"That does indeed seem to be the case, but we can remedy that."
"What do you mean?"
"I know who you are, Mr.AshtonCinder."
I'm not sure what the man is getting at, but if he's had a few drinks, then I don't want to upset him, and I definitely want to move us away from the balcony.
"We should go inside. I think the speeches are starting."
Fortunately, he follows me but stays by my side.
I look up at the stage, and there's a round of applause when the MC introduces Mr. Ludlow Blackwood and Mr. Alexander Blackwood.
"Do you know the man up there?" the man with the navy mask asks.
"Yes, I was just introduced to Mr. Alexander Blackwood."
"Oh, I think you know him a little better than that."
"I'm not following."
"You are so endearingly innocent, it's almost a shame not to play with you a bit."
The man is crossing the creepy line, and I want to walk out of here right now. I move to go, but he grabs my arm. I try to pull away, but he hauls me closer, and the way he's holding on to my arm is starting to hurt.
"Let me spell it to you in words your simple mind will understand. Tonight, you met Alexander Blackwood, but you've known him by Xander."
"What?"
"He's always preferred to be called by the ridiculous moniker, especially when he's spending time with the peasants. And in your case, that's quite an accurate description, isn't it, farmer boy?"
The guy is hurting my arm and being rude to me.
"Look, Mr. Whatever The Hell Your Name Is. I don't know what you want with me, but I suggest you let go, or I'm going to scream bloody murder. Trust me, this isn't my usual circle, I have nothing to lose."
"Listen here, stay away from Xander," he says, his voice threatening.
"Or what?"
He comes pulls me closer and whispers in my ear. "Or I will make sure the farmer's market manager finds enough suspicious substances under your stall to arrest you for dealing, and I'll make sure all the gossip magazines find out about Xander's choice of pretty underwear. You know who he is now. Do you think he'd want the world to find out his kinky side?"
My eyes lock on the stage, and I see it now. Xander and his father. We never talked about his job, and I never told him about my writing. Once he finds out who I am, surely he'll fix it.
"I don't know who you think you are to threaten me like that, but I will speak to Xander right now." I try to pull away again, but the guy's grip is too strong, and I don't want to start a scene.
"I'm Alexander's fiancé. Why do you think Xander didn't tell you who he is? We have an open relationship, so he's allowed to play, but this time it's gone too far."
"Why would you threaten to expose him if he's your fiancé?"
Even as I say the words my heart breaks into the smallest pieces. He has to be lying.
I look at the stage and Xander waves our way. The man waves back and blows him a kiss over the mask, but I can't tell Xander's reaction to it.
"All is fair in love and war. Or in this case, in a couple that's meant to be versus a silly little peasant that must have his belongings sold to eat at Christmas. You're like a little sad fairy tale, but I get the happy ending."
I can't bear to listen to the man's voice anymore. When I try to pull away, he finally lets go, and I run out of the room.
My tears make it hard to see, so I remove the mask and throw it on the floor behind me. I have no need for it. I reach for my back pocket to get my phone and check the time.
