CHAPTE FOUR:A NIGHTS OF MASKS
1255 Words
CHAPTER FOUR : A Night Of Masks
“ The party “
It was elegant, almost breathtaking, but without the structured smiles and expensive clothings was something much darker.
Everyone was here to honor Rafael's brother.
Or at least, that was what everyone else to believed
RAFAEL'S POV
I planted my feet at the top of the staircase, watching everything slowly unravel , the whole room filled with barely enough room to walk comfortably between the guests. Different voices merged into one large wave of conversation, yet all I was waiting for was just one thing.
A mistake.
Someone is saying too much.
Someone reacting when they shouldn't.
Someone who's too uncomfortable, looking over their shoulder .
Every hug, every handshake , every managed laugh, every glance became another piece of my puzzle .
I could see nearly everything , from where I stood.
My security team blended with the crowd, dressed like guests and staff. They weren't there to intimidate anyone. They were just there to observe closely for me.
The ballroom was busier with every minute.
Old classmates reuniting , conversations about forgotten memories. Business colleagues introducing their partners , while reporters watch closely to capture simple moments of relevance on influential figures.
Everything was calm , welcoming enough to make you distracted .
I couldn't be distracted.
Every smile I returned was measured.
Every conversation I held was deliberate.
Every face I memorized.
Because somewhere in that sea of people stood the person who knew what had happened to my brother.
They had walked into my house believing they were attending a memorial.
They had no idea they had just stepped into the one place they couldn't hide.
And before the night was over, I intended to discover which smile concealed the darkest secret.
Consumed with my own thoughts
Then I saw her Elena, daughter of Leonardo De Luca, she is not known but her name definitely is , if not for my extensive research I won't know about her , Elena , red head with blue eyes , she is 27 and very confident, she doesn't stay in the country and she has never really had a taste for demanding attention, I wonder what she is doing here what kind of coincidence is this , she doesn't know my brother at least not that I know of , and her father is my main suspect.
She stood at the bar , with wandering eyes watching everyone , a glass of champagne resting between her fingers as she laughed politely at something the bartender said. She looked calm , collected with her long elegant red gown that was well informed with the atmosphere of the evening.
she was seemed like every other guest
I watched the confidence in her expression slowly fade as our eyes met before she adjusted with a pleasant smile. Most people would overlook it, but no me I definitely didn't.
She knew who I was.
I walked towards her , slowly without rush , on getting to her , she was calm , composed ,like she finally got the opportunity she needed.
"Good evening," she said with effortless grace. "I'm Jessica “
Jessica
A beautiful lie.
I knew precisely who she was.
I stared at her for a minute and I knew exactly what was going on so I played her game .
"It's quite a pleasure meeting you, Jessica," I replied, extending my hand.
She accepted my invitation.
Her handshake was steady.
Too steady.
She had rehearsed this.
“It's a wonder that I have never met you Jessica, I said arrogantly, “
“Well I tend to keep a low profile “
“Jessica what “
“Jessica Marina “
“Doesn't ring a bell but I guess there is a first for everything “
We exchanged the kind of meaningless conversation expected between strangers at a formal gathering, each of us carefully choosing our words, each pretending this was our first meeting.
It was almost amusing.
She was playing a role.
So was I.
After a while , I glared towards the corridor leading away from the ballroom towards my study .
"This isn't the best place to talk, " I said casually. "Come with me “
For the split second , hesitation was across her face.
Only for a moment.
Then it disappeared behind another smile.
"Sure."
We both walked together in silence no of talking , I signal to one of my staffs that no one should disturb us
The music faded with each step we took
The laughter became distant.
And I wondered which one of us was leading the other into a trap .The moment the doors to my study closed behind us, the music from the ballroom faded completely.
She gazed at the room at a certain pace like she was scanning for any possible information. Her fingertips tracing the books on the shelf then she turned to look at me with a polite smile on her lips.
"You've been looking at me all evening , I hope there is nothing on my face “ she said comfortably
"There isn't."
"Then why are you staring?" she asked abruptly. "There are a lot of people downstairs "
I smiled .
Well you stood out."
"Is that a compliment I hear coming ?" She said teasingly
"However you will have it ."
She smiled again, but I noticed how carefully she watched me, she was weighing every word, every expression.
"So " she said comfortably, "what exactly do you do for work"
There it was.
The first question.
I leaned against my desk.
"I work."
She laughed .
"Well, that is clear enough"
What do u think i do "
"I don't know why I am asking ?"
"Is that the only reason ?." I asked
She was silent , no response
“So where are you from
"Here
"Born and raised ?"
"Yes mostly."
She nodded calmly , though it was obvious she wasn't satisfied
"What about your family?"
"What about them ?"
She hesitated for just a fraction of a second before asking the question she'd been working toward.
"Are they here your father or mother or sibling, are they here tonight?"
I stared at her ..
"No."
"Oh."
"Why the interest?"
She smiled nervously
"No, I'm just conversational ."
"Were you?"
She let out another quiet laugh.
"I've heard your family is rather influential."
"People hear a lot of things."
"So the rumors are true?"
"Which rumors?"
She smiled.
"It's quite hard talking to you
"So I have heard."
For a brief moment, silence settled between us.
She broke it first.
"What about you?" I asked. "You said your name was Jessica."
"I did."
"What brings you here?"
"I received an invitation."
"That tells me how you got in, not why you came."
She smiled without answering.
Interesting.
She was very careful with her secrets just as I was with mine.
Neither of us was there for a real conversation.
We were both just watching each other waiting for the first mistake .
And neither of us intended to.
I walked up to her , leaned in and whispered into her ears , “ you have messed with the wrong man “
I signaled with two fingers as my henchmen came and grabbed her slowly, taking her away through the back door while she kept asking “what is happening”, her words and the sound of her voice slowly starting to fade as she was taken away .
- Writer
