Page 52 of Masked in Deception
Is your attention span the problem?
Pet:
Asshole.
I’m just a busy, important woman.
Sir:
I recommend you review it in detail. It discusses my complete discretion over your orgasm(s), corporal punishment, specific punishments for dress code violation, tardiness, sass. I wouldn’t want there to be any confusion.
Pet:
I’ll read it and send it back signed.
Sir:
The pawprint next to your signature was cute, pet.
I hope you really did read it thoroughly. Our time together could be difficult for you if not.
Chapter forty-four
Despite my best efforts to avoid being present for the Valentine’s Day auction at RendezvousToo, Mom insisted I should be there just in case my expertise was needed or a high-profile client wanted attention. While she’s correct that therearea lotof high-profile people here tonight, including A-list Hollywood stars, music icons, and otherwise influential people in the world, my staff is competent. Even though she conceded my point about my staff, she finally hit me with, “Well, you certainly don’t have any romantic plans for this evening!”
And she wasn’t wrong there. Although,technically, I have romantic plans fortomorrow, and I’ve been buzzing since my masked man finally texted the phone he gave me earlier this week. For tonight, though, there are worse ways to spend my evening than building my anticipation while watching my business triumph and seeing people fucking all around me.
I’m not on show tonight, so I don a simple, strappy black minidress of my own design, adding a darker eye than I normally wear and bolder lipstick. I’ve gone back to my classicvoluminous curls, still able to curl and tease on autopilot from so many years of my signature look. Adding some shimmer to my decolletage, I realize I look damn good, and my eyes look like I have a dirty little secret. Which, I guess I do. I wonder what my masked man is doing tonight. He could technically have a partner, but I doubt that. I’m not sure why I feel so connected to him, but I’m not going to question it. With plenty of time to think about our earth-shattering chemistry, I’ve decided I’m young, and I’m not going to fight it.
He could be there tonight, and you would never know.
That’s an interesting idea. I’m not fooled into thinking that he wouldn’t recognize me if he saw me in public. My mask is a flimsy lace, designed to act as more of a seductive accessory than to preserve my identity. I’m thankfully not a celebrity by any means. My family always maintained a very private life despite my father’s global business operations, my brothers’ athletic pursuits, and now my budding business. Hopefully, even if La Reine is massively successful, I look enough like other blondes to blend in with the crowd.
Deciding to dress as if my masked suitor will be in attendance, I take off my opaque black tights and replace them with a garter belt and lacy thigh highs. My black heels have a platform and a strap around the ankle, giving my legs every advantage and a little extra height. Grabbing my clutch and my coat, I reach for the door when my eyes catch on a package that was delivered earlier today with no return address. Tearing open the envelope, I read the inscription on the note inside, “For you, when you’re mine.”
I briefly consider the lack of signature before my brain is distracted by the fact that a diamond choker has slithered out into my hand. It’s gorgeous. A full circle of round brilliant stones, interrupted only by what looks like a thick, platinum ring at the back of the necklace by the clasp. It’s obviously well-madebut not keeping with the delicate nature of the piece overall. Staring at it for a few long moments, I finally realize what it reminds me of. A ring for a leash to be clipped on. A mental image of wearing nothing but these beautiful diamonds and being led around on a matching platinum leash flits across my mind, and I hope my arousal doesn’t drip down enough to visibly shine between my thighs tonight.But it might.
I clasp my new necklace on and finally make my way to the idling car, ready for tonight to pass quickly so it can be tomorrow.
Seeing RendezvousToo full of patrons, all dressed to the nines, is even more impressive than I expected. I have to grudgingly admit that Jack has clearly worked his ass off over the past two years based on the sense of excitement and community in the room. Regulars mingle with carefully chosen invitees, all sipping either their one allotted cocktail or pink mocktails, on theme for the evening. Slow, sensual beats are an undercurrent to the rising tension in the air as the auction start time approaches. Aaron informed me during our last meeting that tonight, more X-rated activities will be allowed in the main ballroom area with the stage than usual.
“So that everyone can fully immerse themselves in the sensuality of the auction,” he said.
Sensual is exactly how I would describe the current energy. I see a woman being led to a chaise lounge on a leash, andabsentmindedly reach to touch my necklace when I’m jolted out of my reverie by a voice I didn’t expect to hear tonight.
“Margot! Darling,wheredid you get that necklace?”
Mom? My mother, ladies and gentlemen, more concerned about my new diamonds than the fact that I’m dressed like a BDSM wet dream.
“Mom, what are you doing here?”
“Well, sweetie, I had a meeting in the city, and then I wanted to see Jack while I was in town. He’s been here all day, so I picked up some food and we had a little picnic in his office. Once it got closer to opening time, I just stayed to see the beginning of the auction so I could see both of my kids’ visions come to life tonight. Isn’t it impressive what he’s done here?” she asks, finally stopping to take a breath after singing Jack’s praises.
There’s no reason to pretend in front of her, so I agree. “It is. I think it might be even sexier in here than the original location, not that I’d ever tell Jack that,” I say, realizing too late that Mom’s eyes are tracking over my left shoulder. I turn to see Jack wearing an all-black suit with no tie, smirking as he no doubt heard what I just said.Great.
I roll my eyes and turn back to Mom, seeing his eyes catch on my necklace just before he’s no longer in my sight. I feel him, though, coming to stand beside me.
“Thank you for the compliment, Princess,” he purrs, and I roll my eyes again as Mom laughs. “I’m not sure when you managed to sneak into Rendezvous without us knowing, but I’ll make sure to tell Ledger you said that at my earliest convenience.”
