Ray's Pov
The loud music blaring from the speakers at Hotel Del Cervantes was welcoming. The only reason I accepted the invite to this mask themed party was to get away from my dad's unending lecture on how I've trailed away from my duties in the mafia world, and how my feelings for Kristen has turned me into a weak man. And as usual we had a heated argument that ended with him hitting me, and me breaking his expensive stuffs;

The truth was that that lifestyle didn't matter to me anymore; at least not since I met Kristen. She made me want to be a better person, but he clearly didn't understand my feelings. My mom's the only one who understands my feelings for Kristen.

"What will you have sir?" The slender, blond bartender behind the counter, wearing a mask asked for the third time with a cheerful smile.

I snapped out of my thoughts, adjusting on the bar stool "Uh...I'll have a martini"

"Right away, sir"

As I sipped on my drink my eyes surveyed the calibre of young people in expensive clothes and masks of all kinds; partying like there was no tomorrow. My eyes fell on a brunette waitress I had once had a one night stand with, flashing me a flirty smile from across the room.

"Oh shit!" I snapped, turning my head back to my drink.

She wore a mask, but I could tell her apart with those overly white teeths grinning at me. Plus, she was the only waitress who went about with toddler sized skirts.

How the hell could I forget that she worked here?

She was coming my way and I had to get away.

I grabbed my glass, gulping the remnant of my drink in one go. I dashed to the restroom, ignoring her as she yelled out my name.

When I stepped out of the restroom I noticed a commotion between a waitress and a guy in his 30s along the hallway. I could only see the girl's back from where I was standing, and her face was covered by a mask, but I could tell she was about my age, but I did get a full view of the man.

Juan Ramirez, heir of the tyrant CEO of Mirez constructions. He had a reputation for assault and molestation.

I was a regular here and shit like this happened a lot, and as usual the people around did nothing because the person involved is an opulent douche.

"Where do you think you're going?" He laughed wildly. He grabbed her waist as he tried forcing her into a room.

"Please, let go of me" she cried, struggling to free herself.

She hit him hard where the sun doesn't shine and he fell on his knees, covering the spot as he groaned in pain. she tried to make a run for it, but she was too late. He tugged at her leg and she landed flat on her back, releasing a long groan.

He rose to his feet, hauling her up by her shirt before ripping her buttons open. She shrieked, struggling to cover up the exposed part of her chest.

"Pretentious slut!" He yelled, his viens bulging on his fore head as he lifted his hands to hit her. She cringed, squeaking as she covered her face.

I wrenched his hand away just in time, throwing him a punch that sent him right back to the floor.

"What the fuck man!" He swore, clenching his hurting jaw.

"My bad" I said, blowing on my fist "I just hate it when douchebags make a hell of a noise"

"Who the hell are you?!" He hollered, glaring at me.

"If you knew, you'd pee on your pants"

"You're out of your goddamn mind!" He yelled, jolting up on his feet "Do you have a death wish?!"

"If you need a toy to have fun with then why don't you ask daddy to get you a truck load of strippers. She's not your toy"

"You better stay out of my business kiddo"

I scoffed, letting out a long laughter "Kiddo?" I lunged forward, hauling his blue velvet dinner jacket, pegging him against the wall "Who the hell are you calling a Kiddo?"

"Take your damn hands off me!" He ordered, grabbing my parliament blue tux.

"I'll say this only once" I warned, shooting him a death glare "Take your bloody hands off before I break them"

He jeered, looking me straight in the eyes "You're one arrogant jerk"

A ripped guy ran over to him and whispered something in his ears and his countenance humbled. He hurriedly let go of my tux.

"Judging by your reaction, I'm guessing you know who I am now"

"I'm sorry boss" He apologized, carefully straightening my rumbled tux "I didn't know you were the son of Don Paolo Dermot"

I loosened my grip on his jacket, pushing him forward "Get the hell out of here"

And he scurried away, not sparing even a second.

If I were still my old self I would have broken a few bones before letting him leave.

Look what you did to me Kristen.

I turned to the waitress who had already started scooting away.

"Hey!" I called after her and she froze on her tracks, her arms tightly folded around her chest, then she kept moving.

I ran after her. I grabbed her shoulder, flipping her around to face me "Hey, Hey, where are you running off to?" I removed my tux, wrapping it around her chest "Come with me, I'll talk to your manager" I grabbed her wrist and my hand fell on a bracelet with a K shaped pendant wrapped around her wrist. I peered at it closely. I was sure it was the same bracelet.

I studied her features carefully; her hair, her nose, her lips, those eyes nervously gawking at me. I knew those eyes anywhere, anytime. I reached for her mask and she backed up a little. I pulled her towards me, dragging the mask right off her face.

My eyes swirled and my mouth hung open at the person before my eyes. Her frightened eyes met mine.

"Kri...Kristen?" I stuttered, taking off my mask.

"Ray" she breathed, her hands slipping right out of mine.

I was right. It really is her.

It was a unique bracelet and I remember it so well because the first time we met, the boys and I had decided to bully her, and when I grabbed her wrist I accidentally broke the bracelet. She got so mad that she raised her hand to hit me, but held back.

That was when my feelings for her started. I loved how charming, fearless and crazy she was. And as time flew by, it wasn't just about how fierce, or hot she was, I just loved her for her.

"What are you doing here---in a waiters' uniform?"

She said nothing, her eyes glued to mine as she took slow paces backwards.

"Kristen" I moved closer and she ran off.

I chased after her, calling out to her but she didn't stop, until I could no longer see her.

I sprinted down the lobby, my eyes whirling around in search of her. I spotted her hailing a cab at the exit. I raced through the slide doors and grabbed her arm, stopping her just in time from entering the cab.

"Kristen" I flipped her around to face me "You're coming with me"

"I don't want to" she stated, pushing my hand away.

"I wasn't asking for your permission"

"Who the hell are you to boss me around?"

The cab driver eventually got impatient and drove off.

"You made my ride leave" she pouted.

"I'll give you a ride home. It's late"

"I'm not getting in a car with you"

"And I'm not listening to your tantrums. Not today"

I grabbed her hand, dragging her over to where my car was parked. She struggled for a while, but eventually surrendered and clambered into the front seat.

"Mind telling me why a multi million heiress was dressed in a waiters' attire?" I asked, as we drove into the main road "Do you work there?" I flashed her a questioning look.

"What are you; stupid?" She snapped, rolling her eyes "Why would I work there?"

My lips twitched up in a smile. I couldn't believe she was in my car.

"So, why were you there?" I said, turning my eyes back to the road.

She sighed "I went there undercover"

I raised my brows "Undercover, huh?"

"Are you dumb? Do I have to spell that out for you?"

I laughed, shaking my head. She cussed in a cute way "I know what it is princess"

"Well, we found out that a shareholder at Garcia corp made a slush fund using my dad's name. We were certain he was working for someone, so when our intel informed us that he would be seeing his ally here today, I came disguised as a waitress to nab him, but things went out of control when Ramirez mistaked me for an actual waitress"

"You shouldn't be going about chasing bad guys alone. If I hadn't stepped in he would have..." I stopped, mad just at the thought of it.

"I have been trained all my life to take risks for Garcia corp. That's my sole purpose"

"Then you should have fought back"

"Then I would have compromised my mission. I had to play innocent. Look, even you got fooled"

I laughed, nodding "I couldn't recognize your voice with you going 'please let go of me'. The Kristen I know would have kicked his ass"

She mocked a bow "Well, thank you. I happen to be a really good actress"

I laughed "No kidding. But, why did you run when you knew I was the one all along?"

"At first, I was just going to keep hiding behind the mask, but you just had to take it off. That guy I was tailing was coming our way, and I didn't want to be caught so I ran"

All through the drive we talked about random stuff. She'd occasionally cuss at me, but in a cute way, it made me laugh. She told me of how strict her parents were and how they'd chop my head off if they saw me dropping her home. Then she mimicked a deep voice of her dad telling her to focus on nothing but school and the company, which I laughed hard to. She was funny and I don't think she realized that.

I was going to ask her if this was the reason she's been so off lately; If her parents made her feel pressured like my dad made me feel, but she seemed peaceful now and I didn't want to ruin that.

"I think I like this Kristen better" I said, flashing her a cute smile. She smiled a little, looking out the window.

This moment was magical and I never wanted it to end.

"Pull over here" she said as we approached a mansion with bright lights radiating in and out. I pulled over infront of a huge bronze gate and we stepped out. I admired the mansion with beige walls and peridot stones embedded in them. The paved walkways with side flowers, and water fountain in the middle made the building come alive. It was spectacular.

"Thanks for giving me a ride home"

"My pleasure" I smiled, digging one hand in my pocket. I drew closer to her, leaning over and kissing her cheek, letting my lips linger for some moments.

When I finally pulled away, her pupils enlarged in surprise. She blinked twice, frozen with her mouth hung open. I cleared my throat awkwardly, scratching the back of my head as her entrancing eyes lingered on mine. I smiled at her, our eyes sparking with unsaid feelings under the night light.

I was happy.

"Wait," my eyes lightened up with a wide smirk. "Is this your first kiss----on the cheeks?"

She huffed, laughing as she avoided my eyes "Pssh, What! no!Why would you even think that?"

"Well, for one, your flaming cheeks" I laughed, stroking her cheeks.

She slapped her hands over her cheeks "You were the one who went all mushy on me"

I smirked, raising my brows "So it did have some sort of effect on you, huh?"

"I never said that" she waved me off, turning around to leave "I have to go"

I grabbed her hand, "Wait" and she whirled around to face me "Kristen...I'm not asking for much. All I'm asking for is for you to stay by my side. Please give me a chance"

Her brown eyes bore apologetically into mine as she slowly separated her hand from mine "Goodbye Ray"

My eyes kept a tab on her every step as she walked through the gate, until she was finally out of sight.

I knew the moments we just shared would never happen again, but I was glad it lasted, even for a little while.

"Goodbye Kristen" I mumbled, biting back my tears.

My heart ached.