The Mask

"Who's in love with Crescent?" A voice filled with thorough indignation suddenly joined in. Immediately, Davina Chu walked toward Crescent's desk without missing to sway her hips from side to side. "The prince? You can't be serious?"

Crescent rolled an eye immediately. "And why can't he?"

Crescent's answer appalled Davina Chu. Her lips drew an instant 'ah' but she couldn't voice anything out from that in a moment.

"The prince will not even lay an eye on you Miss Garza, I can assure you that," Davina finally was able to draw a rebuttal to it.

"And how can you tell? You're not the one being visited by the Montarini Corporate," Crescent smiled with mockery at that and Davina's ears immediately went red with anger.

"Whatever was their business with you! I'm sure it had nothing to do with the prince's affection!" The woman screamed all over, drawing everyone's attention. They already expected this attitude from Davina and one could only shake with the fact that she might have snatched a good contract from Crescent but can never get even with her. Having the Montarini Corporate at her side made their difference sparingly obvious. "Look at yourself, that face of yours couldn't even attract a single male in here,"

"But all the males in here are nothing like the prince," Apple replied as she distanced herself from Davina Chu, afraid that she would hit her in with her rage. It was very entertaining to watch the woman break lose especially in front of everyone she she giggled inside.

"True. I learned that people like the prince would rather seek for substance rather than physical appearance," Georgi agreed with Apple with the same intention of making Davina feel worse. "Of course, brilliant people like the prince knows that physical appearance can be fixed while brains can never be—"

"Are you saying I'm dumb?" Davina Chu's attention was on Georgi now.

"Oh I didn't even know Madam that you are one of the options. I was only describing Miss Garza since we all know she dressed so lousily but her brains are brilliant. I was saying perhaps the prince was in awe of her brains and character.." Georgi tried to pronounce the word slower in his last sentence trying to make a point with Davina Chu. "Don't worry madam, I'm sure someone if the prince will confess to Miss Garza, I'll let you know,"

"That will never happen," Davina Chu raged more, making bothe Georgi and Apple step back giggling.

"You can never know Davina! You can never know!" Crescent replied with a giggle too immediately pulled a headset from her bag then stuffed it into her ears. Ah! She's done with all the trouble and unnecessities for the day, she has to start going and do something productive!

"You!" Davina can only ball her fist. Knowing that her rival will spare her no more attention, she withdrew fuming with rage that Georgi and Apple could only laugh at it. Soon, things got back to normal in Crescent's and the girl had already forgotten what happened during the day.

***

When Crescent got off from work it was already dark. She did a few hours overtime and was hoping that perhaps her extra hours of work will be rewarded at the next pay day. As soon as she stepped out of the building, she hailed a cab and rode home. On the way, Georgi called her and asked if both Apple and him could spend the night at her apartment. It was their last day of work for that day and tomorrow is their rest day so they thought to have some drinks and little fun at her house. Crescent did not hesitate and asked the two to buy the drinks on their way to her house as she had no more time for it which they agreed.

Soon, Crescent arrived in her apartment and she went to the shower immediately. In the middle of her taking a good bath and pulling a toothbrush to tend her teeth, her doorbell rang and she immediately yelled from the shower unintelligently "Georgi, zhshshshs you leave your keys again? I'm in the sxhshsha damn you!"

Biting the toothbrush, Crescent took a towel, wrapped herself with it and went to open the door. As she was in a hurry, she did not anymore inspect who it was and just opened it expecting Georgi and Apple. However when she opened it, her eyes went so big at the sight of Juan Long's towering height.

"Good evening Miss Garza,"

Crescent was stunned and the only thing she did while blinking at the man was brushing her teeth unconsciously.

"The hell xashshah…how did you find my —ah shit! I mean…good xhshshs Mr. Long, whassstsshsh your busizhzhaha," Crescent was tempted to swallow the bubbles in her mouth but the toothpaste was too harsh for her throat. While she was confused as to what to do with the man standing at her door looking down at her almost naked body, she heard another voice from Juan's Long behind.

"What's wrong?" The voice was so manly seductive Crescent could imagine only a very beautiful male being can own it. The man behind Juan Long however showed up from his back and her eyes frustratedly squinted when she saw him wearing a mask.

Damn, she was looking forward to seeing his face but was only welcomed by a mask. How could she tell if his voice was as great as his looks?

What's with the mask? Does her house look like a carnival or something? Or Perhaps did they came from a masquerade ball before coming to see her?

Crescent was about to ask but realization immediately hit her!

Wait.

The mask.

Didn't they say the Diamond Prince used to wear a mask before?

"Shit!" Her voice went clear when realized who it was. Very surprised, she jerked and let off her toothbrush and the toothpaste that was bubbling in her throat got swallowed in an instant.

Her throat stung immediately.