Secret Lover

Nora

Alexander, my best friend, was sitting next to me at our favorite restaurant, flirting with a server again. We try to have lunch with each other once a week so we keep each other up to date with things, even though we see each other often. It’s our little tradition we’ve managed to maintain even with our busy schedules. Every Wednesday, we gather at our favorite local place to catch up.

As I watch him, I become jealous because he can pick up women at the drop of a hat. I’ve always been envious of that skill of his. He doesn’t have to try hard, he’s a good-looking man, charming, and women are drawn to him. I can acknowledge I understand what other females see.

I’ve known Alex for a long time; our fathers were friends, which forced our mothers to be friends once they met our fathers. Some people may say we have a dependency issue with each other, but I believe our connection goes deeper than that. We have always been there for each other through thick and thin, supporting one another in our personal endeavors and celebrating our achievements together.

“Can you stop flirting for a few minutes and have a conversation with me?” I snapped.

“What is there to talk about?” He snapped back, his voice filled with frustration.

I don’t understand what his deal is. Maybe I am being a little self-centered. It’s possible that I’ve been too focused on my own perspective and haven’t taken the time to truly understand his point of view. Perhaps he’s going through something that I’m unaware of, causing him to act in a way that I find confusing.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you angry.” Im always the first to apologize in any situation. I’m a people pleaser andit had taken me years to recognize the patterns of behavior that stemmed from my deep-rooted need to please others. Always putting their needs before my own, constantly seeking validation and approval, I had become a master at suppressing my own desires and opinions. It was a survival mechanism, a way to protect myself from potential rejection or abandonment.

“You didn’t make me angry. I just have some shit I’m trying to sort out, I didn’t mean to snap at you,” he apologized back.

“I can’t have a one-night stand. I need commitment, attachment.”

Alex exhaled and looked at me.

“It’s easy, Nora. You don’t get to know the person. The less personal it is, the easier it is to walk away. Once you get to know the person then your feelings get involved, and you need to realize it’s healthy to have sex outside of a relationship.”

Alex rolled his eyes before telling me I had to leave to get back to work.

“Are you still coming over tonight?”

“I wouldn’t miss Movie Wednesdays for anything,” he responded and handed me cash for his meal before leaving.

Not too long after Alex left, the waitress approached.

“Your friend is right?” The server said.

“Excuse me?” Why was she listening? It’s rude.

“About it being less personal. There is a party this Saturday. It’s a masquerade party, and I think it would be perfect for you.”

The server slid a business card onto the table with an address. “Tell them Scarlett invited you, and you should get in.”

“Thanks?”

“The meal is on the house. I hope to see you there.” She gave me a wink before she walked off.

That was odd. Who the fuck carries a business card as an invitation to a party, and was she flirting with me? If so, that is definitely a first

Besides the weird encounter with the server, the rest of my day played out as expected. It was ending like my typical Wednesdays should end and I was ready to go home.

I’m currently preparing for our weekly movie night. We haven’t gone more than two weeks without seeing each other; like I said, I think we have dependency issues.

“I brought the alcohol,” Alex announced as he let himself in.

“The food is almost done. I’m finishing the chicken for the fajitas, so can you set up everything else in the living room?”

Alex took the glasses and snacks to the living room to set up the coffee table. I could tell he had a lot on his mind, and he needed a break from his own thoughts.

“So that server was weird after you left today?”

“Really, how so?” He said with a mouth full of food.

“Apparently she was listening to our conversation and told me you were right about one-night stands, and she invited me to a party on Saturday.”

“If I didn’t already have plans, I would go with you.”

“I’m not sure I want to go.” It seems kind of shady, but if I told Alex that, he would say that was my opinion about everything. I’m afraid that if I put myself out there, I may regret it because of the rejection or finding another loser.

“You need to. It would be so good for you, and I’m sure it would be fun. I read an article about these clubs popping up all over bigger cities. They advertise being a safe community where your inner fantasies can be met. The only way in is through invitation from a regular.”

He seemed excited about my invite, maybe I should give it to him, I know he would use it.

“I don’t know.”

“You need to go. I’ll leave you alone about your poor choice of men if you go. You need to get out more and trust yourself. You’re an amazing person Nora, and you need to see that. You need to find a guy that shows you that,” he said with his signature smile.

Alex’s smile is one of the reasons he can get most girls to do what he wants, but it doesn’t work on me. I think it’s because I truly know him and the years of friendship we have.

“Fine, but if I don’t have fun, then you leave me alone about not going out as much as I should.”

“Deal.”

Hopefully, I don’t live to regret this deal. I only agreed to it because I am a bit curious, and maybe Alex is right, I need to put myself out there from time to time. Maybe it’ll be fun, and I might actually meet someone.

“What plans do you have this weekend?”

“Just plans.”

“Are they a secret?”

“No. It’s the typical Saturday plans.”

“So, you’re going on a date?”

“I wouldn’t call it a date.”

“Well, I hope you have fun.”

Alex has only had one steady girlfriend his entire life, and that was in college. They started dating our freshman year and made it to junior year before they broke up. He hasn’t been the same way with women since then. He prefers to have fun and leave in the morning. I think it actually takes a lot of guts to be with someone you just met.

I also find it strange that Alex is being a little standoffish and moody with me. I’m not sure if I did something wrong, but if I did, I hope he knows he can tell me.

Our movie night went later than we intended for it, like always. Alex helped me clean up like he usually does, only this time he was quiet. We usually discuss the movie we watched while cleaning up. Maybe if I go to this club, he won’t be so annoyed. I know he gets annoyed at me for not trying new things. I hate it when things are rough between us because he is the one person that I consider my rock.

My goal was to find a mask that would hide my identity. If I’m going to this party, then I’m going all out and stepping out of my comfort zone. Which I think is easier since I can use a different identity. I can be anyone I want and the person they’ll be judging doesn’t exist.

I wasn’t having much luck until I came across a small costume shop. I had a nice red dress that I could wear, and I’m looking for a mask that matches, but also hides my face well.

“Hello, can I help you find anything?” The store clerk asked.

“I’m looking for a mask, something for a masquerade. One that will match a red dinner dress.”

“I think I have a few in the back.”

I followed the clerk to the back of the store, where she rummaged through some boxes

“Just give me one moment.”

After a few moments, she came back with four masks for me to look at. The first one reminded me of the Phantom of the Opera, except it was all lace, and the second was a red and black silk mask bead detail. The third one was the winner. It was a black eye mask with red lace detail that looped behind the ears and there were rhinestones in the corner of the eyes.

“This one is perfect.”

“It’s beautiful, and I think it would look perfect on you.”

“Thank you.”

Now that I have a mask, I was getting excited about the party, because for one night my life would not be boring. I can be a different person than boring Nora, I can be whoever I want for one night.

I thought this was going to be a house party, but this isn’t a house, it’s a mansion. Whoever is throwing this party must have money.

I showed up a bit late, hoping people would already be here mingling. I didn’t want to be the awkward new person waiting for others to get there. If the room is already packed, then it will be easier to blend in.

I knocked on the front door and was greeted by a tall, bulky man wearing a mask.

“Are you on the list?”

“I’m not sure. Scarlett invited me.” I said timidly.

The guy looked at his list.

“I need you to sign this.” I must have been on the list as Scarlett’s guest. Not sure how since she didn’t know my name. Maybe she put a plus one down and left it at that?

I looked at the tablet he handed me. It was a non-disclosure agreement, and it was making me regret coming here. What kind of stuff happens here?

“Whatever you see or do here is confidential. To maintain that confidentiality, we require you to sign this and provide an ID. The only person who will have access to this is me and the owner.”

“Ok.” I took a deep breath, signed the document, and provided my ID for him to scan. Once he handed me my ID, he moved aside to let me enter the home.

Here goes nothing.