Chapter 38
Chapter
Thirty-Eight
ASHER
Iwave off the driver and help Anabelle from the back of the limo myself when we arrive at the venue the night of the masquerade ball. It’s overcast and drizzling this evening, but thankfully, the drop-off space is under a large portico to keep us dry.
Anabelle looks unbelievable in her yellow gown.
It’s off-the-shoulder with large puffy sleeves that start halfway down her upper arm.
The front dips just enough to hint at her cleavage, and the bottom half of the dress is form-fitting with a large slit up the front, but she still looks classy and refined.
And the best part is the diamond collar around her neck. The one she accepted from me.
You’d have thought it was an engagement ring for how nervous I was before I asked her to wear it. When she accepted, I felt lighter somehow, as though everything was falling into place. Places in my soul I didn’t even know were empty gaping wounds, she’s filled up and healed.
“You ready to do this?” I ask her.
She looks up at me through the gold mask I had made for her.
It doesn’t go as low on her face as mine does, but the outer edge is surrounded in diamonds, and the mask itself has swirls and filigree on it.
I’m wearing my golden mask that resembles a bear.
Maybe slightly too ferocious for an event such as this one, but it’s what I’m most comfortable in.
“Still nervous. But ready.”
I trace the bottom edge of her mask with my forefinger. “You’ll be fine. Just stick with me.”
She nods, and I hold my elbow out for her so she can loop her arm through. When we enter the building, there’s a red carpet with a backdrop for the charity. There’s no press here. Only our own photographers so that we can control which pictures are released.
“Let’s get our picture taken.” I lead her over, and we pose for the photographer.
Once we’re done there, I lead us into the ballroom.
“Oh wow,” Anabelle says with wonder in her voice.
My chest puffs out a bit over the fact that she’s obviously impressed by how things have been put together here tonight.
The décor is on par with any top celebrity or multi-millionaire’s wedding, only my brothers and I have used our own money for this purpose.
We want everything raised here tonight to go directly to our charitable efforts.
I hate when I go to an event, and they’ve clearly spent a third of what they’re bringing in to wine and dine money from the attendees.
“What kind of charity work does your organization do?” Anabelle asks, turning to me.
“We try to spread the wealth around, so each year we have a different focus. Over the last couple of years, we’ve worked with organizations who help the homeless, some that have to do with illiteracy, and a few that run breakfast programs in schools.
But we always include women’s shelters and some organizations that help abused children. ”
Anabelle gives me a sad smile and squeezes my hand. “Will we have the opportunity to dance tonight, or will you have to make the rounds the entire night?”
I turn her toward me. “Do you really think I’m not going to take the opportunity to dance with you this evening when you look like that?”
Though I can only see part of her cheeks because of the mask, I’m pretty sure they pinken.
“Good. I’ve been looking forward to dancing with you.”
“And I’m the only one you’ll be dancing with tonight. Remember that.”
She rolls her eyes. “Should we go find Nero? Meet his potential fiancée?”
I huff out a long breath. “Don’t remind me of his insane intentions for tonight.”
Anabelle sets her hand on my chest. “Asher, give the woman the benefit of the doubt, at least until you meet her.”
“She probably doesn’t deserve it,” I grumble.
Anabelle’s hands move to her hips. “What would you say to your brothers if they said something similar about me?”
“I’d tell them to mind their own fucking business.”
“So maybe you need to take your own advice.” She pins me with a stare.
I know she’s right, though I don’t want to concede. “I’ve been looking out for my brothers since we were kids.”
Anabelle’s face softens, and she traces my jawline with her finger. “But you’re all adults now, and your father is long gone. Maybe it’s time to let the reins go just a little.”
It’s a hard habit to break.
When we were kids, and my father got angry, I’d often take the blame for things my brothers had done so that they wouldn’t have to deal with his form of corporal punishment.
As it was with my mother, taking his fists myself was easier than watching him hurt the ones I love.
That only worked until my brothers got old enough to understand what I was doing, though.
The instinct to protect them is as strong today as it was when we were children. But Anabelle’s right. Nero’s a smart man, the most intelligent of the four of us, and I have to trust that if he sees something good in this girl, it’s for good reason.
“All right, fine. If we must. Let’s head over to our table. They’re probably somewhere over there.”
She nods and loops her arm through mine again. We make our way through the crowd, and despite my mask, we have to stop a few times in order to say hello to people. I introduce Anabelle simply by her name, unsure whether to refer to her as my girlfriend or what.
What we have feels like so much more than that, especially now that she’s wearing my collar.
When we finally get to the other side of the ballroom where the tables are set up, I spot Nero standing near our table with a red-haired woman in a navy blue dress and a silver mask.
I take a deep breath and prepare myself, remembering what Anabelle said. “Nero.”
He turns and smiles. He has his raven’s mask on that he uses at the club.
I realize for the first time since he first mentioned Maude that she may change things for him.
Will he invite her to join the fun—that would certainly be his style—or is she the kind of woman who would be appalled by such a thing?
Nero was still partaking in the fun at the club when he first mentioned her, but he wasn’t at the last event for anything other than observing. Something I didn’t give too much thought to at the time since that’s his kink, but maybe there was more to it.
He smiles and shakes my hand, then directs his attention to Anabelle, moving in for a hug. “You look beautiful, Anabelle.”
When my mood sours at the sight of another man’s hands on her, I have to remind myself that he’s my brother. Unlike him, I’m not fond of sharing.
“Thanks, Nero. You look very handsome.” They separate, and Anabelle sticks her hand out toward the woman beside him. “You must be Maude. It’s great to finally meet you.”
She smiles and shakes Anabelle’s hand. “Thank you. Great to meet you as well.”
“Maude, this is my brother Asher.” Nero gestures to me.
I nod and reluctantly stick out my own hand. “Pleasure.”
“Likewise,” she says as she takes my hand.
There’s a beat of awkward silence before Anabelle rescues us. “So, Maude, are you used to these kinds of big events?”
“I’ve been to some before, but nothing this extravagant.” She glances around. I don’t like the way her eyes gleam, as though she’s tallying everything up and figuring out what it might cost.
“Me either. It’s a little overwhelming.” Anabelle laughs, and Maude just gives her a small smile.
My eyes narrow. I don’t care if it will piss Nero off, but if this woman gives Anabelle attitude, I’m going to say something.
“So what do you do for a living, Anabelle?” Maude asks.
“Oh…” She glances at me. “Well at the moment, I’m actually working as Asher’s assistant.”
It’s clear to me Anabelle’s a little embarrassed to admit that, probably wondering how it will look since we’re here together.
“I see.” Maude looks between the two of us. “Well, you’re still young. Plenty of time to find yourself.” Again with that small smirk.
“And what do you do, Maude?” I ask.
Nero must sense my irritation because I notice his knuckles whiten around his drink.
“I went to Harvard and earned my degree in economics, and I work for the state now.”
So she’s smart. That might explain one reason Nero is so head over heels for her.
“Very impressive,” Anabelle says because that’s the type of person she is, happy for other people’s success. I get the distinct feeling that Maude is not that kind of person.
“Where are Sid and Kol?” I ask, changing the subject.
“They went to get a drink before we had to sit for dinner.” Nero sips his cocktail, seeming to relax a bit. “Actually, here they come.”
Sid and Kol join our group. Neither of them has brought a date tonight, which isn’t surprising to me.
“Anabelle, you look lovely tonight,” Sid says, leaning in to give her a hug.
Kol simply nods in her direction, acknowledging her presence. That’s about all I’d expect from him. “I fucking hate these things.” He pulls at the collar of his tuxedo and takes a drink from his glass.
Obviously they’ve already met Maude, because Nero doesn’t do any introductions. I’ll have to ask later what their impressions of her are.
The six of us make conversation for a while. I swear I spot Maude checking out Kol a few times from behind her mask, but there’s no way that can be right.
Eventually, I turn to Anabelle. “Let’s go grab a drink from the bar.”
“Okay. It was good to meet you, Maude. See you guys in a bit.”
I don’t waste any time pulling her away from the group.
“See, that wasn’t too bad, was it?” Anabelle says as we move through the crowd.
“Speak for yourself. I don’t like her.”
She sighs. “Asher…”
“I said I didn’t like her. I didn’t say he couldn’t like her.”
She smiles and pushes up on her tiptoes to kiss my jawline. “That’s more like it. Now let’s go enjoy our evening.”
I plan to do just that because I can already tell that tonight is just further confirmation of how well Anabelle fits into my life.