by W.J. May
***
The sleek black Mercedes pulled up to the nineteenth century grand mansion located a few blocks from the university.
“You know, we could have walked. Then again, I’d be all sweaty by the time we got here wearing this thing.” Natalie pushed down on the skirt of her dress that nearly covered her face.
“We’d be all sweaty even if we had on shorts. It’s still a hundred degrees outside and it’s seven-thirty in the evening for crying out loud. You have to admit, arriving by limo makes you feel important.” Lise checked her lips one more time with her compact mirror.
“I guess.” Natalie peered out of the dark tinted window. “Wow Lise, I’m impressed. Feels like we are in LA for an awards night.”
“Now you know why I’ve been so stressed out. My boss relied on all the interns to pull this off.”
“You guys did an awesome job.”
The passenger side door opened and Natalie and Lise stepped out onto a red carpet that stretched to the curbside. Large LED spotlights crossed each other leading up to the entrance of the mansion. They walked down the plush strip while staged paparazzi snapped shots of them.
“Doesn’t this make you feel like a movie star?” Lise urged Natalie to stop and pose for a picture.
“Kind of.” Unlike Lise, Natalie didn’t care for pictures and showing off. Nevertheless she smiled for the camera.
“We might as well enjoy it. I mean, how many times do you get to dress up like this and look gorgeous?” Lise continued to pose by herself for some additional pictures.
She politely waved off a few guys asking to take her picture while she waited for Lise.
“Are those ice or glass?” Natalie stopped to examine the tall DNA double helix structures located on each side of the walk, right before the grand doors.
“Glass, I believe. If you think the entrance is stunning, wait until you see the ballroom.” Lise pulled Natalie through the double doors.
They walked through the stately entrance past the dining room and library to the grand ballroom. Muscular men painted from head to toe in an antique gold color, posed at the entrance holding candelabrums in their hands.
“Are those guys real?” Natalie whispered.
“Yes, can you believe it? Aren’t their bodies to die for?”
Natalie tried not to stare at their bulging muscles and rippled stomachs. It didn’t take long for her attention to be diverted once she stepped inside the ballroom. The massive room was decorated to replicate the Masquerade Ball from Phantom of the Opera. Fabric in gold lamè and maroon hung throughout the room, giving it a dark mysterious appearance.
“My gosh. Whose idea was it for all of this?” Natalie did a three-sixty, taking in all of her surroundings.
Lise raised her brows. “Our boss, Lynn. Isn’t she creative?”
“I’m speechless.”
“Wait until you see the food. Come on.”
Natalie followed Lise over to the lavish buffet tables that featured a DNA double helix ice sculpture with a huge waterfall behind it.
“This food looks divine.”
“Lise?”
They both turned around at the same time to see a small-framed Asian lady holding her mask to the side of her face.
“Hi Lynn. Everything looks great. Do you need help with anything?”
“Yes, I do. Meet me by the stage in fifteen minutes.” Lynn checked her cell phone and huffed.
“Okay. I’d like to introduce you to my roommate and Ryan’s girlfriend, Natalie.”
“Hi, nice to meet you. You have magnificent creativity.” Natalie shook Lynn’s hand.
“Oh thanks. I really enjoy this part of my job.” Lynn squeezed her hand and smiled.
“I think you might know my aunt, Sharon Warren?”
“Yes, as of matter of fact I do. Too bad she couldn’t make it.” Lynn checked her cell phone again.
“I know. She doesn’t like to miss a good party. I’ll have to tell her about it.”
Lynn made eye contact with her for a brief minute. “Yes, you will. Have fun tonight.” She turned to Lise. “See you in fifteen.” Lynn made it obvious that she didn’t have time to chit-chat with her.
“Thanks, I will.” Natalie smiled and watched as Lynn frantically ran across the room over to the stage.
Natalie looked around for Ryan, but didn’t see him. The room quickly filled with employees all dressed up and showing off their elaborate feathered masks. She took out her phone and decided to text Ryan. She stopped when she heard a familiar voice behind her.
“I’m looking for a beautiful young lady by the name of Miss Natalie Vega. Have you seen her by chance?”
Chills ran up her spine. “That depends.” Natalie turned around, holding her mask up to her face, trying to downplay her excitement.
“Depends on what?”
“If you are the right guy behind that mask.”
He reached up and slowly lifted his gold and green mask. “Heelllooo beautiful.”
She moved her mask to the side. “Hi. I’ve missed you.”
He took her in his arms. “I’ve missed you too.” He drew his lips to hers and the second their lips touched, another wave of dizziness hit her. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed it to go away. Within a few seconds, it subsided.
“You two need to get a room.” Lise scolded.
Natalie quickly pulled back, feeling a flush of heat across her face.
“Hey, don’t encourage them.” Sal walked up and gave Lise a kiss on the cheek. “You look, amazing.” He took a step back, taking in her full outfit.
Lise did a quick pose and held her mask up to her face. “Thanks. So do you. Put your mask on. I want to see what you look like.” She pointed to the mask that hung around his neck.
“Oh come on. I don’t want to put on this stupid mask.” He rolled his eyes.
“Please, for me?” Lise fluttered her eyelashes at him. Her eyes sparkled and Sal’s eyes twinkled with delight. He held the black mask up to his face. It was obvious that Lise had him wrapped around her little finger.
“Are you happy now?” He let out a charming smile.
“Damn, you’re hot.” Lise snapped her teeth at him, then growled and winked.
“Okay, now you two need to get a room.” Natalie turned to Ryan and shook her head. “Hey, there’s Dr. Kronberg and Franz. Do you all want to meet them?” She glanced back at her friends who all nodded.
She led them to the other side of the ballroom. “Excuse me, Dr. Kronberg… Franz.”
The doctor turned around. “Yes. Oh, hello Natalie. You look stunning tonight.”
“Thank you and you look handsome yourself.” Dr. Kronberg wore a traditional tuxedo but no mask. Even if he had worn one, it would have been easy to spot the white haired scientist.
“Thank you dear.”
Franz turned around, chewing on his nails. He gave Natalie a flat smile and barely let out a, “Hello.”
“Hi Franz,” Natalie replied with a cordial smile.
Franz had on a blue velvet tuxedo coat and shiny black pants that looked like something from the 70’s. Springs of red curls stuck out in every direction, covering his blue and black sequined mask on top of his head. His eyes surveyed Natalie and her friends, growing big until the darkness covered the white of his eyes.
“I’d like to introduce both of you to a few of my friends who are also interning at the company. This is Ryan and Lise.” They shook the doctor’s hand. Franz nodded and waved instead of offering to shake their hands. “They are both in the marketing department and this is Sal. He’s interning in the technology department.”
“It’s a real pleasure to meet you both.” Lise gave the doctor a friendly shake and then smiled at Franz.
Sal extended his hand forward. “Nice to meet you, Dr. Kronberg.” He then turned to Franz, “You too.”
“It’s nice to meet all of you. I take it you all are enjoying your internship and learning?” The doctor took his time, making eye contact
with each of her friends.
“Excuse me. It was nice to meet all of you, but I have something I need to do.” Franz walked off, not waiting for anyone to respond.
The doctor turned and said, “Okay, see you later Franz.”
Everyone looked at each other, probably thinking the same thing. Franz was a complete freak-a-zoid.
Sal didn’t hesitate to speak up. “Yes. The company has a very impressive technology department. It’s great to be able to work here.”
“I’m glad you like it.” The doctor replied.
Ryan held up his hand and did a quick sweep of the room. “The marketing department spares no expense when it comes to celebrating. It’s amazing what we have been able to do here.”
The doctor nodded and smiled. “Lynn does like to go all out.”
A distinguished man wearing a black and silver mask that perfectly matched his salt and pepper hair strode up to them. “Good evening. Is everyone ready to have a good time tonight?”
Natalie immediately recognized the voice that edged on arrogance. It had to be none other than, Russ Hayle, CEO and President of Kronberg Laboratories. He let out a sneering smile and his blue eyes pierced through his mask and landed directly on her.
“Hello Russ. Yes, I think these interns are ready, to get the party started, shall we say?” The doctor’s eyes darted back and forth between them and Russ.
They all smiled at him and let out a laugh or two. The doctor adjusted his metal frame glasses and cleared his throat a few times. “I’d like for you to meet my newest intern, Natalie Vega.”
Natalie extended her hand confidently and waited for Mr. Hayle to shake hers.
“Nice to meet you Natalie.” He reached out and took her hand in his and shook it.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hayle.”
“Please, call me Russ.” He placed his other hand on top of her hand. He squeezed with both of his hands, giving her a more than friendly handshake.
“Sure… R--u--ss.” She stumbled on the words, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the way he held on to her hands. When she tried to pull her hand back he only held on to it tighter, not letting go.
“I’ve heard wonderful things about you.” His eyes widened and traveled up and down her body. His gaze lingered on her exposed breasts, sending an eerie chill down her arms, causing every hair to stand on end.
She yanked her hand away. “That’s good to know. I guess I have Dr. Kronberg to thank.” She turned to the doctor, eager to break away from Russ’ unsettling stare.
“Yes. I’ve told him what a great scientist you will be one day. I know a superstar when I see one.”
“Thank you.” She held up her mask in front of her chest, trying to cover it.
“Hi, I’m Ryan, Natalie’s boyfriend and this is Sal and Lise.” He stuck out his hand and gave Russ a manly shake. “We all intern here and were talking about how impressed we are with all the company does to celebrate.”
Natalie breathed a sigh of relief. Ryan had come to her rescue.
“That is good to know.” Russ shook their hands but didn’t show much interest in meeting them.
The lights dimmed and a band started off with a top-forty song. “It looks like the party is underway. Have fun tonight.” He turned to Dr. Kronberg and patted him on the back. “We’ll talk later.”
“You kids have a good time. Natalie, see you Tuesday.” Dr. Kronberg gave a small wave bye.
“See you on Tuesday,” Natalie replied.
“Sorry guys, I’ve got work to do.” Lise turned to Sal. “I’ll be back shortly.”
“That’s why I volunteered to help earlier.” Ryan put his arm around Natalie. “I wanted to be able to enjoy the party.”
“I should have done the same. Oh well.” Lise shrugged her shoulders.
“Hopefully you won’t have to do too much. See you in a bit.” Sal replied watching Lise walk off.
“I got us a table.” Ryan pointed to a table with a reserved sign that faced the dance floor.
“Cool. I’m going to get a drink. Want anything?” Sal took a step in the opposite direction.
“Sure, I’ll take a Coke Zero.” Natalie replied.
Ryan placed his mask inside his coat jacket. “I’ll have the same. Thanks, man.”
“Alright.” Sal trailed off, making his way through the crowded ballroom.
They walked over towards the table when Ryan stopped and motioned with his head. “Look up.”
“Wow! How are they doing that?” Images of fire danced across the ceiling bringing it to life with the beat of the music.
“It’s a laser projecting the images. Cool, right?” His eyes followed the flames, watching it stretch across the ceiling.
“It’s awesome.”
“I suggested it to Lynn.” He smiled and tugged on the lapel of his tuxedo coat.
She held on to his arm, watching the flames dance. “Really? I’m glad she took your suggestion.”
“Me too. Come on, let’s go dance.” Ryan put his arm around her and led her to the dance floor.