With one last move Karine Petrova has finished her first performance in New York at the Metropolitan Ballet. It had been a success in her eyes and from the standing ovation, it seemed that others were enjoying it quite well. She watched as her Uncle moved to come up to the stage to give her the roses he always gave her at her first show of the season but as she let her eyes linger where he'd been sitting, she noticed a group of men that looked as though they could have been part of her family. She sighed, wonder what business they were going to conduct this time at her after party.
Rin knew it was easier to cover up their dealings when money was being raised for children at the same time. Mikhail had connections everywhere but for once she just wished it could have been a party for her. She reached out and took the flowers into her arms before popping up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. She stepped away as he stayed in place at the end of the stage clapping as others did, standing back up and she smiled, took a bow and moved off stage as she blew kisses to everyone around her.
Her celebration for opening night was held in the home of someone that Mikhail worked with. Rin loved old houses and when she was having parties, especially for something this important, she wanted them to be in a more intimate but this home was still so big. Finally after she was finished getting ready, she heard a knock on the door. Rin stood up, walked over and opened the door a smile now on her face.
"Dimitri, it's wonderful to see you tonight. I wasn't sure if you would make it."
He leaned in and pressed a chaste kiss on her cheek. "Your uncle said it's time for you to make your entrance. You do look very lovely Mishka. I don't think I've seen this dress. It doesn't look like it's from your normal designer. It reminds me of something my sister would have wore. Do you know where it came from?"
She shook her head. "It just had a note that read, if you would be so gracious to wear this dress tonight. I believe it should fit you perfectly. She picked the note off of the table and handed it to her cousin. "I do hope that everything is alright."
"You have nothing to worry about it seems to be a gift from the people who wanted you to use their home and it came from where I thought it had. There is an amazing designer and Romania that their work cannot be reproduced and my sister loved his dresses. It's how I knew where it was from.
Rin's brow furrowed. "Romania, is my uncle looking in another direction to find someone for me to marry. I do not want everything to always be about that." She shook her head before taking her cousin's arm.
Once they'd made it to the entrance where she'd be going in alone, she kissed him on his cheek. "Wish me luck that whomever he's chosen for me to speak with tonight at least this one has good taste in dresses. She chuckled and started walking towards the door to the ballroom.
Karine walked through the door and looked out over the room, applause now starting for her. She smiled, waving her hands to each of them. Just as she was about to go look for her uncle, a man was standing behind her. She turned knowing at her height that she'd need to look up, and she wasn't wrong. Her eyes searched his for recognition but after a few moments, she knew that he was someone new. His traits made her think of home but something just a bit different. Reaching out her hand to the stranger she smiled.
"I'm not sure that I've met you before. I'm Karine Petrova but you may call me Rin, most people do." She held her hand out towards him as the other rested against the cut stones that were on the dress. SHe found herself feeling a bit nervous at the intense gaze, she began to pick at the stones, knowing she shouldn't. "Do you dance, Andrei?" For the first time she smiled, her eyes brighten. "I would love to dance and you're here so it must mean that you're destined to dance with me tonight."
