Behind The Mask
Long velvet drapes the color of midnight spilled down the walls, and chandeliers shaped like enchanted forests bathed the room in warm light.
The theme was Fantasy, of course. Nico and Tessa had pushed for it, and it was clear from the little gleam in Nico’s eyes that this was his greatest project yet. He had been waiting his whole life for an excuse to make reality look like a fairy tale.
By afternoon, the estate and villa buzzed with guests and the hum of security detail. The Everhart guards stood like statues at every entrance, discreet but alert. No one entered without an invitation, and even then, only the closest allies, friends, and family had access to the private villa grounds.