THE MASQUERADE

On a Wednesday evening, a black envelope arrived, sealed with gold wax, and the Arquette insignia was shining under my desk lamp. I slit it open and pulled out a card embossed with swirling script: Masquerade Ball, Hotel de Las Estrellas, Mexico City. Saturday, 8 PM. Business attire, masks mandatory.

The Estrellas Ball wasn’t just a party; it was a battlefield for deals, alliances, and power plays, disguised in velvet and champagne. As CEO of Arquette Ventures, I had no such luxury of missing it. Yet the RSVP form teased me: plus one. A date? I had not dated in years. Asking a friend has occurred to me, but there would be nobody to be interested in such a ball of business affairs. My cousin Miranda would have jumped at the chance, but her bar-hopping life was not ball material. I needed someone polished and discreet, who would not steal the spotlight. By Thursday morning, I had settled on a solution: an escort! A professional with no strings… I called an agency I had used once before, for a gala in London. “Male, mid-30s, charming, good dancer…” I specified with a sharp voice. “Black tie, mask included and provided by me. Saturday night.” The agent confirmed, promising a man named Javier.

Saturday morning, I stood in my closet, surrounded by racks of gowns. The chosen dress hung on a mannequin: emerald satin, floor length, with a plunging neckline and a slit to the thigh, paired with a feathered mask that curled around my eyes like smoke. It was bold, commanding, perfect for the Estrellas. My hair would be swept up, and rubies would cover my neckline for a beautiful contrast. Javier would wear a black tux, and his mask would be sleek silver, per the agency’s text. I pictured us gliding through the ballroom… All eyes would be on us. God, control felt so good; or was it?

At 4 PM, my phone buzzed. “Miss Arquette, this is the agency. Javier’s had an emergency; it’s his appendicitis. He is out, and we don’t have replacements on this notice. Please accept our apologies.” The agent’s voice was apologetic, but my stomach dropped.

Four hours to go, and no partner? After ending the call, I walked back and forth on the terrace. I considered going alone. I was Emily Arquette; I didn’t need an arm to lean on. But the Estrellas wasn’t a solo game; showing up alone signaled a sense of vulnerability, creating an opportunity for opportunists to take notice. I scrolled through my contacts. Sadly, each name was a dead end: too far, too flaky, too tied to my father’s world. An intense and foreign sense of panic emerged in me. Then my eyes caught movement on the beach below: Eduardo…

He was jogging with firm steps as the sand flew up behind him. Eduardo: my protector, my savior from that fevered night two weeks ago! His hazel eyes, flecked with gold, and quiet strength have lingered in my thoughts ever since. I found him in the courtyard, toweling sweat from his neck. “Eduardo!” I called.

He turned with his eyebrows lifting, and a faint smile curling his lips. “Yes, Ma’am. How can I be at your service?”

“I need a favor. There is a masquerade tonight. It’s business related with high stakes. My date isn’t going to make it, and I can’t go alone. Will you come with me?”

His smile faded, and he tried to test the tension to see, if I were kidding. “Me? I’m not exactly ballroom material, Ma’am. My job is to watch your back, not waltz.”

“We will dance bachata then.” I mocked him. That made him chuckle. “Your tux will be on me. We have four hours, pretty please, Eduardo. Your paycheck will be double this month.” I said as I was blinking my eyes like a flirting cartoon character.

I saw his hesitation as he was glancing at the ocean, then he directed his eyes back at me. ‘‘If it is really what you need, I am in.’’

‘‘You are the best, Eduardo! I owe you big time! Meet me at six.” I said and left him to get ready for the night.

The ballroom at Hotel de las Estrellas sparkled. The chandeliers were casting a golden glow over masked faces. My emerald gown hugged my curves, and the slit was revealing my leg with each step, while my feathered mask added mystery to my eyes.

Eduardo strolled beside me in a fitted black tux, his silver mask accentuating his jawline. He moved with grace, not as a bodyguard but as my equal. He was drawing attention as we entered. “Stay close…” I murmured, linking my arm with his. “Always…” he replied with a low voice that carried a spark in his tone that made my pulse skip.

When we entered into the crowd, the music just totally wrapped around us. Like, you could hear this sad violin mixed with happy giggles and the clinking of glasses. The first hour was magic. We danced, his firm grasp on my waist was guiding me through waltzes with a grace I hadn’t expected. Eventually, he confessed that his mother’s urging him during his teenage years played a role. “She said it would impress someone someday…” he whispered when he was spinning me. His gaze was hanging on my smile.

Between dances, we sipped champagne and gossiped about everyone around. “That guy’s mask looks like a peacock. Must be having a midlife crisis…” Eduardo murmured while gesturing towards a grotesque, feathered creature. I snorted, nearly spilling my drink, earning a smile from him that warmed me more than the wine.

However, the genuine intention of the ball became apparent. Across the room, I spotted Elena Marquez, CEO of Sol Foods. Last month, she presented a dried fruit initiative to me, which involves significant risks but also the potential for substantial rewards, utilizing Mexico’s orchards for international export.

“Business calls.” I told Eduardo before I left him alone. “Mingle, but do not go far.” I blinked. He nodded as his eyes scanned the crowd. “I will be here.”

I wove through the guests. Thanks to the mask that was hiding my nerves… There Elena was by a marble pillar. “Emily, shining brighter than ever!” she said with a sharp smile. We discussed business: supply chains, tariffs, and profit margins. Others joined: a banker, a logistics exec; their masks were glinting as they probed my plans. The potential of the project expanded, with Elena envisioning successful markets. However, her sense of urgency seemed misplaced, appearing overly enthusiastic. I responded calmly, inquiring about the information they avoided. Time passed by, the crowd grew denser, and the music diminished to a soft murmur.

I glanced for Eduardo, needing his steady presence, but masks blurred into sameness: silver, gold, black… He was gone, swallowed by the throng. I excused myself, promising Elena a follow-up, and pushed through the dancing crowd to search for him. Silver masks teased me, but none held his broad shoulders and his quiet intensity.

A hand grazed my wrist, near the terrace doors. A man in a black tux and wearing a silver mask nearly identical to Eduardo’s… He smiled gently, gripped me with his firm but warm hand. “Looking for me?” he asked. The music muffled his voice. He didn’t have Eduardo’s accent, but I thought that was because of the music. I wouldn’t believe that easily, but his costume and his build convinced me.

I allowed him to lead me in a dance. He rested his hands on my waist as we moved gracefully, but his moves differed from before. He must have drunk slightly too much, I thought to myself. “You vanished!” I said with a smile. He spun me closer, and he was acting quite courageous.

His hand slid lower and boldly. I tensed up, but he softly said, “Take it easy!” and he tilted his head; his mask brushed against mine as his lips got closer. I was momentarily stunned with the desire of having that kiss. I convinced myself that it was him. But a hand clamped my shoulder and pulled me back. I gasped by that move. Turned around to catch sight of another silver mask: he took off his mask for a second so I could identify him: Eduardo!

He steered me through the people, out a side door, into the cool night air. My heels clicked on cobblestones. He was guiding me firmly to the waiting car. “Eduardo, what?” I started, but he opened the door to urge me inside. As my chauffeur drove off, the city lights blurred into streaks outside. I took off my mask, and my emerald gown spread out around me. Eduardo wasn’t even looking at my face; he was looking through the window. “I am sorry for interrupting your little affair, but I didn’t want you to look like that on a business event,” he said with an offended tone.

That was unexpected behavior of him. The stranger’s voice and touch felt wrong. I let the mask and moment deceive me.

I was about to explain myself to him then I realized our situation. “Wait! Do I have to explain myself to you, Eduardo? Did you forget I am your boss here? Your job was to be near and protect me? You dare to accuse me; your boss having an affair on a business event, yet you don’t tell me where you have been when I was held by that damn stranger man? Did you leave me alone to chase the other girls, Eduardo?”

He turned his head to me with a sharp attitude. His eyes were carrying a lot of tension. Yet he didn’t lose his senses replying me back.

“I got lost in there looking for you. Then overheard something you need to know, Ma’am; if you take this as an excuse.”

I leaned in closer. “Can you clarify what you mean?”

“Near the bar, two guys in masks mentioned about Sol Foods. I didn’t hear their names, unfortunately. One of them said the dried fruit deal’s a trap. Inflated projections, bad contracts, set to tank whoever signs. They laughed about ‘Arquette’ taking the bait.”

My stomach dropped at the memory of Elena’s eager smile. The gaps in her numbers and rushed pitch clicked into place. “A trap?” I whispered with anger. “Do they think I’m that gullible?”

“You are not!” Eduardo said firmly. “But they are banking on your ambition. I don’t know about the details, just enough to warn you. Dig deeper before you sign.”

I nodded, with my racing thoughts. “Thank you,” I whispered. “For pulling me out in both means.” as I reached to grab his hand.

His gaze softened and went back to that familiar, heart-warming look. “Always, Ms. Arquette.”

Back at the villa, Eduardo had walked me to my door. “So, you thought he was me? Was that why you were going to let him kiss you?” he asked me with his cheekiness, yet I could sense his excitement and tense vibe.

“We were at a masquerade, Eduardo. We were there with different identities. I was just going to let you enjoy yourself as a thank you for being my escort tonight.”

He gasped as he kept his playful attitude that made me giggle. “Even though we’re at a ball, I’m still on duty, Ma’am. What kind of bodyguard do you take me for?”

I nodded cheerfully as I was smiling like I had a hanger in my mouth. I couldn’t help such a thing like that when I was around him. “An attractive one!” I said, and I blinked at him right before I got into my bedroom.

I whispered, “Good night, Eduardo!” before shutting my door.

And this is how I called it a night.