‘I think so, walk back…?’ asked the security guard.
The alarm was triggered again.
Shit. Fuck.
The security guards and I were on very friendly terms. We liked each other. I couldn’t imagine pissing them off with such a bullshit act. Maybe I needed to come clean?
No, it was too late.
One of them used a portable detector and hovered it over my body. It didn’t take too long to find the rogue security tag. Behind my fucking collar.
Some dick in my team had put more than one security tag on the jacket. I couldn’t believe my dumb employees had managed to screw up the simplest of tasks.
‘There it is!’ he said.
I needed to remain calm. Panic would only make it worse.
‘That’s so weird. It definitely didn’t beep on my way in. I bought this from Selfridges earlier, before coming here.’
‘These security tags are really stupid sometimes. I swear they work half the time. Do you have a receipt?’
I opened my backpack to pretend to look for the receipt. My head was on fire.
‘I can’t find it. I may have left it in the store. I didn’t get a bag because I had my backpack. And you know me and the environment!’
‘That sucks. Good thing it fits!’
‘Exactly.’
‘I’ll just remove it. Those people are idiots.’
My whole body felt like collapsing. I couldn’t believe it. The guard used a portable tag remover and even commented how good I looked in the suit.
‘Good to go. Have fun tonight.’
I smiled. Nervously.
I left immediately and ran to the tube station. That evening I was a lucky motherfucker.
I started laughing by myself loudly. I had left the store with a two grand suit and they even helped me out in the process.
What a rush.
Fuck the Topman suit. Leo would be entering the New Year in Dior.
Fuck yes.
CHAPTER 19
£2389.09
The ship was immense. It lit up the entire area surrounding it, mainly huge city buildings that sprouted with chaos and loud white collars during the day, but at night were dark and quiet. Beautiful people wearing beautiful clothes and adorned masks were eager to spend an unforgettable evening drinking champagne and putting this year behind them. I also would have liked to put the year behind me. My life had taken such a turn. Being single for the first time in years, finding myself sharing a flat with a friend, going back to a job I despised, but more than anything, putting my body at other people’s sexual mercy for money. What a rollercoaster.
I wasn’t sure where my mental health was. I wasn’t sure how those events would affect me.
I was standing outside the entrance to the ship, walking in circles in very painful patent black faux leather shoes. I was wearing my shiny new suit with a crisp white shirt underneath. My hands felt like icicles. I had been waiting for more than fifteen minutes and had zero alcohol in my body. The product keeping my hair pushed back also felt like ice. I was ready to go in and scout for canapes that didn’t have animals in them and shove as many as possible into my mouth, to then go to town on the open bar.
I was wearing a black mask, with gold leaf details on it, something I had bought on a romantic trip to Venice with Jake. This was the first time wearing it outside the house. It was now just a simple mask. Gone were all the happy memories with Jake. I really felt like a prince for the evening—a feeling particularly special, considering I’d usually play the role of the pauper millennial, counting pennies to buy bread.
‘Hey, good looking!’ an incredibly stunning Sara shouted from afar. Her hair was wavy, all placed on the side, with a small, striking black mask covering her eyes.
Alfie was his usual cute self. No trace of beard, tidy hair and a Zorro-style of mask. His suit was simple, but he paired it with some fancy loafers.
‘Hi, princess,’ I said while kissing her hand. ‘Mr Holland, always a pleasure to see you.’
We gave each other a solid, manly hug.
‘Where’s your date?’ she asked, looking around.
‘Duncan is going to be late. He’s flying back from Edinburgh and his flight has been delayed. He’s on an Easyjet plane wearing a tux. Bless him.’
‘Oh, that’s a shame,’ she said. ‘Luckily you’re in the company of the best people.’
‘Yeah, I’ll be your man for the time being,’ said Alfie, cracking a smile.
‘I am the only man he’ll be with, thank you very much,’ said a probably already tipsy Sara.
‘What do you say we go in and drink our sorrows away?’ I proposed.
They both nodded and made way.
The ship’s interiors were magnificent. Red velvet all around, details in mahogany wood adorned every corner. Sophisticated arrangements of flowers inebriated the air. Everything looked luxurious, and everyone’s masks made the whole gathering quite Marie Antoinette-esque.
I had never been inside a ship. For once in my life, I wasn’t feeling out of place, even though I was wearing a stolen suit.
‘What is this incredible suit you’re wearing?’ asked Sara, while having a really close look.
‘I found it after you left. Thought it’d be more festive.’
‘Wow,’ she said, with big, shocked eyes.
‘It looks really expensive, mate,’ said a surprised Alfie.
‘Nah, I got it on sale. Nothing major.’
‘Shit, well done,’ she commented. ‘I should take a photo of you and send it to Duncan, so he can hurry the fuck up.’
‘I’ll wait for him to see me in real life.’
‘When you’re going to be sweaty and wasted?’ she asked.
‘Yeah, that’s my sexiest.’
We walked towards the main hall, and it was gigantic. Tables for people to sit, a huge dance floor, but most importantly, an army of waiters with glasses of champagne on silver trays. So far, so good. I grabbed two, so I could down one at once, and keep the other one to sip on.
‘That’s my boy,’ she said.
I smiled and pushed my back against a wall.
‘I think I’ll stay here for a second to ease myself into the huge crowd. It’s okay if you guys want to have a look around. I’ll be here having a few pre-drinks.’
‘Alright, I do have to have a look around because I think there’s some people from work, and I want to make sure I know what they look like, so I don’t make an absolute twat of myself,’ she said, while fixing her dress. ‘We’ll be right back.’
I grabbed another glass and looked at my phone. Duncan’s plane had finally taken off. I didn’t have to wait too long.
Then I got another text.
‘Is that you in the black and gold mask, looking moody and mysterious?’
I looked around. Why the fuck would Stefan be at this party? I couldn’t see him.
‘I’m waving.’
I looked up, and there he was. Wearing a tux with a purple bowtie and a disco-ball effect mask. His silver hair shined bright in the light.
‘Hi there,’ I said, nervously.
He didn’t waste any time and kissed me, grabbing me by the waist.
‘You’re so hot!’ he shouted.
‘Thanks,’ I said, looking around, making sure Sara wasn’t anywhere near. ‘What are you doing here?’