CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
LILA
Romantic, but not too sweet. That’s why I added black velvet curtains on either side of the arch.
I needed something darker to balance the beauty.
Something mysterious. Something that reminded me of him.
The Phantom of the Opera was my muse. Because of the Halloween party, that room, that moment, was when everything changed.
The unraveling. The ache. The shift I never saw coming.
Maybe I imagined it. Maybe I filled in the blanks with fantasy.
But even if I did, the Phantom changed something in me.
Something permanent. The roses. The gold accents.
The shadows. The lights that flicker like stars.
All of it traces back to that room. The one I wasn’t supposed to find.
The one I slipped into to breathe. And I did.
But not in the way I expected, I hid in the dark and watched him. The man in the black and gold mask. That night rewired something inside me. And now I’ve designed this space with him in mind.
I wanted to give this night the same unforgettable energy that the room gave me. Not because I want others to experience what I did. But because I hope they feel something real. Something they can’t explain. Something they’ll never forget .
Past the enchanted walkway, a photo booth waits with soft lighting and a velvet backdrop. A professional photographer stands ready to capture every masked fantasy. Beyond that, another rose-covered arch leads into the ballroom.
I’m still scrambling to finish that part. Beside me, Beck’s breath catches.
“Lila, this is incredible. This is going to be an unforgettable masquerade ball.” His voice softens, filled with something that almost sounds like awe. “I knew I picked the right person.”
“Well, technically, Aster picked me. But yes. Yes, you did!” I grin and nudge him. At the mention of her name, I see something shift in his expression. Like the air just turned heavier. “Beck, you know I want you two together, right?”
He raises an eyebrow. “You sure? I thought it might be weird. After what happened between us.”
I burst out laughing. “Oh my God. We danced. We grinded for maybe ten minutes. That was it. Besides, I’ve got a few other people on my radar.”
He smirks. “Kage?”
I groan. “No! Why does everyone keep saying that? He’s such a dick.”
Beck laughs harder, flashing that annoyingly charming grin. “They all say that and then they come crawling back for more.” The word all lands like a gut punch. “As your friend,” he says, his tone softening, “I’d honestly steer clear of him. He’s loyal, and he’s my best friend, but…”
“But?”
Beck’s expression shifts, something darker settling in. “His past is heavy. And so is his soul. Just… be careful if you really, deep down, feel something for him.” My stomach twists.
A dark past? What is that supposed to mean ?
But it would explain so much. The coldness. The mood swings. The way he can look right through me like he sees all my secrets and still couldn’t care less. I want to ask more, demand answers, but the words that come out are softer than I expect.
“What kind of dark past?”
Beck doesn’t smile. Doesn’t flinch. “One you don’t want any part of,” he says, eyes locked on mine. And for once, he isn’t joking. For some reason, that only makes me want to know more.
Why is he the way he is? What is he hiding behind those eyes?
What have they seen to make his past so dark?
And if he’s the one sneaking around, leaking information to the Wolf…
then maybe this isn’t just about closure anymore.
He spoke Russian with Natasha. That wasn’t a coincidence.
That wasn’t nothing. Catching him could get me answers. Maybe even a raise.
“Maybe I’m darker than you think,” I say with a smirk.
Beck turns to me, completely serious. “I mean it, Lila. Please don’t get caught up in his past. As my girlfriend’s best friend, I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
I start to reply, but my voice catches. I was only teasing before, but that response was unexpected. I nod slowly as he places his hands on my shoulders and pulls me into a hug.
“Trust me,” he says. “You deserve someone who can love you with their whole heart. And that’s not something he can give. Kage doesn’t love himself, so he can’t love you.”
A silence falls between us. Heavy and full of things I’m not ready to unpack. Then Beck steps back with a sigh and checks his watch.
“Damn it! Aster’s going to kill me if I’m late for dinner reservations.”
I force a smile. “Go. Save yourself. ”
He chuckles, already walking away. “Wrap things up and catch a cab, okay? And text me when you get home.”
“I will,” I say, watching him disappear down the hallway. And just like that, I’m alone again. But the words he left behind are still with me, echoing louder than I’d like.
Ugh. Emotions are so damn fickle.
But I can’t shake what Beck said.
“His past is heavy.”
Was he a criminal? Is he still a criminal? Maybe I should find out… No. I couldn’t. If I got caught, I’d be fired.
But it’s late. The office is empty. I could copy everything from his computer and go through it later… No, Lila. That’s crossing a line.
I flip the lights off, grab my bag, and head to the elevator… when I hear it. A hum. But not just any hum, the one that lives in my dreams. The hum of him . The Red Mask. My chest tightens.
I’m being delusional. There’s no way he’s here. Besides, I have his mask at home.
I wait. And wait. But the elevator never comes.
“Ugh, not again. They must be working on them,” I mutter, rubbing my temple.
I stumble through the dark toward the stairwell, finally finding the door that leads to the only lit space on this floor.
The moment I swing it open, the sound hits me…
soft at first, then rises. A haunting hum echoes up the stairwell, swirling around me like the oxygen I need to breathe.
Beautiful. Tragic. Familiar. My heart stutters. My hands tremble.
I know that sound. I can't believe it. He’s here. He’s really here. Maybe I can finally see him… Without the mask.
Then footsteps. Heavy. Measured. Definitely male. Each one echoes up the stairwell with eerie precision .
“Red Mask?” I call. They stop. Dead silence. “Hello?” I start walking, then running. Desperate to know if it’s really him or if I’m just a lunatic chasing shadows. Heavy footsteps pound the floor, running away from me.
“Hey… wait up. Please.” No response. No footsteps. No hum. Nothing. Only silence and the ache of not knowing.
He’s gone.
I glance up and freeze. I’m standing on the stairs that lead to Kage’s office. My heart thuds in my chest. While I’m here… maybe I’ll just swing by. Not to do anything crazy… maybe copy his hard drive.
I grab a black thumb drive from my bag and slide it into my bra. Totally normal behavior. I stand at the knob, debating.
This is a terrible idea.
But my body takes over, flinging the door open to the dimly lit hallway. “Okay, where was his office again?” I mumble, turning corner after corner… until I see it. Him. The breath leaves my lungs.
Kage’s office lamp glows softly, casting golden light over his skin. Angelic. Carved from marble. His eyes stay locked on the computer screen, jaw tight with focus. No humming. No movement. Not in the stairwell. Just working, like nothing happened.
Was it him humming? It sounded like the Red Mask… but maybe I just heard what I wanted to hear.
My stomach yearns for the truth.
Did I imagine it? Am I losing it?
And yet... that sound is still echoing in my bones. And the worst part?
I'm not sure if I want the answer.