Siren Song

The event was already much larger than he had promised it would be. Men and women, some of which she didn't know, flitted through the ballroom, filling the room with the brightness of color with their dresses. A good number of people were swarmed around Jean-Jacques Dumont attempting to curry favor with him, as they had done with her when she arrived, until she made her escape.

Chang in her corner sighed lightly to herself and brushed a few of the stray hairs near her face that had escaped their pins.

'I should have known when grand-père said he was throwing me a small celebration that it wouldn't be small. I don't think he understands that when I think small I think maybe a few people not about 100. Huuh. I really was hoping for something smaller after earlier today.'

After receiving the flowers she had left work early for the day and took with her the vase with her. Chang told everyone she would deliver them to their intended, not letting it be known she was the intended. Before catching the train and meeting Mr. Poitier she returned to her home with her bouquet and set them on the table in a prominent spot.

Staring at the flowers she picked one of the immature rose buds out of the bouquet and brought it to her nose, inhaling it's light sweet fragrance. Smelling it she couldn't help but think that maybe he had sent them to her then shook the thought off and left left her home leaving the rose lying on the table.

"My you look ravishing tonight cousin."An unpleasant voice she had already had the displeasure to hear already once that day was heard again. Chang's hand by her side that was not holding her champagne flute curled up until her nails dug into her flesh.

Robert Dumont stood before her wearing a black tuxedo with a powder blue undershirt that was partially undone to show part of his chest, as well as her traditional smirk. His eyes wandered all over her front and back up.

Chang wore a silk, rich navy blue, body hugging dress that only had one shoulder strap and cut across her chest only to plunge to her hips across her back before coming back to the strap on her right shoulder. Not only were her arms and back exposed as well as her entire one shoulder the way it clung showed off her curves.

Seeing the way his eyes were clinging to her skin tighter than her dress irked Chang greatly and she cleared her throat at the man giving him an outraged stare.

"Sorry I can't help it you look good like this, can't help it plus we're fairly distantly related there's no crime."

"Keep your eyes and thoughts to yourself swine."

Robert Dumont's expression quickly turned ugly as well.

"Who are you calling pig. You mock and disdain me but you weren't so unwilling to be around me last year. Plus we know more know. Remember what fun we had, we could reenact that night but better what do you say?" He reached his hand out for her only to get smacked away.

"I may have been ignorant once but not again. I want nothing to do with you or your sister Tatiana or anyone else around you for that matter. I only wish to forget that ever happened, please leave me alone." Chang closed her eyes and leaned against the wall refusing to trade words with him any longer while trying to avoid making a scene.

"But you-" Robert Dumont began to speak before being cut off my a pleasantly familiar voice in English.