Page 56 of The Billionaire's Masquerade Ball

Chapter 15

“Tell me again,” Lucy said. “I’m not sure I understand what happened. Was he angry? Or was he trying to kiss you?”

Cynder groaned, letting her face fall forward into her hands. Lucy squeezed her shoulder and when she spoke again, her tone was softer, almost sing-songy.

“Hey, now. I can’t have my muse in mourning. Talk to me.”

“You’ve got to get ready for your date,” Cynder said, sniffling into the couch cushions. When she got home from Obsidian after what felt like an endless ride on the crowded L, Lucy was already half-dressed for her date with Wyatt. She had on a nice top and some of her makeup done, but pajama pants and fuzzy socks on the bottom. She stopped everything when she saw the state that Cynder was in.

“Please,” Lucy scoffed. “You can entertain Wyatt when he gets here. I like to keep a man waiting on the first date. But he definitely isn’t going to see me in my pajamas so you have to get the door. I’m sorry.”

“Ugh! Wyatt. He was there. This is so mortifying.”

“He was there when Xander was about to kiss you?” Lucy practically squealed.

“Wyatt walked in right after he fired me. And I don’t know that Xander was going to kiss me. I thought he was, but then he fired me. I clearly have no understanding of men or relationships.” Cynder began to laugh. “This is the worst week I’ve ever had. It’s laughable. And all of it centers around Xander, so it’s a good thing that I’m not going to see him again.”

“So, you’re not going to go to his office tomorrow for the thing?”

“With throngs of adoring women hoping to snag a billionaire? I don’t think so. Also, I’m pretty sure firing someone means you don’t want to see them again.”

“I’m still confused, though. Before you told him you knew about losing his wife and daughter, you thought he was going to kiss you? Let’s go over what happened one more—”

Someone knocked at the apartment door and Lucy shot Cynder a panicked look before darting down the hall.

“Normally I wouldn’t make you answer the door when you’re suffering, but I’m not starting off with Wyatt seeing me like this! Pajamas are at least on date three.”

Cynder sighed and opened the door, blowing her nose into a tissue. Wyatt grimaced when he saw her. He held a small bouquet of mixed flowers. “Hey, Cynder.”

“Wyatt. Long time no see.” She waved him into the apartment. “Come on in. Lucy’s getting ready. Want water or anything?”

“I’m good, thanks. Uh, how are you?”

Cynder flopped down in the chair and threw her hands up. “I don’t even know how to answer that question.”

“I’m really sorry. I don’t fully understand what happened.”

“That makes two of us.”

He nodded, then brushed his hair back from his face. “For what it’s worth, I think that Xander is really conflicted on a few things when it comes to you.”

“What the heck does that mean?”

“It means that he likes you. But you work for him, so he can’t date you.”

“You think he fired me so he could date me? That’s messed up.”

“No! I think he was upset about the whole having to meet hundreds of women thing. I told you he would be.”

“Yeah.” Cynder smiled. “But it was really brilliant, right?”

Wyatt grinned. “It was. I told him that too.”

Cynder covered her face with her hands and sank deeper into the chair. “Oh, gosh. What did he say about it?”

“Not much. He was running in the gym.”

“Does he do that a lot? He was running over lunch too.”

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