Party Nights: Fill all holes

I arrived shortly after ten o’clock. I was wearing a black dress that reached my ankles, although the slit was high enough to reveal my sheer stockings and high-heeled shoes. The mask covered only my eyes, but it was enough to make people look twice before recognising me.

My husband, Cezar, had arrived earlier to help Sebastian with the preparations. When he saw me walk in, he stopped in the middle of a conversation and remained there for a few seconds, his glass suspended in the air.

“I assume you didn’t come only for the cake,” he said as he approached me.

“That depends on who is serving it,” I replied.

There were almost twenty people in the room, all well over the age of thirty. Some were old friends, while others were Sebastian’s colleagues or business associates. I knew Lucian, our neighbour, and Dorian, an architect who had worked with Cezar on several projects. Vlad was also there, the director of the company I worked for, a man who was usually extremely reserved. I had never imagined seeing him wearing a golden mask and a shirt with the first two buttons undone.

A game had been arranged in the middle of the studio. Every guest received three cards containing different challenges, and in order to win, they had to persuade other people to complete them. Nothing was compulsory. Anyone could refuse, exchange a challenge or leave the game. It was precisely that freedom that made everything more interesting.

My first challenge was to dance for one minute with someone I did not know very well. I chose Vlad.

He raised an eyebrow when I handed him the card, then placed his glass on the table.

“I hope you won’t tell anyone at the office about this.”

“That depends on how well you perform.”

A slow song began to play. Vlad carefully placed one hand on my waist, initially keeping a polite distance between us. After a few seconds, however, our movements became more natural. I could feel his gaze drifting towards the slit in my dress before immediately returning to my eyes, as though he were afraid of being caught.

Cezar was watching us from beside the bar. He did not appear bothered. On the contrary, he was smiling with an expression I knew very well. He was curious to see how far I intended to take the game.

As the evening continued, the challenges became increasingly personal. Lucian had to whisper the boldest compliment he could think of into my ear. Dorian persuaded me to let him wear my mask for the next ten minutes, while Sebastian asked me to choose the person with the most seductive voice in the room.

I chose Cezar.

He approached me, took my hand and pulled me close.

“Finally, a sensible decision,” he whispered.

Around us, the party had become louder. People were laughing, dancing and exchanging cards, while the glasses of prosecco were being emptied faster than Sebastian could refill them. I felt admired, but never exposed. Every look and every touch existed because I allowed it.

Close to midnight, only five people remained in the game: Cezar, Sebastian, Dorian, Vlad and me. We sat on the sofas at the back of the studio for the final round. The prize was an old bottle of cognac, although by then, nobody truly cared who won.

Vlad was holding the final card. He read it, then looked at me over its edge.

“I have to say who managed to surprise me the most tonight.”

“That sounds easy enough,” Sebastian said.

“Not exactly.”

Vlad stood up and walked over to me. For a moment, the room became unusually quiet.

“At the office, you are the person who controls every detail,” he said. “Tonight, you seem like the person who could make anyone lose control.”

Cezar laughed softly and raised his glass.

“In that case, welcome to the club.”

I took the card from Vlad’s hand and turned it over. On the back, Sebastian had written one final rule by hand:

“The winner is the person who leaves with the best secret.”

I looked at the four men and smiled.

At that moment, I realised the night was far from over.