Beneath the Mask

Episode 3 Private Concert with my CEO

Sophie’s POV

I was rounding up James’s schedule for the next day, my eyes getting tired from staring at the screen all day. The office was quieter now, everyone had already left including James, and I was just about to pack my things when my phone buzzed on the desk. It was Fiona, my best friend, and manager.

“Hey, Fi,” I said, my voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. “What’s up?”

“Sophie,” Fiona’s voice was high-pitched, almost too excited, “You won’t believe it! I just got an offer for a private concert tonight. And not just any private concert—it’s a huge deal.”

I paused, my hand frozen over my bag. A private concert wasn’t new to me. I’d done a few, but none like this. “Private concert? I don’t have anything on my schedule tonight, Fi. I can’t just drop everything and besides I’m really tired to perform this night. I need to rest”.

I heard her laughing on the other end. “I knew you’d say that, but you’re gonna want to hear this. This one is worth 100,000 dollars.”

My heart skipped a beat. That was an insane amount of money. I suddenly felt a rush of adrenaline, even as I tried to keep my voice calm. “Wait, 100,000 dollars? For one night?” I asked, trying to wrap my mind around it.

“Yup, and the best part is, it’s all for you,” she said, her excitement contagious. “But here’s the kicker—he wants to remain anonymous. I don’t know who he is, but he’s already paid in full. All we need is you.”

I was silent for a moment, digesting what she said. Private concerts were something I had done before, but never for this kind of money. Fiona wasn’t usually one to turn down lucrative opportunities, but this felt different. “I don’t know, Fi,” I said slowly. “Why would someone want to pay that much for a private concert?”

“Does it matter? All that matters is, someone wants you, Sophie. And we both know what that means. This could be a huge opportunity for you. For us…”

I sighed. My mind raced. I had never been one to turn down a challenge, and this one sounded too big to ignore. “Okay, I’ll come, but who’s the guy?”

“Ah, that’s the mystery,” Fiona said. “He won’t reveal his identity. He said you’ll meet him when you get there. Maybe you’ll be able to figure out who he is. He may be an old friend of yours”.

I murmured to myself, “Old friend?”

Fiona continued, “But no matter what, he’s already locked in. And there’s no way we’re refunding him. You’re going, Sophie. It’s not up for discussion”.

I could hear the finality in her voice, and I knew there was no arguing with Fiona once she had her mind set on something. I tried to protest one more time, but she wasn’t hearing it. “I’ll be there soon to pick you up. Get ready,” she added before hanging up.

I felt a sudden sense of excitement surged through me but I still had dozens of questions concerning the offer. A hundred thousand dollars for one night? It felt surreal. But I pushed away my questions, focusing on the now.

After wrapping up my work at the office, I quickly packed up my things and left, my mind buzzing. I made my way home, eager to transform into Clara again, my other self, the bolder version of me, the performer everyone loved. As soon as I got inside my apartment, I started changing, slipping into my performance attire. I brushed through my long hair, fixed my makeup, and took one last look at the mirror before grabbing my coat and mask.

Tonight was going to be something different, and the mystery surrounding this performance made my pulse quicken. I hadn’t had a private concert in months, and for someone to pay such a high amount… I couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of person I was dealing with.

A wild thought came into my head, “Could he be a p*****t who is after my body?” But then I discarded the thought.

Finally, I made my way to the venue, nerves starting to twist in my stomach. The anticipation of what was to come hung heavily in the air. I arrived and was ushered to the dressing room. When I entered, Fiona was already there waiting for me, giving me a tight-lipped smile, like she was hiding something.

“Fiona, what’s going on?” I asked, a frown tugging at my lips. “You’ve been acting strange since I got here.”

She shrugged, looking a little too casual. “Don’t worry about it, Sophie. Just perform, okay? He’s waiting.”

“Who’s waiting?” I repeated, trying to mask the nervous tension creeping into my chest.

Fiona hesitated before answering, “The one who booked you.” She turned her gaze to the door, clearly trying to avoid eye contact with me.

I sighed, confused, and walked toward the stage. “Alright, let’s get this over with.”

As I stood at the edge of the stage, ready to perform, I tried to calm my racing heart. This was what I did, right? I was Clara, the confident, charismatic performer who could sing, dance, and make anyone fall in love with her at first sight. But tonight, something felt different.

Then I walked into the room and saw him. Sitting in the back, shrouded in shadows, was none other than James Blackwood. My boss. My cold, ruthless boss who had no idea about the other side of me.

I stopped dead in my tracks. James.

Why was he here? Why had he paid such a huge amount for a private concert? And more importantly, why was he hiding behind all these layers of anonymity?

My mind raced with questions, but I couldn’t let my face show it. I had to keep up the persona of Clara behind the mask, the glamorous and untouchable performer. But inside, I was in shock. The last time I saw him was a few hours at work, I was just his quiet secretary, meek and invisible. Yet here he was, sitting in the dark, his sharp eyes watching me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

I walked up to Fiona, my voice barely above a whisper. “Fi, what is this? Why is he here? He’s—”

Fiona cut me off with a quick, reassuring smile. “I know, Sophie. You’re surprised. But you can’t back out now. He already paid. And there’s no turning back.”

I felt trapped. I didn’t want to perform for him, not like this. I wasn’t prepared for this. But Fiona had made it clear—I had no choice. He’d already given her the money. It was non-refundable.

With a heavy heart, I forced myself to smile, stepping into the spotlight. My mind was a whirlwind, trying to focus on the performance, trying to ignore the man in the back who I once thought was so out of reach. He was watching me, his gaze unreadable but intense and I could feel his presence like a weight on my shoulders.

I sang, trying my best to shut out everything else. But as the performance continued, I couldn’t stop stealing glances at him. What was he thinking? Why was he here again?

The more I performed, the more he kept staring at me with a look I couldn’t describe. I knew the look my fans would give me when I performed on stage, but the look in his eyes was something more than adoration. And the more questions piled up, but I couldn’t afford to let them distract me. This was my job, after all. And despite everything, I had to do what I did best.

But as I finished the last note, my eyes met his, and for a split second, I thought I saw something flicker in his gaze. A hint of recognition? A glimmer of something deeper?

My heart raced. Could it be possible?

Before I could ask, the room grew silent. James stood up from his chair and began walking toward me, every step deliberate. I felt my breath catch in my throat.

Then, with the tension hanging thick between us, he spoke for the first time. “Clara,” he said, his voice low and cold. “I must say, you’ve certainly… impressed me once again”.

The air between us crackled with unanswered questions. What was he really doing here? Why was he willing to pay so much for a private concert? And why did it feel like this night was far from over?