***********

Breathe. Focus. Breathe. Focus.

"Good...good afternoon, Mr. Rhodes," I choked out as soon as I saw him standing there.

"Good afternoon, Miss Reinhart," his eyes trailed from my head to my toes as he checked me out, oh so very shamelessly.

Focus..

Why does he look so stunningly ravish today?!

Focus.

His hair, oh my God what did he do his hair -why do they look so extraordinarily soft.

Focus Isabelle.

And did he shave?! Holy cow that jawline. I could just eat him al-

God damn it focus, Isabelle.

"The cupcakes are in the basket!"

"What..." Mr. Rhodes asked, confusion written all over his face as he tried to comprehend what I just said.

"We should get going!" I corrected myself as I lowered my gaze to the ground in embarrassment.

"Yes let's leave," he nodded his head and turned around on his heels while I locked the door and followed him towards the car.

I noticed that there wasn't any driver in the car today and that meant that he drove himself and that he was going to drive himself for the rest of the ride as well and that led me to the conclusion that we were going to be absolutely alone in the car.

Great. Just what I needed.

I climbed in the passenger's seat and fixed my dress as he roared the engine to life. I took it that he had a thing for fancy cars because unlike the rest of the days, today he brought the Mercedes I didn't think I had seen come to the office before.

There was music playing lightly on the radio as we both sat in silence and I waited till this nightmare would finally end. I knew that joining the party would be more of a nightmare but at least I'd have some sort of entertainment to keep myself busy with, unlike this situation I was stuck in.

Like looking at some rich ass women bitching about their hairstylists not coming on time or looking at men and women sneaking out to make out outside the hall.

You know, you learn to entertain yourself.

(A/N

I added the song above in case anyone wants to listen^^)

🎶Oh, does she know that we bleed the same?

Oh, don't wanna cry, but I break that way

I looked outside and rested my head against the window. It wasn't even four yet and it was already getting dark because of the rain clouds. I hope it would rain today. I just loved the feeling of it on my skin. I knew I would be busy with the 'I'm-Mr.Rhodes-secretary-and-our-company-is better-than-yours-and-for-some-godforsaken-reason-I'm-supposed-to-stay-away-from-you' play, but still if I could just sneak a few moments and enjoy how I really wanted to.

Did she run away? Did she run away? I don't know

If she ran away, If she ran away, come back home

Just come home

For a moment I felt as if Mr. Rhodes was looking at me so I turned my head his way and when I did he just averted his gaze elsewhere which made me question if he was even looking at me in the first place.

I got a fear

Oh, in my blood

She was carried up

Into the clouds, high above

Although I knew that I would look like a creep if I just started staring at him but I couldn't help but notice how his eyes looked worn out and his face screamed exhausted. I knew it wasn't because of the excessive work because Mr. Rhodes was known as the workaholic and working a little more than usual wasn't something that bothered him anymore.

It seemed as if he was worried about something. Like he was lost and broken and he wanted to be found yet he still was scared and somehow remained hidden beyond those walls.

Did you run away? Did you run away? I don't need to know

If you ran away, if you ran away, come back home

Just come home🎶

But then again, who was I to read him like that after all?

**************

Just like expected, everything was annoyingly extravagant. Why couldn't these people just donate their extra money to the poor instead of throwing these absurd massive parties for no reason at all?

Waiters and waitresses were briskly walking from here to there with trays of champagne glasses in their hands.

I noticed that in addition to the fancy-ass dresses, women were wearing masquerade masks so that made them look even more hideous.

Or maybe it was the fact that I had never been to a ball like this.

Who cared anyway?

Mr. Rhodes nudged me as we walked with my arms hooked around his. I looked at what he was holding in the other hand and cursed under my breath.

I made a face, "No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Ugh fine," I took the mask from his hand and wore it as he did the same, and right at that precise moment all I wanted to do was run back home, jump under the sheets and binge watch a Netflix show.

Little gatherings of individuals in astonishing outfits talked and drank while energetic music played out of sight.

I looked around and took in the royal surroundings as my eyes roamed from one corner of the room to the other while Mr. Rhodes on the other hand looked nonchalant as ever like he was used to coming to masquerade balls like this.

The mask he gave me was silver which went pretty good with the white and silver dress I wore. I wondered how Mr. Rhodes always did everything to perfection.

The tables were set beside the walls and the center area was packed with people dancing to the music, greeting each other and of course showing off their million-dollar dresses.

We made our way towards the table and Mr. Rhodes confidently walked towards the table nearest to the stage like he knew he was going to find it reserved for him.

We sat down in silence, neither of us wanting to speak to the other. I wondered if he hated me that much, why did he bring to this stupid ball. He could have easily asked a supermodel to be his date. I mean the girls practically threw all of themselves over this man.

As I sat there looking here and there, many people came and greeted Mr. Rhodes with fake smiles and hospitality.

I furrowed my eyebrows together when I noticed someone standing at the opposite corner of the corner. It was Steven from Paris, without wearing a mask. I certainly wasn't expecting him to show up here.

I mean he was after all a famous businessmen but who knew he had acquaintances here in New York too.

I just hoped his eyes wouldn't fall this way because as far as I remembered, Mr. Rhodes hated that guy the last time we met and I wasn't expecting his hate to have dissipated in these last few months.

I averted my gaze elsewhere when I realized that Mr. Rhodes was staring at me practically gawking at Steven.

I mean the guy was hot for the love of God.

Kevin Grace was nowhere to be seen which was a relief because I wouldn't have to worry about Mr. Rhodes hating two men at the same time.

The waiter walked towards our table with one hand behind, serving champagne. I pondered upon it for a moment longer than necessary and then reluctantly took one glass and mumbled a thank you to him.

I guess one glass of champagne wouldn't hurt if I had to survive this party, right?

Mr. Rhodes noticed and slightly cocked an eyebrow as he tilted his head to the side and I shrugged and took a sip from my drink.

It wasn't like I was planning to get wasted. One glass would barely make me tipsy. I hoped so.

The next few minutes went by staring at random things when a woman approached Mr. Rhodes with a seductive smile on her face. The dress she was wearing barely covered anything. I wondered why did she even bother.

"Alicia," Mr. Rhodes stood up from his chair and greeted her and I dug my nails deeper into my palms to stop feeling the way I was.

Which was, by the way, to rip this girl's head off her neck.

"Ace, mi corazón. Where have you been, my darling?" the girl said in a Spanish accent and I controlled the urge to groan.

Great. She was pretty. And she had that sexy Spanish accent.

Why couldn't I kill her, again?

I knew this feeling that was bugging me, seeing her throw all of herself on Mr. Rhodes, it was nothing but pure jealousy. And I hated myself for that. I hated myself because I didn't have any right to get jealous and still it hurt too fucking much to see him with her.

"¿Te importa si tengo este primer baile contigo?" she purred rubbing her hand up his arm.

I felt useless.

Two years of Spanish class and all I could make out from that sentence was the word 'dance'.

"Cualquier cosa por ti, mi alma," Mr. Rhodes replied, smiling at her and I watched as both of them happily made their way towards the dance floor not bothering to give a glance back at me.

If I knew he would ditch me like this, I would have never agreed to come with him.

I had never expected him to pull off something like this but then again, he was doing pretty weird things lately. Like drinking in office, who would have ever expected him to be this careless about work. Coming to the office late. Being an asshole to almost everyone.

So I think ditching me at a party wasn't that big of a deal when he was doing things like that.

*************

"Well well well, would you look at that?"

Fuck you, luck.

I turned around and saw Steven standing right behind me with a boyish grin on his face.

"Mr. Edward," I even surprised myself when I noticed that I still remembered his last name.

"Oh shut up, I told you it's Steve," he said and stepped closer to me as he sipped from his drink.

I gave him an awkward smile before continuing, "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"Well I guess the world ain't that big after all," he chuckled lightly as we both sat on the chairs.

I guess having Steve around me was alright. At least I wasn't staring at Mr. Rhodes dancing with that Spanish girl anymore.

They looked so happy and it hurt my heart to see him smiling like that with someone else.

"Isabelle?"

"Yeah sorry.." I trailed and jolted my head back to a confused Steve staring at me with concern.

We talked for a little while until he asked, "Would you like to have this dance with me?"

Under normal circumstances, I would have politely denied but because Mr. Rhodes was still with some other woman and I was slightly tipsy, I agreed.

"Why not?" I grinned as he led me to the dance floor.

If he could ditch me and dance with someone else, I didn't see why couldn't I.

We both started dancing to the slow song and I could practically feel Mr. Rhodes burning gaze digging holes at the back of my head but honestly at this point, who cared anyway?

"Your boss is staring at us," Steve said in a low tone with a devilish smirk on his face.

"Good," I leaned towards his ear and whispered.

Definitely drunk.

*********

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