CHAPTER 4

My heart sank. I stormed into my room and hid myself under the covers. I hate to admit it but his words hurt me deeply. I wasn’t pissed at Damon but myself, for feeling so light-headed when he was around me. For letting my imagination overtake my reality. I came up for air after some time. This wasn’t a love story. I went to the bathroom to wash my face, savoring the cold water as it made contact with my skin, and stared at the mirror. “You’re better than this, Emma. Snap out of it” I said to myself with confidence but as those words left my mouth. Thoughts of him came to mind. From the time he saved me from the abusive customer in the bar to the moment he looked flustered and uttered my name. ‘I must be going crazy’ I thought to myself ‘I can’t fall for him’

Maintaining distance was mandatory now. If I wanted to leave this house and this dangerous world behind without heartache, I needed to avoid Damon at all costs. I walked down the stairs, going straight to the kitchen. I saw Damon as soon as I opened the door. He was talking to Miss Jane with two other staff members, probably about something home-related. He noticed me and only glanced at me for a moment but I still felt butterflies in my stomach. Feeling defeated, I sat down while I waited for food to be served. Damon came out moments later and sat in the chair on the opposite side of mine. He made a few glances at me but I tried to pay him know mind. “Good morning” he sounded cheerful today. Like something good happened. I could only wonder what.

“Good morning” I smiled internally gritting my teeth.

“Miss Jane gave me interesting news. Our CCTV spotted three men observing the property outside last night.”

That piqued my interest. “They were outside the penthouse? Did they try to break in?”

“They wouldn’t be able to if they tried.” Damon stopped talking as the food came in. It wasn’t safe to leave the house yet. Ithought of my visitation to the hospital and made a mental note to call the doctor to postpone.

We didn’t talk after that and focused on our meals. Damon finished first and was getting up to leave when Alice walked into the living room and came straight towards us. She held two big golden envelopes and wore an excited expression. “Guess what I have” she waved the envelopes in the air. When Damon only shrugged and I only looked confused, she rolled her eyes before she explained. “This is an invitation to a charity gala”

“No,” Damon said sternly.

“Yes” Alice said with a can-do attitude and placed on in front of us both. I picked it up and marveled at it’s quality and how it shone in the light. I opened it to read it’s contents. “A masquerade event?” I inquired, looking puzzled.

“Tonight,” Alice announced excitedly. “My good friend, Darla Jenkins is hosting and I want you guys to come.”

Before I could object, Damon stood up abruptly. “Alice, it’s too dangerous to be going to parties. Not when there’s a target on both our heads” he gestured towards me.

“Not everything is about you, Damon, and besides it’s a masquerade. Even if someone from the Black Falcon is there, one will recognize either of you.”

“Black falcon?” I said out loud before the two fell silent. “Are they the people after me?” I asked.

Damon turned to Alice with a glare as she nervously dismissed my question. “You don’t have to think about that, hon.”

“Are they a dangerous group?” I pressed on.

Realizing that I had no idea who the Black Falcon was, they relaxed. “Knowing more than their name could put you in danger so let's not discuss it” Alice uttered with a smile.

“Damon, Emma has to go. We haven’t gone out before and this is a great opportunity.” Alice pleaded. When he didn’t budge, she sat next to him. “Doesn’t the name Jenkins ring a bell? You’ve been trying to make a deal with the company and now is your chance. Don’t tell me you’re going to waste it”

I watched Damon’s eyebrows furrow. He was in deep thought.“Fine” he finally said. And grunted when Alice leaped out of her chair to hug him. My smile quickly faded. I was still in a daze not knowing that Damon was staring at me the whole time.

I wanted to wear one of the dresses that Alice had given me but she’d already bought a new one with a matching mask. Feeling uncomfortable and at the same time grateful, I tried to turn it down but Alice refused, saying it was rented and I would only have it for the night.

Damon had left us since we were taking too long. We got to the party rather late but we’re able to mingle with others just fine. The mask had given me a sense of confidence and I freely conversed with the other rich folk, giving me a taste of aristocracy in a sense. It was nice to be someone else for a whileand forget all my struggles.

The lights soon became dim and the spotlight was turned on towards the center of the hall. It looked as though the moonlight had chosen that spot to shine on. It was breathtakingly romantic. The host came forward with a smile on her face. “We will now begin the Fated Moonlight dance where we pick three men and women to dance together and after that, we decide who danced the best” The sound of applause echoed in the room. “We’ve already chosen our three gentlemen” Darla brought the men out one by one and when the last one came out, my jaw dropped.

Damon stood there looking like he didn’t want to be there. When Darcy smiled at Alice’s direction, I realized the plan instantly. I shook my head in pity as I stared at the poor Damon. “Now let’s pick the ladies,” Darcy said giggling as she signaled the girls to step forward but only two volunteered. “We need one more” Darcy requested as she looked around. Suddenly, I felt a force pushing me, making me stagger forward. To my horror, everyone’s attention turned to me. “Perfect. Join the girls in the line, dear” Darcy grinned.

Because the world was against me, I ended up with Damon as my dance partner. Once the music started, all my shyness and hesitation disappeared as Damon swept me off my feet. I gasped when he lifted me in the air, creating some loud reactions from the audience.

“Having fun?” Damon asked in a sly tone. His breath smelled of alcohol

“You knew it was me?” I was surprised. “How did you know?”

Damon hesitated. “No one has curly hair like yours.” He grinned. “Thanks for volunteering by the way. For a second, I thought no one would dance with me.”

I scoffed. “First of all, I didn’t volunteer, someone pushed me. Second, if they knew it was you under that mask, I bet they’d come running from all sides”

“What about you?” he pulled me closer. He was drunk.

“What do you mean?” I gaped at him.

We entered the slow part of the song and Damon spun me around before holding me tight. “I’m asking if you would have come running to me if the opportunity came”

His hands slid seductively around my waist before he whispered in my ear. “Answer me”