His next move might not have been so scandalous as the kiss on her hand, but it was as unexpected. Yassia’s eyes widened for a second, but then they sparkled in poorly contained mirth. Boys! Boys indeed! Give them the little finger and they will take whole hand, or even the arm if they were bold enough. But then, there was a twist in protocol that prevented her from declining, and he probably knew that as well. It was always the call of the higher rank. What they said ought to be followed, if there wasn’t a dead good reason to act otherwise, and of course she had none. Then again, did she even want to decline? As staff, she would have normally have to abstain from this cup of chocolate, as it had been arranged all for him. Now, there was the chance she had secretly hoped for… and more.
“It would be an honor, Sir!” she accepted, adding a genuine, slightly mischievous smile to her words to make them sound more honest and less rehearsed. He probably had to listen to lip service enough in his life. Lowering her voice again, she added: “and you save me an acute assault of jealousy, which can only be fortunate.”
Again, Yassia had to hide a smile as the duke now let the students pass before him. That sly fox! He was playing this game excellently, and she couldn’t help but want to play along to it, even though she realized the tools he was using. He was just disarming this way, and, where was the harm after all? If flirting with her would benefit the school more in the end, who was she to step back from it? The only thing making her slightly uncomfortable was the hand he had placed on the small of her back. It was not displeasing, no, that it was NOT displeasing was what made her so uncomfortable. Even though she was wearing her winter coat, she imagined to feel his hand through it quite warmly, almost flaming against her skin… a dangerous paths for her thoughts to follow…
Hastily, she tried to focus on his words. “Not a song, nor a dance, no”[/color], Yassia assured, chuckling. “But a group has been working on a little choreography on ice they want to present later. They’ve been practicing for months on the municipal ice rink a few miles away, sacrificing their free time. They are psyched to show it, so no worries.”
His question took her slightly off guard, and a shadow crossed her face for a moment as she stared forward, hoping he would miss it. “I know what it is like to be forced to something you don’t want to do, if that is what you mean. And I’m also no stranger to public humiliation. But that is beside the point of course”, she finished, working on a smile, hoping to change the subject.
For a moment there, he thought he saw hesitation. He could very well feel Yassia trying to calculate her response to his every move. He was hoping she wouldn't put so much effort into formulating a response just because he was a duke. He have had more than enough of people changing their actions and reactions towards him because of his title and not because of who he really is...a person. But of course, it cannot be helped. People know him as the Duke of Richmond and the heartless womanizer, and only a few of them know him as Oliver Leofric Strathmore, the crazy, fun-loving guy who really just want to be treated like an ordinary kid.
He had expected her to accept his offer out of courtesy, of course, but what he didn't expect was the genuine honesty in her voice. That impish little smile that accompanied it just made a mad frantic effect on the emotions inside him. He didn't know exactly what she just did to him, but he liked it. He didn't know what just hit him, but yes, he liked it very much. "The honor is all mine," he replied a tad bit timidly, seemingly out of character for him. She had completely taken him offguard with that smile and Oliver felt like he wasn't ready for it. Like all other women, he had expected her to be all coy and blushing about it, but no. She met him head on, and Oliver found that rather refreshing. He wanted more. "Jealousy? I haven't had a cup of the school's hot chocolate for ages. You may have to hold on tightly to yours or I might snatch it from you," he teased with a chuckle, enjoying this little time they were given. He wondered if they would have this same fun and light conversation had he stayed at the hospital and waited until she had fully waken up. He wondered what might have become of them if that happened.
He heaved an exaggerated sigh of relief when she told him there would be no song or dance numbers, and felt genuinely interested when she told him the students were preparing some presentation for him on ice. Now, that would be fun. "And I am now psyched to see it for myself," he replied as they finally piled into the school building after the students. "I hope this visit isn't such a hassle to you and to everyone. I don't mean to be such a disruption, but I really do appreciate all the effort that all of you are putting in." He knew he ought to save these words for later, to address to the students and to the staff of RAA, but Oliver just felt like he wanted to tell Yassia his feelings personally. Of course, he knew he would have to tell her uncle the same thing--and then maybe ask him a few more questions that are not necessarily related to the gymnasium or the school but about one particularly captivating lady that was helping him run the school.
Expecting an equally candid retelling of a fond childhood memory, Oliver once again was caught offguard by the sheer honesty in her answer. He couldn't help but feel the equal amount of intensity and pain that laced her voice when she spoke, and it made him turn his head to look closely at her. Beneath that genial countenance was a hurting person, and a crazy thing inside him made him want to reach out to her, to want to help her ease whatever it was that was casting that pall over her thoughts, to wipe away that gloom. She spoke of being forced into submission, of public humiliation, things that Oliver knew only too well living his own life. Her own dilemma was nothing as simple as being forced to sing or dance when you don't want to. It was something more. And it only made him ever more curious to know more about her. "I perfectly understand what you mean," he replied. Then a thought occurred to him, and he knew he had to take advantage of the moment. He stopped and turned to Yassia. "Would you be so kind as to spare me a little of your time later after the ceremonies? There is something of import that I needed to speak with you in private." Not soon after Oliver said the words, he felt a flash of light blind him for a split second, and he turned to see more than a dozen photographers, cameramen, and reporters now standing outside. The circus has finally arrived. Oliver gave them a small wave before practically pushing Yassia inside.
