Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
The man raised his hands. “Sir, what did I—?”
Ethan slammed the waiter onto the floor. “You got a gun?
“No! No!”
Ethan snarled. “You better not!”
The other waiter watched them wrestle.
“Fuck you!” I rammed as hard as I could into the second waiter. The flutes fell off the tray. Champagne spilled. Glass shattered on the floor.
He shrieked. “What is—?!”
I kneed him.
The man groaned in pain and doubled over.
I snatched the mask off, making the poor guy stumble into the mask.
A young, skinny face gazed at me.
He was probably some college kid working part-time for extra money. Red hair. Pimple-coated cheeks. A tiny pink bunny was tattooed on the space between his cheek and ear.
Ethan had the other man’s mask off. This man was short with a receding hairline and a mole on his forehead. Terror filled his eyes. “W-what did I d-do?”
Jesus Christ.
Still holding the mask, I stepped back. “This isn’t the killer.”
They gazed back at us like we were crazy.
We are. . .a bit insane.
I turned back to the rest of the room. Christopher and the other men gaped back at us, completely mortified.
Hey. . .better safe, than sorry.
“Alright.” Ethan looked around, rose from the floor, and straightened his tuxedo. “Well, he doesn’t have a gun.”
The waiter that he had tackled, remained on the floor as if unsure that he should even get up.
Meanwhile, my assumed college kid trembled by the wall.
Ethan held out his hand. “First of all, I would like to apologize for attacking you.”
The man on the floor widened his eyes.
“You both will be rightfully compensated for all injuries, pain, and even psychological suffering you experienced tonight.” Ethan brushed down the front of his tuxedo jacket.
I nodded. “I’m sorry too.”
Everyone continued to stare at us.
I tried to hand the mask back to the guy.
The college kid didn’t walk over to get it.
“Hmmm.” Ethan gazed at the mask. “Maybe. . .”
I looked at him. “What?”
Ethan turned back to the man on the floor. “Give me your cape and mask.”
I quirked my brows. “What are you doing?”
“We should wear a disguise. Have you done that already?”
“No.” I grinned. “I was too busy mingling with you.”
The waiter rose from the floor and began taking off his cape.
I looked down at the mask. “Not a bad idea.”
Christopher walked over. “Sir, is there something going on this evening?”
“Yes.” Ethan nodded. “Someone is trying to kill us and they are wearing the waiters’ costumes. So, I want you focused on all waiters as well as Maya’s friends. Have you found them yet?”
“No, sir. Not yet.”
“Check outside.” I let out a long breath. “Claire might have convinced everybody to go smoke a joint.”
Or. . .one of them are dressed like a waiter and searching for me.
“A joint.” Ethan turned back to his waiter and watched him undress. “I surely need a joint right now.”
I turned to the college kid. “Please, can I have your cape.”
“Y-yes, ma’am.” He bobbed his head and began taking it off.
Guilt hit me. “That’s a cool bunny tattoo.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He pulled off the cape.
“And make sure you both give your names and information to Christopher, so that I can reimburse you.” Ethan grabbed the cape from his waiter. “After that, wait ten minutes, then go home. You’ll get paid in the morning.”
A skeptical expression hit his waiter’s face, but he remained silent.
The waiters went over to Christopher and we changed.
For a few seconds, I debated taking off my dress. But my waiter was much taller than me, so the cape fell over my dress and dragged on the floor.
This could work.
I placed the mask over my face. The material on the inside tickled my cheeks. Then, I pulled up the hood on the cape to hide my hair and turned to Ethan.
Shit.
I tensed and had to remind myself that it was Ethan.
He donned the mask and cape, his identity completely hidden. “What do you think?”
“Perfect.”
We both turned back to the men in the room. They all kept glancing back at us as if we were out of our minds.
Ethan picked the trays up off the floor, scattered among tossed hors d’oeuvres and broken glass. Then, he handed it to me. “Let’s go to the party.”
Taking a tray, I let out a long breath. “This will definitely be a new moment for me.”
Chapter 13
Disguise
Minutes later, we headed into the ballroom in full disguise and carrying empty trays.
The ballroom exploded with activity as the orchestra loudly played upbeat music. The notes twirled around squeals of delight and shouts of laughter. Savory scents rode the swirls of perfume and cologne.
Some of the men had taken off their masks and swung them around as they danced.
Women twirled around in their gowns. Chandelier light glimmered off their sequins and jewels. A few bumped into me.
And the whole time we journeyed through the massive ballroom, I never feared for my life.