08-04-2024, 12:54 AM
Carter navigated the party with an ease that belied his lack of invitation. The mask—a simple black one—hid his identity just enough to make him feel comfortable, even as it allowed him to blend in with the other guests. The masquerade was a sea of people, but where every guest seemed more beautiful than the last, Carter’s eyes were fixed on only one: Colette.
His heart pounded with a mix of anticipation and resentment as he watched her from the periphery. Colette, resplendent in a blue gown that shimmered under the chandeliers, moved with effortless grace. Towering protectively over her was Adrian, whose name Carter came to learn and her date for the evening. Carter’s jaw tightened every time he saw Adrian's hand on the small of Colette's back, guiding her here and there.
How had she climbed so high, so quickly? How had she replaced him so easily? The questions gnawed at him, fueling the fire of jealousy that burned in his chest. It was incomprehensible how Colette could have moved on so swiftly. Hadn’t their relationship meant something to her? Even if she was the one who ended it, their feelings ran deep, not so easily dismissed. Not weeks ago she was center of her world, just as she was the center of his.
He stayed to the edges, moving behind larger guests, turning out of sight whenever Colette's gaze seemed to wander in his direction. The mask helped, but his presence was still a risk. If she saw him, if she realized he was in Moscow before he was ready, it could ruin everything. He had to bide his time, wait for the perfect moment to approach her.
The time passed slowly, each one marked by the growing tension in his gut. He watched as Colette laughed at something Adrian said, her eyes sparkling in a way that made Carter's heart ache. He knew he was being irrational, that his jealousy was consuming him, but he couldn’t help it. Envy whispered dark words in his ear, reminding him of what he had lost, taunting him with visions of what could have been.
Eventually, Carter needed a moment to collect himself, to silence the raging thoughts in his mind. He made his way to the bar, slipping onto an empty stool. The bartender, a young man with a neatly trimmed beard, approached him immediately.
“What can I get for you, sir?”
“Scotch. Neat,” Carter replied, his voice steady despite the frustration built inside.
As he waited for his drink, he glanced around the bar area. It was slightly less crowded than the main ballroom, offering a momentary respite from the constant pressure of the evening. His eyes fell on the woman sitting next to him, and for a moment, he forgot about Colette entirely.
She was stunning, with a sophistication that was almost palpable. Her dress, a slender black number that plunged into revealing cleavage, clung to her body in a way that was both elegant and provocative. Her hair was styled in loose waves, framing a face that was as alluring as it was confident. She turned slightly, meeting his gaze with a pair of piercing eyes framed by an elegant mask.
“We should throw masquerades more often. They make the night interesting, to say the least.” He spoke by way of ice-breaker. “And they make the women desperately beautiful,” he added casually, insinuating her, obviously. “Would you like another?” He gestured at her drink, invitation apparent.
His heart pounded with a mix of anticipation and resentment as he watched her from the periphery. Colette, resplendent in a blue gown that shimmered under the chandeliers, moved with effortless grace. Towering protectively over her was Adrian, whose name Carter came to learn and her date for the evening. Carter’s jaw tightened every time he saw Adrian's hand on the small of Colette's back, guiding her here and there.
How had she climbed so high, so quickly? How had she replaced him so easily? The questions gnawed at him, fueling the fire of jealousy that burned in his chest. It was incomprehensible how Colette could have moved on so swiftly. Hadn’t their relationship meant something to her? Even if she was the one who ended it, their feelings ran deep, not so easily dismissed. Not weeks ago she was center of her world, just as she was the center of his.
He stayed to the edges, moving behind larger guests, turning out of sight whenever Colette's gaze seemed to wander in his direction. The mask helped, but his presence was still a risk. If she saw him, if she realized he was in Moscow before he was ready, it could ruin everything. He had to bide his time, wait for the perfect moment to approach her.
The time passed slowly, each one marked by the growing tension in his gut. He watched as Colette laughed at something Adrian said, her eyes sparkling in a way that made Carter's heart ache. He knew he was being irrational, that his jealousy was consuming him, but he couldn’t help it. Envy whispered dark words in his ear, reminding him of what he had lost, taunting him with visions of what could have been.
Eventually, Carter needed a moment to collect himself, to silence the raging thoughts in his mind. He made his way to the bar, slipping onto an empty stool. The bartender, a young man with a neatly trimmed beard, approached him immediately.
“What can I get for you, sir?”
“Scotch. Neat,” Carter replied, his voice steady despite the frustration built inside.
As he waited for his drink, he glanced around the bar area. It was slightly less crowded than the main ballroom, offering a momentary respite from the constant pressure of the evening. His eyes fell on the woman sitting next to him, and for a moment, he forgot about Colette entirely.
She was stunning, with a sophistication that was almost palpable. Her dress, a slender black number that plunged into revealing cleavage, clung to her body in a way that was both elegant and provocative. Her hair was styled in loose waves, framing a face that was as alluring as it was confident. She turned slightly, meeting his gaze with a pair of piercing eyes framed by an elegant mask.
“We should throw masquerades more often. They make the night interesting, to say the least.” He spoke by way of ice-breaker. “And they make the women desperately beautiful,” he added casually, insinuating her, obviously. “Would you like another?” He gestured at her drink, invitation apparent.