Nine Weeks Ago

Saturday Night

"This is it?" Looming in the distance behind a tall iron gate and foliage as far as the eye can see is the mansion.

Phoenix rolls down the partition. "Hey Leon, is this it?"

"Yes, sir." Leon drives up to the gate.

Riz checks the invite on his phone. "This is the right place."

We're greeted by four muscular security guards at the front gate, dressed in black suits.

Riz rolls down this window.

"Password," one of the four demands as he walks up to the window.

Riz whispers something at close range. They open the gates.

Once inside, we all put on our masks. We drive down a long mosaic tiled driveway lined with tall, lush palm trees. We reach a marble work of art featuring two giant men dressed in robes holding up a basin from which water overflows. The water fills the fountain below. Past the fountain and up the grand staircase, lies oversized French doors. The entrance to the mansion sits right in front of us.

Wide eyed, I look at Mia and Penelope. They nervously stare back. They're both slaying it. Hell, we all are. Penelope looks svelte in a long black, satin evening gown with a slit that reaches her thigh. Her look is complete with black strappy stilettos and a matching clutch. Her large bouncy curls are pulled to one side for dramatic flair.

Mia stays true to the fashion rebel that she is, wearing a sleeveless, back-out ivory jumpsuit with exceptionally wide pant legs that have long slits running all the way up to her hips. Her nude shoes are simple, sparkly with a single strap over her toes and around her ankles. Her hair has been straightened, with a part on the side, giving her a sleek look.

I'm wearing the gorgeous, emerald green, sheer evening gown I spotted in Caviar. Once I tried it on, Phoenix insisted I have it and I couldn't part with it. Embroidered with shimmering crystals, this sleeveless mesh dress sparkles relentlessly in any light. The mock neck collar, back-out design and long thigh-high slit give this chic dress a sexy edge. My stilettos are similar to Mia's with one exception. No sparkles. My hair is styled in a fancy updo with curls cascading forward.

Phoenix dons a black on black tuxedo. The contrast of his satiny jacket lapels and textured tie give his simple look a hint of complexity. Riz wears a navy tuxedo with a gray tie and handkerchief. JC sports a traditional black and white tuxedo and Nixon wears a black tuxedo with red tie and handkerchief. They each look dapper in their own way.

"After you, Ms. Davenport." Standing with one hand in his pocket and the other presenting the staircase, Phoenix cocks a sexy ass half smile.

Sparks ignite my nether regions. "Mr. Prescott." I lead the way, pulling my dress up and out of the way as I ascend the stairs. I grab the golden ring from the mouth of one of the lions on the ornately carved doors and knock three times. It's forever before the door is answered. We're greeted by a half-masked woman in a stunning black sequin dress holding a glass of wine.

"You're just in time." Her smile is so sinister, it's unnerving.

"Password?"

Riz faintly whispers one word into her ear.

I look at Phoenix. "Did he just say 'Fidelio'?"

Phoenix shrugs.

The masked woman moves to the side and welcomes us in. As soon as we enter, she leads us to a solid oak table off to the side. It's lined with a dozen iPads.

The veined white marbled floor and ultra-high ceiling with a shimmering chandelier are breathtaking. Standing in this grand foyer gives me the sensation of being someone of great importance.

Wish I lived here.

"You'll need to sign these first before joining the party." She holds up a contract on the iPad.

Eyes dart back and forth. No one saw this coming.

"What is this exactly?" I ask, confused.

"You have to sign it before you take another step. It's a requirement. It's a non-disclosure agreement. You can't reveal anything that goes on behind these doors."

I pick up an iPad off the table and swipe through the pages. "Wow. It's that serious, huh? Should we be concerned? Is it safe?"

"Of course, it's safe. This is for the protection of all guests. For you as well. Wouldn't want anyone revealing any telling details of the night, now would we?"

She's giving me the eerie feeling that whatever is behind those doors, I'll never be able to un-see. I'm not sure I want to take another step.

"Can you give us a minute?" JC takes one of the iPads and quickly scans the pages on it. The lawyer in him goes into client-protective mode. After a few moments of intense scrutiny, he looks up at everyone. "It's an ironclad NDA. I say let's do it. They're just covering their asses."

"What do we know about this party? It's a little creepy, this NDA business." Mia looks as worried as I feel.

Riz pulls out his iPhone. "It's cool. My finance guy, Terry Higgins, got us this invite. Phoenix you've met Terry before. He said it's exclusive. This is one of those parties people kill to get in to." He looks through the invite. Seconds later, he covers his mouth, trying to conceal his surprise. "At the bottom, in fine print it says: 'Dress is formal...until it's not.'"

"What's that about?" Without even realizing it, a smile slowly replaces my confused expression.

"I say let's do it. Let's see what it's about. We can always leave."

"You'd do anything to keep from going back to the pad. Sheila let you off the leash, tonight. You're taking full advantage?" JC elbows Nixon.

"Yeah, what's up with Sheila?"

"Man, she had way too much to drink last night. Said she's done partying. Swore it off for life. She'll be back at it next weekend." Nixon laughs.

JC, Riz and Phoenix all laugh.

"Poor Sheila," Mia quips.

"Poor Sheila, alright," I echo.

"She's a nurse, she knows all the tricks to get over hangovers. She's good." Nixon reassures everyone.

"Well, I'm down." Penelope looks excited.

"Let's do it. We're dressed for it." Riz smiles, licks his lips and pops his collar.

"Let's." Mia shrugs. "What's the worst that could happen? It's a party, people!"

"Alright, it's settled." Phoenix is first at the table, signing the NDA.

We get past the foyer and enter the party. Every ethnicity imaginable is right here in this room. It's why I love Miami. Black, white, Latino, Asian, you name it, they're here. The room is filled with beautiful masked people, men and women and everyone's impeccably dressed, bedazzled with shimmering jewels and expensive clothes.

I survey the room, trying to soak up the scene. This place could use a DJ and some dancers. It's very civilized here. Too civilized. Fancy orchestra music plays blandly in the background. No bass. No headbanging. No movement. Just polite conversations and haughty laughter.

Boring conversations. Fake laughter. Something is off.

"What kind of party is this?" I look up to Phoenix.

He looks around. "I'm not sure."

Just then a handsome, dark-haired Spanish guy in a tuxedo stands in the center of the room and clangs his glass with a fork. "Can I have your attention ladies and gentlemen?" He pauses for a moment as the room gets quiet. "Welcome to our Noir Masquerade Party. Get ready for a night you'll never forget."

The crowd politely claps in response.

"Now, if we can have all the gentlemen line up on the left side of the room." He presents a door on the left side to the men. "All ladies, to my right." He presents a door on the right to the women.

The fuck?

"What is this?" I'm getting anxious.

"Ari, we can leave if you're uncomfortable." Phoenix takes my hand and walks back towards the door.

Nixon stops us. "Calm down, let's see what happens."

JC sides with Nixon. "We can leave after we see what's up."

"Not if we're split up!" Penelope interrupts.

"Riz, you trust this finance guy?" Phoenix looks Riz in the eyes.

Riz laughs nervously. "I've known him personally for over ten years. We've done a ton of business together. He's solid. A good dude."

Mia looks at me. "Riz trusts it. Let's see."

The crowd quickly assembles as instructed.

Our group is the last to move. We're standing in the center of room, still trying to decide what to do. Everyone on both sides of the room has their eyes on us.

I hesitate. "OK."

I'm last to separate from Phoenix. Mia, Penelope and I huddle close together on the right side of the room. They're just as frazzled as I am.

Some kinda party this is.

This is no party, these fools are about to murder us! Get out! Now!

"I brought pepper spray," Mia whispers.

"And I have hot sauce in my clutch. Anybody tries anything, I'm dousing 'em!" Penelope holds her clutch for dear life.

A ghastly thin, blonde woman in a red dress takes over the ladies' group. A half mask, bright red lipstick and vacant smile occupy her bony face. She opens the door and leads us down a dark corridor. I hear the first few women gasp as they walk past the threshold.

Oh God!

I'm last in line, but from here I can see there's not much light or space in this corridor. It's more like an entrance to catacombs. The women walking into it can literally reach out and touch both sides of the wall, it's that narrow. A menacing cloud of claustrophobia hangs over my head as the line gets shorter and I approach the entrance. I glance back at Phoenix one last time before leaving the room. I want to run. I hear myself wince. I feel like a lamb being led to slaughter. My whole body clenches as the door behind me slams shut.

We walk in a single file line for a short while then stop. We've reached a door on the other side of the corridor. The woman in red does a special knock and at last the door is unlocked.

"Wait here, ladies. It'll be just a minute." Her voice reverberates throughout the tight space. She opens the door and walks through, closing it behind her, leaving us in the long, dark hallway.

"What's up with all the secrecy? These people are freaking me out," I whisper to Mia and Penelope.

"Girl, I don't know but my heart is about to leap out of my chest." Mia holds her bosom.

"Me too! I'm so scared right now." Penelope struggles in the small space to turn and face us.

"You see the look on that lady in red? Psycho!" Mia's eyes are huge.

"I know!"

We hold hands as we wait. I can feel their breath on my face as we look from one to the other.

Suddenly the door at the other end of the corridor opens and light floods in. The woman in red welcomes us all in. We hear oohs and aahs as the women in the front of the line step into the next room.

What are they seeing?

Finally, it's our turn to walk through. I turn to my girls. "Give me the pepper spray, I'll go first."

Mia sneaks it to me just in time.

The woman in red takes my hand, as if she's me helping down from a coach and horse.

"Welcome, darling," she greets me eerily.

"Thank you?"

When I look around, I am floored. The oohs and aahs make sense now. Tension leaves my body and I relax. The space is huge. The size of a small warehouse and decorated in warm hues of gold and cream and amber, this room is magnificent. Beautiful hardwood floors echo the sound of heels clicking. There are fifty or so vanity stations that line the perimeter of the entire room. Each station features a mirror lined in tiny lights, a comfortable plush chair and cream shag rug. Women are already sitting in chairs chatting away as if they're at a beauty salon.

"And you are?" the woman in red asks me.

Distracted by the glamour of everything I see, I stammer, "I'm . . . uh . . . Aria . . . uh . . . Davenport."

"Aria, what a pretty name. Well, Ms. Davenport, this is Natasha, your assistant. She'll help you choose your selections."

"Hello, Aria."

"Selections?"

Her accent tells me Russia is her native country. "First time? I explain everything." Natasha leads me further into the huge room.

I still don't trust it.

Dressed in an all-black jumpsuit and heels, with a fiery red bob that's shorter in back and comes to two razor sharp points in front, she's striking. Her red lipstick adds a dazzling finishing touch to her bold look.

I look back at Mia and Penelope. Mia is meeting her assistant.

This place is so strange.

"I'd like to stay close to my girls. Over there." I point to Mia and Penelope.

"Fair enough." Natasha gets the attention of their two assistants. "They're together."

Both assistants nod and follow Natasha, keeping Mia and Penelope close.

"This is how it works. You come in, socialize, have drink, unwind. You come here, we get you ready for real party."

"There's a real party?"

"Yes. Real party. That's all I'm allowed to tell. Now my job is to get you ready. I make you look beautiful and feel sexy. Yes? We have everything you need, right here." She presents the room like it's a gift.

We walk past racks and racks of eye-catching lingerie. It's all very orderly, organized by color groups ranging in every size. There are jewels and shoes and makeup and wigs and masquerade masks.

This is a staging room, they're getting us ready for a performance?

"Care for drink as you get ready?" Natasha asks.

Wanting to stay alert, I refuse. As do Mia and Penelope.

A lovely blonde girl walks by holding a silver tray. "Would you like a line?" She offers us each a fresh tiny clear straw as she brings the tray down to eye level. On it are several lines of white powder. Some have already been cleared.

"No, thank you." We all say at once.

A few stations over, two masked women take puffs from a vaporizer and giggle uncontrollably. Across the room a Brazilian bombshell carries another silver tray. This one has tiny little cards with labels and rows of different colored pills. A busty brunette looks at the tray excitedly as her hand hovers over one type of pill, then she changes her mind and hovers over another, before finally settling on a third. "Good choice," the waitress tells her. The woman downs the pill with a glass of champagne.

Suddenly, I notice that many of the women in the room aren't dressed. Some are sitting in chairs or walking around naked, some are naked while getting makeup applied or their hair styled and still others are standing naked near the racks of lingerie with their assistants choosing different sets to try on. Not sure why this seems abnormal, but no one tries to cover up, no one is ashamed of their body. It feels like a sisterhood of women. We're all here to have fun, without judgment. They're all shamelessly sharing their most private parts with everyone in the room. There are no barriers for privacy and no one seems to mind.

It's kind of liberating.

Just to test the waters, I unzip my dress and let it fall to the ground. No one bats an eye. No one even seems to notice. I step away from my dress and give it to Natasha for safe keeping. Standing bare breasted in just my mask, thong and stilettos, we walk to the racks of lingerie. Natasha begins making selections and placing them against my body.

Weirdly, it all feels natural. . . .

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A/N: Hey Heartthrobs! This is one strange party. What are your thoughts on it??? Let me know! If you're enjoying the story, please remember to Vote! And if you missed a few Votes, please do go back and tap that star :-) It means a great deal to me❤️

I'm dedicating this chapter to @DoNotMicrowave because she is a badass chick, taking Wattpad by storm.