AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Annabeth
The event designers have outdone themselves, transforming the building into a magical fantasy. Glitzy elegance drips from every corner. A sea of stars hangs overhead in thousands of tiny lights between the crystal chandeliers.
I’m too stubborn to admit it after all my plans to avoid this party so I could make a run from my life, but it is beautiful.
Dad’s threat was too great to risk, so here I am.
A champagne flute dangles from my fingers. It’s my third—one more than Dad said I was allowed to have. If I have to suffer through the party, I plan to be drunk throughout most of it.
Pleasant warmth fills me as I sway to the music from the live band, head tipped up to marvel at the illusion of twinkling starlight above the crowd.
The party is packed, everyone wearing their masks. At midnight we’re supposed to reveal ourselves. Below the balcony where I watch, people on the dance floor twirl in sleek tuxedos and glamorous designer gowns.
The one I’m wearing is a couture Elie Saab designed for me. It’s cream and encrusted with embroidered beading and Swarovski crystals with a high slit in the skirt to mid-thigh. The full length sleeves are illusion-style and there’s a plunging back that exposes me to every touch as Dad made me greet Mr. Decker and his wife.
It didn’t escape my attention that it could pass as a wedding dress for me to wear to my engagement party.
I stood there with a fake smile nailed in place while Gloria Decker’s eyes lit up. She said I’d make a beautiful bride. My stomach had twisted painfully as I was forced to thank her while she got misty-eyed about her baby boy growing up.
The only small blessing is that Cohen hasn’t found me yet.
I touch the strip of dainty black lace that covers my eyes, my mask for the evening. It’s different from the elaborate carnival masks most other women selected. I wanted something simple that wouldn’t bother me all night.
“A beauty like you shouldn’t suffer the tragedy of an empty glass. Can I offer you another?”
A voice that almost sounds like Cohen behind me makes me jump. I was counting my blessings too soon; he must have found me. I spin around.
It’s not Cohen. I saw him earlier with a velvet red suit and this man looks dapper in his classic white tux with black satin lapels.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you jump.” The tall man with tousled dark hair and a simple black mask smiles, holding up a fresh glass of champagne. “In my head this played out a lot more debonair. There was swooning involved.”
I raise an eyebrow and a smile plays in the corner of my mouth. “Swooning? You’ve got the wrong girl. Maybe the wrong century, too.”
He steps closer, leaning against the intricate stone balustrade. His attention sweeps over the party below. For a moment, his profile looks like Cohen and I stiffen. But then the mystery man turns back and grants me a charming smile. This one actually reaches his eyes.
Cohen doesn’t smile like that.
“Here.”
The guy offers me the glass again and I take it, setting my empty one on the tray of a passing server. I take a small sip and survey the guests below.
“That one.” He points out a middle aged man with a flashy red mask on the dance floor shaking his backside in front of a woman half his age. Mystery Guy tosses me a crooked, playful grin.
“What about him?”
I haven’t decided whether this man is friend or foe. Maybe he’s just trying to flirt with me thinking I’ll be an easy lay if he butters me up with some chivalry and banter. He probably arrived late and missed Dad and Mr. Decker’s big announcement kicking off the party, declaring my engagement to Cohen.
Either way, I know it would piss Cohen off if he found me enjoying myself with someone who isn’t him. I plan to enjoy myself and half-hope he finds us just to see his reaction.
That’ll get him back good for the car incident the other day.
“Wall Street shark,” he says. “Secretly wears lacy garter belts, but only his secretary knows because the poor dude was accidentally copied in on an email with photographic evidence meant for Wall Street’s mistress.”
A snort escapes me and I smother it with the back of my hand. Mystery Guy grins, soft gaze traveling over my face as I laugh.
“I hope the secretary has a good therapist,” I say after I recover. I decide to play along with his game. Smoothing a hand over my gown I search and point out my pick. “There.”
“The lady with the bee theme going on?”
