The yearly masquerade ball was coming up. A lot of buzz was going out about it. Mr. Choi, one of the most popular CEOs, threw one every year.
Kaylee was going this year. She wasn’t too enthused. Her father insisted that if she went they’d get more business. She felt like a pawn. Her father didn’t care too much about her. She’d been his business pawn since she’d become a legal adult. She wanted to escape, but she had nowhere to go.
So, she was going to the party. Her first thought upon entering the door was that the modest dress she was wearing was too revealing. There were many slimy eyes glancing at her the moment she entered the party. At least no one knew who she was.
She quickly made her way to the drink table. Hopefully she would appear occupied there. She quickly grabbed a drink and hid her face behind it as she took a sip.
“Hey.”
Kaylee tried to ignore the guy. But he was persistent.
“Come dance with me. You have about twenty guys staring at you. Its unsettling to see those guys staring at you like that.”
Kaylee sighed and set her drink down. She looked up at the man. Even hidden behind his mask, his beautiful dark eyes pierced her. Her eyes widened. He held his hand out to her.
“May I have this dance?”
She reached out hesitantly and took his hand. He smiled at her and pulled her to the dance floor. Then he pulled her into his arms.
“So,” he started. His tone was low as to not attract attention from others. “What’s a little beauty like you doing at this party? Most of the people here are widely known company sharks.”
“My father sent me. He treats me as his business pawn of sorts.”
“Ah, you’re the eye candy?” the man chuckled. “That’s very unkind of your father.”
“Why? Isn’t it normal?”
“I suppose it is. It shouldn’t be, though. These men should have more respect for their daughters.”
Kaylee looked up at the mysterious man. “You think so?”
“Of course I do! The way these men treat women is unacceptable!”
Kaylee just stared up at him as he continued to twirl her around the floor. She’d never met a man that didn’t believe women were just property to be used to their advantage. The man looked around suddenly.
“Let’s go to the garden,” he whispered.
“Garden?”
“Yes. There’s a garden out that door.”
She glanced to where he was pointing.
“Let’s go.”
He walked towards the door, pulling her with him as he tugged on her hand. They slipped out the door into a small little garden. The stars were very visible in the darkness the garden had. There were no lights illuminating the flowers as they walked the path.
“Why did you bring me out here?” Kaylee asked.
“I wanted to get you out of there. Those men all looked like they wanted to eat you.”
Kaylee looked up at him again. He was so tall. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
He looked down to meet her gaze. “You seem…vulnerable. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Normally, Kaylee would’ve taken exception to a man calling her vulnerable. But this one…seemed sweet. And genuine. She smiled up at him. “Thank you.”
He nodded. Then his phone pinged. He pulled it from his pocket.
“Um…I have to go.” He glanced down at her. “I’d suggest leaving. It’s not safe for you to be here by yourself.”
Kaylee nodded. “Ok.”
In the next moment, he was gone, leaving her alone in the garden. It was dark out here. She was definitely safer inside even if she didn’t leave. But…now she was curious. Who was that man?
