The Fancy Pants Club

POV: Erik

The Fancy Pants Club seldom throws a party, but when we do, we really throw a party. As the President of the Club, I opt to hold two grand balls. One is done during the month of February which coincides with Valentine's Day (under Suri's suggestion), and the second is on October first, which will happen two months from now. Since the chateau's formal opening a year ago, these two balls had become the talk of the town and because of that, I have received a waterfall of letters by post or by email begging me to invite them in. I am still sorting the guests out with the help of Ian, the club's most trusted attendant.

As agreed, these two parties are the only activity hosted by the club since this is the only time we get to gather outside our so-called Club meetings. However, on this very day, in this special occasion, all eight of the members are present to celebrate Daniella's admittance into the club. All except Luca of course.

It was supposed to be just a lunch gathering, but Suri turned it into a party with all of us compulsory to wear formal attires.

Now I am standing in a spacious area next to the fireplace making a fool out of myself for having to go through this welcome speech that she asked me to do.

"Good noon everyone. I'm sure you already know the reason why we are all gathered here today. Welcome her as one of our member, but be careful with your words and actions, she...doesn't know."

I stopped there, aware that my members understood what I was saying. I allowed Suri to take over and strolled towards my chair located in the center of the long rectangular table. Vincent was sitting in my right.

"You really are good with speeches Prez, " he stated with a smile, but I was having trouble accepting it as a compliment.

I didn't answer him and instead focused my attention on the double doors where behind it stood the woman I have been missing since this morning.

POV: Daniella

My palms turned sweaty as I patiently waited for Suri's signal. Had it not for her efforts and my plan to get back on Erik's blackmail, I would have turned heels and left. In my nineteen years of life, I have not been in this kind of situation where I am the main celebrant. Yes, I had a party during my coming-of-age but it was with my mother and a few of my friends slash co-employees in a family restaurant which catered to an Eat-All-You-Can dinner buffet. It wasn't like this where I had to doll up and wear a gown.

Although I am a perfectionist when it comes to my work, in my own life, I do things simply. Standing here as my new friend and co-member introduced me and my life achievements thus far isn't what I call simple at all. This was way too lavish.

As the door slowly opened to welcome me in, that's the time I realized that this moment is truly happening. No retreats anymore.

"Let us all welcome, Ms. Daniella émile Rosecraft, our newest member of the Fancy Pants Club."

I heard Suri announce loudly. I beamed a smile then, but it wasn't enough to stop the trembling of my lips.

Mr. Ian, who opened the door, motioned for me to come inside. I did and as I took in the scene of the Club dining room, I almost stopped breathing.

My God, I feel as if I am in bishounen heaven right now.

Picture an otome game where the protagonist has to choose between a number of hot men sitting in a long table wearing tuxedos of different styles and color. This is what I am experiencing now except for the fact that I am not choosing any of them to be my romantic partner.

With my hands on each side, I breezed towards where Suri stood. She gave me a quick hug, "Say something, " she whispered, and then she patted my back before leaving me alone in the center of their attention.

I wish she really did inform me about this earlier. I am not a shy girl, but having to speak in front of so many people impromptu really makes me nervous.

"Uhm..." My eyes rested on every familiar face in my front, each of them having different eye colors but the most striking one of all was the President's.

Shit. I just felt a cold shiver down my spine when our gazes connected.

"Thank you for accepting me as one of your own. Being strictly fancy is all new to me so I hope you will understand my errors along the way, but I promise to do my best to uphold the name of the Club with great honor and respect."

That's it. That's the best statement that I could come up on such short notice. I hope they liked it (and understood it) and judging from the eager claps that they made after my little speech, it seemed so.

Enrique stood up from his seat, approached me with a handsome smile, and took my hand to kiss it.

"You are so beautiful, my Se?orita, " he spoke when he withdrew. "Come and sit with me."

I smiled at him and nodded. "Thank you Enrique."

"My pleasure." He took my hand and guided me there like I was a fragile vase on his fingertips. It made me feel cared for; my nervousness consequently lessened.

"To Daniella, " Vincent stated right after I sat. He raised his wine flute in the air and waited for the others to do the same.

And they did with smiles on their faces, except for the gloomy one in the center of the table. With a lazy grip on the glass handle, I could see Erik looking like he was in a silent tantrum.

He still eyed me (with dagger glares might I add) and because of that, it made me cognizant of my movements.

I raised my glass too and mouthed a thank you to each one of the members. Suri, who was sitting opposite me, clunk my glass.

"To my Club sister, " she said and then drank the burgundy liquid to the bottom.

"To my Club sister, " I did the same.

From where I sat, I was in between Enrique and Rohan. Suri seated next to Amano on her right while Vincent on her left. It was actually a good seating arrangement. I was silently thankful that I didn't have to sit right next to my master.

Our lunch went on with Sir Ian as our main server. Alec started the conversation when Enrique asked him how he turned me into what I look like now. They were all listening to him, Erik included, but for some reason he suddenly stood up, took his tux off and rounded the table towards me.

"Prez, what are you up to?" Rohan asked when he glanced behind me.

Erik ignored him and went on to place the tux in my shoulder. "You'll catch a cold, " he whispered so close to my ear that it gave me goosebumps immediately.

I saw Alec, Suri and Vincent hide a laugh, Karl blushing furiously, Enrique in a surprised reaction and Rohan in an amused smirk.

God, I can't believe Erik had just done this to me, but considering the facts, I think my plan was actually a success. Did I just unsettle him because of how I dressed?

"Th—thank you, President, " I stammered a response.

And then I heard him snigger. It felt like it was the end of the world for me instantly. I adjusted the tux to cover my right shoulder, now feeling the real cold.

"That's very thoughtful of you, Prez, " I heard Vincent say when Erik returned in his seat.

"Just making sure that all of my members are taken care of, " he answered with a shining smile.

Shit, I'm dead. I'm really dead.

"Nice, " I heard Alec remark. "I haven't been in the chateau for quite a long while now so it seems that I really missed the changes in here, including your apparent change, Mr. Svaneti."

Erik's smile turned neutral when he glanced at Alec. "Didn't I tell you not to call me that, Alec?" he said, grabbing his wine flute to smell on the content's sweet aroma.

He sure looks composed enough.

"Yeah, you did. Only about a million times, " Alec grinned.

Svaneti. Svaneti... That's the name I heard earlier.

"Well, we should enjoy the hot food now before it turns cold, " Rohan butted in, effectively taking me out of my thoughts.

"I believe we should, " Vincent seconded. They exchanged stares, Erik included. I felt myself out of place again like I had many times when they make this kind of silent actions.

There's really something going on with this club, the club members and the President, and I'm already in it to find out.

POV: Erik

If Alec and Suri meant to tease me, I believe they have done quite a great job. I simply am fazed by their creation. Daniella, the moment she stepped inside the dining room, knocked the air off my lungs. She was stunning. I knew she already was but with her slim arms, graceful shoulders and shapely back showing off her alabaster skin, it made my blood boil with possessiveness. Nobody should have the right to look at her like this but me. Only me.

I hated how my members ogled her, but they were as much as wonderstruck as I am, so I understood it, but to lessen my predicament, I used my coat to cover her.

Twenty minutes later, I am here now in a balcony connecting the dining room. I opted to come here just to rid myself of any company, just so that I can take a breather of my hurtling emotion. I wanted to pull Daniella out of here as soon as possible but with Suri and the others having a good time talking with her, I couldn't do it... not until my patience breaks.

"You seem too silent for my liking Prez, " my solace was interrupted when a voice behind me said. With the tone of his voice, I knew already it was my ever efficient Master of Disguise.

"Alec, so bold of you to speak that name in front of Daniella, " I admonished him directly after the feat he did earlier. It was a surprise to me for him to mention that name, but luckily I was able to compose myself.

He leaned in the railing next to me and awarded me a smirk. "It's not like she knows your true identity. Why make a big fuss over it?"

"Nikolai Svaneti has been buried a long time ago. I don't want to keep digging that identity up. It only summons unsavory memories."

Yes, unsavory ones with blood and gore unimaginable. Memories that a bastard child like me would be hunted for the rest of my life.

"Yet here we are now formed as a club in order to keep a watchful eye on Iopata Bratva. How twisted is fate huh?" He smoothed a tangled part of his hair caused by a sudden gush of wind.

I have known this man since we were teenagers, back from the time when my existence wasn't acknowledged yet by my own father, the leader of the Bratva. I used to come to their family's shop in order to learn how to create tattoos and since we were about the same age, we became good friends until now. Of all the club members that I have, he knew my dark past well.

I remained silent and continued to bask on the mountainous scenery in front of us.

Alec then lit a stick of Marlboro red he took from his coat pocket and puffed out smoke that instantly irritated my nose.

For an ex-son of a mafia leader who uses cigarettes like it was a mechanical ventilator, it was odd that I hated the smell of it.

"By the way, you should stop by my salon tomorrow. The prosthetics I used in your neck should be renewed, " he stated and then turned around to face the inside of the room.

"I'll go when I'm vacant, " I told him whilst touching my right neck.

He puffed out smoke again much to my annoyance but luckily the wind was strong enough to clear it in seconds.

"I like this new aura of you by the way. It doesn't scream dark on me, " he remarked. "You are finally showing your warm side huh? And to a woman whose picture you have been keeping in your office for a year now."

Shit. Even this fact about Daniella's picture he knows. I have retrieved this photo of her from their family's website business a year ago after we had our fateful encounter... after leaving her in the hospital half-dead.

"This is twisted fate Alec, " I announced while my mind recollected the memories I had with Daniella when she took a bullet that was meant for me. "If I could, I wouldn't have wanted for her to be associated with me the second time, but—"

"You just can't let her go anymore once you found her again, yeah I know, " he finished for me.

I fell silent in the end. Since he didn't need me to elaborate anymore, what use is my effort talking?

"Hmmm..." I heard him chuckle then. "I just took the words right out of your mouth huh?"

Shooting up a glare on his way, I couldn't help but say, "Shut up Alec."

He sighed and went on to puff smoke the third time. "You better act fast before your members start making a move on Daniella. Look at them now. They seem willing to fight with you over her."

I turned around and watched through the closed French doors what was happening inside. I saw Daniella and the others having a hearty laugh while still on the dining table. Her right hand was holding the dessert spoon while the other was clutching the collar of my tux.

"I am already on the move Alec. I already am, " said I as I rested my eyes on her innocent face, secretly happy that she didn't take my tux off.

POV: Daniella

Our lunch party was fun, so fun that we didn't realize it was already time to depart. Suri, Amano and Karl excused themselves first because they had somewhere to go asap. Vincent, after giving me a kiss on the cheek, followed suit. He said that he had another party to attend in which he was already late. Enrique offered to accompany me to my room but then Alec grabbed his shoulder and dragged him out of my front towards the double doors.

I sighed after realizing I am left alone in the dining room, but wait, was I really?

Just then, my Iphone buzzed a message. I took it from the table and read its contents.

It was from Erik (which wasn't a surprise really) stating that he wanted me to return his tux with big letters, N-O-W.

I turned immediately after remembering my last sighting of him strolling towards the closed balcony half an hour ago.

My heart skipped a beat after discovering that he was still there, leaning on the railing and facing the blue sky.

With me still having the issue of skipping my maid duties, I knew that approaching him would be tricky. In my head, I was already seeing his deathlike-glare and his acidic mouth speaking some taunting words.

As I slowly strode towards him, I felt my hands cold and my knees trembling, but I willed myself to be strong since after all, I still looked like a Queen. I still had the ace on disquieting him.

I opened the French door, stood in the threshold for a long minute contemplating on how I should interrupt his deep musing, but then he spoke in a rather cheerful way which definitely caught me off guard.

"You caught me in a good mood today, Daniella. Don't be afraid. Come. Stand here beside me." He didn't even glance on my way at all. I just saw his right hand tapping on the railing inviting me to advance.

And I did after a deep breath.

"Here's your coat, " I said as I slipped it off my shoulders and handed it to him in one hand. I stared at his profile adored by the sun and from where I stood, I could see a definite curve of his lips.

"You can keep it if you want. Think of it as a gift from your master."

I blinked twice. "I certainly can't, " I immediately replied, shaking my head. "I mean, this has no use to me after today."

He faced me and then glanced at the coat in my hand. "I thought you'd decline, " he said. "Can you put it for me then?"

He lifted his arms a little hinting me to slide it in them.

I furrowed my brows and stood on guard. "You have hands, why not use it?"

He smirked and replied, "Because I want you to, Daniella."

Surprisingly, he didn't use the slave word. He didn't even look smug and just stood waiting for me with warmth on his face.

Feeling my belly fluttering, I didn't have any choice but to do as he requested. With a long sigh, I positioned myself on his back, slid the sleeves carefully in his arms and adjusted the coat to position.

"Adjust the front collar too, " he said, twisting his spine to face me.

I stepped back to open up our sudden closeness. Focusing my eyes on his collar while my hands worked them right, he then spoke with a ring of softness in his voice, "Have I already told you how beautiful you look today?"

My heart, if it managed to cool down earlier, somersaulted into tachycardia. My breath hitched but I was able to voice out a smooth, "No, " after it.

"Then, I am telling it now. Daniella, you just take my breath away."

If another woman would have heard his words, her heart would have swelled immediately. In my case, it did, but I quickly stabbed it before it could expand some more.

Okay, that's it!

I stepped back, straightened my back and eyed him suspiciously.

"Okay, cut the crap Erik, " I grounded. "Earlier I could feel your vengeful aura. Where is that now? Don't try to hide it with your deceitful flowery words. I didn't clean your bathroom and I didn't fix your bed as what you have ordered this morning. I am quite sure you want to punish me for it."

He leaned on the railing again and then bested me with a wide grin; the warmth on his face now gone with the wind. "Why thank you for reminding me that, Sweet Rose. I actually forgot all about it."

What?! Did he really forget it? If that is true then I am digging my own grave!

I shot him a frown and instead of replying him, I remained silent in the end.

"Return to your room now and wait for me come evening. That's when you'll get your punishment." He stood upright and readied himself to walk out of the balcony but then I stopped him with a dare.

"Why not do it now? Why wait for tonight when you can just punish me now?" I courageously said, stiffening my shoulders and squaring at his face.

It was a wrong move however.

Our conversation turned a hundred and eighty degrees when he ran both his hands through my arms and up to my neck. I felt a wave of delightful tingles on my skin then, much to my chagrin. One hand then squeezed on my waist while the other kept on making circles on my chest down to my cleavage with a finger. For some reason, I couldn't stop him.

Shit, I can't breathe well with this!

"Because unfortunately Daniella, your sexy dress would be ruined, " he stated with a drawl, eyeing me directly. "I can't do that. It would be a waste of its beauty."

Although I was blushing furiously, I still managed to give him a frown. For some reason, I feel...

"You sure care for the gown more than me, " I stated without a thought, but wait, did I just actually say that? It sounded off. It sounded really off! It sounded like I was jealous of the dress!

I quickly shook my head whilst stepping back. I guided myself to the railing when I realized the rush of my blood into my cheeks made me feel lightheaded.

"Errr do you have an alias or something?" I hastened to spoke (in a squeaky voice), wanting to change the subject. "Svaneti I mean. I heard Alec mentioned that name during our ride going here and earlier when we were dining."

I looked at him expecting a playful grin, but his face turned gloomy as if he was remembering something that was unpleasant. The roguish face that he always gives me was gone.

"Daniella, it is best that you should forget about that surname, " he spoke in monotone.

"Ahh, so that is a surname, " I tried to lighten the mood with a giggle. "Then, what's the first name, Erik?"

I saw a muscle in his jaw tense, followed by his hands fisting. "Woman, you are testing my patience. Thread on further and you will suffer the consequences."

In panic, I raised my hands in surrender. "Cool, cool. Not a problem at all." I turned around to retreat, but then he clamped a hand on my wrist and asked, "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm—I'm off to my room, " I stuttered. "You said so remember?"

For a moment, I saw in his eyes a battle of emotions I still couldn't understand. He shifted them like how the weighting scale shifts from winning to losing and vice versa. I am no psychologist but I feel that it was tormenting him.

On this day alone, he had shown me three sides of him that was unique in its own way; the playful, dark and warm sides. I don't know if he was just acting or he had a serious multiple personality disorder but it makes me wonder genuinely that there is more to this man than meets the eye.

With a heavy, heavy drag of breath, he finally released my wrist.

"Go, " he firmly stated, and I, trying to keep my heart from quickly beating to death, walked out of the balcony away from him.