Ginger King

Three

Juliet's POV

  While putting everything away from today's adventures Jane came in.  "Ah, there you are." she said sighing. "yeah here I am." I laughed a little After work she always comes into my living room and drops to the couch. "Hard day with the noise pickers?" I asked, "of course, those teachers are idiotic and rude." She said. "I meant the kids, not the teachers." I laughed. She loved her job but not her coworkers. 

  "Anyways, how was your day? Anything new with bakery boy?" Jane has always been fascinated with my non-exsistat love life. "Actually, he will be calling me soon." As the sentence left my mouth Jane was already jumping in the air.  She wasn't as tired as she claimed. "Oh girl, look at you!" We both laughed. Jane has been nagging for me to get with Oliver since before the war. "Besides he is absolutely gorgeous. I mean 6'5 and all blonde hair. He is a movie star." If I didn't know Jane I would have guessed she wanted him as well. "I know, I know, he is a modern-day Hercules but if it goes wrong I don't want to have to change bakeries." I felt my point was valid. 

 "That is the least of your worries Juliet." Jane seemed to be hinting at something. 

  "What do you know?" I asked her. 

 "Remember James from last night," she asked. I laughed a little and rolled my eyes "oh you mean the playboy wanna be? Yeah, I remember." 

 "Yeah him well I bumped into one of his people on the way home and they were on their way over here to give you something," she said to me. She was sitting literally on the edge of the couch.  "and what was that/" I asked her. I was curious and I knew that wasn't good.

 "Every year he has a Roman-themed party. Very Venice inspired and it takes knowing someone to get in. He has invited you and me to the event." Jane was more excited than I was. I was excited but I was just more curious about the details and what I will wear. 

"but there's a catch." She added on. "of course there is." Ii said to her.

 "It's a masquerade." 

  "Well, that's not very original." I rolled my eyes and Jane seemed aggravated. "Come on it will be fun besides you enjoyed yourself last time." She mentioned to me as if I forgot. I just stayed quiet hoping she would drop it. 

 "You know you loved it even if you won't admit it to me or yourself. Either way, I am leaving the invite on the table and you can do what you want with it." When she was finished speaking she left the room. 

 If I go to this event I know I will have fun but if I have fun then I will continue to want to go and who knows what rabbit hole that will lead me down.  It was marvelous and exquisite. The people were fun and the air was intoxicating. If someone told me about it and I had never gone I wouldn't have believed them. For all, I know it could have been a dream that Jane had and all of this is also a dream. 

 When the phone rang I was brought to reality and reminded that it wasn't a dream and I am indeed awake. 

 I knew exactly who it was and I have been waiting for this call. "Hey!" I said when I picked up the phone. "Hey, Jules it's Oliver." He said on the other end. 

"Yeah, I figured that much," I said.  I smiled at the sound of his voice. "What are you doing tonight?" He asked me.

"Whatever you're doing," I said to him. I knew it was bold by the sound of him almost choking on air. "Perfect, well tonight I am taking you and me to downtown for dinner." I liked that he knew exactly what he wanted to do. It was rare for a man to have that quality. As we spoke I kept looking back to the invite on the table. 

 If I opened that invite right now I could easily forget about my plans for tonight. 

"Juliet? You there?" Oliver asked. 

"Yeah, yeah I'm here." I turned red at the my obliviousness and glad that he couldn't see me.

 "Alright, well I'll see you at seven tonight." 

"I will see you then." We said our goodbyes and hung up the phone. Soon as I put the phone down I eagerly reached for the envelope.

\"

   Juliet,

   Tomorrow is the annual  Venice masquerade and you have been invited by the host. The attire will be mandatory. All attire must oblige to the theme. The event will start at 8:00 pm.  The event is private and confidential and all guests will be asked to keep the information on this event private. 

    - James. "

The letter wasn't personalized. It was general which made me feel better. Maybe I'll just go for a little bit and bring Jane. I know she will have the time of her life but she always does wherever she goes. Maybe he won't notice me because of the mask which will be helpful.

  * 2 hours later *

  I was ready ten minutes early which lead me to wait in the kitchen while being so nervous that I shaking. Finally taking me from my misery there as a knock at my door. 

I took a breath and opened it. Oliver was standing in front of me smiling with that killer smile. "Hi," He said to me. "Hey," I said back. We hugged. He gave me his arm and we were off for the night.