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I throw my head back laughing but trying to contain it at the same time in case she recognises it.
“Are you trying to get me drunk, little bird?”
“I doubt one tequila shot would do much to you,” she says, looking me over which has me blushing under my mask at her obvious perusal.
“Well, you don’t need to get me drunk to have your wicked way with me,” I state, making her eyes shoot to mine.
The bartender places the two shot glasses in front of us along with a saltshaker and lemon slices. I pick up one of the glasses foregoing the salt and lemon and she copies me.
“Shall we toast?” I ask, looking her in the eye.
“Sure. What would you like to drink to?”
With the small glass raised I reach out and say, “Here’s to growing back your clipped wings and setting you free, little bird.” I tap her glass and tip the liquid down my throat before I notice she does the same, only slower.
She places her glass down before she replies, “Who says I’m not already free?”
I stand, walking around the chair so I’m right next to her. She turns her whole body in her chair to face me. I can’t helpmyself and reach out my finger to trace it slowly along her jaw from her ear to her chin where I tilt her head. As I lean into her, I hear her breath hitch the closer my lips get to her ear.
My voice lowers to a whisper, “Little bird, can you not see you were caged when you were born but you are destined to fly? Besides, if you were already free, then I wouldn’t be here.” I deliver a kiss to her neck, below her ear, letting my lips linger for a second before pulling away. I turn and walk from her without a backward glance, hoping my plan is going in my favour.
I head to the men’s bathroom, walk into a stall and lock the door. The mask is suffocating so I slide it off my face and suck in deep breaths. A sheen of sweat covers my face, so I unroll some toilet paper and dab it across my skin before running my hand through my hair. My heart pounds in my chest so I draw a few more breaths in to calm myself.
As my heart rate lowers, I realise Holden is a bigger prick than I predicted. Part of the contract I hastily signed said I wasn’t allowed to break the rules of the party or else I would forgo my chance of marrying Sophia and Holden would be able to purchase my business for a third of the price he is offering. There’s no way in hell I’m letting him get away with that. So, I can’t take my mask off or tell Sophia who I am. How the heck am I supposed to get her to agree to marry a complete stranger. I don’t know if she would accept my proposal knowing it was me. She seems further away now and the dream of marrying her seems next to impossible.
With another deep breath, I place the hot metal mask back in place. I relieve myself then unlock the door and walk to the basin to wash my hands. While at the sink the phantom of the opera man and his friend walk in talking, so I zone in on their conversation while seeming inconspicuous.
They walk over to the urinal with their backs to me, so I keep my eyes on my hands, but my ears on their conversation.
“Have you found her yet?” I hear the friend ask.
“I think I’ve narrowed it to a couple of women out there. I think I’m going to have to pick one before the night is over and hope like hell it’s the right one,” Phantom guy says.
“You aren’t losing anything if you pick the wrong woman. You just lose your connection with Holden,” his friend says.
“That’s true. The risk is worth the reward. I’ll show you my options and you can help me decide.” They finish up and move to the basin. I pull out some brown paper towels, dry my hands and leave while they continue chatting. The door swings shut as I exit the bathroom. I don’t move too far away but stay out of sight as they exit then I follow them without them realising.
There is no way I’m letting this idiot marry my girl. It’s obvious he wants her to have ties to Holden where quite frankly I would cut those ties to save her in a heartbeat. Why did life have to be so cruel and give this kind sweet woman a horrible father?
Following dumb and dumber, I see him pointing out a few women to his friend. None of the ones he has chosen have any resemblance to Sophia so at least this is one problem I don’t need to concern myself with. Feeling better I don’t have to worry about him proposing to the real Sophia, I scan the room in search of Niko.
I should have known I’d find him back at the bar. He’s there talking to a woman, so I stand a few seats down until he looks up. I tilt my head to gesture for him to come talk to me. I didn’t want to interrupt his flirting game. I order another water while I wait for him to finish up then he comes over and takes a seat next to me.
“Enjoying yourself I see,” I say, as he sits.
“I might have to wear this mask all the time. It’s attracting women like honey to a bee,” he tells me, ordering a vodka withsugar free red bull. “Did you find her?” he asks, lowering his voice.
“I did,” I reply, taking a sip.
“And?” he prompts.
“And I laid some groundwork. Well, I think I did.”
“Groundwork? You don’t particularly have time for groundwork,” he tells me, before taking a big gulp of his drink.
“I know you’re right. I’m unsure what to do now. Apparently, there are rules to this party that I wasn’t aware of.”
“What rules?”
