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2 MASQUERADE
The next morning was a complete blur. I settled myself at the dining table in front of my laptop with my coffee and a notebook, spending the day applying for jobs. I began daydreaming more about my night, as I loved parties or any excuse to dress up. This was not a part of my everyday life, so I was excited when the time came to get ready.
I allowed myself two hours to get ready. Leaning forward in my bathroom mirror, I was applying eyeliner when Tanya suddenly appeared in the open doorway. My eyes caught her reflection, and I smiled.
“Are you looking forward to tonight?” she gushed with excitement.
“Actually, yes,” I stopped applying my eyeliner. Smiling, I pivoted to her. “I’m very excited, and I think this is just the kind of night I need.”
She nodded, crossing her arms.
I spun back to the mirror. “Who's hosting this party?” I mumbled with my face contorted as I drew on my other eyelid.
She stepped through the doorway into the bathroom, checking her already perfectly applied makeup. “My boss's best friend.”
I stopped, turning to face her. “Not to sound rude,” I giggled, “but how’d you get invited?”
She laughed, “Want to know a secret?”
I had a feeling I knew what she was about to say. “Uh huh,” I muttered while puckering my lips, applying lip gloss.
“I have been sleeping with my boss,” she whispered as if we were in a room full of people, but she did not appear embarrassed as she continued. “He is amazing.” She gripped her hips, smirking, “I have zero regrets.”
I glanced at her as I picked up my makeup setting spray. “And is this the guy I heard you come home with?” I snickered.
“He wasn't planning to come in,” she blushed as her eyes fell to the floor, “but we couldn't keep our hands off each other when he dropped me off.”
I held my breath, spraying my face. I then peered up at her, seeing that she was making the same face as me. I erupted into laughter.
“Sorry, I always make the same face as you when you do that if I'm in the room,” she giggled.
“I’m actually excited for tonight,” I shifted the topic as I began to style my hair.
She appeared nervous as her eyes found mine in the mirror’s reflection. “I hope you will have an open mind about tonight,” she muttered.
I twisted, intriguingly examining her, “What's that supposed to mean?”
She masked her concern with a smile as she veered to walk away. “You'll just have to wait and see,” she shouted back toward the bathroom from the hallway.
I rolled my eyes as I finished getting ready.
I finished getting ready in my penthouse suite of the hotel I owned. Making our way to the elevator, my security, friends, and I descended to the swanky, modern lobby. The hotel was bustling with tourists and business travelers, so my bodyguards shielded me as we stepped out.
It was not that I avoided the public per se. However, I was never one to go out of my way to be seen, especially now. Once a year, I would host a masquerade. Why? I did not trust women nor believe in relationships, so this was the easiest way for me to interact without having to be further involved. I would choose one or multiple women, making them mine until I was done with them. The catch? They could never know it was me.
It was important to conceal my identity as I was well-known. My real identity could not be publicized as this activity was considered illegal. Why? I paid these women to sleep with me. They were not professional prostitutes, call girls, escorts, whatever you wish to call them. These women were unsuspecting and beautiful. Some might even say a few of them were innocent; that is, until I was finished with them.
Some were experienced while others unquestionably lacked. I usually got bored with these women very quickly. All of them, regardless of their experience level, were all the same to me. They remained only a toy; nothing more, nothing less. I never pushed them into anything. They wanted it, badly.
We swiftly rounded the corner to a hallway that led to the main ballroom where the event took place. Approximately one hundred guests were already lined up outside on the ballroom patio as they had come in the back entrance of the hotel. I stood in the middle of the dance floor, slowly rotating in a circle, admiring the elegance as I slipped on my mask.
“It looks great,” I nodded toward the event planner.
I signaled for one of my staff to let guests in. The moment the doors opened, I was no longer Valentino Greco. No one knew the name of the event host other than a few people. No one needed to know. It was an exclusive time for a dark side of me to emerge the instant the mask was over my eyes.
We arrived in front of a hotel that towered over the buildings around us. I suddenly found myself feeling small and unimportant. I could never afford a room here, but I kept reminding myself that we were only here for a party. Still, I was exceptionally intimidated.
Stepping into the lavish ballroom was a bit more overwhelming than the exterior, but it was absolutely magnificent. Dim lights illuminated the room as faux candles were scattered throughout, creating a sensual atmosphere. There were hired performers moving in sync on the dance floor while acrobats hung from the ceiling twirling and flipping around aerial hoops and silks. Other performers strolled around the grand ballroom, performing smaller tricks for the guests as they applauded.
