Felix barely looked at the masked staff and then glanced at me like none of it mattered. “Danica,” he said calmly, “you’re the center of tonight. No one’s stealing your spotlight. Masks keep the background where it belongs.”
My stomach dropped. I think… I already knew.
Before I could say anything, people started crowding in, all smiles and fake admiration.
“Mr. Gallardo’s still crazy in love, huh?”
“Mrs. Gallardo is so lucky.”
“I heard he bought her a five billion dollar mansion for their anniversary.”
“They say every year his gifts get bigger. His love too.”
Love. The word made me feel sick.
Then suddenly—fabric tearing. The sound cut straight through the room.
A waitress had fallen, her dress ripped high up her thigh, exposing way too much. She scrambled up, shaking. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
No one moved. No one even looked at her properly. Because everyone was scared. Felix didn’t tolerate mistakes. Not tonight. Not ever. I saw it in their faces. They thought she was dead.
Felix’s voice came out cold enough to freeze the room. “Come with me.”
Then he turned to me, and just like that, his tone softened. “Danica,” he said gently, brushing my arm, “rules matter. People need to learn them the hard way sometimes. I’ll deal with her and come right back, alright?”
I nodded without thinking.
He grabbed the waitress by the wrist and dragged her away like she weighed nothing. Something felt wrong. Really wrong.
A few minutes later… I followed. I don’t even know why. Maybe I already knew what I’d find.
The conference room door upstairs was slightly open. I pushed it just enough to see.
And my whole world just… shattered again.
The waitress was sitting on the table, legs wrapped around Felix’s waist. The mask was gone. It was Shannon. Of course it was.
Her face was wet with tears, looking so pitiful, so fragile… like she was the victim in all this. My chest tightened so hard I thought I’d collapse. So this was it. This whole night… wasn’t for me. It was for her.
“Honey…” Shannon’s voice trembled. “I’m sorry. I should’ve just been happy you brought me out. But seeing you with her… seeing how gentle you were… it hurt so bad. I got overwhelmed and I couldn’t breathe… I just fell. I embarrassed you. Did I ruin everything for you and Miss McKellar?”