BEHIND THE MASK

Chapter Four—The Man Behind The Mask

Aria was beginning to enjoy the evening.

At first, she had been worried about making mistakes, but after speaking with a few guests, she felt more relaxed. She was still careful with her words, just as Victoria had advised her.

She picked up a glass of juice from a passing waiter and moved away from the crowd.

That was when she noticed him again.

The man in the black suit.

He stood near the stairs, speaking to two men. He looked calm, but there was something about him that made people pay attention whenever he spoke.

Aria watched him for a few seconds before looking away.

Why am I even looking at him?

She shook her head and took a sip of her drink.

She had come to the gala to work, not to admire strangers.

Besides, she didn't even know his name.

Well, that wasn't completely true. He had introduced himself earlier.

Erik Blackwood.

She remembered it because it was a name she had heard before.

She was still thinking about it when a voice spoke behind her.

“You seem to be enjoying the drink.”

Aria turned quickly.

It was him.

Erik stood beside her with one hand in his pocket. His face was calm, and his dark mask covered part of it.

Aria looked at her glass.

“It's good,” she replied.

“Good enough to keep you away from the crowd?”

She laughed softly.

“Maybe. It's quieter here.”

“I can understand that.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Aria wondered why he had come to talk to her again. Perhaps he was just being polite. After all, she was a guest at his family's event.

She looked at him.

“Don't you get tired of attending these events?”

Erik raised an eyebrow.

“Why would you ask that?”

“You don't look like someone who's having much fun.”

He looked at her for a moment.

Most people at these events were careful about what they said to him. Some were afraid of offending him, while others tried too hard to impress him.

But this woman had just told him that he looked bored.

Interesting.

“Perhaps I'm just tired,” he replied.

Aria nodded as if that explained everything.

“Then I hope you get some rest after this.”

Erik almost smiled.

She had no idea who she was talking to, or perhaps she knew and simply didn't care. Either way, he found her answer amusing.

“And what about you?” he asked. “Are you enjoying yourself now?”

“Yes. A little more than when I first arrived.”

“What changed?”

“I've spoken to a few people. Everyone has been nice so far.”

“So far?”

She smiled.

“I can't speak for the rest of the night.”

This time, Erik smiled properly.

It was a small smile, but it changed his face.

Aria noticed it and quickly looked away, pretending to be interested in the guests across the room.

She didn't understand why she suddenly felt shy.

Erik noticed the change in her, but he said nothing about it.

Instead, he glanced at her glass.

“Would you like another drink?”

“No, thank you. I'm fine.”

“Alright.”

He didn't insist. He simply stood beside her, looking out at the hall.

For a few seconds, Aria found herself wondering what he was thinking.

Then she remembered that she was supposed to be working.

“Are you part of the Blackwood Foundation?” she asked.

Erik turned to look at her.

“Something like that.”

Aria nodded.

She didn't ask any more questions. She had no idea that she was speaking to one of the most important people at the event.

Erik, on the other hand, was curious about her.

He wanted to know why she was there, what she did, and why she seemed so different from the other women he had met that evening.

But he wasn't going to ask all those questions at once.

He had no reason to rush.

“So, what do you do?” he asked.

“I work at Hartwell Publishing.”

“Writing?”

“Not exactly. I work there as a writer, but I also help with other things when needed.”

“I see.”

Aria tilted her head slightly.

“What about you?”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“Business.”

She laughed.

“That's a very broad answer.”

“You asked a broad question.”

Aria stared at him for a second before laughing again.

“Fair enough.”

Erik liked the sound of her laughter. He liked how she spoke without trying to impress him, and how she looked at him as if he were just another person at the gala.

He had not expected to meet anyone interesting that evening.

Yet here he was, standing beside a woman whose full name he had only just learned, wishing their conversation would last a little longer.

He kept those thoughts to himself.

There was no reason for her to know.

Before Aria could ask another question, a man approached them.

“Mr. Blackwood, your father is asking for you.”

Aria's eyes moved towards Erik.

Mr. Blackwood?

She looked at him again.

Then it finally made sense.

The black suit. The confidence. The way people kept coming to speak with him.

She had been talking to Erik Blackwood himself.

For a moment, she didn't know what to say.

Erik noticed her surprise.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

Aria quickly shook her head.

“No. Nothing.”

“Good.”

He turned to the man who had come for him.

“Tell him I'll be there shortly.”

The man nodded and walked away.

Erik looked back at Aria.

“It was nice speaking with you.”

“You too, Mr. Blackwood.”

He noticed the sudden change in the way she addressed him, but he didn't comment on it.

“Erik is fine.”

Aria looked at him, surprised.

“Alright. Erik.”

He gave her a small nod.

“Enjoy the rest of your evening, Aria.”

“Thank you.”

He walked away without looking back.

At least, that was what Aria thought.

But as Erik crossed the hall, his eyes moved briefly in her direction.

She was still standing near the window, holding her glass and watching the guests.

He turned away before anyone could notice.

Blake was waiting for him near the stairs.

“You seem to be in a good mood,” Blake said.

Erik glanced at him.

“Do I?”

“A little.”

“Then perhaps you should stop watching me and find something useful to do.”

Blake laughed.

“There he is. I was beginning to think someone had replaced you.”

Erik gave him a cold look, but Blake only laughed harder.

“Come on. Your father is waiting.”

Erik straightened his jacket.

“Then let's not keep him waiting.”

He followed Blake towards the other side of the hall, his face calm again.

He had met many beautiful women before. That was nothing new.

But there was something about Aria Crown that had caught his attention, and he wasn't going to pretend he hadn't noticed.

Still, he had business to attend to.

Whatever had caught his interest could wait.

Aria remained by the window for a little longer.

She took another sip of her drink and thought about the conversation. She had spoken to Erik Blackwood without knowing who he was. Now that she knew, she wondered if she had said anything embarrassing.

She tried to remember their conversation, but nothing seemed wrong.

He had been polite. He had even joked with her.

Maybe he's not as difficult as people make him sound, she thought.

Then she stopped herself.

She knew almost nothing about him. One short conversation wasn't enough to judge a person.

Aria finished her drink and placed the glass on a nearby table.

The hall was still full of people, and she had not finished doing what Victoria had sent her to do.

She took a deep breath, adjusted her mask, and returned to the crowd.

She had barely returned to her drink when Dexter appeared beside her.

“Aria, I've been looking for you.”

She turned to him.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. Victoria is waiting for you. You need to join her to meet Mr Blackwood”

“Oh, alright. Where is she?”

“Come with me.”

Aria followed him through a side passage. A Blackwood staff member was waiting for them and led them to a conference room.

Dexter and the staff member stopped outside.

“You can go in,” Dexter told her. “We'll wait here.”

Aria thanked him, took a breath, and entered the room.

A wealthy-looking man sat at the table. His mask had been placed beside him. Victoria sat opposite him, while Erik sat on the other side of the table with his mask still on.

Aria recognised the man as Richard Blackwood.

“Come in, Aria,” Victoria said.

Aria walked over and stood beside her.

“Mr. Blackwood, this is Aria Crown. She is the writer who will be working with us on the project.”

Richard looked at her.

“Welcome, Miss Crown. I hope we have a good working relationship.”

“Thank you, sir. I'll do my best.”

Aria watched as Victoria and Richard spoke on some matters while Erik spoke every once in a while.

After some discussions that lasted for some time, they signed the contract document.

Aria was already getting tired of standing

Erik watched her quietly. He remembered her from their conversation by the window, but he gave no sign that anything about her interested him.

When Aria finished, Victoria collected the documents and handed them over to Aria.

“Thank you,” she said. “That should be all for now.”

Victoria shook Richard's hand, then Erik's.

“I'll see you soon,” she told them and Richard gave her a little nod and headed for the door.

Victoria put her mask back on before leaving the room with Richard. They were already discussing another business matter as they walked out.

The door closed behind them.

Aria was now alone with Erik.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

She adjusted the documents in her hands, unsure of what to say. After their earlier conversation, she had hoped to avoid another awkward moment.

“So,” Erik said calmly, “you're the writer Victoria told us about.”

“Yes,” Aria replied. “I hope I won't disappoint you.”

“Why would you?”

She looked at him.

“I don't know. It's an important project.”

“Then do your work well. That's all anyone can ask of you.”

His answer surprised her. She had expected him to say something more serious or remind her how important the Blackwood name was.

“That's fair,” she said.

Erik leaned back in his chair.

“You seemed more relaxed outside.”

Aria blinked.

“You noticed?”

“I notice things.”

She wasn't sure how to answer that, so she gave a small laugh.

“Well, I should get back to Ms Victoria.”

“Of course.”

He didn't try to stop her or ask her to stay.

Aria gave him a polite nod and hurried towards the door.

“Goodnight, Mr. Blackwood.”

“Goodnight, Miss Crown.”

She left the room and closed the door behind her.

Erik remained seated for a moment.

He had met many people that evening, but he found himself remembering the woman who had told him he looked bored. He was curious about her, but he had no intention of letting that curiosity control him.

There was a project to handle, and he had a family business to deal with.

Whatever had caught his attention could wait.

Outside, Aria found Dexter waiting for her.

“Done?” he asked.

“Yes. Thank you for coming to get me.”

“No problem. Let's go back before Ms Victoria starts looking for you again.”

Aria followed him towards the hall.

The night was still young, and she still had a job to do.

She adjusted her mask and returned to the crowd, unaware that Erik Blackwood had already begun to take an interest in the woman behind it.