5

ALYONA

Excited and nervous, the three of us climbed into the taxi. I could feel the rush of thoughts swirling in my head, my stomach fluttering with anticipation. Olivia, Ivy, and I had waited for so long, and now that it was finally here, none of us could sit still. We kept stealing glances at each other, sharing smiles and half-squeals of excitement.

As the taxi screeched to a halt in front of the massive building, my heart thudded hard in my chest. The place was huge—its glass walls shining under the sunlight, and a crowd of well-dressed people streaming through the grand entrance. I swallowed nervously. Something about this moment told me that whatever was waiting inside was going to change things forever. Just as we were about to step out, Olivia held out her hand and stopped us.

“Guys, follow me,” she said quickly, glancing around.

“But why aren’t we going through the main entrance?” Ivy asked, raising an eyebrow.

Olivia smirked. “That’s for VIP guests. Employees and guests like us go in through the back.”

Ivy rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. We all followed Olivia around the side of the building, where she led us to a smaller door. She was busy greeting someone on her phone—her boss, I assumed—when we stepped inside.

Even though we were entering from the back, our excitement didn’t fade one bit. In fact, I think we felt like we were sneaking into something important as if we had our own little secret.

We had spent hours getting ready for this. Even Ivy, who normally refused to dress up, had made an exception tonight. She wore a dark green gown that had a structured, edgy design—sleek with a slit on one side and paired with combat-style heels to stay true to her tomboy spirit. She looked bold and striking in her own way, standing out without even trying.

I had gone with a soft, dreamy look, what Mario thought would make me look out of the world—a flowing blue gown with delicate silver embroidery along the bodice. I’d curled my hair and pinned one side with a jeweled clip, letting the rest fall over my shoulder. My emerald-green eyes peeked through the mask, and I noticed more than a few glances coming my way as we walked in.

“I swear, Alyona, if one more guy stares at you, I’ll start charging them,” Ivy teased, nudging me with her elbow.

“Oh please,” I laughed, nudging her back. “You look like you walked straight out of an action movie. I’d stare at you.”

“Aw, stop flirting,” she said with a grin.

We giggled like little kids, the nervous energy bouncing between us. Olivia turned back and waved for us to hurry up.

“Come on, you two, save the rom-com act for later!”

Ivy and I exchanged a look and burst into laughter again, but we picked up our pace. As we stepped into the main hall, we were instantly hit by the magic of the masquerade. A gigantic chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling, scattering colorful light like stardust across the room. It shimmered on every surface and every person present, making the entire hall look like something out of a dream.

Beautiful people filled the space—some had their masks on, hiding their expressions, while others held them delicately in their hands, revealing playful or mysterious smiles. The sight reminded us of the one thing we had almost forgotten.

“Mask,” I whispered to Ivy, and we both quickly reached into our clutches and put them on. My mask was silver, laced with tiny rhinestones that sparkled under the lights. The hall buzzed with excitement. The booming music, mixed with the vibrant lighting, made it impossible not to feel the rhythm in our bones. A live orchestra played on one side of the room, their instruments weaving together a melody that tugged at our feet, making them move on their own.

We glanced around in awe. An extensive bar stretched across one end of the hall, decorated elegantly and filled with rows of drinks in every color imaginable. Bartenders in matching vests served cocktails with flair, and in the middle of it all stood a towering glass pyramid—champagne flutes stacked high, glinting under the lights. It was breathtaking.

Olivia finally joined us, her cheeks flushed with excitement as she adjusted her elegant golden mask. “Isn’t this amazing?” she said, her eyes sparkling.

“I don’t even have words,” I breathed, my voice catching slightly from all the emotion bubbling inside me.

At some point, we found ourselves on the dance floor, laughing and twirling, losing track of time. We didn’t know when we had started dancing, but by the time we stopped, we were out of breath and in desperate need of a drink.

“That was great,” I muttered with a smile, brushing a strand of hair off my forehead. Just then, something—or rather, someone—caught my eye.

In the lounge area near the edge of the dance floor, a group of men stood talking. They looked sharp, all in tuxedos. 

I couldn’t explain why, but my eyes landed on one figure, in particular, sitting on a large leather couch near the edge of the lounge. His posture relaxed, yet commanding as if he belonged there. 

The trance broke when someone suddenly walked toward me. I blinked, confused for a second.

“Hello, Alyona,” he said. His voice was familiar—so familiar that my heart skipped a beat—but I couldn’t place it right away. It echoed somewhere from my past.

I turned to face him, my breath catching slightly. Slowly, he reached up and removed his mask. My jaw dropped. “You…” The word got stuck in my throat. Before I could take a step back, he leaned in, gave me a quick peck on the cheek, and pulled me into a hug. I froze, standing stiff in shock, not knowing how to react.

Ivy's expression turned into a glare, her eyes narrowing at him as she leaned toward Olivia, clearly confused.

“He’s Shawn,” Olivia whispered in Ivy’s ear. Both of them tried to hold back their giggles, but their faces said it all.

Shawn stepped back, grinning as he had just reunited with an old friend instead of someone who had worked hard to avoid him.

“Can I get you a drink?” he asked eagerly, clearly trying to hold my attention.

“No thanks. I’m with my friends,” I replied quickly, turning to Olivia with pleading eyes. She caught my look but ignored it with a cheerful smile. “Hey, Shawn. I’m Olivia, and this is Ivy,” she said, introducing them both casually. I stared at her, silently asking why she was encouraging this.

Shawn tilted his head and smiled. “How come you know my name?”

“Alyona told us,” Olivia answered smoothly.

His smile widened. “Oh, really? I never knew she talked about me. All I remember is that she ignored me and my feelings.”

I cringed internally. My face must have gone pale. The last thing I wanted tonight was to deal with an old admirer who never knew when to stop. I came here to enjoy a beautiful evening with my girls—and maybe, just maybe, spot someone worth dreaming about. However, fate had other plans.

I sighed and turned to the bartender. “One drink, please.”

The bartender handed me a glass. I took a small sip, hoping it would help me swallow down my growing frustration.

And then, out of nowhere, Olivia's voice cut through the air like a blade.

“Did she tell you she has a boyfriend?” she said casually.

I choked. The drink burst out of my mouth like a sprinkler, and I coughed uncontrollably. Ivy quickly patted my back, trying not to laugh.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

I grabbed a napkin and wiped my mouth and chin, then shot Olivia a sharp look. “What is she saying?” I whispered to Ivy.

“I don’t know what she’s doing,” she whispered back, her lips pressed tightly together to hide a grin.

I couldn’t figure out what kind of chaos was unfolding. Why was Shawn here? And why did he always show up just when I thought I was finally free of him? He stepped closer, ignoring the awkwardness.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” he asked, staring at me like I owed him the truth. I hesitated, then gave a small nod and forced a smile.

“Oh…” His face fell, his earlier excitement draining like water from a cracked glass. “Where is he?” he asked, tilting his head.

I blinked.  Another question?

I could almost hear my inner voice saying, You started this lie, now survive it. I glared at Olivia, silently ordering her to answer his question. 

 “He’s here somewhere. He’ll join us soon. Would you please get us a drink?”Ivy added unexpectedly, batting her lashes at Shawn.

Shawn nodded and walked toward the bar to get drinks for Olivia and Ivy.

The moment he turned his back, I grabbed their arms and yanked them closer.

“What the hell was that?” I hissed through clenched teeth, keeping my voice low but sharp.

“You wanted to get rid of him. What was I supposed to say?” Olivia whispered back, rubbing her arm dramatically like I’d bruised her.

“Now would you please tell me,” I snapped, “Where exactly is this imaginary boyfriend of mine?” Ivy looked around the hall, her eyes scanning the crowd. “There,” she finally said, pointing toward a man sitting on a large leather couch near the edge of the lounge.

I followed her finger—and my stomach dropped. Of course, it had to be him. The same man I had noticed earlier. The one who caught my eye without even trying. He still sat with his back to us, glass in hand, posture effortless yet commanding. There was something about the way he held himself—quietly confident, completely unbothered by the noise and glamor around him—that made him hard to ignore.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered. “Out of everyone here, you picked him?”

“He fits the role perfectly,” Ivy said with a sly grin. “Mysterious, hot, and hopefully silent.”

I glanced at Olivia, who was clearly confused. “This is a terrible idea,” I said.

“Too late,” Ivy whispered as Shawn walked back with drinks.

“Do I know him?” I asked.

“No. Just say he’s your boyfriend,” Olivia said.

“What if he wants to meet him?” Ivy added.

I froze. Olivia looked around. “Then go ask him to dance.”

“No.”

“If you want to save your ass, do it.”

Before I could reply, Shawn reached us.

“What are you girls talking about?” he asked, handing out drinks.

“Nothing. Just girl talk,” Ivy said with a laugh.

“So,” Shawn turned to me, “Where’s your boyfriend, Alyona?”

I hesitated. “He’s not—”

“There he is!” Ivy pointed quickly.

Shawn followed her gaze, then turned to me with a grin. “Great. Let’s go meet him.” My heart sank. Perfect. Just perfect.