June 21st was a big day for the duPonts. It was wedding day!

Lisa’s brother Daniel was getting married at the country club their father owned. With Lisa being a recently important addition to the family, Lisa was, of course, chosen to be a bridesmaid. Their color scheme: red. Which meant Lisa needed to find the perfect red dress. Daniel’s fiancé wasn’t completely controlling and allowed her girls to pick whatever dress they liked best, so long as it was the right shade of red. This left Lisa to be free to get something she would enjoy for more than just one day.

After searching and trying on many dresses she fell in love with a tasteful red dress with sequins. It was perfect for a wedding or just a night out on the town.

The wedding was held in the early evening. With a huge guest list, it would have been easy to mistake the event for a sort of elegant business convention. To be honest, it could have very well still had been that since her father was in charge of the list. But all Lisa had to worry about was walking down the aisle arm-in-arm with one of the groomsmen she had never met before. It didn’t matter. It wasn’t her day. She was there to accentuate the two getting married. That was fine for her.

After the wedding, the reception was held across the field at a large pavilion decorated with string lights and flowers. Once the photographer finished with the wedding pictures, the Wedding party entered the pavilion with great fanfare to hype up the crowd, with the newlyweds entering in afterwards. Toasts were then given. Tears were then shed. Everything went off without a hitch.

And that was that. Lisa’s obligation was fulfilled. All she needed to do now was enjoy the event. The best that she could anyway. She knew no one there. The guests were a spattering of the bride’s friends, Daniel’s friends, and a bunch of people only Timothy knew. Lisa got herself some wine and watched as everyone else danced and enjoyed themselves.

“I’ve always found weddings to be boring.” A voice sounded from behind Lisa. It was Alex, making his way next to her. “I, of course, give my congratulations to the newlyweds. But after that, you just sit and mingle with strangers and awkwardly dance while drinking too much.” Lisa said nothing at first but couldn’t help but to agree with Alex. The only person she knew other than her family… was Alex.

“Perhaps you’re not used to events that aren’t centered around you,” Lisa said. Alex laughed.

“Unfortunately, there may be some truth to that notion. I do like it when I serve a purpose to a function.”

“So, you serve no purpose here?” Alex laughed again.

“You wound me with your words. Of course, I serve a purpose. I’m here to bear witness to the union between the duPont son and his lovely bride.”

“Is that all?” Lisa asked quietly. Alex then gave her a knowing look.

“We’re currently being watched,” he whispered. Lisa knew this. She could feel her father’s eyes burn right through her the moment Alex walked up to her. His… and Alex’s father’s eyes as well. “Talking to you makes those two happy.”

“And is that why you’re talking to me now?”

“A happy coincidence. I am all for keeping those two quiet, but I must admit, there is no one else here I’d rather talk to.”

“I’m flattered,” Lisa mocked. “I have nothing to talk to you about.”

“You speak as though I have wronged you in some way.” Lisa looked knowingly back at Alex.

“Just so you know, I’m not taking over Father’s company.”

“Please, mademoiselle Eliza. We are at a wedding! I do not wish to speak about business here. There must be other things on your mind.” Lisa folded her arms and looked away from Alex – a pose that undoubtably concerned the two on-lookers. “Please. I do not wish to upset you.”

“Then call off the merger,” Lisa demanded.

“Eliza. The merger will take place whether we take over or not. What say do you think I have at this point?”

“I donno. Work your ‘charm’ or whatever.” Alex narrowed his eyes.

“Has that worked for you?” Lisa just scoffed in response. He was right, though. If it wasn’t working for her, why would it work for him? Plus, what would he have to gain from calling off the merger? Lisa took a large gulp of her wine and kept her arms crossed and head turned away from Alex.

In the corner of his eye, Alex could see both his and Lisa’s fathers talking to one another while looking in their direction.

“Dance with me,” Alex suggested. The music playing was a slow waltz. He held out his hand and asked her again to dance with him, then gestured with the top of his head towards their fathers. “Please. Trust me on this.” Lisa slowly looked over where Alex was gesturing and sucked her teeth. Looking at Alex’s hand, she contemplated her choices. One dance couldn’t hurt. Right?

Reluctantly, Lisa took Alex’s hand and the two moved towards the dance floor. She placed her right hand in his left, and her left hand on his shoulder, and the two, though very awkwardly, began to dance. They were stiff and moved a bit off rhythm, but the two were dancing. Alex chuckled to himself.

“You are a point guard, correct?” Lisa was looking down at her feet when Alex asked her this.

“Um. Yeah?” Every so often Lisa would accidentally step on Alex’s foot. “S-sorry.”

“We are not on the court,” he responded.

“What?” Her eyes were still on the floor.

“Eliza.”

“What?!” Alex forced the two to stop. Lisa finally looked up and caught Alex’s eyes with hers.

“You are very independent. But this isn’t basketball. It is a waltz.”

“S-sorry! I’ve… never done this before,” Lisa admitted. “I mean… I learned to tango once, but…” Alex retook Lisa’s hand and pulled her close to him.

“Then perhaps,” he began softly. “This time you’ll let me take the lead.” Lisa blushed in embarrassment. She didn’t realize it before but the two were fighting each other the entire time. “Ready?” he asked. Lisa slowly nodded.

The two began again, but this time Lisa let Alex lead. It was awkward for her at first. She was used to moving on her own. Playing basketball taught her to “dance” about the floor to her own rhythm and, in a sense, “led” the other players in this dance. But she had to let go. She had to let Alex guide her. And it seemed he knew what he was doing.

They fluttered about the floor as the music played. Others began to take notice and step aside. Lisa turned even redder as she felt more and more eyes fall on them. She began to hunch.

“No, no. Stand proud. You must move with grace and confidence,” Alex instructed.

“P-people are starting to watch,” Lisa stuttered.

“Then. Let them watch. This is your floor now. Let them see your beauty and grace. I will guide you.”

Alex led Lisa all about the floor, taking bigger steps and bolder moves. He’d swoop her one way and dip her the other. Lisa’s dress and hair swooshed and swayed in the air. At this point, most people had cleared the dance floor to watch the two. Lisa felt light as a feather. Her mind was free of any need to take control. Right now, she was free to let Alex guide her wherever he wanted. As the music came to an end Alex dipped Lisa one last time and held her there. Everyone applauded. Everyone, especially their fathers. Alex could see Lisa’s father nudge his. The dance was a success.

After a moment Alex lifted Lisa back upright and the two gave a light bow. Lisa was smiling, though out of breath. She was used to moving around a lot, but nothing like this. Her body flowed and contorted in ways it hadn’t before. And though this was nothing she wanted to do, in the end, she was still smiling.

“Well done, mademoiselle Eliza. You truly move with grace and beauty,” Alex congratulated.

“I’ve… never danced like that before,” she said between huffs.

“It helps to have a partner who knows what he’s doing.” Lisa chuckled and actually apologized for trying to take control in the beginning.

Eventually, Lisa’s father made his way through the crowd towards her.

“You two looked so beautiful out here,” Timothy told Lisa. Lisa took this as an opportunity to walk off the dance floor, leaving Alex behind.

“Right,” she replied. Timothy followed Lisa with one hand on her back and continued to comment on their dance. Alex, however, stood with a smile and shook his head.

“Well done… petit agneau,” he said to himself before walking off in the opposite direction.

As the evening progressed, the reception got louder and wilder as people were drinking more and letting loose. Lisa eventually found the noise to be overwhelming and needed to get away from it all. She made her way away from the pavilion where the reception was held and towards a large wall off in the distance. The wall was decorated with garlands of roses. This was where most of the wedding photographs were taken. It was quiet here. Cooler, too. But she was alone. She was tired of talking to her father since most of their conversation centered around Alex. And she was done with Alex himself. This dwindled her choices of people to talk to quickly. She contemplated calling David at this time. A familiar voice would have been nice to hear. But why him? And what would her father do if he found out she was talking to him. No. This was a bad idea. She shook her head and quickly threw the thought out of her mind. Anyway, soon she found she wouldn’t be alone for long.

“I see I’m not the only one who needed to get away from the noise,” Alex said as he approached Lisa.

“It would seem so,” she softly said. Alex planted himself next to Lisa on the wall and looked out into the sky.

“A beautiful night, no?” Lisa nodded back.

“My kind of temperature, too. Not too hot. Not too cold.”

“Indeed.”

They sat there for a few minutes just taking in the quiet. Neither of them felt the urge to break the silence. For the moment, it was nice. The distant chatter and music, the soft wind – it was a perfect night. Alex would ask about Lisa’s brother’s honeymoon, and Lisa would tell him about their plans to travel Europe. They’d go quiet again after that. And then… He’d say it.

“You look beautiful,” he said to her. Lisa let her head drop slightly in a sort of thankful manner. “I’d love to take you out sometime. You know, for real this time.” Lisa’s head dropped even further down.

“Devereaux,” she sighed.

“Alex.”

“’Alex’… We don’t have to do this. Our parents want us to be together, but they don’t control our lives. They can’t. So, you don’t have to do what they say.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Neither my nor your parents have ever come up to me and said, ‘you should go out with Eliza.’”

“But you know it’s implied,” Lisa insisted.

“How is that different from any other nosy parent?”

“It’s very different, ‘Alex!’ Other parents aren’t trying to combine multibillion dollar companies!”

“And you think that makes a difference here?” Lisa turned to better face Alex.

“What if they weren’t merging their companies? What if you weren’t taking over your father’s business and I wasn’t taking over mine? Huh? What if I was broke and never made a name for myself? What then?” Alex then stood off the wall and stepped in front of Lisa.

“Then I’d be the unluckiest man in the world. Sure, a lot of circumstances have led to our meeting, but it would be wildly unfair to say that ‘circumstances’ don’t lead to people coming together. Think of your brother. You think there weren’t certain circumstances that led to him meeting his now wife? That if even one of those circumstances had changed, that he could have missed out on meeting her? I thank my ‘circumstances.’” Alex took a step even closer to Lisa. “Because it led me to you.” Lisa turned her head away slightly but kept her eyes on him.

“You rehearse that or something?” Alex chuckled.

“No. But I’m flattered that you’d think that I speak with such poetry.”

“Alex,” she whispered. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know more than you give me credit for. And it’s not like I am asking you to marry me. A simple date is all I ask.” Lisa turned her head fully away from him. “Eliza,” he cooed. He then pulled her chin to meet her eye to eye. “What are you afraid of?” His lips were almost touching hers.

“I… don’t… know…” she admitted as she stood frozen.

“Like our dance, you seem stiff and unwilling to let go. But what is it that you are holding on to? What can’t you let go of?” Lisa shook her head as she searched for the answer. Because it hit her. She didn’t know what was truly holding her back. It made sense at one point but now that she’s being asked to put it into words, she had nothing. “I’m not your father.” Lisa stared straight into his eyes when he said this. “I’m not your father,” he repeated. “I will never be… your father. Nor am I my father. I have no agenda. I don’t care about your business. I don’t care about your father. I care about you. And all I’m asking is for a chance.” With him so close to her, Lisa could hardly breathe. Her heart raced. Her face turned red. And for a moment she was reminded of their dance and how freeing it felt to let go and let him lead. Would it be okay? What DID she have to lose? And he was right there. Alex began to close the gap as he leaned in. “Eliza,” he whispered. “Be with me. And I promise you… I will never… ever… hurt you. I am putting my trust in you.” That’s right. This was give and take. If there was something to lose, Lisa had as much to lose as he did. Not only was she opening herself up to be vulnerable, but so was he. “What do you say,” he continued to whisper. “Will you be with me?”

“I…” she squeaked out.

“Oh, petit agneau.” He caressed her hair with his free hand, his other hand still on her chin. “I’ve got you. I promise… Okay?” Lisa was trembling. Her knees felt weak. She felt she could pass out at any moment. “Okay?” he reiterated, ready to seal the deal. Finally, Lisa gave the slightest of nods. She was almost in tears. “Yes?” he confirmed. Lisa nodded again. “Yeah?” Lisa closed her eyes and kept nodding. When she opened them, his eyes began to shift between hers. And then his eyes closed. And he leaned in. And kissed her. His lips were soft. His breath was warm. But Lisa was still stiff. When he pulled away, his eyes darted between hers again. He smiled at her and pulled her off the wall. The sudden movement caught her off guard and she fell forward towards him. Alex then stepped to the side and caught her in a full lean. “Now… kiss me like you’re ready to let go of everything.” At first the thought of doing it wrong made her angry. No. It was more like determined. How dare he suggest that she had done anything wrong. Lisa’s eyes narrowed, but Alex smirked in response. “There she is,” he declared. The smile grew on his face as he leaned down to kiss her once again. Lisa wanted to fight for control, but this time she allowed her body to soften. Her outside arm reached up to Alex’s shoulder and grabbed onto whatever cloth she could catch. They held there until he could feel her body truly soften and melt into his arms. He then pulled her up and rested his forehead against hers. “It’s going to be okay,” he assured her. “You’ll see.” With that, Lisa rested her head against his chest as they swayed back and forth. The wedding reception was just about over. Soon it would be time for everyone to go home. Then the night would end with two relationships beginning their new futures.