Chapter 15 Belle
Belle
I was just finishing putting on my lipstick when I heard a knock at the door. My brows scrunched in confusion. Who would be knocking on my door? Holden and I had agreed to meet at the bottom of the staircase in the lobby before making our way to the ballroom.
Looking through the peephole, I saw Maggie standing on the other side.
I hesitated for a beat, my heart thumping against my ribs. Of all the people I’d expected tonight, she wasn’t one of them.
Quickly smoothing a hand down the front of my dress, I opened the door. “Maggie. Hi.”
She smiled warmly, her eyes softening. “Hi, sweetheart. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“No, of course not. Please, come in.” I stepped aside, letting her into the room. She looked elegant in a deep-navy gown, her brown bob sleek and shiny, a small clutch in one hand.
“I just wanted to stop by before the ball,” she said, stepping into the room with an air of quiet purpose. “I’ve been meaning to speak with you.”
My stomach tightened. I gestured for her to sit on the small sofa, but she remained standing, turning to face me.
“I know things didn’t work out between you and Alex,” she said gently. “And I’m not here to ask questions about that. I think you know as well as I do that sometimes people just aren’t the right fit.”
I nodded slowly, unsure of where this was going. “It was never anything against him. I just…wanted something different.”
Her smile grew, understanding flickering in her eyes. “I know, dear. And honestly, I’m not surprised. Alex is a good man, but he’s so focused on work. I’ve always worried he’d miss what’s right in front of him.”
She stepped closer, reaching out to take my hand. “But that’s not why I’m here. I’ve seen the way Holden looks at you. And the way you look at him.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Maggie, I—”
She squeezed my hand. “You don’t have to explain. I just wanted you to know that I support it. I support you. And him. You two…there’s something real there.”
I blinked, overwhelmed. “I wasn’t sure if it would be strange, with me having dated Alex—”
“It’s not strange,” she said quickly, firmly. “Life is messy. Love is even messier. But if you’re lucky enough to find someone who makes you feel seen, who makes you laugh, who makes your heart feel full—you don’t let go of that.”
My throat tightened. “You really don’t mind?” Not that I necessarily needed her blessing, but I found myself wanting it all the same.
“I love Holden like a son. Always have. And I’ve prayed for years that he’d find someone who could make him believe in love. He’s been through a lot. But I have a feeling you might know that better than most.”
I nodded, tears pricking the corners of my eyes.
“You’re perfect for him,” Maggie said, her voice soft. “I see how you light up when he’s near. How he softens around you. Not everyone gets to fall in love and be with the love of their life.” Her gaze grew distant for a moment. And I had a feeling she was talking about herself.
A silence settled between us, heavy but not sad.
“But some people—like you and Holden—do,” she continued. “Don’t let fear keep you from something this special.”
I swallowed hard, emotion swelling in my chest. “Thank you. That means more than you know.”
She smiled and leaned in, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Now, go knock his socks off, honey. That man already looks at you like you hung the moon.”
As she turned to leave, the door clicking shut behind her, I stood frozen for a moment, trying to collect myself. I took a deep breath. My heart was full in a way that caught me off guard. It was heavy with emotion, but also light, buoyant with hope.
Maggie’s words settled over me like a warm blanket. She believed in us. In me. In Holden. And somehow, that made it easier to believe in us too.
I took one last glance in the mirror and smoothed a hand over the fabric of my dress, the gold silk catching the light. My curls framed my face just right, and a touch of shimmer dusted my collarbones. But with Holden, I didn’t need to care so much about how I looked.
Grabbing my clutch, I stepped out into the hallway and headed for the elevator, my heels clicking softly against the polished floor.
With every step, my nerves danced higher in my chest, fluttery and electric, but underneath it all was something steadier.
A quiet certainty that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
When the elevator doors opened into the lobby, the hum of music and laughter drifted in from the ballroom down the hall. And there, standing at the bottom of the grand staircase like something out of a dream, was Holden.
He was facing away from me, straightening the cuffs of his crisp black tuxedo jacket. And just the sight of him, even from behind, made my pulse skip.
I paused for a moment, taking it all in—the night, the sparkle of lights from the Christmas tree, the low hum of the festivities waiting just ahead.
Then I stepped forward, heart pounding, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
He turned at the sound of my footsteps, and the second our eyes met, the rest of the world seemed to fall away.
His gaze swept over me slowly, like he was trying to commit every inch of me to memory. Then his lips parted, and a breath hitched in his chest.
“Belle…” His voice was a low exhale. “You look…wow.”
A blush warmed my cheeks, but I held his gaze, letting myself enjoy the way he was looking at me, like I was the only thing in the room that mattered.
He worked to clear his throat, as if trying to recover from his lack of eloquence. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I smiled. “You look rather dashing yourself.”
His mouth curved into a slow, crooked smile. “Dashing, huh? I’ll take it. Though I’m wondering if I should have worn something a little more frosting-resistant with you around.”
A soft laugh escaped me. “Are you saying you don’t trust me to behave tonight?”
“Oh, I definitely don’t trust you,” he teased, then leaned in slightly. “But that’s kind of the fun part.”
The butterflies in my stomach stirred. His voice had dropped just enough to make the air between us feel warmer, more electric.
“Let’s go, Rudolph,” he murmured with a wink.
I rolled my eyes, blushing again. “You’re never letting that go, are you?”
“Not a chance,” he smirked, reaching out and offering me his arm. I slipped my hand into the crook of his elbow, then paused. “Speaking of Rudolph…”
His brows lifted. “Yeah?”
I reached into my clutch and pulled out a red tie with a felt reindeer and a puffy nose. “That has me remembering our wager from last night.”
He took it from my hands, his expression shifting from amused to stunned. “You’re kidding.”
“I told you I’d pick my own prize,” I said, lifting a brow. “And I pick this.”
He laughed, a real one that crinkled the corners of his eyes. “You brought a Rudolph tie to a black-tie event?”
“You called me Rudolph. Fair’s fair.”
He shook his head in disbelief, grinning as he untied the sleek black bow at his collar. “You’re trouble, you know that?”
“So I’ve heard,” I said sweetly, watching as he replaced it with the goofy tie.
“You’re lucky I like you.”
I gave him a pointed but teasing look. “You’re lucky I didn’t bring the matching antlers.”
He laughed again, and I couldn’t help smiling, warmth blooming in my chest.
Once he had the tie on, I placed my hand into the crook of his elbow as we walked toward the ballroom.
I was genuinely excited to watch the dance competition some of the athletes had signed up for to help raise money for the Mynt to Make a Difference charity.
I’d always enjoyed watching Dancing with the Stars, and according to the charity ball flyer, this was supposed to be a lot like that, but with athletes.
As we walked, he lowered his voice, leaning in just enough that I could feel his breath against my cheek. “Just so you know…if I’d signed up for this dance competition, I would’ve crushed it.”
“Uh-huh,” I said with a grin. “Sure you would’ve.”
“Hey, don’t let the skates fool you. I’ve got moves.”
I arched a brow. “Prove it later.”
He looked over at me, eyes gleaming. “Deal.”
The ballroom doors were open, welcoming guests into a winter wonderland that looked like something straight out of a fairytale.
Twinkling lights were strung across the high ceilings like a net of stars.
Evergreen garlands laced with silver ribbon and red berries across the balconies and wrapped around the marble columns.
Dozens of round tables were scattered throughout the space, their silver and gold tablecloths shimmering under the soft golden light, each centerpiece a snow globe surrounded by flickering candles.
At the far end of the room, a large dance floor gleamed beneath a grand chandelier made to look like cascading icicles. A stage stood nearby, trimmed with holly and gold velvet curtains, where a band was playing festive jazz covers.
Holden whistled low under his breath. “They really went all out.”
“I feel like I just walked into the Christmas edition of a royal ball,” I said, my eyes wide with wonder.
We headed toward a nearby table, where Holden pulled out my chair and helped me sit before taking the seat beside me. And even with all the glitter and glamour around me, nothing sparkled quite as brightly as the way Holden was looking at me.
A moment later, a voice rang out through the speakers, full of excitement and cheer. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m Barry Mynt, and I want to welcome you to the first-ever Peppermynt Twist Showdown!”
The room burst into applause, and we joined in, clapping along with the energy buzzing through the ballroom.
Mr. Mynt stood center stage, looking extremely festive in a red velvet tuxedo trimmed with white satin lapels and a matching pocket square shaped like a peppermint. It definitely made him stand out, but something told me that was exactly the point.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have you all here tonight in support of the Mynt to Make a Difference Foundation!” he continued, grinning so wide it looked like his cheeks might cramp.
“And let’s take a moment to appreciate this breathtaking ballroom.
My incredible wife, Mary, is the mastermind behind every garland, bow, and bedazzled centerpiece you see tonight.
She poured her heart—and an impressive amount of glitter—into making the Merry Mynt Ball truly magical. ”
Another round of applause erupted, and Barry gave an exaggerated bow in Mary’s direction, where she stood near the front, beaming proudly in a floor-length gown covered in snowflake sequins.
“Tonight’s performers are trading uniforms for sequins as they team up with professional dancers to compete in the ultimate holiday dance-off,” Barry said, straightening his jacket with flair. “You’ll be dazzled by footwork, festive flair, and if we’re lucky, a few unexpected surprises.”
Holden leaned in, murmuring, “I don’t know what’s shinier—his jacket or his teeth.”
I bit back a laugh. “He looks like a candy cane got invited to the Oscars.”
Just then, the lights dimmed and the spotlight hit the dance floor. The first couple stepped out to a burst of holiday music and a flurry of applause. Sequins sparkled, hips started swaying, and the room buzzed with energy.
I leaned in closer to Holden, our shoulders brushing. “This is going to be fun.”
He reached for my hand beneath the table, his fingers threading through mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. “I’m just looking forward to the part where I get to dance with you.”
My heart did a little spin.
And as the music picked up and the dancers twirled across the floor, I let myself soak in the moment—sparkles, laughter, and Holden’s hand in mine.