As I waited for Samantha in the car, my mind drifted back to our previous encounter. Her words still echoed in my mind - "I love you, Carlton. I love you so much." How quaint. How naive. I had made it crystal clear: she was nothing more than a temporary distraction, a plaything to amuse me until I grew bored. But still, she allowed herself to become emotionally attached. I would need to keep her at arm's length until she came to her senses and got rid of whatever she was feeling.
As Samantha approached, I pulled out my phone and began scrolling mindlessly, avoiding any conversation about her feelings. That's when I saw the message from Zayden Martin - an invitation to a masquerade ball. I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the theme. Just then, Samantha slid into the seat beside me, her into
