Chapter 1

When I was invited to a masquerade ball I was flabbergasted. I’ve always wanted to attend one but I’m not what you would call part of an elite group. My friends, our group’s idea of a fancy party was a clam bake on the beach so this was indeed a treat.

Brian had never shown me a big interest in the past although we did share a wonderful kiss last New Year’s Eve. When his invitation was offered I accepted right away. He said he would text me with the details later in the week. Maybe this was the beginning of something, at least I hoped it could be. I told my best friend Cali what happened and she was skeptical. Cali and Brian never quite seen eye to eye for some reason. She asked me to repeat every word as he said them. She was suck a worrier.

Brian kept his word and Wednesday night I received a text explaining how the ball worked. Now I wondered if I accepted prematurely. This was a high-class event and I might be out of my league. His suggestions on where to rent a costume were all in the diamond district as we called it. Overpriced shoppes, ten-dollar coffees, and a meal could fill my refrigerator for a week. Maybe Cali was on to something. I went home and she read his message.

“Steph, it sounds like this is a combination ball and charity auction. There are going to be a lot of influential people there, people that have more money in their pocket than we have in the bank. I know you really want to go but can you afford to spend that kind of money for one night? The rental, getting your hair done, probably a manicure and a pedicure depending on the costume. Time to get real Steph, do you have an extra $500 I don’t know about”?

One thing I loved about Cali is she is a realist. She sees things for what they are and doesn’t sugar coat anything. She was right, where was that kind of extra money coming from, I was on a tight budget as it was. my cheerful day had just switched gears into a depression as I returned Brian’s text rescinding my acceptance. I couldn’t tell him it was because I couldn’t afford it even though that was the truth. I said I would feel out of place with so many powerful people around me and left out of the conversations not familiar with the way their lives were led. My life was a simple one. He didn’t respond right away and I thought he might agree and just let it go at that.

I went for a slice with Cali, that I could afford. She asked what I thought it would have been like to be around so many important people. The only word that came to mind was intimidating. Rich, powerful, the cream of the crop. Money has never been a priority in my life but having a little extra now and then would make life a little easier. Cali was not only my best friend, but she was also my roommate. We both went online just to look at some of the costumes I could have worn. We chose the ones we liked and in the end we both stopped and said, “Hell yeah”, at the same time. we stopped on the exact same costume.

It was a long black and purple gown, slits going up both legs to the center of the thigh. It was silk in some places, shear in others. The front was low cut to expose as much of the upper chest as possible and the transfer of material went from a vibrant purple silk to a shear black webbing it offered a tease of what was there for only those allowed. The gown was completely backless and tapered down to where her curves became the focal point from behind. She supported a mask in her hand, elegance meeting seductress was how Cali put it and she was spot on. A simple covering for her eyes with the beauty of red roses peaking over the top. The model wearing it was beautiful and her hair and makeup done to perfection. We clicked on the link to see more of it. The new page brought new photos and we fell in love with it. this had everything a girl could want right down to the five-inch heels and shear, almost nude stockings. It was gorgeous, it was an amazing creation, it was three thousand dollars. Well that put an end to our visions of one of us owning it.

We finished our pizza and was walking home when I received a response from Brian. He said he wanted me to go with him and would make sure I enjoyed myself to the fullest. He assured me I would experience things like never before and to make me want to go he offered to buy me my entire ensemble. Now he had both out attention and Cali having to put her two cents in grabbed my phone, typed as I held my breath, and laughing as she handed it back to me saying let’s see how serious he is now. oh my God Cali I thought, what the hell did you tell him?

“Hi Brian. If you’re serious about wanting me to be your date this is what I would like to wear. By the way, I’m a size two and my shoe size is a six”.

“Oh my God Cali, I can’t believe you sent him that link. And he only said he wanted me to attend he never used the word date. He is going to think I am some kind of gold digger now, thanks a lot for making me look like a total ass”.

She said I had nothing to lose, I wasn’t planning on going anyway and besides he gave her a bad vibe from the beginning. I had to see it her way because she was right, I couldn’t go to a function like that, I would be seen as an outsider and I could never afford to dress the way they did. then I got an email from an address I didn’t recognize. The subject line said order received. I opened it and my jaw dropped. Cali took the phone and her eyes widened as she started to read the message. Your order has been received and will ship priority currier in the next forty-eight hours. The order was the gown and the purchaser on the receipt was Brian. The gown, the shoes, the mask, even the incredible stockings and panty set were included. Cali looked at the bottom and the total came up to three thousand nine hundred and ten dollars. We were speechless. Brian sent another message.

“Now you will be the one everyone sees and wants to get closer to. Stephanie you are going to make that gown something no man can resist. Now I will have the envy of every man and some of the women when we walk in together. Our balls are very different from others so I will send you a private link to the events scheduled. Please do not share this link with anyone as it is as I stated a private affair. I know you will look it over with Catherine, that I would expect but ask her to show me the same respect I need from you”.

Okay so now I had no excuse not to go. I can’t believe he bought me that gown. Cali was just as impressed as I was and we ran the rest of the way home to look at the link on my laptop instead of the phone.