Page 11 of Be With Us: An Urban Foursome Love Story

‘She’s not coming in?’ he said, looking past her into the corridor.

‘Don't be too disappointed,’ sighed Emilia. ‘She's off to Germany.’

Cassian nodded and turned back to the TV.

‘What's the event?’ he asked.

Emilia sat down on the couch and opened the envelope.

‘It's a masquerade ball,’ said Emilia. ‘She might not make it, but she’s given us some tickets.’

‘Like, tuxedo and a mask? How decadent.’

‘There's an after party too.’

‘Oh yeah?’

Emilia nodded, but Cassian’s attention was back on the TV now, watching and listening to the news reporter read out the headlines for the day.

‘Where everyone gets naked and fucks,’ she said.

Cassian turned back to her, brow furrowed.

‘What?’

Emilia smiled. ‘There's an after party, we don't have to go though, but Alice says it's a lot of fun.’

‘Wait, you spoke to Alice about this?’

Emilia nodded. ‘We talk about everything, Cass.’

Cassian continued to stare, wide eyed. ‘And she’s okay with it?’

‘Yes. Come on, this is Alice we’re talking about. If you’re not sure about going, that’s fine.’

She got up and walked off into the kitchen. Cassian called after her and then followed.

‘I'm sorry, I'm just a bit surprised. This is going a bit quicker than I thought it would. The other day we were talking about opening up our marriage and now we’ve got tickets to an orgy at the weekend and your sister knows all about it? It's a lot to take in.’

Emilia stayed quiet, looking down at the floor, hand resting on the kitchen counter surface. Cassian picked up the tickets and looked them over.

‘The Carnaval de Débauche?’ said Cassian, raising his eyebrows. ‘So what happens at the after party?’

‘I don’t know? Alice says that it’s just for whoever wants to stay on.’

‘There must be more to it than that.’

Emilia shrugged. ‘Maybe they give out secret invites while we’re there?’

‘Your name’s not on the list, because you’re not hot enough?’ joked Cassian.

Emilia shrugged. She was beginning to feel a bit deflated.

‘What about cameras? I don’t want to end up in the local paper, I think the boss might have a few words to say about it.’

‘There’s no way they’d let cameras in, but I don’t really know.’

Cassian put the tickets back down on the side and then looked over at Emilia.

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