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“Ok, go do your thing then. I’ll be fine.”
“Not a chance.”
“Well, you’ve got to do it at some point, don’t you?”
19
EMMA
After much back and forth,I finally convinced Mason I’d be fine by myself for a few minutes. I hated the idea that he felt like he had to babysit me when he was really here to work.
I shifted as my feet started to ache from my heels. The thin straps were beginning to create blisters on my feet. That’s what I got for being a T-shirt girl who decided to wear four-inch heels tonight. I never had the chance to dress up and go out like this, and I’d jumped at the opportunity, but now I was seriously regretting my shoe choice. I leaned on the side of the table and adjusted the strap to my shoe.
“Seriously, I’ll be fine. Don’t use me as an excuse. Go do your thing.” I said it more sternly than I meant to. The pain of my feet was wearing off the glamour of the evening.
“Fine. But stay alert. I’ll be gone for less than ten minutes.” He grumbled and nodded towards the man in the cream tuxedo. “He’s going to ask you to dance the moment I disappear.”
“Should I say yes?” I popped another olive into my mouth and chewed it nervously. I didn’t know who the man was, but something about him made me look a little longer trying to piece it together.
“I don’t like it, but if you feel so inclined, it would buy me a little bit of a window.”
“Ok.” I looked up at him. “I really don’t think he’s going to ask me to dance, though.”
Mason chuckled, “I guarantee he’s going to.” He leaned down and gave me a soft kiss, but he didn’t take my invitation as I parted my lips slightly.
I made a face when he pulled back. “We’ll see.” I said. “If he does come over here, I’ll try to keep him busy.” I gave him a pointed look. “Don’t leave me stranded for too long though.”
“I’ll be back before you know it.” Mason kissed the top of my head. “Alright, be good.” He turned and looked across the room and casually waved to someone across the room, but I doubted he was waving to anyone at all.
I reached for another stuffed mushroom and popped the whole thing into my mouth. I’d just hover over the food, and hopefully, no one would bother me.
When I looked up, Mason was gone. My eyes flicked around the room, and that was it. I shook my head and hoped he’d be quick. I tried to ignore the eyes, but without Mason at my side, I suddenly felt like I was prey being sized up by the many male eyes in the room. I didn’t want to make myself smaller. I hated that, but I also didn’t have the energy to deal with anyone’s attention right now. I kept my eyes on the food and continued grazing.
A deep voice sounded behind me. “Where did your date go?”
I whirled around, startled by the closeness of the voice. It was the man in the cream tuxedo, standing there, far too close for comfort.
I froze, suddenly recognizing his voice, the voice that haunted me in my dreams. I’d recognize it anywhere.
It was the man from Iran, the man who’d threatened Mason and me.
The man who’d questioned me about Mason, and then when I said I didn’t know anything had proceeded to have me tortured, nearly drowning me.
The man who’d let all his men record us while he forced Mason and me to dothe deedin front of them, like some sick sporting event.
I tried to steady my breath, not to give anything away. In this dress, in this mask, I looked different from how I’d looked in Iran.
I could be anyone.
I am supposed to be here; I told myself and struggled to steady my breath as I stuffed the scream that wanted to claw its way out, right back down.
His bodyguards hovered nearby, and he held his hand out. “A dance?”
A hard lump formed in my throat, and I couldn’t speak. My eyes flicked around the room, looking for Mason.
The man stepped forward now completely in my space and chuckled, “I promise I don’t bite.” He winked at me through his mask as he gazed down at me, and it sent a sickening wave through my stomach. “Unless you want me to.”
I was panicking. I didn’t know what to do. I turned to go the other way, but his bodyguards stood in the way. I wondered if I ran what they would do.
