will do that."

Saying, he called out aloud for the help. All the while holding her hand. Her eyes stuck up on his face.

He was the same man and the first man who didn't let her kneel down to touch the ground. How many people in our life don't let us kneel?

Her eyes drinking up his form. The way his sharp jaw shined under the yellow rich light made her heart skip a beat. Why was he so kind to her after hurting her? Will his kindness come to stop when she will tell him her real identity. A question wrenching in her gut.

Eyebrows furrowed as she saw her sight getting blurred. This was the most humanely thing someone has done to her. Blinking away her tears, she composed her emotions. Seeing him busy guiding the maid to pick up her pearls, she tried to intervene,- "Its fine, it was not something important-" But her words were cut off by him.

"No, jewels are precious." Saying, he commanded the maid to send it their Family Jeweller to mend it.

They had everyone's attention upon them. Which made her nerve uneasy. Her guts clenching anxiously. Sensing their eyes go up and down on her and mutter things to each other, she blinked away the embarrassment.

"Denzel," the way his name rolled on her tongue made him snap his neck at her.

"You are embarrassing yourself. These people will get on your nerv,-"

"Look at my face and see, if I give a flying care about it?" Tilting his head, he questioned her making her cast down her eyes. His eyes made her cells go haywire.

"Come lets dance." Circling his arm around her waist he dragged her to the dance floor.