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Mario looks like he might try to take me on, but something he spots over my shoulder makes him slump in defeat.
“Do we understand each other?”
“Yeah man,” Mario mutters.
“Good.”
I leave Mario. It’s better to be far away from him in case Annie spots me. I have to make sure she sees me around the party before I put my plan into action.
It takes me a few minutes to calm the violent rage boiling my blood. I take a deep breath and gulp the rest of my champagne.
One of the serving staff stops beside me and leans in to be heard discreetly. “Your garment is being held upstairs.”
“Thank you.” I slip the guy a fifty and select another glass of champagne from his tray.
I have big plans for Annie tonight.
Excitement swirls through me as I lay out my strategy. If it all goes well, in a few hours we’ll be in my sports car heading toward the sunrise and the cabin I bought a while back.
Tonight is about making her mine.
But after I break her, I want to give her everything her father doesn’t.
Finally, I catch sight of Annie across the room.
The corner of my mouth lifts. First things first…
I keep my distance from her, staying within her field of view without approaching her. She needs to think she knows where I am, but I can’t give her too many clues by getting close. Even when her dad and mine borrow a microphone from the band to welcome everyone, I stand with my arm slung around my mom’s shoulders instead of seeking Annie’s company.
“Welcome everyone. Thanks for coming tonight.” Victor squeezes Dad’s shoulder, a shark’s smile on his face. “Not only are we all here to ring in the new year together, but Morris and I are proud to announce that our kids are bringing our families closer than ever.”
Dad takes over. “They’ve known each other since they were toddlers and now they’re tying us together. Join us in congratulating my son Cohen on his engagement to Annabeth Noble.”
Cheers ripple through the room. Annie has her fake smile plastered in place. Uncle Al even sidles over to her and makes a show of cupping her face in his hands and pecking her on both cheeks.
Mom leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek, too. “You make me so proud.”
“Ma, please,” I protest. I wrap her in a hug and meet Annie’s eyes over Mom’s shoulder.
The look flickering behind her mask is clear to me, even though everyone else falls for her act. The anticipation for what’s coming spurs me on. I give her a cocksure wave and keep my eyes locked on the prize.
Just you wait, little bird.
When I think enough people have seen me, I slip into the shadows of the party and go to the room the server told me of earlier. My prepared garment bag waits. I unzip it and reveal a white tuxedo with classic black silk lapels. Inside the bag there’s also a simple black mask.
Once I change, I peek out through a crack in the door before leaving the storage room a new man.
Annie will have to face the truth that we belong together, because I’m the only one for her.
I’m the only person that can give her everything she needs.
There’s no way she can deny she’s not mine after tonight. Not after I become the dream guy she thinks she wants.
One that will sweep Annabeth Noble off her feet and then bring her world crashing down around her ears when I reveal myself.
Knocking her from her high horse to prove her wrong is going to feel so fucking good.
