Grace was lost in thought, traveling a fragile skein of imaginations that seems to meander and spurn eliciting memories and emotions, she was in sync with the music, the rhythm in each stepping, the ogling stares of the crowds. She was once again, as she had so many times been, in her element. On point.

She swirled around leaning away, falling with her hands extended; her facial expression, pleading; her eyes closed. Raymond was right there, as she knew he would be. Their hands met and his strong arm pulled her back to him with so much force he tilted half mirroring her old position. He then sprung back as she swirled and turned her back to him. His hand was gently on her waist, drawing her close to him as their legs moved in synch to the left...

There's something about having the perfect dance partner on the ballroom floor, there's something special, something only dancers can explain, something the audience may think of as romantic. It was magic. It was real, in every step; Her pulling away, and him pulling her back, her leaning beyond balance would allow and knowing that he would be there to help her back to her feet. The anticipation, the synchrony. No wonder anybody might think it's akin to love.

But regardless of whatever anyone thinks-beneath the façade and expressions, the choreography, hairdo, make up, sequin, glamor and all-they were dancers, professional dancers at the core and this was nothing more than a performance. A performance well staged basically for anyone visiting RaDance studio for the first time. The night was RaDance Studio Abuja first anniversary, and the final dance performance before the show comes to an end was a tango, between Grace and Raymond, founder of RaDance.

They moved around in an v shaped closed embrace, with their head almost touching, she could feel the warm controlled breath, as he drew back. He moved back and she followed in a swift swirl that culminated in a split. The crowd applauded. Raymond pulled her up, she flicked her legs as he took a step, simultaneously throwing their arms before them. They took three deliberate slow step forward and one side drag before she got pulled in an embrace then slowly slid down again eventually bending in a dip, steadied by his strong arm.

She pulled away then lunged back. Raymond lifted her over his shoulder just to pull her to his side, lifted her, and swirled while Grace's arms fanned wide in the air. She touched back down breathless, as she grinded against his torso in few sides steps and at the last struck of the violins they leaned close and as the music stopped, they parted abruptly.

Cheers erupted in the crowd as they took their bows and exited stage. In the dim lit room she felt his hand on hers, "they definitely loved that!" he said, panting.

"I bet they did." Grace replied, and couldn't suppress a giggle superimposed on her gasps. She sighed. An awkward silence stretched on, Grace was just thinking of how to break the ice when the master of ceremony announced that it was time for the final remark by Raymond. Saved by the mc! He slowly let go of her hand and sauntered back, he was soon gone past the curtains. She stroked her hair, then stretched, eliciting a wide yawn.

On her way off backstage, Bolaji, still in black leather and leopard print slid to view and gave her a high five, "that was lit!" she exclaimed. Bolaji is the instructor on contemporary African dance, a professional hip-hop dancer and contortionist wonder that break dance like nothing Grace had ever seen. Bolaji left to attend to some of the students in the dressing room who had performed alongside herself to Korede Bello's 'God win', and Grace turned to those whose bills would keep this place running. She signed autographs, took pictures that were constantly photo bombed by eager fans.

RaDance has been doing well, for a dance studio, and it had amassed an enviable number of patrons over the past few months Grace had begun working here.

It was hours before the last guest left the red-carpet, Raymond was all smiles entertaining ever vociferous fans, but Grace knew he must be just in need of a break as she was.

The female dressing room was a mess, Bolaji was picking costumes off the floor and dumping them in the trash. "seems your kids made a mess."

"they were all eager to get back to their folks and take pictures." She smiled, and gestured at the leopard print wears she was holding, "never useful outside the dance floor." she said. "any plan for the evening, we're crashing a party tonight at a friend's place."

"I'll give that a pass. Someone is waiting for me at home."

"Lucky you!" she raised a brow, "what's he like?"

"like a squall little kid." Grace smiled back, and said no more. One principle she's upheld is to never get personal with co-workers, anyone really. Off the professional turf, she doesn't enjoy sharing ever little detail of her life with them. they were friendly and nice, but it just wasn't Grace's way, and despite the ways she'd tried to tell Bolaji over and over again to keep to her lane, she did seem to like swerving every now and then.

Bolaji walked into one of the stalls, "I heard Raymond finally secured another studio complex." She said, her voice strangely echoed by the room. "news on the grapevine. said it's just five minutes' drive from here."

"sound's nice." She's heard the news as well. She entered the nearest space and changed into a short Ankara gown. Bolaji and Drake (the ballet instructor) were just leaving when she emerged at the hall now empty except Raymond who was waiting, still beaming. "it was a great day." His smile was always infectious, wide from ear to ear exposing perfect teeth.

"it is!" Grace replied with the best she could muster in the way of smile. he had driven her to work to today in his car and has promised to take her back home considering how hard it is to get a taxi in this part of town late at night. She remembered a certain friend say on the phone when she explained tonight, "if that isn't what a date looks like, I don't know what is real anymore." It was her crazy friend, barrister Susan, who said that. And speak of which, when her phone rang, it was her on the line.

"I'm so sorry, the programme started a little late than I expected." She was first to speak, considering Susan was still at the boutique Grace manages. "I'm on my way, I'll meet you there."

"don't worry, I have it all under control. The baby is asleep after an ample dose golden morn and yoghurt."

"solid food, you did not."

"relax, dude handled it well, he's seven months old already!"

"six and a half."

"trust me girl, I've got this."

"diaper change?"

"I'm staring at his cute pink butts right now; Angela is helping out." Grace imagined it the other way round.

"you sure he's alright?"

"he is!" Susan shouted back, "now tell me, how did you and the American McRaymond roll tonight?" Grace glanced at Raymond who was opening the door of the car, and helped putting her bag in-a gesture her sudden loss of concentration had allowed to pass without her noticing. "thank you." She muttered to Raymond. "I'm waiting!" Susan called at the other end.

"I'll tell you about it."

"so, meet us at your place we're actually closing up. I'll hopefully catch that dance show and watch all I've missed." Grace heard a dull snap, "and yep I've gotten the diaper change done. I rock!"

"thanks a bunch."

"take your time girl, enjoy tonight."

She slid into the car and closed the door, "I'll be home soon."

"come on, this is what prom night with curfew? If he offers to take you, go all out!" she said.

Grace sighed exasperated, "see ya!" she checked her wrist watch, as the car pulled off the parking lot. It was 7:30pm.

"my real estate agent called." He said, fumbling in his pocket with his free hand, Grace assumed it was for his phone. "after a bit of payment," he said. Keys jingled in his hand when they came up, "I've got a better place, hopefully we can move there in few months." That smile again. "want to check it out?"

*****
She called Susan who said she planned on spending the night at Grace's place. "It's okay if you and McRaymond fool around a little, no one is gonna tell." She laughed, "have fun."

The new studio complex was once a gymnasium, it had the basic facilities to hold a bigger dance studio. The owners have decided to move and had it up for sale, Raymond told her. The halls were wide; the dressing rooms, not bad.

"I called my contractor, he said he'll begin refurbishing tomorrow."

"this place is great." She said. The place was not small improvement from the venue they just left.

On their way out, "heard there's a bar just down the road. Want to check it out?"

This was where she put her foot down and draw a line. "I'll give that a rain check, I really need to be with Victor."

Raymond didn't look disappointed, "okay."

There's such dissonance when your boss is some hot sensitive guy, who is also your dance partner, and in no way subtle about seeking for the green light. It makes it all difficult sometimes to tell where the boundary should be and how it should be enforced. But then again, maybe she's the one over thinking it, but she doubted that. There's something in his looks, his gestures, he's too nice to not find sexually appealing. But life wasn't about what she wanted, she learned that a long time ago, besides, Raymond was still off the market, she knew that much.

So she relaxed, on the ride home. Raymond tuned the radio and soon enough, Adele was whining and pining, 'Hello.'

They finally got to her apartment, a flat, downtown.

"thanks a lot." She said.

"you're welcome." Raymond said, "and my offer for a drink still stands." There was such undercurrent in that statement, she didn't miss it.
"see ya!" she said as casual as possible.

"Please, I'm asking you out on a date." He said, with a pleading look in his gleaming eyes. He looked away and sighed, "that's very unprofessional of me, but Grace..." his voice broke, "please don't get mad."

"not mad." She replied after a long silence, "just confused." How she wormed out of the car, and manage to straighten things out with him, was nothing short of wonder. But she'd had practice. Raymond was disappointed, but he's a business man, he must have learnt how to handle rejection. He however hinted on not giving up, and that didn't go down well with Grace at all. "say hi to the little man for me." He said with a smile to die for.

Raymond was great, but she just wasn't down to get into a relationship, more less with her boss, and dance partner.

Susan had a dreamy look on her face when she opened the screen door. "you have to come in right now." On the screen of the LCD was the dance they'd just performed. "girl you rock that dress!" she said, "dress, and that oh my god! Hot guy." The dance was soon over, and the show host, whom Grace had met moments ago, made wonderful comments about the night event. "tell me you and him..." Susan said with what she'd call her pleading puppy eyes.

"there was nothing." Grace flatly replied. She went and check on the boy who was asleep in his crib.

"Told you I handled it."

"what would I do without you?"

"live alone?"

"not gonna happen?"

"something must have happened; I can see it in your eyes!" Susan said in the kitchen when they trying to fix quick dinner of tomato sandwich. Grace sighed and dropped the knife she was slicing tomato with. "he made a move." Susan squealed. "but I turned it down."

"you didn't."

"I did." And when she went on to explain, Susan agreed she made the right call.

Thanks for reading!

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What could be Grace's reason for rebuffing McRaymond's proposal?