Page 57 of Masked in Deception
I feel him bend his head down to inhale my hair, then press a kiss to my temple. Only, it’s not a real kiss, because I don’t feel his lips, only soft material. He got naked with me again because I asked him to. But this time, he didn’t take his balaclava off. He left his mask firmly in place.
Chapter forty-seven
Remember, you’re real Jack, not masked Jack, and this is a platonic date to finally spend some time with an old friend.I repeat my mantra untilthe doors to the private veranda open to reveal the woman who will always take my breath away.
Fuck an old friend. She’s everything, and you know it.
She looks like sin and money in her fitted cream dress and matching tailored coat. Her hair is pulled half up with voluminous curls falling down her back.Why on earth did I send this goddess to Paris two years ago?
After an embarrassing episode of stumbling out of my chair, I make my way to meet her with an awkward hug and lead her back to her seat.
I’m not looking too shabby, either. I made sure to groom myself particularly well tonight and donned the most flattering black suit I own. I was expecting her to show up in one of her black dresses when I chose my outfit, but with her lighter option, we’re kind of giving off a devil and angel vibe. I’m starting to understand why Ledger likes to role-play like this with Sloane.
“This is lovely, Mr. Carter.” She looks around at the city lights below us, her reaction filling me with a mix of pride and relief.
I booked this reservation the night she agreed to go out with me. A private table at a restaurant with three Michelin stars and a 360-degree view of New York is exactly the kind of thing my princess would consider astellar date.
Don’t get me wrong, she likes a laid-back diner with greasy fried food as much as anyone, but my girl has always enjoyed a nice night out. She’s never been that caged princess who was forced to sit all prim and proper and sip her tea with her pinky up but longed to run and play. No, not Margot. She’s alwayslovedgetting dressed up for a fancy meal.
To be fair, she loved to climb trees and play ball as well, so maybe that’s part of what makes her so special. She’s always been the most well-rounded, brilliant person I’ve known. She would’ve enjoyed a fun activity tonight, but I want as much time as I can get just talking to her. Who knows when she’ll ever give me that chance again.
“Margot, please just call me Jack. I can’t take this distance between us anymore.” I raise a trembling hand over the table for her to shake. “Can we please call a truce between us? You were my best friend. I know I fucked it all up, and I know there will be a you-sized hole in my heart for the rest of my life, but the animosity is killing me.”
The candlelight reflecting in her beautiful eyes threatens to wash me away, but I’ve been fighting for my life in those eyes for as long as I can remember. I hold my ground, meeting her stare as the storm brewing deep within her gaze calms, her walls finally dropping to let me in.
She places a steady hand in mine. “Alright,Jack.Truce.”
I continue to shake her hand until she clears her throat and pulls it back as properly as she can with my tight hold. Our server comes to pour us a glass of wine and walks us through theprix fixe menu to see if any adjustments are needed. There aren’t any, of course. I know this woman like the back of my hand. No amount of time away from her has ever changed that, and no amount of time ever will.
“My apologies, ” I say when he’s left us alone again, my rejected hand rubbing the back of my neck. “Um…Did you get your flowers this morning?”
I never stopped sending her that ridiculously large arrangement of assorted pink flowers for Valentine's Day. Even when she was in Paris, although she never responded to let me know she would be my Valentine for those two years. Due to the nature of the auction date being specifically for February 14th, she’s mine for tonight, though. At least for a few hours.
And that’s enough.
“Yes, thank you…Jack. They were very nice. The diamonds as well.” Despite our shake of truce, her demeanor is as rigid as ever.
“Please relax, Margot, this isn’t a real date.”To my dismay.“I just want to know what you’ve been up to lately.”I miss you.“I’ve been so focused on getting the new business up and running that I’m afraid I’ve forgotten what it’s like to live. Something you seem to have been doing to the fullest. Let me live vicariously through you.”
Her pretty eyes roll as she takes in my confession. “Oh please, Jack, your business is asex club. Don’t act like you’ve been living this boring existence since you’ve been in New York.”
I give her the best smile I can summon, which is apparently just a sad side smile.No, Princess, it’s been a very gray, boring existence indeed.
“Well, it’s certainly not as exciting as that one summer you decided you were done waiting for yourpee peeto come in and would just take one of ours instead. You even hadHenrywatching his back. I can’t tell you how many times I caught him hiding from you.”
For the first time in over two years, my princess laughs at me, spitting her sip of wine back into her glass in the process. This time, the smile that spreads across my face is genuine.
“Oh my God, I completely forgot about that! I wasfive.You can’t hold that against me forever!”
“Oh, I can and will. I still see a phantom five-year-old Margot coming after mybig boy bitsfrom time to time.” Although, she can certainly take mine from me now. Any time she wants.
“Speaking of Phantom, do you remember when Mom took us all to seePhantom of the Operafor the first time?”
I should’ve guessed that sayingphantomwould lead to this.
“Do I ever! Ledger got to fuck off while you made me play both Raoulandthe Phantom so you didn’t have to choose.That way, you get them both at the end.”
“Well, that is on brand. I still enjoy a good why choose.” She winks, swirling her glass around before taking a drink.
