by Kat T. Masen
Lex has chosen for them to stay at the Four Seasons, the penthouse suite with a view of the Eiffel Tower from the terrace. It isn’t the first time I’ve been privy to see this suite, having seen it many years ago when I worked as Lex’s executive assistant. Since money has never been an issue, Lex only chooses to stay at the finest of hotels across the world.
Inside the lavish space, a hairstylist and makeup artist are fussing over the two of us as we both sit in chairs positioned in front of a large mirror.
“I still can’t believe Lex agreed to attend,” I mention while trying to keep my eyes closed as eye shadow is applied. “And to wear a costume.”
“And not just any costume.” Charlie giggles, apologizing momentarily as the stylist almost drops the brush. “I had to compromise. His costume is all black with minimal ruffle. Adriana made sure it stayed true to the eighteenth century, but you really should’ve been there for the fitting. I don’t think I have laughed that hard ever. Almost peed my pants and Noa—”
I open my eyes, waiting for Charlie to continue before she clears her throat.
“So anyway… Eric is dying of jealousy. Be grateful he has his parents’ wedding anniversary dinner to attend to in Manhattan, or he’d be here dressed as some desperate gay prince looking to score with a wealthy king.”
My mind questions why Eric was summoned to attend his parents’ soiree since Dominic won’t be in attendance. I try to ignore the countless questions running through my mind and rid myself of thinking anymore about Dominic. Considering our agreement was simple, it’s taken a complicated turn and created more stress than necessary.
Just breathe and forget he exists, if only for tonight.
“So, I’m thinking,” Charlie concludes with an impish grin. “We take fabulous pictures and post them on Insta. Eric will be foaming at the mouth, which serves him right.”
“Poor lil’ bugger.” I frown, holding back my laugh.
“Oh, so your British slang is back?” Laughter escapes Charlie as I throw a macadamia nut at her from the bowl in front of me. “Besides, it’s payback for him dragging me to the most boring art exhibition last week. He claimed he wanted to spruce up his condo with some new art but turns out an ex-lover of his married the artist. The annoying pest just wanted me to rate who would’ve made a better husband. Him or the upcoming artist.”
“You know, I welcome the distance from Eric at times. Aside from Miss Drama Queen, how is everyone else?”
“Good, I guess. Adriana is busy with Andy and Luna along with her fashion line and all their charity work,” Charlotte informs with a gleam in her expression. “They just returned from the Philippines.”
“Holiday?”
“Not exactly. Julian is writing a new book and needed to do some research. While they were there, they visited some orphanages and, well, you know them. They’ve spoken to Andrew and scheduled another visit in a few months.”
“Oh,” I say out loud. “Expanding the family again?”
“No, at least, I don’t think so. Just trying to do their part and help those in need.” Charlie takes a sip of champagne before continuing, “I wouldn’t put it past them, though. Julian is great with Andy and Luna. Adriana has dropped hints a few times, so you never know.”
“And things with Lex and Julian?” I ask with a knowing smirk. “Still okay?”
“As okay as it can be.” Charlie snorts behind her glass. “They’re civil to each other. They can be in the same room and have a healthy discussion on foreign affairs, but I won’t exactly call it perfect. For instance, I went over to visit Adriana for coffee, and she was running late. Naturally, I sat with Julian and talked while we waited. Let’s just say that my dear husband wasn’t so pleased.”
“Wait, by any chance, was this about a week or so ago?”
“How did you know?” Charlie raises her brow. “Did he tell you?”
“No, but we had a challenging video meeting with a client. Lex was pushed hard, and you know him, question his ethics, and he’ll lose his cool. It put him in a foul mood all day. I’m just saying it may not have been entirely your fault.”
“Explains the outburst,” Charlie drags, less than pleased. “Honestly, I still don’t know how you work with him. The man can be so—”
The sound of Lex clearing his throat prompts Charlie to stop talking. Keeping my smile hidden, I wait with anticipation for the argument to unfold. Standing against the door frame, Lex folds his arms, deliberately raising his brow with a smirk playing on his lips. He’s dressed casually for once—a pair of dark jeans and a light blue polo shirt.
I’ve been caught in the crossfire during many of their arguments, including the infamous fight in the restaurant when I first discovered Charlie was the woman Lex had been hopelessly in love with. Over time, it no longer bothered me. Just like when two of your siblings are fighting, and you’re in the corner with a tub of popcorn, glad it isn’t you for once.
“Don’t look at me that way,” Charlie warns him with squinting eyes. “You know you can be a pain in the ass. If I had to work with you, I’d have filed a complaint to Human Resources on day one.”
“Remind me why I married you again?” he questions, rubbing his chin.
“I’m great in bed. I can cook, plus you knocked me up, so…” Charlie answers confidently, grinning at her reflection as Lex remains unusually quiet. “Don’t you have somewhere to be? Drinks with your friend?”
An odd glance passes between them, prompting me to pay closer attention. Lex isn’t the type of person to keep ‘friends.’ For as long as I’ve known him, his ruthless persona landed him enemies more than anything. Most of the so-called friendships he has are all because of Charlie.
“Yes,” he agrees, checking his phone. “I’ll be back soon to change and will meet you both in Versailles.”
“We can wait,” I offer, watching him closely. “I’m sure we can be a little late.”
“I’d rather you ladies don’t miss anything.” He moves toward Charlie, kissing her on the cheek as something passes between them. Surprisingly, Charlie doesn’t argue with him and tells him to enjoy drinks.
The moment he leaves, I ask the questions lingering at the tip of my tongue.
“What was that about?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Lex rarely goes out with friends. Who’s this person he’s meeting?”
“Some guy he knows.” Charlie brushes it off like it’s not a big deal. “Look, it’s probably business since everything always is. As you know, his interest has shifted to the European market, so I don’t expect to be spending quality time with him here, which is why I have you.”
Breaking into a genuine smile, I ignore my curiosity and change the subject, asking her about the girls. When it comes to talking about her daughters, Charlie can go on for hours. I miss all three girls, and last time I saw them was a year ago when I had a two-day conference in Manhattan. Charlie flew over with them so we could spend a little time together. There’s no doubt she has her hands full, another reason why children are great to spoil but equally lovely to hand back at the end of the day.
The makeup artist and hairstylist finish working on us, prompting me to put my costume on. With the help of the two of them, I step inside the dress as they button the back one by one. The Marie Antoinette-inspired dress is deep red with heavy black brocade, trimmed with gold pearls and diamantes. The dress is buttoned, ultimately making my breasts look enormous in the square-cut neckline. Considering I am not wearing a bra, the firm and sheer size of them leaves me speechless.
“Kate,” Charlie mouths with her eyes wide. “You look amazing! Plus, your boobs… you’re so going to get some with a rack like that.”
“Get some by a man wearing questionable tights?” I laugh, clasping the back of my choker. “I need to be really drunk for that to happen.”
“You never know.” Charlie nods with a grin. “Tonight could be your night.”
“I’m not interested in me
eting anyone. As long as we have fun, that’s all that matters. Don’t leave me hanging and run off for a quicky in the hotel room.”
This moment could’ve been an opener for mentioning Dominic. Yet, over the years, I chose to keep our encounters to myself, knowing exactly how Charlie feels about him. As expected from a best friend, she only wants the best for me and reminds me of my worth every time we speak. Charlie is very vocal about Dominic’s lifestyle, which is why I choose again to ignore my thoughts and keep quiet on the matter.
“Honestly, Kate, you’re the female version of Lex. All work, no play. I understand the importance of sacrificing a personal life to fulfill your ambitious goals, but when are you going to start putting yourself as number one?” Charlie rambles, her deep stare garnering some sort of response.
“I’m fine the way things are,” I answer confidently. “Let’s just enjoy tonight, please.”
The large mirror gives me ample space to inspect my entire ensemble.
Charlie busies herself by putting on her dress. Adriana designed her an emerald-green gown with a black-lace mask. The color itself is breathtaking.
Placing my black mask on which is made from delicate lace, I take a moment to admire my completed outfit. My hair sits softly to the side, pinned with curls to match the era. I colored it only recently to an ash blonde, somewhat liking this shade from my natural tones. Unlike many of the other images I have seen online when preparing for this event, I opted not to wear a wig as did Charlie. Between the summer heat and the heavy dress we’ll have to wear all night, a wig was deemed annoying and unnecessary.
Charlie turns around, fully dressed as her eyes sparkle with excitement. She’s also drunk at least two glasses of champagne while we’ve sat here, and I expect her to be completely drunk by midnight at best. I don’t mind. Drunk Charlie is fun Charlie. There’s always that one friend who makes it ten times more fun when they’re drunk, and Charlie takes the medal with Rocky coming in a close second.
“Adriana is brilliant,” she gushes with a fake British accent causing me to erupt into laughter. “This dress is absolutely perfect.”
“Are you ready to party and drink expensive French champagne in Versailles?” I cheer, holding my glass to clink with hers. “La vie est belle!”
The two of us drink while we sing along to “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang.
“Life is beautiful,” Charlie repeats in English. “And tonight will be the night I’ve been waiting for.”
***
We arrive just before the night fountain show, passing time by strolling the beautiful gardens during twilight. The ball itself doesn’t begin until eleven thirty and typically finishes just before dawn.
There’s a flurry of excitement from those attending, dressed impeccably in their costumes and congregating in groups to take several pictures to mark the occasion. Tourists also occupy the area, admiring the surroundings and taking out their phones to snap photographs of those willing to pose for them.
The sun begins to set, a canvas of beautiful colors adorning the sky. Rich hues of red blended with oranges, purples, and crimsons, all of which bring a sense of calm within me.
“The sky is stunning,” Charlie says, wistfully, her thoughts just like mine. “France is beautiful. I understand why you’ve chosen to stay here.”
“It’s beautiful,” I agree as we both still our movements. “I really can’t imagine living anywhere else right now.”
Charlie is distracted, glancing at her phone with a knowing grin. “Lex just sent me a very profane text on how uncomfortable it is wearing tights.”
“Why am I not surprised?” I muse, smiling at people as they walk past in their costumes. “How long until he arrives?”
“Soon. So, listen, there’s something—”
I interrupt Charlie, prompting her to follow the crowds moving toward the large fountains. “Hurry… let’s get a good spot. I don’t want to miss anything.”
Everyone else has the same idea, and with the night’s sky fallen upon us, the view is nothing short of spectacular. Unable to hide my smile, I gaze around me, perplexed that France always offers something new which simply takes my breath away.
The night fountain show features water and fire tricks set to music. We stand together, watching and clapping with the rest of the crowd. The sheer timing of it all is impeccable and one they have mastered without any fault.
“There you guys are.”
Lex’s voice breaks me from my daze. I turn to face him, dropping my eyes toward his feet as I look at his costume. His facial expression says it all, the uncomfortable feeling as he appears to squirm. The outfit he’s wearing is black with an emerald green frilly shirt beneath his jacket. The same as Charlie and me, he opted not to wear a wig but wore a mask to stay in theme.
“Nice tights,” I mention teasingly. Charlie warns me with her eyes to shut up until her expression changes, and a nervous smile graces her face. “Charlie, are you okay?”
“Um, so I was trying to tell you earlier that—”
The bang of the fireworks drowns out her words, exploding above us in vivid colors to ignite the otherwise black sky. People ooh and aah, raising their heads to watch the animated show while applauding. According to my online research, the fireworks appearing is the beginning of what’s guaranteed to be an unforgettable night.
I’m beyond ready for tonight, desperate to drink champagne, dance away, and forget anything exists besides the excellent company of my close friends. Oh, and a small amount of business I plan to attend to before the liquor deems me incoherent.
A gust of wind sweeps past us, bringing with it a familiar scent. Unwillingly, I freeze on the spot, twitching my nose, trying to pinpoint why this scent is consuming my thoughts and igniting all my senses. It’s almost as if it transports me to a time in my past. I have no clue where or when but only remember pleasant moments.
“Kate, are you listening?” Charlie questions.
“Sorry, it was loud. You were saying?”
“I’ve set you up on another date, but before you say—”
I raise my hand, prompting her to stop. “How many times do I have to tell you, Charlie? After your last disastrous attempt to set me up, what makes you think I would ever try again?”
“I’m slightly offended.” The voice chuckles behind me.
The voice, much like the scent, onsets a stream of memories. Memories I buried along with many other things. With a slow and steady turn, my body shifts to see who belongs to the voice.
My eyes are wide, fixated on the man standing before me. The mask covers a portion of his face, but beneath the black façade lays the eyes of a man I had once loved in more ways than one. The piercing hazel sea of speckles dances in delight as they stare back at me.
Noah Mason.
KATE
The memories are playing like an old-time movie reel.
Each scene brings on a wave of emotions, the same emotions which were buried since the moment I left the States and hopped on a plane to Paris. The familiarity and warmth rush through me like a tepid ocean wave, calming my nerves and comforting me, much to my surprise. But as Noah’s stare deepens, the momentary calm is replaced by a tight feeling in my chest and a blank expression I can’t seem to shift.
“I heard you needed a date,” he simply states.
My head tilts to look behind him as if I expected someone else to be hovering around him. Eric is my first thought, but then, I see no one besides strangers and, of course, Lex and Charlie, brows raised as they wait for my reaction.
I retract slowly, examining the man standing before me. It’s been over three years since I last saw him at the hospital. The day I decided to walk away and start a new life. The same day he told me he loved me yet, in the same breath, announced he was about to start a new journey by welcoming a child with Morgan.
That moment was the final puncture to an open wound I’d allowed to be exposed for too long. Undeniably, I miss having him as my best friend, some
one I grew fond of and relied upon during our time together. But something never meshed with us. We were great as friends, but nothing more. And no matter how much I tried to ignore the said fact, Noah’s admission sealed the deal. He’d fallen in love with another woman, and they were to make a life together.
As for me, I did what I’ve always done in life, moved on to a new adventure and focused on myself, closing the final chapter on that book.
We remained friends—‘friends’ being the operative word—via social media, but I rarely logged into my account and never posted anything. Unlike Eric, I didn’t find any use in the platform. There are better things to do with my time than aimless scrolling and ‘liking’ someone’s post.
Neither one of us reached out to each other, aside from a message I passed on through Charlie to congratulate him on the birth of his daughter. And so, we drifted apart and haven’t spoken since.
Now, he’s standing before me, still looking as heartbreakingly handsome as ever.
Noah is dressed similarly to Lex in a black costume, possibly designed by Adriana if the ruffles are anything to go by. On closer inspection, he looks slightly thinner than I remember him but still appears muscular beneath the tights he’s wearing.
Though behind the black and gold mask, his face tells a different story. His eyes don’t shine as bright as I once remembered, and his cheeks have thinned out—another sign of his weight loss. His normally freshly shaven face is smothered with a thick beard yet manicured and not overgrown like I’d noticed on some men. It adds to his masculinity and somewhat suits him.
“Can a long-lost friend get a hug, or do you prefer I stand here so you can continue to stare at me in silence?” He rubs his beard, a smirk following. “I’ll tell you now that I charge a dollar a minute.”
I shuffle closer to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. His body is flush with mine as he laces his arms around my waist, bringing me in for a very tight embrace. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath at the same time my heart begins to weigh heavily. In Noah’s embrace, his scent is even more memorable. Slowly, my memories drift to the countless nights I’d rest my head on his shoulder or the few times I would lay my head against his chest and listen to his heartbeat. There was a time when I could memorize it’s beat, almost like it played a tune whenever I was around him.