Urban System in America-Chapter 254 - 253: Dance

"Fine. Who’s afraid of a little dancing? Not me," Rex said, puffing out his chest like he was heading to a duel instead of a waltz.

"Good," Monica grinned, eyes sparkling. "Because you’d look really lame standing there like a decorative plant while everyone else floats around."

"Wow. A plant, huh? You really know how to motivate a guy," he groaned dramatically, but didn’t resist as she tugged him toward the dance floor.

The music swelled, wrapping around them as they reached the edge of the floor. Couples were already spinning and gliding in perfect harmony, their steps polished and effortless. Some were less graceful, hesitating on turns or moving slightly offbeat, but nobody seemed to care. This was about enjoying the moment. Still, when Rex and Monica stepped into the space, more than a few heads turned.

It was hard not to stare: she looked like a goddess in her sleek ivory dress, and he, with his careless charm and annoyingly good looks, seemed like he’d stepped straight out of a movie scene.

Monica placed one hand on his shoulder and raised an eyebrow, her other hand fitting snugly into his. "Don’t tell me you have two left feet."

"I’ll have you know I’m a natural at this," Rex said confidently.

That confidence lasted for exactly three seconds before he nearly tripped over his own foot and stepped on hers.

"Okay... maybe I’m just warming up," he muttered.

Monica bit back a laugh, though her eyes danced with amusement. "Right. Warming up. Try not to crush my toes, Mr. Natural."

But Rex wasn’t the type to back down from a challenge. Even though his first few steps were clumsy, and yes, he stepped on her feet two, maybe three times, he caught on fast. The waltz was simple enough once he paid attention to the rhythm, and with his sharp reflexes and quick adaptability, it didn’t take long for him to find his footing.

Monica noticed the shift. One moment he was hopelessly awkward, the next his movements started to sync with hers as though he’d been doing it all his life. "Show-off," she teased lightly when he spun her, nothing too flashy, but smooth enough to earn a few admiring glances.

"Hey, I warned you I’m a fast learner," he said with a grin, his hand firm and steady on her waist.

As they moved together, the atmosphere between them shifted. The closeness, the rhythm, the soft music curling around them like a whisper, it was almost inevitable. Monica felt the tension she’d been carrying all night slowly melt away, replaced by something warm and unexpected. Her earlier fear and anger were still there, but muted, like distant echoes. Dancing with Rex, with his casual smile and surprisingly reassuring presence, made it harder to brood.

For the first time since arriving at the party, she found herself genuinely smiling.

As they glided through the next few steps, Monica tilted her head and gave him a sly look. "Huh. Not bad, Mr. Natural. I have to admit... you’re starting to look like a real prince charming out here."

Rex smirked. "Prince charming, huh? Should I be worried you’re about to run off and leave behind your glass slipper? I’m not chasing after you in a pumpkin carriage across the city."

Monica laughed, a soft, melodic sound that made a few nearby couples glance over.

Shaking her head amused, she said. "Relax, I’m not the runaway type, and I’d never leave my shoes behind. Do you know how hard it is to walk barefoot in a ballroom? And besides, I don’t think a pumpkin carriage would suit you."

"Oh? And what would suit me then?" he asked, raising a brow.

Monica tilted her head, pretending to study him. "Hmm... maybe a horse. Or a black sports car. Definitely not a pumpkin."

Rex grinned. "Good, because I can barely cook, let alone carve pumpkins."

She rolled her eyes but smiled, the tension between them easing as the music guided their steps. It wasn’t perfect, he still stumbled here and there, but she found herself enjoying it, the way his confidence and awkwardness mixed in a strangely charming way.

The orchestra swelled, and for a brief moment, as they twirled beneath the golden light of the chandeliers, their steps had found a rhythm now—fluid, easy. And while their banter danced on the edge of flirtation, neither of them pushed further. It almost felt like they really were in some modern fairytale—minus the pumpkins and evil stepmothers.

They kept dancing, moving from one song to the next, almost without realizing it. Monica, who had been tense and guarded for most of the night, now looked more relaxed. The faint smile on her lips and the way her shoulders eased said enough—this dance was doing her good. Rex wasn’t exactly an expert dancer, but he had a natural rhythm, and with each step, he grew smoother, more confident. By the third song, they were moving in perfect sync, drawing a few lingering glances from the crowd.

In the shadows near the far end of the ballroom, the so-called gentleman watched them with a dark expression. His glass of champagne was untouched, his fingers tightening around the stem with every laugh Monica shared with Rex. His carefully laid plans, his patience, his money, everything was slipping through his hands because of some unknown guy who’d appeared out of nowhere.

"Find out who he is," the man said coldly, his voice low enough to be drowned out by the music.

One of his men, dressed just as sharply as the guests, gave a slight nod and slipped toward the entrance where the guest list was being managed. A few minutes later, he returned, clearly unsettled.

"Sir... his invitation has nothing but a name. No company, no connections. Nothing."

The gentleman’s brows furrowed. "Just a name?"

"Yes... ’Rex Aeric,’" the man confirmed. "It’s as if he doesn’t exist."

The gentleman’s gaze sharpened. It wasn’t normal for someone to come to a high-profile party like this without ties, without status. "Then find out another way," he said, his tone turning colder by the second. "I don’t care how."

Back on the dance floor, Rex was completely unaware of the venomous glare burning into his back. He was too busy leading Monica through another graceful spin. She laughed lightly, the sound carrying over the music, and for a moment, it was as if the rest of the ballroom had melted away.

(End of Chapter)