1. Annalise

1

ANNALISE

“ S top looking so worried.” I throw my dark hair over my shoulder and grab the glass in front of me before bringing it to my lips, resisting the urge to moan at the taste. This is, without a doubt, the best champagne I’ve ever tasted. I wonder how much it cost. “The rich are never worried.” I cast a glance over to my best friend, Sienna, who looks like she could have a heart attack from anxiety any minute now.

“How would you know?” Even though a mask is covering her face, I can already picture her ginger eyebrows rising as she asks the question. “You’ve never been rich.”

I roll my eyes. “This is supposed to be a fun night. You’re going to make it look like we don’t belong.”

“We don’t belong,” she reminds me. “We didn’t get an invitation.”

“They don’t know that. Besides, you cooked the food, so that’s good enough.”

Sienna looks like she’s about to say something else, but I stop her, pushing my glass of champagne into her hands. “Take a sip of that and stop talking.” I pat the seat beside me to tell her to sit down, before turning back to the bar and gesturing the bartender over.

He smiles brightly. He’s the only one not wearing a mask… probably because he isn’t rich. He’s a good-looking guy with bright hair and an even brighter smile, but he looks like the kind of boy you settle down with. And, I’m not the settling down type of girl.

“What can I get for you, pretty lady?” he asks flirtatiously.

“How would you know I’m pretty?” I cock my head to the side, deciding to engage with him. It’s either that or more trying to talk Sienna off the cliff. “This mask covers up most of my face.”

“With a voice like that, there’s no way you aren’t.”

His comment makes me smile. “Two more glasses of champagne, please.”

With a grin still on his face, he looks at me incredulously before grabbing the bottle. “Are you sure you can handle all of that, little lady?”

“It’s not all for me.” I nod over to Sienna. “But trust me, I can hold my liquor.”

He laughs and pours the two glasses before pushing them toward us. Then, he leans over the counter. “If that changes, you know where to find me. I’d be happy to give you a ride home.”

Would he still be flirting with me if he knew I didn’t come from a background full of dollar signs?

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I throw one more look at him before I stand up, moving away from the bar and grabbing Sienna’s arm. “Come on. There’s so much to see.”

I’ve never been to any event like this before. A masquerade ball is something out of fairy tales, and I don’t plan on wasting a single second. The place is decorated beautifully with not a single thing out of order. I can only imagine the price tag on everything.

The ice sculpture made to resemble two swans creating a heart with their necks…likely ten grand on the small end. The fire lilies and orchids staged beautifully around the event room…there are a few thousand bouquets I would guess. And don’t even get me started on the silk tablecloths with even nicer ornaments on top of them.

But, to the people here, a few tens of thousands of dollars is nothing. Every man is in a designer suit, and the women are wearing dresses that cost more than what I make in a year. Their hair is pinned up beautifully and delicate masks cover their features.

There’s a string quartet playing the most soothing music. None of them are wearing masks either, but I highly doubt having them come here to play live was anywhere near cheap.

“What are we supposed to do?” Sienna asks, eyeing me curiously.

“Mingle,” I answer surely, smiling at her.

“But, I don’t?—”

I cut her off. “Look, Alfred dumped you. He found another girl, cheated, gaslit you and everything else. This is your chance to take your power back…have a nice time and forget all about him. Be a different person tonight, and then go back to the real world tomorrow.”

I don’t mean to be so abrupt, but it’s the only way to make Sienna stop overthinking everything. I want to have a fun night, which can’t happen if every five seconds she’s complaining about how worried she is.

She bites her bottom lip nervously, deep in thought, before finally letting out a sigh and nodding her head. “Okay.”

“Yay!” I exclaim. “Now, let’s go grab some of those rich snacks.”

There’s a table beside the dance floor—which nobody is dancing on—full of food, most of which I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen before. I decide to take one piece at a time, considering it looks like the food is just decoration for everyone else here, since hardly anybody is eating.

They probably don’t want to ruin their tens of thousands of dollars worth of dresses.

The snack looks like a powdered donut of some sort, but tastes nothing like it. The pastry practically melts on my tongue, and I find myself quickly grabbing another one before thinking twice about it.

Once it’s gone, I face Sienna. “I didn’t know you knew how to bake something like this.”

“I don’t.” She shrugs. “I made most of the hand sandwiches. Some other baker must have made these.”

“I think you should become a baker.”

I debate grabbing another one, until a woman comes over to us. “Eat too many of those, and you won’t keep that figure.” I look at her. She’s extremely short with long, black hair cascading down her back and amber-colored eyes I can see through her mask. Even underneath the mask, I can see her delicate features. “I may not look it now, but two years ago those marjolaines went straight to my thighs.” She laughs, and I join in.

“I can see how. They’re addicting.”

“Oh, I know. It took me forever to shed the sixty pounds from those things. Heartbreaks and sweets are not a girl’s best friend.”

She can say that again.

“I can’t imagine you fat,” Sienna comments.

The girl beams and spins around, showing off the short, light-pink, fluffy dress she’s wearing. “That’s a compliment.” She sticks her hand out. “Colette Garnier.”

Is that French? I shake it. “I’m Annalise, and this is Sienna.”

“Sienna,” Colette repeats. “Whitlock? Your father’s the software engineering company president, right?”

Sienna opens her mouth to say something, but anxiety rushes to her features again. I answer for her. “No, not that one. Her father’s foreign.” Colette looks like she’s about to ask something else, so I’m quick to change the subject. “Your dress is beautiful, Colette.”

It works. She looks down at it. “I’m glad you think so.” Her eyes connect with mine again. “Nobody else here really likes it. The heirs are so, well, boring and never want to have any fun. I’m glad that I met you guys. Now, I don’t stick out like a sore thumb.”

She thinks she sticks out like a sore thumb? What would she say if she found out that Sienna and I probably don’t even have three thousand dollars in our bank accounts between the two of us? Would she still think we’re fun ?

Colette gasps. “Oh mon Dieu, regarde ce beau mec.” Definitely French. Even though I don’t understand her words, I find myself looking in the same direction she is…and in front of me has to be one of the sexiest men, if not the sexiest man , I’ve ever laid my eyes on.

I can’t make out his full features, but it doesn’t change my opinion. His skin is a very light and warm brown, and he has black facial hair along his jaw and underneath his nose. His hair is short with the faintest curls lingering in it. His eyes are a prominent, deep blue, and his smile…it makes me want to melt into a million different pieces.

“Nikhil Volkov,” Colette says. “That man is just delicious.”

I couldn’t agree more.

“Single?” I ask, the word tumbling out before I can stop myself.

“Don’t you keep up with the magazines?” Colette asks. “He and his girlfriend broke off their engagement like a year ago, and he hasn’t batted an eyelash in any woman’s direction since.”

“A man like that can get any woman he wants.” Even Sienna is drawn to him, which says a lot considering she was just cheated on.

“I wish he’d want me.” Colette sighs and rolls her eyes. “Is he coming over here?”

It looks like Nikhil is making his way right toward us. I take a step back, thinking he’s coming for Colette, but he actually stops right in front of me.

I can feel my heart stop for a fraction of a second. He’s close enough to me that I can smell him. It’s almost earthy, but alluring. “I’ve never seen you before.” His voice is deep and masculine. I can feel Colette and Sienna staring at me.

Calm down. “How would you know?” I ask, my voice as steady as I can make it. “I’m wearing a mask.”

“Take it off.” There’s an authoritative hint to his words. My body naturally reacts, wanting to do as he asks, however I fight against it.

“That’d ruin the entire point of a masquerade ball, don’t you think?”

Nikhil stares at me, and I find myself getting lost in his green eyes. They’re different from anything else I’ve ever seen before, and I feel…trapped. He doesn’t say anything for a second, just stares at me, eyes flitting across the room, particularly to all the women watching us.

“Colette, how about we go and pick out our seats?” Sienna asks, snatching her eyes away from Nikhil. Colette is still staring with her lips separated, as if she wants to eat him alive, before Sienna gently elbows her in the chest.

“Oh, right.” She nods.

“I’m sure you’ll find us when…you’re finished?” Sienna asks.

I simply nod, and the two walk away, but not without me hearing their little chuckles and loud whispers.

“You have an effect on women,” I note, looking back at Nikhil.

“I suppose.” The words don’t seem to surprise him.

The way he’s acting confuses me. “What do you want?”

“I want to know why you’re here.”

Does he know that I’m not supposed to be? “You don’t want me here?”

Nikhil takes a step toward me, so close that our chests are almost touching. He gently tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear and leans so his lips are close to my ear, making me shiver. “I’m not a fan of outsiders.”

So, he does know.

When he pulls away, my heart is pounding faster than before, and it feels like every person here is staring at us. Maybe they are. I have to play it cool, otherwise I’ll get Sienna and myself kicked out.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie easily.

Nikhil snorts and pulls back slightly. He doesn’t say a word as he grabs my hand and leads me to the dance floor, right in front of the quartet. “Then, you wouldn’t mind joining me for a dance?”

I feel like a deer caught in the headlights, and with nothing else to say without revealing who I am, I give in. I have to fake it until I make it. “One dance.”

He reaches his hand out to me, just as a beautiful song begins to play. I take it, and he pulls me flush against his body. My body warms up, and I let out a small breath. I don’t want him to know just how much he affects me. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this close to a man, and none of the men I’ve been with have ever come close to this one.

I follow his lead, and we fall into a rhythm. One glance, and I find that just about everyone is still staring at us, nobody willing to come and dance with us. I would feel like a modern-day Cinderella if he wasn’t interrogating me.

“Wherever you go, people watch,” I note.

Nikhil doesn’t say anything, watching me intently, as if he can figure everything out without asking me a single question.

“I guess that doesn’t matter when you’re watching them too.”

This time, he responds. “Watching people lets you learn their secrets. Secrets and knowledge are power.” I almost feel like the words are directed at me, and his eyes are so intense that I debate looking away. Somehow, I manage not to.

“And what secret have you learned about me by watching?”

“You’re not rich, you or your little redheaded friend. Her heels still have the clearance sticker on them, and as nice of a dupe as it is, your dress isn’t the real thing. And your hair looks like you’ve done it in the bathroom, as opposed to having a stylist.”

Is it really that obvious? Nikhil swings me around in tune to the beat, hand pressed against my waist, gripping ever so slightly. “You may have fooled everyone else, but I see right through you. And, it’s not like you’re a good liar. So, you’re not a member of the elite. I thought you may just be a party crasher, but there are no unauthorized people in here, which means you either know someone or you’re a journalist.”

I swallow. “I can see why you wouldn’t want a journalist here. Your every move would be watched, but I’d be one crappy journalist not to bring a phone, pen, papers, anything, don’t you think?”

“Journalists are hardly truthful.”

“You just told me I was a bad liar.”

Nikhil considers my words. “A spy, maybe.”

I can’t keep myself from laughing. Is he serious? “Like Special Agent Oso ? Be real. Unless you’re doing something that would lead to someone sending a spy after you.”

“Digging for information?” He pulls me closer, and I look up at him. From everyone else’s perspective, it has to look like we’re going to kiss. Little do they know, it’s the complete opposite.

“I couldn’t care less,” I answer, although it’s not fully the truth. Something about Nikhil has grabbed my attention. But he’s right, I don’t belong here. In order for me to have a good night, I need to stay far away from him.

The song begins to come to an end, and Nikhil tightens his grip on one hand, his other hand firmly holding my back while he dips me. My breathing picks up, but I’m not worried, staring deep into his eyes. Something tells me that he isn’t going to let me fall. I feel like I could stay suspended in this moment forever.

“Then, who are you?” he whispers.

Just like that, I’m reminded that this isn’t some fairy tale, and I’m not going to get some kind of happily ever after with the prince.

“Keep watching, and maybe you can figure it out.” I move my foot in an attempt to stand up, but he holds me steady. “Let me up. I need to find the bathroom.” He falters for just a minute before doing as I ask, standing me up and letting me go.

I briskly start to walk away from him, heart pounding, without looking back.