CHAPTER ONE
Hailey Ashton closed the door to her best friend’s office and sat down on the chair opposite his desk. Her fingers trembled slightly with excitement as she slid the gold embossed invitation across the polished wood. “I’m going to meet the man of my dreams.”
Theodore Rivers raised one brow at her declaration and picked up the invitation. “I didn’t know you were looking for one.”
“Who isn’t? We may have changed our standards from slaying dragons to doing dishes, but it’s still a lifelong quest.”
He grinned and glanced at the card. “A masquerade ball?”
Hailey leaned over. “It’s the annual party our boss sponsors. I’ve heard stories about them but I’ve never gone.”
“Yeah, I remember seeing one of these in my mailbox. I’ve never gone either. It’s more like a weekend event than a party. He invited the higher-up employees but mostly the rich and famous attend. He picks a different theme each year. This one’s being held on his private island. Must be nice.” Theodore narrowed golden brown eyes. “Don’t tell me. You’ve targeted some Duke of England to take you away from all this.”
“Very funny. I don’t care about money and you know it. I just thought this would be different.” She paced the wood floors, her heels clicking steadily. “Sometimes I feel like my life is closing in on me. I do everything right. I exercise at the gym, I don’t eat red meat, I make sure I get eight hours sleep. Even the men I date are boring. Do you know I can’t remember the last time a man kissed me good night and I wanted more? Usually I can’t wait to get back to my own apartment. Lord, I have more fun with you watching Netflix and eating popcorn. Isn’t that sad?”
“Tragic,” he said wryly.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” She sighed and brushed back a stray red curl from her forehead. “I want to break out of my routine and meet someone I’ve always wondered about.”
Theodore studied her, then shifted in his chair. The leather creaked gently beneath his weight. “Are you looking for a general man of your dreams, or have you narrowed the search to one?”
Unfortunately, he knew her well enough to realize she hid something. “I’d confess but you’ll probably yell.”
He muttered something under his breath. “Tell me.”
“Promise you won’t lecture?” she asked.
He groaned. “I promise. Spill it.”
“Our boss.”
His face plainly showed his disbelief. “You’re kidding me. Ciro Demitris? He’s not only the boss of this company, Hailey. He owns a software empire all over the world and he’s probably richer than Bezos. You’ve never even met him. Hell, most people in the organization never caught a glance of the guy.”
She raised her chin. “I’ve seen his pictures! I’d know what he looks like if I saw him.”
Theodore shook his head. “You think this man is the answer to your rut? He’d eat you for breakfast and not look back.”
Her voice turned to ice. “Thanks for the confidence in me.”
“Oh, hell, you know what I meant. The rumors about him should make you think twice. Why do you think he throws these parties each year? He’s an eccentric who likes to play with people’s minds. He does this for his own entertainment.”
“You know nothing about him personally, and neither do I. But this party can change that. I know you don’t think I’m glamorous enough to hold my own, but with a mask on I can be the woman I always wanted. I can be beautiful and exciting and mysterious.”
His tone softened as he stared at her. “You always were, Hailey. You just don’t see it.”
She stopped pacing and looked down at her sensible oatmeal colored business suit and pumps. As always, she dressed to be a businesswoman, and she realized that somehow, along the way, the real woman inside had gotten lost. How could she explain to anyone, even her best friend? She walked back over to the chair and sank down. Then tried to put her feelings into words.
“I’m thirty years old, Theodore. I’ve never been married, never had children, and until lately, I never thought I’d miss it. But I feel trapped. I’m afraid to do anything different if it doesn’t fit with my daily schedule. I live for my work, but I know there has to be more out there. This is a chance to see. And even if nothing happens between us, at least I know I tried. Can you understand?”
A strange array of emotions passed over his carved features, then cleared. He smiled. “Yeah, I think I understand. But these parties are way out of your league. Demitris is known for his erotic themes. I’ve heard stories about drunken orgies, people playing out their sexual fantasies. Anything goes when a person steps through the door. He’s made a reputation of being entirely discreet, and offering his guests the same.” Theodore paused. “I’m worried.”
Hailey faced her best friend and realized she couldn’t tell him the whole truth. He was the only man she felt close to, but had never confessed her upbringing. She wasn’t one to blame her sexual restrictions on her parents, though their forceful belief sex was wrong had caused problems with intimacy since her teens.
She spent most of her life being reminded of her mother’s mistake. Namely her. One drunken night had produced her parent’s only child, and after they were forced to marry, they turned to religion to right their wrong. Sex was wrong. Sex meant loss of control, loss of a rightful path in life. Sex meant diseases and pregnancy and a man controlling every part of a woman’s existence. Sex meant less choices. Pleasure lasted a few moments, and her parents made sure she would never pay with a future of limitations for one reckless night. Of course, she had rebelled just once.
Then realized her parents were right.
Hailey firmly shook off the memory and re-focused on Theo. She ached for an experience to finally propel her out of her routine. She wanted to finally be free to express her sexuality without fear. The idea of shedding her clothes and her prim ways left her with a tingle of heat that bloomed in her belly. An odd combination of wanting and shame mingled together. She battled constantly with an inner voice that taunted, its familiar sensual tone urging her to throw away constraints.
