BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (80 page)

"Well there's room for them as well, no problem, we'll make a place for them, follow me." She insisted, turning from Crystal, smiling up at Ben.

Vanessa clapped at the prospect of sitting at the executives table - who knew what it could mean for Corey.

True enough, room was made. Low and behold, some how, they ended up where Crystal was to Ben's right and Georgiana was to his left, of course and to the right of her husband who sat at the head of the table. Georgiana could care less, as long as she was able to sit next to Ben. Corey and Vanessa sat across from Crystal and Ben on the end of the table near to where the Wherrington's sat. It mattered little because the table sat twenty with their area's Branch manager at the opposite end of the table.

While the speeches were given, offers of first the appetizers went around. Crystal passed on them, deciding to stick with eating as little as possible not to be too full for the contest. They sat through the awards and appreciation speeches, which Oscar T. gave many of, including other bankers present. Salads and soup came around, Crystal chose a salad because she loved the choices available. Ben paid attention to the speeches, ate a bit here and there as well. After all speeches were made, the main course came around, Crystal choose to have the lobster tail and nothing more. Ben, looked at her as if she were crazy, leaning over he whispered, "Eat something more."

She leaned back, "I'm too nervous - I don't wanna throw up."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You'll be fine."

"Easy for you to say."

He winked and they carried on speaking with different ones at the table. After the main course, came the drawing of the raffle prizes as desert was being served. Ben had purchased four raffles tickets. The prizes being won started from cheaper gifts and worked up to the more expensive prizes. This is where the ball was starting to get more interesting. Crystal tried not to notice that each time a number was being called out, Vanessa began squeaking in a high pitch of excitement that it might be one of theirs, to almost whinnying like a horse when they lost. Crystal bit as hard as she could on the inside of her mouth and tongue not to laugh out at the look on Ben's face with each noise. She almost lost the lot when Vanessa squeaked again, and then whinnied again right afterwards; making Ben turn to Crystal and look at her so that she had to quickly sip her drink because he was on the verge of pulling his hair out, she was becoming so irritating. Something else was going on with him as well, pre-dinner - their chairs were evenly spaced apart, by the time desert came, his chair was practically touching hers, so much so, that Crystal nudged him to ask what was going on. He exhaled and then leaned in her ear whispering, "Mrs. Wherrington, has been slowly groping me with her feet, and now, her hands - she's touched parts of my body, that not even you have." He growled for her ears only.

"Ach!" Crystal gasped in disbelief staring up at him.

He was not happy, not in the least. "As soon as dinner is done, we're away from here."

She nodded.

Finally Corey and Vanessa won something as her ear piercing squeal and jump for joy alerted one and all. They won the Phillip's flat screen, 42" entertainment system. Crystal and Benjamin congratulated them as they stood to head off turning in their tickets to claim their prize. Next up, was the dazzling his and her diamond channeled wedding bands. He sat listening for the numbers and to his and Crystal's shock - they won them. Stunned, they looked at each other, at the raffle ticket and then at the man calling out the numbers a second time, looking around the room for someone to say, they had the numbers.

With little choice, Ben lifted his hand with the ticket, "Here! I've got it!" He called out.

Everyone around them gasped from either happiness for them, or disappointed that they didn't get them.

He looked at Crystal, "Well... come on, let's go and uh - get our prize."

Crystal didn't know what to say. For them to win those rings, did something to the pit of her stomach, making it ache in a way that haunted her as things were happening to them. She smiled and stood with him, taking his hand as he reached for hers. They walked towards the table and presented their raffle ticket.

"Feast your eyes on these." The lady who was passing out the prizes offered them up, opening the ring boxes for them to see them. They were simply breathtaking. Platinum outer ring, gold inner ring, and diamond centered channel all the way around.

"Aren't they beautiful?" The lady elaborated.

"They are, they really are." Crystal gasped.

"Well they're yours now." She closed them back into their boxes, slipped them into a black velvet jewelers bag, drawing the string and along with their authenticity papers, as well paperwork to insure them, she passed them to Ben.

"Thank you ma'am." He nodded graciously. Turning to Crystal, "Mind if I take them to our driver? To place in the limo so we don't have to keep up with them?"

"Yes, that's a good idea, I'll get us another drink while you're gone."

"Meet me where we practiced earlier, I'll go there." He instructed.

"Okay ... I'll be there."

Ballroom dancing...

Crystal stood with their drinks in hand, watching as the ballroom dancing had begun. Couples swayed and danced with smiles on their faces, obviously having the time of their lives. Standing alone as she was, she would have even welcomed Vanessa and Corey, but of course, they were off getting their incredible prize loaded into their vehicle. Deciding to step out onto the patio to watch for Ben, she walked across the the balustrade, placing his drink there as she sipped hers and took a long deep breath.

"Incredible night tonight, isn't it?"

Crystal turned startled to see Oscar standing beside her, recognizing him, she smiled. "Oh hi! Yes, yes it is, a really nice night."

"You having a good time?" He asked, holding a drink of his own.

"Yes we are, we're having a great time, thank you for asking."

"So you two, are a couple huh?"

Crystal smiled, "Well, to be totally truthful, we're just really good friends. His father and my mother, are married, sooo - we're kind of family bonding, I guess you could say."

"Emmm, and where is he?"

"Putting the prize he won away for safe keeping."

"I see, well - looks to me, like we have time for that first dance I wanted to claim, remember?"

Crystal looked stunned a moment, not knowing quite what to say. "He'll be back any moment-..."

"By then, we'll have finished dancing, come on - it's a simple one. The waltz - anyone can waltz - humor this old man why don't you." He smiled holding up a bent arm for her to take.

She sighed, "What about our drinks?"

"Toss'em, after all, there's plenty more where they've come from."

Crystal nodded, "Okay, sure, why not."

It took Ben longer to locate their driver and car than he bargained and was in a hurry to make it back to Crystal, trotting back up the front stairway that swept the center length in front of the mansion to the opens doors where guest came in and out. He strode with purpose in direction of the patio area where he told her to meet him. It took him a bit to work his way around the crowded ballroom to the French doors, but finally he made it and stepped out looking for her, to find Georgiana waiting there. She'd been leaning there with a drink in her hand watching the door.

"There you are! I've been looking for you."

She was the last person Ben wanted to see.

"I'm looking for Crystal, have you seen her?"

Georgiana smiled as she approached him, "Sure I have, she's ah - well - come this way." She led him back into the ballroom, looking out among the crowd of dancers, "I know she's in there somewhere," She murmured glancing up at him demurely. "It's seems my husband has uh, claimed the first dance after all. He's a sly one, turn your back for one moment and he's in there."

Ben stood tall, stretching his frame trying to spot her in the crowd, not overjoyed by the prospect of being in Georgiana's company.

"Might I suggest, we go out there, join in? That's the best way to find her, once you find her, we'll exchange partners, what do you think?"

Ben looked down at her, and stated, "Sure, let's - but I warn you, keep your hands to yourself Mrs. Wherrington, I'm not here for your amusement."

To hear him state that stunned her. Then with the lift of a brow, as if the challenge was now on, she smiled, "I see - very well - I will be on my best behavior."

Knowing the protocol of such an event, Ben held his hand out for her to take it and escorted her onto the dance floor among the spinning couples. Much to her delight, he flawlessly led her into the flow of others, sweeping her up gracefully with fluid motion. He danced as if born to it, his moves were automatic with no need to pay attention, his eyes were busy scanning the couples. Georgiana's eyes were busy on him.

'My god, he is - magnificent'

Tall, broad of shoulders, strong and handsome beyond words.

She wanted him.

Surely there was a price.

They all had a price.

"You dance very well." She imparted, hoping to distract him from his search.

"Excuse me?" He asked, glancing down at her after having missed what she said.

"I said, you dance very well. You're a natural." She added.

"Thank you." He replied and went back to his search, growing agitated that he could not find Crystal.

"You are so much like your father, only taller."

"Yes, so I've been told."

"He was married to my daughter for all of those years and yet, he never mentioned having a son."

"Yes, well, there was good reason." He answered simply, and when he didn't elaborate, Georgiana dug further.

"And that reason was?"

That piece of music came to an end and as far as Ben was concerned, not a moment too soon. "If you will excuse me, I need to find Crystal." He strode off before she could ask another question or engage him in another dance.

Georgiana stood smiling to herself.

"Wait, how about another dance?" Oscar asked.

Crystal wouldn't dance with him again if she were forced. The entire time, he kept trying to look into her eyes, complimenting her on how pretty she was. Saying things to her like, "A pretty sweet young woman like you, a man would feel proud to have you on his arm. Imagine living your life this way? Having the best of everything at your whim. With your grace, your elegance, you'd fit right in. Do you believe me? You believe in dreams coming true? What do you dream Crystal Bella?"

"Whatever I may dream sir, I have all I need to make them come true. I'm not Cinderella, nor am I looking for a fairy godmother, or ... father."

"Ah, but that's what they all say."

Crystal thought that mentioning she was in the midst of a divorce and had two small sons would put him off. To the contrary, the prospect seemed to excite him, spur him on, as if he knew he had something to work with.

"A single mother, no doubt struggling-..."

The music ended, ending the dance. Crystal wasted not a moment pulling away from him, "Thanks for the dance, but I really must find Ben."

She ignored his call for another dance and rushed back to the patio area where he told her to wait for him. As she was walking towards the French doors, he spotted her, on his way there himself. "Crystal!" He shouted for her.

She glanced up, saw him and smiled relieved. "Oh thank goodness! Ben you left me and I ended up having to dance with that - man!"

"I'm sorry. I was looking for you and ended up dancing with guess who!"

"Oh no, you too!" She smiled taking his hand, so glad to see him.

"Yes! So please, help me forget! I feel so dirty, please, come dance with me?"

"Gladly." She smiled nodding.

They went onto the floor, pulled each other close and began dancing through several songs, all else forgotten for the moment. Crystal felt on top of the world, as if every woman there envied her. She caught Vanessa and Corey gliding by out of the side of her eye, and changed that thought, almost every woman. Vanessa glanced at her, and smiled so brightly, so happy, so beautiful, Crystal couldn't help but like her. She turned back to Ben, looking up at him.

"I'll never forget this night, not ever!"

"That - makes two of us." He squeezed her closer as they danced.

After the first set, it was time for the first three entrants of the tango contest. Ben, Crystal, Vanessa and Corey stood together among the many others who stayed to watch. The first couple was fantastic. Even though this was an amateur competition, they had a feeling that they, were not. Ben and Crystal looked at each other, both realizing they had to bring something big time to win against them. The second couple that were introduced, were a sweet older couple that wasn't even doing the tango. Ben made a face and looked down at Crystal, "I don't think that's the tango, did any one tell them, this is a tango competition?"

Crystal laughed, "But they are good, whatever they're doing; at least they're having fun."