Rule #1: Never Date An A.C.E. [COMPLETED]

Chapter 8: Rule #7: Always Trust A Fellow Agent

I blink my eyeshadow-covered eyes a few times to adjust to the sudden darkened atmosphere. Unlike what I believe clubs to be—filled with hot, sweaty people dancing to pop and R&B remixes—Elusive seems similar to a high-end gala. Women and men dressed in their finest, yet sexy, clothes, with waiters traveling around offering glasses of wine and cocktails. I swipe a glass of white wine from a waitress passing in front of me and begin to walk around, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. I swirl the wine as I lean up against the side of the bar, my eyes scanning the crowd and taking small sips of the wine.

"Why hello," a deep voice says to me and I turn to see a tuxedoed man smiling down me. The only thing I find unusual is a mask covering the area around his eyes.

"Hello to you as well," I smile and take another sip of wine. "What's with the mask, Casanova?"

He chuckles, "Straight to the point." The mysterious man leans closer to me to whisper in my ear, "It's fun for me to watch pretty women, such as yourself, try and figure out why." He leans away, but not before pulling a strand of my hair with him, twirling it around his finger. "Your hair is definitely striking, Miss..."

"Angel," I reply, placing my drink down and sliding closer. "I don't very much like guessing games, Mr...."

"Arthur," he says, and I turn around, grabbing my drink and walking away, smirking to myself as I glance over my shoulder to see him looking surprised.

"Disgusting," I hear Dylan in my ear and I discreetly bring my wrist near my mouth to answer.

"Jealous?" I itch the scratch I pretended to have before returning my arm to my side I hear Dylan scoff on the other end, and Alex and Boone snickering. I make my way around the building, admiring the decorations and avoiding Arthur, even though I am suspicious of him. I decide to head to the bathroom for a quick makeup check, when I feel a light hand on my arm, pulling me to a dark corner.

"Why are you hiding from me, Angel?" Arthur whispers into my ear and I allow myself to be pulled upstairs to what looks like an office. I am beginning to believe my initial feeling about Arthur to be correct.

"Do you run this place?" I ask as I wander around the office, pretending to look at the décor.

"Well partially, I have a couple other," he pauses and fixes a look at me, "business partners."

"That's magnificent," I say making my way back over to him to place a hand on his chest. I grip his tie and pull him into me. "May I remove your mask, Casanova?"

"Sure, Angel," he replies as my fingers attach to the ends of the mask and pull, and once the mask is off, I gasp. Arthur's smile turns darker as he looks at me.

"It's been awhile since you called me Casanova, Angel," he says in a mocking tone. I move away from him until my back is against his desk, and he follows me every so slowing.

"When I heard of the Three Princes," I pause and look at him with some fear, "I thought it might be you, Luca."

He chuckles darkly as he places his hands on my hips, gripping them tightly, "As soon as I saw you, I knew you knew. Especially since I know you cannot afford that." He gestures to my outfit, and I take the chance to pull away from him and inch towards to door. "Ah, ah, ah, kitten." I take a look behind me and see two men twice my size blocking the door. With proper training I might've been able to take them down, but even with my inherited ability I knew I couldn't, so I stop moving and allow him to approach me once again. He runs a light finger down the side of my cheek and I lean into it subconsciously.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask as I try and look deeply into his eyes. He sighs and retracts his hand from my face.

"Because kitten, I grew up with nothing and now," his eyes gleam as he raises his hands to gesture all around us, "I am rich beyond my wildest dreams."