“Now, where was I? Ah, yes. I heard footsteps and glanced cautiously out over the railing. A costumed guest had ducked under the red rope and was climbing the grand staircase. He would reach the second floor at any moment. I rapped lightly on the door to the study to warn Sally-Anne, and could hear her fumbling for the light switch. The room went dark. She opened the door a crack and tugged at my hand, trying to pull me into the shadows to hide with her. But I stayed firmly in place, as though in a trance. Looking back now, maybe I would have done it differently. But in that moment, I was determined to protect her. Instead of hiding by her side, I broke free of her grip, gently closed the door, and marched right up to meet the masked stranger in his Venetian carnival costume. I was praying he was no more than a guest who had wandered past the barrier and up those stairs looking for a telephone. I considered using the very same excuse myself, if need be. But before I could say a word, the stranger demanded to know what I was doing there, his voice full of authority.
“It was a voice I knew all too well. Edward. Yet I stayed calm—dead calm—suddenly consumed by my own thirst for revenge. After all, the entire spectacle, the masquerade ball in all its wonder and monstrosity, was in his honor. I was struck with an idea, the perfect way to mark the occasion. I would give Edward a gift that would haunt him until the end of his days.
“He opened his mouth to speak again, but I silenced him, holding a finger to his lips. I could tell in that moment that he longed to know just who was smiling at him from behind that mask. He informed me that this wing of the manor was strictly off-limits to guests, but kindly offered to give me a private tour, should I desire one. I couldn’t answer without giving myself away, and it was far too soon for that, so I simply whispered ‘yes’ and took him by the hand. I led him past the office where I had waited for Miss Verdier. We entered a small study and I shut the door behind us. I should say that there was no chance he had mistaken me for his wife-to-be; her costume was completely different. Edward knew exactly what he was doing.
“I shoved him back roughly into an armchair, to his great amusement. He let his hands fall to his sides, careful to show no resistance. I unbuttoned his pants and slipped my hand inside, feeling his desire intensify. I knew just what he liked. But I wasn’t going to stop there. I wanted to have him fully, one last time. I lifted up my skirt and straddled him. Understand, men have come and gone in my life, some I walked out on, and others walked out on me. With Edward, it was different. Judge me all you like. I don’t care what you think. There’s no better feeling in life than making love to a man you both love and hate. I had to take it slow, to make sure he lasted long enough to buy Sally-Anne the time she needed to finish next door. She could probably hear everything through those walls, but I wanted to be sure. I didn’t hold back one bit. It wasn’t only because Sally-Anne had cheated on me with Keith, or because I was only there that night for her. I was also lashing out at her and her parents for wanting Edward to marry one of ‘his own kind’ instead of a poor girl like me. I was getting revenge on him and the entire world by fucking him at his own engagement party, forever tarnishing the night in his memory.
“When it was over, he wanted to see my face, but I refused. Instead, I asked in a full voice, not whispering, ‘Did you enjoy my engagement gift?’ and watched Edward go white with shock. You should have seen the look on his face, a mix of amazement and fear, fear that I would waltz right back down that fancy staircase, take the soloist’s place onstage, and sing loudly about Edward’s sinful ways for all to hear . . . I kissed him tenderly and caressed his cheek, insisting he had nothing to be afraid of. His future wife might not realize what kind of man he was for a long time to come. But every time Edward told her he loved her, he would remember that he had cheated on her the very night of their engagement party.
“I told him to go to her now so none of the guests would see us walking down the staircase together. I promised to leave discreetly. He wouldn’t see me for the rest of the night, or ever again. With that, Edward straightened out his clothes and furiously stormed off.
“After ensuring the coast was clear, I went to join Sally-Anne in the study. Without a word, she tied a cape around her body to conceal our stolen treasure, closed the safe, and returned the key to the cigar box.
“I asked if she had gotten what she came for, but she shot the same question back at me. We both knew what had gone on in those two adjoining rooms—we had robbed the Stanfields blind, each in our own way.
“On the way out, Sally-Anne brazenly swiped a bottle of Scotch and slipped it under my cape as the final touch. It was an amazing whisky we would enjoy later that night as we toasted our victory. Sally-Anne was already drunk off the realization that the Independent’s future was secure. With what we had stolen from that safe, we could launch the paper and ensure its survival for several years, no matter the profit margin.
“With the party in full swing, the getaway was smooth and easy, our driver waiting for us outside. Before we knew it, we were home at the loft. It was over. The deed was done.”