CHAPTER 13
1982 Words
Juliana.
A masquerade ball.
That was the last thing I expected.
Alexander had dropped the news so casually over breakfast, like it was just another part of his schedule.
“You need to be ready next week,” he said, sipping his coffee.
I blinked. “For what?”
“A party.” His voice was calm, as if he hadn’t just blindsided me. “It’s important.”
I frowned. “You expect me to attend some fancy event with you?”
“I expect you to listen.” He leaned back in his chair, watching me. “You’ll be my date. And while you’re there, you won’t be Juliana.”
I stilled. “What do you mean?”
His gaze was unwavering. “Your name, for that night, is Liliana.”
A chill ran through me.
“No one can know who you really are,” he continued smoothly. “If they do, they’ll start asking questions. Questions I don’t have time for.”
I swallowed hard.
This wasn’t just a party.
This was a game.
And I was just another piece on his board.
…………………………………………………………………………….
“You do realize I don’t have anything to wear, right?” I muttered.
Alexander barely spared me a glance. “Handled.”
I didn’t know what he meant until two days later when a package arrived.
And the moment I opened it, my breath caught.
Inside was the most stunning dress I had ever seen.
A black silk gown, shimmering subtly under the light. The fabric was soft yet structured, designed to hug my curves in all the right places.
The bodice was intricately laced, dipping into a neckline that was daring but elegant. The skirt flared slightly at the bottom, with a high slit running up my thigh, adding just the right amount of danger.
Resting beside it was a black velvet mask, delicate and mysterious.
And the shoes, black stilettos, sleek and sharp.
A note was tucked inside.
Wear it. – A.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
The day of the party, a team of stylists, hairdressers, and makeup artists arrived at the mansion.
I had barely finished breakfast before they whisked me away, treating me like royalty.
Hours passed in a blur of luxury treatments.
A manicure and pedicure, leaving my nails polished to perfection.
A deep-conditioning treatment that made my hair shine like silk.
Lotions massaged into my skin, leaving it soft and smooth.
Then came the makeup, dark, smoky eyes, long dramatic lashes, and lips painted in a deep shade of crimson red.
My hair was styled into loose, cascading waves, tumbling effortlessly down my back.
And when I slipped into the dress, fastening the delicate black mask over my face, I barely recognized myself.
I didn’t just look different.
I looked dangerous.
…………………………………………………………………………………
I stepped out of my room, walking toward the grand staircase.
And when I reached the top, I saw him.
Alexander stood at the bottom, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his own velvet mask covering the upper half of his face. He looked dangerous, powerful, like a king among men.
But when he saw me…
His jaw actually dropped.
For the first time, Alexander Valente looked speechless.
His eyes darkened, slowly sweeping over me, taking in every inch as if committing it to memory.
He said nothing.
Did nothing.
Just stared.
And when he finally spoke, his voice was low, rough.
“You look…” He trailed off, shaking his head slightly before meeting my gaze. “Stunning.”
A shiver ran through me.
I knew that look.
It was possession.
And I hated how much I liked it.
………………………………………………………………………………………
The car ride was quiet but charged.
Alexander sat beside me, his posture relaxed but commanding. Even without looking at him, I could feel the weight of his presence.
I shifted slightly in my seat, adjusting the slit of my dress. “So… what exactly is this party?”
Alexander’s gaze flicked to me. “A gathering of powerful people.”
I frowned. “And you’re bringing me because…?”
He smirked slightly. “Because you need to learn how to navigate this world.”
I exhaled, tapping my fingers against my thigh. “And Liliana?”
“A cover,” he said simply. “No one can know who you are.”
I bit my lip. “And if they do?”
Alexander’s voice was calm but edged with danger. “Then I deal with them.”
I didn’t ask what deal with them meant. I already knew.
Before I could respond, the car slowed, pulling up in front of the estate.
And it was breathtaking.
Golden lights illuminated the grand mansion, reflecting off the marble columns and intricate glass chandeliers visible through the towering windows.
A long red carpet led to the entrance, where guests in exquisite masks stepped out of their luxury cars.
But what caught my attention wasn’t the extravagance.
It was the security presence.
Men in black suits, standing at strategic points, eyes scanning the crowd with military precision. Discreet earpieces. Hands hovering near concealed weapons.
This wasn’t just a party.
It was a power play.
I barely had time to process it before the driver stepped out and opened Alexander’s door.
Alexander got out first, adjusting his cufflinks like he owned the place.
Then he turned to me.
And offered his hand.
I hesitated for a fraction of a second before placing my fingers in his.
His grip was firm, steady, as he helped me out of the car.
The moment I stepped into the light, I felt it.
Every eye turned to us.
…………………………………………………………………………………
The masquerade was a spectacle of wealth and power.
Inside the grand ballroom, the ceilings were draped in dark silks, golden chandeliers casting a warm, flickering glow. A string quartet played hauntingly beautiful music, setting the mood of mystery and seduction.
Waiters moved between the guests with silver trays, offering crystal flutes of champagne, handcrafted cocktails, and glasses of rich, aged whiskey.
The scent of exotic foods filled the air…
Truffle-stuffed oysters. Roasted duck with cranberry glaze. Bite-sized caviar canapés.
It was luxury at its peak.
But despite the extravagant setting, the real spectacle was Alexander.
He barely took a step before people swarmed toward him.
Men, eager to shake his hand.
Women, eyes filled with hunger, staring at him like he was something to be devoured.
One woman in a tight red gown, her mask decorated with jewels, pressed too close.
“Alexander” she purred, running a manicured nail down his sleeve. “You never bring dates. I was beginning to think you weren’t interested in women.”
He barely glanced at her. “I’m not just interested in you.”
The woman stiffened, but Alexander had already moved on, his hand still on the small of my back, guiding me forward.
I should have felt triumphant.
Instead, I felt overwhelmed.
The constant introductions, the sharp gazes, the way everyone seemed to be analyzing me.
Alexander was completely at ease.
I was drowning.
I needed air.
I turned to him. “I need a moment.”
His eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he nodded. “Don’t go far.”
I didn’t answer.
I just slipped away.
………………………………………………………………………………………
The night air was cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the heat and suffocating energy inside the ballroom.
I exhaled slowly, trying to calm my racing heart.
The weight of the night still clung to me, the stares, the whispers, the knowledge that I was nothing more than a mystery attached to Alexander Valente’s side.
I wrapped my arms around myself, staring at the city lights in the distance.
But then…
A shift.
A presence.
I wasn’t alone.
The realization crept up my spine like ice, making every muscle in my body tense.
I turned slowly.
A man stood in the shadows.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Masked.
Something about him felt wrong.
I swallowed hard. “Who are you?”
The man stepped closer. “They called you Liliana tonight” he murmured, his voice smooth. “But that’s a lie, isn’t it?”
My blood turned to ice.
I took a step back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about”
The man chuckled, tilting his head. “Oh, sweetheart. You do.”
A slow, sinking feeling settled in my stomach.
“Your stepfather,” he continued. “He owes me a debt.”
My breath hitched.
No.
Not this.
“And guess what he offered in return?” the man asked, his voice dripping with mockery.
I clenched my fists. “Go to hell.”
The man sighed, shaking his head. “I was hoping you wouldn’t fight this. It would have been so much easier if you just came quietly.”
He took another step forward.
I took another step back.
My pulse was pounding now. “Whatever deal you had with him, it has nothing to do with me.”
“Oh, but it does” he murmured. “Because he promised you to me.”
A sickening realization washed over me.
This wasn’t a threat.
This was a claim.
And he was here to take what he believed was his.
No.
Not without a fight.
I lifted my chin. “You can tell my stepfather to go f…”
The slap came so fast.
I didn’t see it coming.
A sharp, brutal hit to my face.
Pain exploded in my cheek.
I stumbled, my balance breaking, my breath catching in my throat.
But before I could move, the man grabbed my wrist, yanking me hard against his chest.
“You don’t get a choice in this,” he whispered.
His hand curled around my throat, pressing just enough to make breathing difficult.
I clawed at his grip, my body fighting against the panic rising inside me.
I needed to breathe.
I needed to.
The world was getting blurry.
My lungs screamed for air.
I was going to pass out.
Then…
The door burst open.
A blur of movement.
A sudden shift in power.
One second, the man was crushing me under his grip.
The next, he was gone.
Torn away from me.
Thrown across the rooftop.
I gasped, coughing, my body shaking violently as I struggled to stand.
Then, I saw them.
Alexander. Roman. Liam.
And Alexander was furious.
His face was pure, unfiltered rage.
His body tensed like a predator about to strike.
He didn’t speak.
Didn’t warn.
He just moved.
A lethal, merciless force.
He lunged at the man, fist colliding with flesh so hard that the sickening c***k of bone echoed through the rooftop.
Then again.
And again.
Alexander wasn’t stopping.
Blood smeared across his knuckles.
The man choked on his own breath, barely conscious.
Still, Alexander kept going.
“Alex!” Roman’s voice cut through the chaos, but Alexander didn’t hear him.
Didn’t care.
I tried to speak, but everything hurt.
I was trembling.
I was breaking.
And then…
“Alexander!”
The name tore from my lips before I could stop it.
He froze.
Everything stopped.
His breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling rapidly as if he had lost control of himself.
Then, suddenly, he was beside me.
“Juliana” he breathed.
His hands cupped my face, tilting it up as his eyes frantically searched mine.
His lips brushed my temple, my forehead, soft, desperate, as if checking that I was real.
“I’ve got you” he whispered. “I’ve got you”
My fingers curled weakly into the fabric of his suit.
Everything hurt.
My body felt shattered, raw.
“The pain,” I murmured, my voice breaking. “It…it’s everywhere.”
Alexander’s jaw clenched so tight, I thought it might snap.
Then, without another word, he scooped me into his arms.
And carried me away.
For the second time in a span of a month, I fainted once again.
- Writer
