LADY ON THE DANCEFLOOR

"Why are looking at me like that?" Scarlett laughed.

"How do you see me too?" Luna questioned her back. "Do you know hard it is to put up a puppy face? You're the only one that is privileged to this, you know?"

Scarlett continued laughing until she started crying. Luna looked at her with a gentle smile and complex emotions in her eyes.

She knew fully well that Scarlett had been trying to get over her past….

She might look tough and unbreakable, but only those around her would know she was a huge softie, one who loved to eat and talk and laugh heartily. Anyone who saw her laughing like that would assume she was a carefree girl, who had a loving environment and people around her growing up.

Sadly, she struggled and fought through her battles alone.

"Hey!" Luna called out. Let's go down to the club and dance. Let us put all these sad things behind us and feel happy for once." Even if Scarlett found it hard to share her problems, she wanted her to do something to make her happy.

"No, I'm not dancing. You know how bad I am at dancing." Scarlett resisted.

"Now don't be a silly Debbie Downer. Don't worry, I'll be your dance partner and I promise I won't complain."

"How about that?" Luna convinced Scarlett, hoping she would agree. "Ughh fine! You win." Scarlett rolled her eyes in playful annoyance.

"Yaay! Let's go!" Luna dragged Scarlett up from the chair and walked outside, holding her tightly, for fear she would back out instantly.

The bodyguards were at immediate alert as soon as the suite door was opened. They were special agents, assigned to Scarlett by her grandfather. They would never leave her alone nor trust her with anyone, regardless of who they were or what family they came from...including Luna.

"Erm...Girl, aren't you going to dismiss your guards? You're able to defend yourself so well….besides you've got a mafia girl for a bestie." Luna whispered to Scarlett.

"It's fine." Scarlett chuckled. "I had an attack in Paris two months ago, and ever since, grandpa had made sure I never leave their sight." She referred to the guards. "Don't worry. They would just blend in like regular upperclassmen." She patted Luna's hand, assuring her.

"Okay, if you say so."

Luna was more than excited to go to a club for the first time on her birthday with her best friend in many years. All this while, she was either on a mission or playing hide and seek with the FBI. This was like killing two birds with one stone for her: meeting her best friend and celebrating her birthday in public.

The two girls walked into the club, one cheerful and happy, the other one grumpy and unwilling.

The club was frequented by every level of wealthy there was in Milan, but one look at Scarlett and Luna, you could tell that those girls were not ordinary. Their bodyguards behind them separated themselves at strategic areas into the club. They were so orderly and clean in their movements, it almost seemed like a choreography or a theater play.

Luna and Scarlett walked up to the drink stand for a few shots of Tequila. "Hey easy girl. Don't take too much or you'll pass out quickly." Luna warned

Scarlett had already taken many shots that Luna couldn't even count. "Remember today is my birthday, you can't mess it up." She yelled amidst the loud music.

Scarlett simply nodded and looked at the half empty dance floor. "Shall we?" She asked and stretched out her hands to Luna. Luna accepted her hands and giggled, as they jogged playfully to the dance floor and shuffled their feet to the beat.

The girls danced and laughed as though only the two of them existed in the club. They were having the time of their lives, with some certain eyes watching them keenly.

"Hey!" a loud voice came through at the snooker table. "That was outright cheating, Louis! I won't accept this." He cried.

"Come on Max, just accept the fact that you're no better than I am." Louis chuckled, leaving the game for a drink.

"Waiter! Get us some drinks…same as we previously ordered." Max yelled to the waiter, walking briskly behind Louis.

In the whole of Italy, there were 3 most influential families. They were the Giordano, Ricci and Mancini families. They were old money wealthy. Up from the 1870's, they had taken over the real estate, finance and fashion sector of most parts of Europe. These three families held more respect, honor and prestige than any top tier government official that existed since their reign.

Max and Louis were the heirs to Giordano and Ricci family, respectively.

Max Giordano owned a real estate development group, Shea Development & Investment Ltd. It was a renowned development and investment group, digging into projects from the most part of Asia to as far as South America. He was known for his scandalous relationships with many famous models in Milan.

The Media often referred to him as "Milan's Hot Boy".

Louis Ricci runs the family finance company, Ricci Incorporated. He was a filial family boy, and would do anything to please his parents and grandfather, Orion.

The two close buddies decided to hangout today, as they had been overwhelmed by the responsibilities they had to fulfil at home and work.

"Hey man, look, look, look!" Max called out to Louis. "Those girls on the dance floor."

"Dude, there are quite a number of girls out there, be specific." Louis replied him dryly.

"Plus you don't have to tell me when you're horny. We're grown up now, it's disgusting!" He added immediately he looked over. He thought Max was thinking of hitting on one of them.

"Come on, there are no interesting girls here. I'm talking about the girls closer to the bar stand." Max pointed out to Scarlett and Luna. "Doesn't the girl in the casual outfit seem familiar to you?" He asked Louis with all seriousness.

Louis stared so keenly at Scarlett, trying to remember if he recognize her. Her figure looked so familiar to him…her dance steps…even her mode of dressing rang a bell...

"Of course! I think I know. Isn't that Astley's ex-girlfriend? The one who broke up with him on his birthday?" Louis blurted out as he remembered.

Max nodded his head in confirmation. 'It's been so long since the incident happened, and she was back here in Milan…what's going on?' He thought.

"What if we call Astley here? This is too big an opportunity for him to lose. He has not let himself lose since she left….He's always working or resting at home." He suggested to Louis.

"No! It's not proper to interfere in their issue. What if she didn't come for Astley? It would the scenario even more awkward and make it harder for both parties to move on." Louis rejected the idea. It didn't seem like such a wise move to make.

Max shrugged his shoulders and just continued drinking.

Astley Mancini was the one and only 'Alpha billionaire CEO' as tagged by many business and fashion magazines in Italy. He was the heir to Mancini family, the most hardworking and cheerful of the famous trio. He studied fashion design at Istituto Marangoni. He was best friends with Max and Louis.

He was no stranger to many international and local prestigious awards and recognition. The Mancini clan was especially proud of him and beamed with the greatest joy whenever he went back to the family mansion.

Unfortunately, his cheer and spirit died after his bitter and chaotic breakup with Scarlett Chevalier. The only thing he was good at was to slave away at work, and drive back to his home. He didn't even bother hang out with his friends as much as he used to. He became a shadow of himself.

Only this lady on the dancefloor could bring out his old self....

11:30pm at the Chevalier Mansion...

"Why hasn't Scarlett called back, mom? She ought to have gotten to her Hotel room long ago!" Rowan paced back and forth the balcony, talking to his mother.

Tracy tried calling Scarlett a few minutes earlier, but there was no response from her. She got worried and walked up to Rowan's room to know if he had spoken to his sister. Rowan hadn't too! This got them both worried up until this point.

"Did she tell you what Hotel she was lodged?"

"Maybe we could go there." Tracy suggested. "Alright, I'll grab your sweater and we'll go." Rowan dashed into the house.

'ring ring ring ring' The house phone rang.

Tracy rushed into the house to pick up the phone. "Hello. Who's this?"

"Hello ma'am. I am Antonio. Miss Scarlett's Personal Guard. I just called to inform you that Miss Scarlett is at her Hotel room already."

"She asked me to inform you as she had been quite busy and is now asleep." He said.

"Oh thank goodness! I was just about driving over to the Hotel now." "Please take care of her. I'll call her in the morning. Thank you!"

'Beep beep beep' The call was disconnected.

At that instant, Rowan came rushing down the stairs. "Mom, let's go." He spoke in a hurry.

"Don't worry my son. Antonio just called. He said she's in her room and is now asleep. I told him we'd call in the morning."

"Ohhh! Thank the heavens! I'd give her an earful tomorrow." He jokingly said, heaving a sigh of relief, leading his mom back in to her room.