Page 60 of The Billionaire's Masquerade Ball

“Nuh-uh. We’re going in,” Lucy said.

“We’re too late. It was supposed to be five o’clock. We’re fifteen minutes past.”

“Since when were you a rule follower? Get inside. I’m freezing out here. And remember, keep your coat over that ugly splint on your hand. Unless you want to reveal yourself the first second that he sees you.”

“Right,” Cynder said.

A man in the lobby shook his head at the sight of Cynder in the dress and mask. “I’m sorry. No one else is allowed up. The billionaire thing is over.”

“See? Too late.” Cynder turned and started pushing back toward the front doors.

Lucy held her in place. “We’re actually here to see Wyatt. He’s my boyfriend and works at Obsidian. You can call up there and find out.”

The man picked up the phone and after a quick conversation, nodded to Lucy. “Okay, head on up.”

“Are you really Wyatt’s girlfriend?” Cynder asked. “That was fast.”

Lucy gave her a wide smile. “A girl can hope.”

Cynder shifted nervously in the elevator, while Lucy hummed a song under her breath. She had no idea what Xander was going to say or do. Maybe he wouldn’t want to see her at all. Maybe he wouldn’t care that Cynder was the mystery woman. Maybe he’d be angrier. This was just one more thing she had done wrong, hiding the truth from him.

But that splinter of hope made her think that just maybe this would work out somehow. Maybe it was time for her happy ending. Or, happy beginning.

She began dragging her feet again as they moved out of the elevator. “I really don’t think—”

“That’s right,” Lucy said, patting her arm. “Don’t think.”

The office was empty and it was the first time Cynder had seen that. Only Judy stood at the desk. Lucy strode right up. “Hey, there. I’m Lucy, Wyatt’s girlfriend. And I brought someone that I think Xander is going to want to see.”

Judy smiled, looking from Cynder to Lucy. “How lovely to meet you! Wyatt didn’t mention a girlfriend. I’ll have to give him a hard time about that. I’m sorry, though, we’ve finished out the whole masquerade ball debacle. The two of them are in a meeting.”

“Oh,” Cynder said. “That’s fine. We can go.”

“We’ll wait,” Lucy said. “I know Wyatt will want to see me.”

Judy pressed her lips together. “I guess I can let you sit out here. I’m not sure how long they’ll be. But I don’t want to give you any false hope. I think Xander is done for the day.”

Taking a breath, Cynder lifted her mask. “Hey, Judy.”

Judy’s eyes flew wide and she jumped up from the desk to hug Cynder. “Oh my word. It’s you! But why are you dressed like this?”

“It’s kind of a long story,” Cynder said.

“No, it’s a dumb story,” Lucy said. “Cynder was the woman in the mask Xander met. She just didn’t tell him. Now she’s here to make that right.”

Cynder bit her lip and Judy chuckled. “Well, this should be interesting. Especially given who he’s in the meeting with.”

“Who’s in the meeting?” Cynder asked, but at that minute, voices came down the hall. She froze, feeling the sudden panic as the moment caught up with her. She was really doing this. Was she really doing this?

Her jaw dropped when the first person she saw coming down the hall from the conference room was Patrick. Followed by Eliza, Crystal, and Gail. None of them looked happy. Wyatt trailed behind them, but Xander wasn’t with him. She closed her mouth, remembering that she wasn’t supposed to know them.

“Huh,” Lucy muttered.

Though they had all met Lucy before, no one seemed to notice her. Patrick hesitated by Cynder, giving her a once-over. “Patrick,” Gail said sharply. “Let’s go.”

“Nice doing business with you!” Wyatt called. Then, in a lower voice, he said, “Hope we never have to again.”

Cynder let her breath out as they all got onto an elevator. Wyatt grinned and gave Lucy a hug, spinning her around. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. Even Judy had to smile at them. They were adorable and looked like they were both already head over heels for each other.

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