92 And Not A Word

Cough, Cough…

The young master and his missus were in a world of their own, one in which they had lost all sense of place and time. Their bodies were pressed into each other, their lips still locked, when they heard the sound of someone clear his throat not too far away.

They didn't pay too much heed to the voice.

Unless of course, he spoke.

"Thad Carver is about to arrive. Some of my men just reported."

Maybe it was the familiarity of that voice, or simply the nonchalance of it, that made the two freeze. And within seconds, Jimmy and Miya Hunter had let go of each other. Miya, who had been standing on tip toes was the first to react, as she pulled away from the young master and almost fell on her back.

Jim was quick in his reflex. He grabbed the missus by her waist. Then they both turned around in horror to face the old Mr. Simon Hunter.

Miya automatically flushed on seeing the Chairman, whereas Jimmy's eyes twitched in mild agitation.

The two looked like guilty teenagers caught making out.

Albeit Simon Hunter's face showed no reaction at all, Jim could see that the old man was thoroughly amused. His own face lost all expression and he glared at the Chairman. Miya simply blushed.

"Come back to the hall, Miya. Follow back, Jimmy. It's about to begin."

Simon Hunter's words were simple, and he walked away calmly, almost as if he had seen nothing at all. He had his hands put behind his back, and it was only by the slight shiver in them that made Miya observe the old man's face as he walked away.

She thought she saw his lips curl in a very faint smile.

When left alone, the two stood side by side, with Jim still holding on to the missus's waist. They didn't know what to do next. Kissing again was definitely not an option. On further thought, looking at each other wasn't an option either.

So each looked in an opposite direction and recalled what they had been doing. Their faces turned red.

"I-I-I'll go," Miya told him first, when she couldn't get her heart to stay in place. Meanwhile Jimmy simply removed his hand and mumbled a "Yes".

The ballroom was still dark, lit only by faint blue lights. Miya was firm in her steps, but her brain was not working anymore. She walked fast, then slowed down and for a second, almost tripped over her dress.

What was that?

What in the word had she been doing?!

She had just kissed Jimmy Hunter.

THE Jimmy Hunter!

Her heart leapt once again, her breathing automatically turning rapid. Her lips twitched, and she realized she could still taste blood in her mouth. Her mouth was swollen, and her tongue hurt, but all of it was lost on her, when she remembered Jimmy's words.

"It was me. It always has been."

How?!

Thirteen years ago, at another masquerade party. They had been trying to make mischief. Trouble some boy.

She didn't recall it clearly, but Rebecca had made her wear a similar, though somewhat childish dress. And she had herself dressed like a gentleman.

No… she had dressed exactly like Jimmy Hunter was dressed tonight.

Oh f***ing hell.

It had been Jimmy Hunter!

Her heart was in a frenzy once again, as Miya forced herself to recall exactly what had happened on that one night, thirteen years ago. And suddenly, everything started to seem familiar.

The ballroom tonight, was almost decorated on the same lines as it had been on that night. The same chandeliers, the same blue lights. She had been forced into a similar dress. Jimmy had worn the same clothes too. The same masks…

No wonder he had so nonchalantly announced that the party was going to be masquerade!

Had he been trying to make her remember all along?

The information took the girl by surprise, and somehow, warmed her heart all the way to her feet. She felt giddy with happiness.

The young master had worked too hard.

No matter how she saw the room, now that she looked at it, memories from thirteen years ago flashed back to her in an instant. Almost as if a clear picture had been set. She didn't know exactly why, but her eyes welled.

When had Jimmy Hunter figured it out?

The fact that she and him had shared their first kiss?

Part of her was somehow, overjoyed. The other part, relieved.

It hadn't had been Rebecca after all!

But really, now that she thought about it, why had Rebecca suddenly turned flirtatious on her, after that night? Miya had always assumed that it was because of the kiss. It had never been explicitly said between them, that they had indeed kissed… she had left the Freeman house after a week of the party, if she recalled correctly…

But, could it be that Becky had known all along?

But that was impossible!

Miya frowned, and walked over to get herself a glass of water. She decided to ask Becky about it when the party was over.

Just then though, she stopped in her tracks, as a familiar shadow loomed over her. She looked up, and automatically froze.

She was once again, staring into the steel grey eyes of Simon Hunter.

She didn't know why, but she trembled slightly.

It was weird, somehow, that she had such a reaction to the Chairman.

The old man chuckled, then did what he had when they had earlier met at the clothes store. He looked into her eyes, and then forcefully shoved her head down.

"You'll break your neck," he said, and Miya felt a sense of déjà vu. She blushed nervously.

This person… he had seen her kiss Jimmy.

Simon Hunter understood the girl's uneasiness, so he decided to keep it short. Leaning down, so that he was close enough for her to hear, he said in a low voice, "Compose yourself, Miya. It's about time. He's about to arrive. Ten minutes, at max."

Miya immediately looked sideways, and faced with the Chairman's eyes, she saw kindness in them. That, and something that meant solely business. She nodded solemnly.

Simon Hunter walked away, and Miya went to a corner and fetched herself a glass of water.

She stood near the third entrance to the hallway, which was only shielded by a beautiful silk curtain. Miya leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, trying to focus her mind. She watched a few people dance. Everyone seemed to be mixing up well. It didn't really look like a setup.

The girl sipped on water, and then closed her eyes.

"Quiet," she told herself calmly.

And her heart began to calm down. Only, it was a second too late.

Miya froze in her place, as something hard pressed into her back. She was immediately on alert, as she realized what it was.

It was the muzzle of a gun.

She wasn't shocked, but she was taken by surprise.

A cold voice spoke close to her ear.

"Follow me out. And not a word."

Miya nodded and then gulped. It was a voice she hadn't heard before. And it wasn't Thad Carver himself, the voice didn't belong to him either.

Possibly, an underling of his.

She was quick to take action. Standing straight, with the glass still in her hand, Miya broke it with her bare fingers. Then shivering slightly to look fearful, she dropped the glass and turned around, with the man still pressing the gun into her.

"S-Sorry," she whimpered.

Then trembling, the girl walked out.

Her hand had begun to bleed.

And as she walked out of Palace Jade, it left traces behind her as tracks.