"Bloody hell, he ruined my dress! It cost me $500, not technically even if I got it from Finn's card, he didn't had the right to" she murmurs as she cleans her dress as good as she can. She puts back her lipstick before getting out of the room.

As she turns right she crashes to something or rather someone & stumbles back. But as she was about to fall down two strong arms catches her & she intakes a breath. "I'm so sorry!" a deep voice rumbles above her & she looks in the most beautiful eyes she has ever seen.

She smiles dreamily before coming to her sense "Its ok! I should have watch where I was heading to" she apologizes.

He takes a step back before introducing himself "Romano Armand, at your service my lady" he bows a bit before taking the back of her hand & kissing it.

She shrieks "Oh my god! You are the famous Romano I'm your huge fan, I even got your cape. I'm being the vampiress this Halloween" she grins making Romano take a step back & watch at the girl in bewilderment.

"You must be the infamous Erika!" he chuckles as she nods eagerly. "You know my name?" she smiles brightly. Romano takes her hand in his arm before taking her to the dance floor.

"One dance with the beautiful lady!" he asks making her swoon. "I can dance whole night with you" she says making him laugh at her before dancing.

"I never thought there will be a night, when I'll see a human enjoying the ball" he winks at her & she grins "Unless you are someone's mate, which I'm now dreaded to ask" he whispers looking around for some pissed off mate.

She giggles, she actually giggles "No, I'm here with the Antonio's & I'm not anyone's mate. I have been crying to come here from ages & finally after doing a favor to the boys I get to come here" she explains cheerfully, smiling at him.

Romano looks at her in interest "If you don't mind me asking, can you tell me what favor was it exactly, that they took the risk to expose you in the party" he says & she shrugs her shoulder & seeing her carefree reaction he feels a sudden anger at the Antonio's stupidity by bringing her here.

This is not a place to expose someone moreover a human! This could go bad if someone with ill nature tries to harm her due to her acquaintances with the Antonio. The Antonio have many who envy & have enough hate to harm someone close to them & this girl standing in front of him is a human & she isn't even mate to anyone which may bring threat to her life! Romano curses the reckless move from the family.

After the song ends he takes her to get a drink so he can keep a close eye on her. "Well, I'm still waiting for the answer" he points out & Erika speak.

"Oh! Sorry actually it's a long story" she replies & that catch his attention "I got enough time" he states watching her intently. She sighs before speaking "Ok if you insist, it's not my fault if you die from getting bored."

She explains how Julian bribed her to go to their cousin's son's birthday & how Mike hates her from beginning to end. Roman laughs at her antics "You mean to say he threw you from the building? Oh my! & you actually showed up in that costume in your school? I must say you are a hilarious girl. I'm glad I crashed into you" his laughter booms hearing her insane tales with the twins.

They gain some attention & people move to check who the lady is that got the fierce Romano in tears with laughter. Seeing the gathering Gio gets up to see the commotion as he nears he looks at the scene in front of him in disbelief.

One of the council members from vampire's that is Romano & from werewolf Adrian are competing each other in drinks & the one who is serving the drinks is none other than Erika who is standing on the table cheering them. He shakes his head in amusement & go drag Erika down the table.

"OK, that's enough guys!" he looks at Erika sternly who avoids his eyes contact. "What, we are not done yet!" Adrian shouts pulling Erika away from Gio & seeing that Romano pulls her to his side.

"Stop manhandling me, you idiots!" she shouts causing everyone to looks at her shocked as they wait for the shit to hit the fan for the insult she made to both the men, but it never comes. Instead, they both laugh pinching her cheeks.

"Isn't she cute when she is angry?" Adrian yells making her glare at him as she rubs her cheeks. Gio sighs again "OK, that's enough for tonight we need to go, now come on" he tries to hold her hand but Adrian steps in.

"No, she isn't leaving. We haven't danced yet" Adrian states & Gio looks at Erika who is still not looking at him. "Ok just one dance & then we are leaving hurry up!" he says as Adrian takes her to the dance floor.

"It's refreshing meeting you here. Though, I'm disappointed you aren't my mate" he says & she smiles.

"Don't worry Ad, you are going to find an awesome mate, have faith. Look at me, till last week who would have thought I would be coming in this ball, but here I'm. So, don't loose hope" she pats his shoulder in assurance & he smiles at her adoringly before kissing her cheek as the song ends & saying his goodbye.

Erika waves Adrian goodbye & turn to look at Romano who makes his way to her grinning, but before he could ask her for a dance, out of now where Enzo swifts her off making her startle.

"What are you doing?" she asks him in disbelief. "Dancing?" he grumbles as they move to the music.

She looks towards Romano who smiles at her sweetly & she smiles back sighing before she is jerked up a bit by her partner.

"Focus right here, while you are dancing with me!" Enzo murmurs as he holds her tightly. "You are the one who dragged me to dance with you" she snaps "Loose your hold!" she cries but he just holds her tight once again.

"What's going on between you & Julian?" he asks & she looks at him with a smile "You don't know, didn't he tell you?" she asks him & he glares at her "I want to hear it from you" he grits out.

"Well, I guess it's no use to hide the truth, I'm sorry you all had to know it like this" she sighs.

Enzo stops dancing as he looks at her with a blank expression, "So, you are happy with him?" he asks slowly & she nods.

"Of course, I'm happy. No one would make a better father than him" she cheers. He looks at her shocked "What?" he croaks.

"Oh, he is pregnant with my baby" she whispers.

"ERIKA!" his voice booms making her winch. Erika can't help but laugh at the disgusted look he gives her, "Sorry! Serves you right for ruining my dress & I don't know what you heard from Julian but we are buddies more or less like siblings!" she explains for some unknown reason wanting it clear to him that she isn't involved with his brother.

Enzo composes himself shaking his head before continuing the dance as he looks at her "I'm sorry for ruining your dress, it was unintentional. You come with the weirdest things to make me speechless every time" he smiles.

Erika winks at him beaming as she can hardly see him smile at her but as always he just knows how to ruin it, "& what's this, I never knew you could flirt or were the attention seeker from males. You have been flaunting yourself in arms of men whole night, from one to another!" He sneers.

She sighs before stopping the dance & correcting his tie "Right there Enzo, just right there I just lost any hope for us to be friends ever! You had to go & ruin the moment don't you? Why do you do this? Just when I think, we can be better you just ruin it"

She smiles at him as she continues "No, I never flirted with anyone today. I was just being my usual self whom you won't know & will never because you never tried to. I don't want the male's attentions because as you keep reminding me this is not my world"

Enzo tries to speak but she shakes her head to stop him "It's a Cinderella moment for me Enzo, once I wake up it will be gone forever & it's the magic that is making everyone see me tonight which will vanish eventually" she states & tries to get away from him but he holds her hand.

She turns to him with a sad smile, he never knew she can posses, "I can never be with a prince except dream about him, but now that I danced with you, it's complete. It's time for me to wake up. Goodbye Angel!" she kisses his cheek before leaving a stunned Enzo standing in the middle of the dance floor watching at her back too shocked to form a word or capture a thought!

This is a side he never knew she had, this is the side he never wanted to see & this sure as hell isn't the time he wanted to deal with it! As usual, Erika Thomas has left him speechless, which she has been doing from the day he met her!