Page 59 of The Mirage Guild

As the night progressed, the energy in the house was palpable. The décor I had chosen created an intimate and luxurious atmosphere, the lighting casting a soft glow that made everyone look their best. The music, a carefully curated playlist of jazz and soft contemporary tunes, added to the ambiance, creating a backdrop of relaxed sophistication.

Amidst the laughter and the clinking of wineglasses, the atmosphere in the room shifted ever so slightly as a new guest arrived. She moved through the crowd with an effortless grace and confidence, her presence commanding attention. I found myself observing her, struck by a sense of familiarity in her poise and style. She approached Max, and I felt a sudden twist in my stomach as he stiffened, his usually relaxed demeanor replaced by a visible tension.

The woman, radiant and engaging, extended her hand to Max, her smile warm. There was a moment of hesitation before he responded, a fleeting look of discomfort crossing his face before he masked it with a polite smile. It was unlike Max to be so guarded, and it piqued my curiosity.

I drifted closer, under the guise of checking on the floral arrangements, watching them from a distance. My heart raced as I observed their interaction. Max’s body language was rigid, his usually easygoing nature nowhere in sight. The woman seemed oblivious to his discomfort, her laughter light and carefree as she touched his arm in a familiar manner.

Just then, Mrs. Harrington, a longtime friend of my mother’s from my charity work, beckoned the young woman away from Max. She caught sight of me and waved me over. I moved closer, blending into the crowd, my role as the event organizer providing the perfect cover.

“Isabella, darling, come meet my niece,” Mrs. Harrington said, her voice filled with pride. “This is Ana. She’s just finished her studies in international business.”

Ana. The name clicked in my mind, a piece of a puzzle falling into place. I had heard that name before, in passing conversations. Max’s ex. I stole a glance at Max, noticing the way his jaw was clenched, his gaze fixed on a distant point as he tried to appear engaged in another conversation.

Before I could process this revelation further or approach Max, another guest pulled me into a conversation. I excused myself, my mind swirling with questions and uncertainties. Why did Max seem so affected by Ana’s presence? And why did it bother me so much?

As I moved through the room, attending to guests and ensuring everything was running smoothly, I couldn’t shake the uneasy ache that had settled in my chest. I realized, perhaps for the first time, my feelings for Max might run deeper than I had admitted to myself. The sight of him with Ana, and the tension it caused within him, affected me more than I wanted to acknowledge.

Jealousy, insecurity, and a sense of loss tangled within me. I had told myself what Max and I had was casual, just some fun. But watching him with Ana, I couldn’t deny the sharp pang of longing that pierced through me. Had I made a mistake in pushing him away? Was there more between us than just a fleeting connection?

The evening progressed with a seamless blend of elegance and warmth, each guest seemingly enchanted by the atmosphere I had meticulously created. Compliments flowed as freely as the wine, and several of my parents’ friends even inquired about reserving my services for their upcoming events. It was more than I could have hoped for, yet my mind was distracted, caught in the undercurrents of emotion stirred up by Ana’s presence.

As I circulated among the guests, silently checking in on everyone, I spotted Ana pulling Max into a secluded corner. They stood close, their conversation hushed and intimate. My heart ached at the sight, a cocktail of emotions swirling inside me. Why did it matter so much? I had no claim over Max, yet the sight of them together sent a pang of longing through me.

Mrs. Harrington’s touch on my shoulder snapped me back to reality. Her knowing eyes met mine, and she leaned in, her voice a whisper. “Ana misses Max, you know. They used to date. They were quite the pair. Ana ended it a few months ago, but I think she’s having second thoughts.”

My gaze drifted back to them, watching as Max’s posture relaxed slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips in response to something Ana said. It was as if I was watching a scene from a life I was no longer a part of, yet desperately wanted to be.

“Looks like my niece is trying her best to win him back,” Mrs. Harrington continued, her voice laced with a hint of mischief.

I forced a smile, my heart sinking further as Ana stepped closer to Max, her hand gently grazing his arm. Then, as if in a slow-motion scene from a movie, she rose on her toes and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. Max didn’t pull away. Instead, he listened attentively, his eyes locked on hers.

The sinking feeling in my gut intensified. Watching them, a realization dawned on me: Max’s softened demeanor, his gentle smile, it all seemed to suggest that perhaps Ana’s attempts were not unwelcome. Maybe there was still something there between them.

For a moment, I was an outsider looking in, aching, and witnessing a moment that was both intimate and foreign. The air around me felt heavier, each breath a struggle as I grappled with the whirlwind of emotions inside me.

I turned away, needing a moment to compose myself. I busied myself with the last-minute details of the event, but my mind was elsewhere. The evening that had started with such promise was now clouded with a sense of loss and confusion.

I couldn’t shake the image of Max and Ana together, couldn’t silence the nagging voice in my head that whispered of missed opportunities and unspoken thoughts. I had pushed Max away, convinced myself that what we had was casual, but now, seeing him with Ana, I couldn’t deny the depth of my feelings.

As the guests departed, leaving behind a trail of laughter and fond farewells, I realized that tonight had been more than just a successful event. It had been a revelation, a painful yet necessary insight into my own heart. The realization that what I felt for Max was real, and perhaps, it was time to confront those feelings head-on. But as I watched Ana linger by Max’s side, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was already too late.

TWENTY-EIGHT

ISABELLA

The next morning, I walked the bustling streets of Manhattan, heading from Greenwich Village down to the East Village. The familiar sounds and sights of the city wrapped around me like a comforting embrace.

I hadn’t slept well and had snuck in an extra cup of coffee before leaving my parents’ house, but with the morning came a sense of calm. And an answer to the question that had kept me tossing and turning last night.

Max.

The way his eyes had locked onto mine in the wine cellar, the unspoken words hanging between us, the soft warmth of his smile that seemed to reach deep into my heart.

We had a connection I couldn’t deny, yet I didn’t know how to navigate it.

Being around Max, and witnessing his interaction with Ana, had stirred something in me—a tangled mess of feelings I wasn’t prepared to untangle just yet. My involvement in the Mirage Guild had blurred lines I hadn’t even realized were there, and now, it was time to redraw them.

As the cityscape blurred past my window on the way to a business meeting, my mind couldn’t help but drift back to the wine-tasting event and the brief moments shared with Max. Those fleeting interactions had reignited a yearning I thought I’d managed to quell, a yearning for something more with him, something beyond the constraints we had placed on ourselves. The idea of distancing myself from the Mirage Guild surfaced, carrying with it a bittersweet blend of freedom and loss.

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