Chapter 89 Edwin

I was still riding high on my victory over that little**t, Max, as settled back at my seat at the bar. Carefully adjusting my mask on my face, I dusted the last remnants of a scuffle in the courtyard off of the sleeves of my jacket and ordered another scotch-to celebrate, of course.

Charles, finally finding me after my little disappearing act, settled onto the seat next to me.

"Where did you go?" he whispered, keeping his voice low so only I could hear. "Was that you who taught that little s** a

lesson?

I sneered slightly, remembering the pathetic sight of Max cowering on the ground in front of me. Sipping my freshly refilled scotch, I said, "I didn't harm him, if it's any consolation. Not physically, at least." Charles quirked an eyebrow. "He looked pretty beat up when he came running back in here. Security escorted him out, accusing him of doing drugs in the bathroom."

"Good. Let them think that," I replied with a curt nod as I adjusted my tie clip. "And let's just say that he won't be bothering Audrey anymore, at least not for a good, long while

"I suppose you're not going to elaborate, Charles retorted with a chuckle.

I shook my head and quickly wiped a bit of marker off of the tip of my finger.

"Not here, I won't, I replied. "But I'll say this: I gave him a good scare. And the best part? He has no idea who I am. As far as he knows, I'm just some random masked man who caught him in the act and wrecked his expensive suit."

Charles chuckled. "Well, whatever you did, it seems to have worked. Look." He nodded his head toward a table toward the back of the gathering, where Audrey and her friends were currently grinning and laughing. Ms. Morrie was in the midst of calling out the winner's of tonight's rattle, and it seemed that Audrey's night had been a success.

I suppressed a shudder as I considered what might have happened if I hadn't removed that broom from the bathroom door. Audrey and her friend might have even been in the hospital by now. Despite my restraint, a small growl rumbled somewhere in my chest. "Maybe now he'll think twice before-"

"And the male winner is.. Number 491"

Ms. Morrie's voice rang through the speakers, echoing across the large reception hall. There was a brief moment of murmuring and shifting as male attendees checked their cards, only for the fated number 49 to be nowhere to be found.

"I'm number 48, Charles muttered, turning his card over between his fingers before glancing at me. "You don't suppose..."

1 froze, my hand instinctively going to the card I had stuffed in my pocket. Pulling it out, I stared in disbelief at the number printed there: 49,

Yeals, right. Like I was going to accept a reward for a date with a student.

"499" Ms. Morrie called out again, her eyes scanning the crowd. "Does anyone have the number 49 on their card?"

remained still, hoping that if I didn't react, they would just assume that the winner

who had apparently seen my card, grabbed my wrist and thrust my

Chapter 89

she called out excitedly. "Number 49 is

me, and suddenly all eyes were on me.

you are," Ms. Morrie called out, beckoning me forward. She didn't recognize me behind the mask. "Don't be

erupted around the room and reluctantly

a hint of amusement in his voice.

to the podium. As I walked, I scanned the crowd,

her cat mask. The mask covered her upper lip, making her appear even more catlike. "Congratulations to our mysterious man in the blue

head slightly turned to avoid direct eye contact with anyone-especially Audrey who, thankfully, had her head

Morrie turned to the female raffle box, building the suspense as she dug deeply into the slips of paper. "Drumroll please. Number 1501" A silence. Murmuring. And then: "Here!

friends force her to stand up from her table. She looked bashful as she picked up her skirt

the planetarium. It was too romantic, too intimate. We shouldn't be romantic with each other. And she

alone, surrounded by the vastness of the cosmos, a bottle of champagne between us, those big blue eyes of hers wide with wonder as she gazed up at the stars... No, I told myself firmly. Pull yourself together, Edwin. I would have to give away my winnings to someone else, perhaps one of

me. Thankfully, as she stepped up onto the

end of the raffle," Ms. Morrie

stage steps back to the floor, hoping to just grab my coat and get the hell out of here before it was

"Hold

horses, mysterious man," Ms. Morrie cooed, eliciting laughter from the crowd. I froze, my shoulders stiffening, as she

winning couples made their way to the dance floor. The orchestra began to play a soft, romantic song. And meanwhile, there was Audrey,

Da**it.

2/4

C

Mon, Sep

Chapter 89

to keep my face turned toward the shadows so as not to be recognized. She took it, and I led her to the dance floor, my heart pounding harder in my chest than I

distracted, her eyes

I was

up a conversation with me. "So, um,

away;

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