Chapter 5
1464 Words
Eden’s POV
The suite Max led me to was unbelievably luxurious. I mean it was Max, he didn’t do ordinary. Plush rugs, gold-plated countertops, champagne on ice, and obviously, an entire rack of designer gowns.
I scanned through the gowns and eventually picked the sleek black gown.
I changed. Put in the gown. He handed me heels.
After putting it on, I was still looking like a mess. Noah gave me a once-over and winced. “Okay, we need to talk about your face.”
“Wow. Thanks for the ego boost.”
He laughed. “Not like that. I meant sit. Let me help.”
“Help with what, exactly? You're a makeup artist now?”
“Well. I had spare time and learned a few things. Come on, I still remember a few tricks.”
Before I could protest, he was gently brushing my hair out. He found a curling wand; how he had one in the suite, I didn’t ask. He twisted a few strands, his fingers surprisingly steady and soft.
“Hold still,” he said, smirking. “I’m creating art.”
“You’re curling my hair, not painting the Mona Lisa”
“Same level of stress,” he muttered and I laughed. I actually forgot everything that had happened to me.
When he handed me the mask, a silver one, laced with delicate black feathers. I stared at my reflection.
The woman staring back looked like someone else. Someone powerful. This was the Eden I used to be. I felt powerful again.
“You look like trouble.”, he said, tilting his head.
“Maybe I am.”
“I’ve missed trouble.”
I took a break, let it sit in my heart for a moment.
Then I smiled.
“Let’s have some fun”.
He handed me a tray filled with champagne.
By the time I’d had my third glass of champagne, the knot in my chest loosened. I went downstairs and let the music sink in.
I didn’t think, I just danced.
Not practiced kind I did in charity gala back in the day. This was the kind where you forget who’s watching. I moved to the rhythm of the beat, spinning under the soft lights.
Somewhere across the ballroom. Max watched. I could feel it, even if I didn’t look his way but his gaze used to make my skin buzz like a live wire drawn right beneath my flesh. It surprisingly still did.
Then I turned to him, he looked unreadable. Which for Max, meant he was thinking too much or feeling too much and pretending otherwise.
We walked together after the song ended, his hand lightly brushing my back as we moved through the crowd. The chandeliers glittered above like starts. The clinking of glasses, the bursts of laughter, the subtle flex of wealth and connections.
I continued looking around when Max turned to speak with one of event staff, probably about some minor crisis with the vehicles outside or a VIP’s guest missing caviar. I slipped away, just a few steps towards the bar.
The glow from the counter complimented my dress as sat down on the stool.
I ordered a drink, running my finger around the rim while my thoughts wandered.
That’s when he appeared.
He was already there, leaning casually against the bar, a well designed dark suit, his mask was black velvet, sharp around the edges, and though I couldn’t see much of his face, his jawline and voice gave enough away to know he was handsome. Dangerous, even.
“Let me guess”, he said, swirling his drink. “You’re either running from something or you’re trying to forget it.”
I raised a brow, amused. “Can’t I just be here for the free drinks?”
He chuckled, “You don’t strike me as the kind of woman who drinks for free.”
I laughed. “You don’t know me.”
“No”, he said, lifting his glass to clink against mine. “But I’d like to.”
We traded banter, playful digs and for a few minutes. I let myself flirt.
He made me laugh, genuinely laugh.
Then Max returned.
He slid beside me, resting one arm on the bar. His eyes locked on the stranger, his smile so wide.
“Am I interrupting?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“Not at all,” the stranger said unfazed. “We were just getting to know each other. Small talk you know”
Max looked at him then back at me. “Hmm, funny. She doesn’t usually waste time on small things.”
I shot him a look. “Max.”
He held up his hands in innocence. “What? I was just trying to figure out why you were laughing.”
The stranger glanced at Max with a mischievous smile on his face. “Well, maybe she just needed the right company.”
Max’s jaw tensed just enough for me to see it. His laugh came a bit too late and a shade too cold.
“Right company?” he echoed. “That’s cute.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “You disagree?”
Max didn’t answer right away. He looked at me. His face was unreadable but I knew he was dissecting something.
“I just know her type”, he said finally, with a half smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “She doesn’t usually go for temporary distractions.”
The stranger chuckled like he had heard a joke. “Stop sounding like a broken record. She doesnt like, she doesn’t like that. Maybe that’s exactly what she needs tonight.”
Max’s smile faltered but before he could reply, a loud voice called from behind him.
“Max?” A man in a tux stepped forward, grinning wide. “The machine? No way! Man, it’s been forever.”
Max turned, caught off guard as an old friend pulled him into a bear hug, they began to talk and laugh like nothing else mattered as they went back in time remembering that nostalgic experiences together.
The stranger leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “You okay?”
I wasn’t.
But I smiled anyway. “I am now.”
His smile made me feel alive.
“Come dance,” he said, offering a hand. “Forget the ghosts for a while.”
And I took it.
The music played low and slow. He led me to the dance floor, his hand on my back. We didn’t talk much; we didn’t need to. His hands, his rhythm, and the subtle press of his chest to mine said more than words could. I laughed freely, wildly, as if the night owed me a little joy after stealing so much.
I don’t remember how many drinks followed. Everywhere became blurry, people moved around, and I thought I could see Max again, but before I could get myself together,. I was suddenly in an elevator, a suite, his lips soft and hungry. I didn’t ask his name. He didn’t ask mine. And in that moment, I didn’t care.
We let the night take over and then morning came.
I woke up in silence, my mouth dry, my heart pounding too loudly in my chest, my dress from last night slung carelessly over a chair.
The mask still on my face. And the man beside me, also with his mask on. Still asleep. I didn’t know his name, didn’t know what he looked like and couldn’t remember anything.
I didn’t look back. I gathered my clothes, my heels, and whatever was left of my pride. The door closed behind me; all I thought about was forgetting this chapter of my life.
***
Three weeks had passed.
It started with nausea, then the missed period, and then the doctor said the words that shattered everything.
“You’re pregnant.”
No name. No face. No idea who the father was.
It could be Julian. He only traveled for two days before the day I caught him with Chloe and our issues didn’t stop Julian from having s*x with me that night. It wasn’t up to a week from when I had s*x with Julian that I had s*x with the stranger. It actually could be him.
I sighed.
It also could be Max, the stranger in the mask I had met that day, Max’s old friend or just some random guy.
I sat on the bed of a motel I had been staying at for some time with my suitcase neatly packed.
I need to leave this city, I needed to go where no one knew my name. So I ran.
Because I was going to give my baby the life he deserves.
- Writer
