Page 36 of The Masks She Wore

?I was one of them.

?Proper, formal, too good for the public.

?I did my hair in fancy twists so it was out of my face and falling down my back.

?My makeup tonight was dark, my eyeshadow black and red, my lips lined in deep red. My dress flowed around me, made of black silk that drifted over my curves easily, and every time it slid across my skin, goosebumps followed.

?It had a drop back so low, it only barely covered my ass. The front was bunched just above my breasts, the straps less than an inch thick. The slit was so high, I couldn’t even wear athong. My heels were black and buckled around my ankles, revealing my newly manicured toes, also dark red to match my nails.

?I slid my hands over my hips, twisting in the mirror, admiring the way the dress fit me. God, I looked good. Like I belonged at this event. Like I belonged among these people even though I couldn’t remember a thing about any of them.

?I was Marla Bennett’s daughter, and tonight, I would do her proud, I was determined.

?With a roll of the shoulders, I pulled on my mask, tying the thick black ribbons back into a bow on the back of my head.

?It was beautiful, just covering the bridge of my nose and up. Black with swirls of gold and red decorated it, and despite the fact that it was far from looking like a skull, all I could think about was the man from last night.

?I wondered what made him choose me. There were millions of people in this city, what made him decide to start following me? Was he a follower obsessed with my Instagram? Or did he just see me outside of the precinct and decide I was the one he wanted?

?I shook the thoughts away and called my driver, asking him to meet me out front before gathering my things.

?I would make this a good night. No matter what happened. Donna had prepared me well for nights like this. Teaching me all about finances, marketing, contracts, business in general. I knew about art, and I even spoke three different languages.

?“Thank you, Donna,”I thought towards her. I resented her for leaving me right after my mom’s death, but she taught me everything I knew. Skills that would give me a good life later on.

?My phone started ringing as soon as I stepped into the elevator. I felt the tease of irritation growing when I saw the name. “What?”

?“Are you going out tonight?” Max asked, clearly busy with something by the grunts in the background.

?“Yes, and I will be busy.” I shouldn’t have answered the phone. Why did I answer the phone?

?“Because I am a slut for self-destruction,”I had told Viv yesterday. God, it couldn’t have been more true.

?“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to the carnival?”

?He sounded like a whining puppy, begging his master to explain why he had stayed locked in a cage while I went out. “Because you don’t have the right to know where I was going. I barely know you.”

?“That’s because you choose to fuck men in masks rather than spend time with your brother.”

?A chill ran down my spine at that confession. So he didn’t leave the park last night. He had watched me. Watched that man do what he wanted. He had seen it all. “Goodbye, Max.”

?“Yeah, go have fun, fucking slut.”

?I hung up, a horrible feeling twisting my stomach. He had seen it all. So what though? What was he going to do? Call the police? Tell them I willingly let some scare actor fuck me in a circus tent?

?Where would that get him?

?I chewed on my thumbnail. Shit. Once Captain Bard heard about that, he would certainly never take me seriously. Not even a little bit. So whatever progress I did have, if I had any, would be lost in that allegation—

?No,no. I would not let him ruin this night for me. It wasn’t about me or him, it was about Mom. This night was abouther. I had to show the people out there that I didn’t just crumble when she died, that I could take her place in their society without complications.

?I inhaled deeply and released a slow breath as the elevator doors opened. This was important.

?It waseverything.

10

Jack

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