Chapter 1: Anastasia at the Munch, Part 1 (Anastasia's POV)

"Are you sure about this, Kate?" I asked my best friend as our clicking heels echoed across the lobby.

"For the fiftieth time, YES! I'm sure about this!" she yelled back at me. "You were made for this lifestyle, and it's time that you find out about it in a safe environment from more than just me. You're going to meet people tonight who think like we do, and it's about fucking time!"

Heads turned as we made our way towards the elevator that would take us to the Mile High Club. I prided myself on always appearing calm and collected, but at the moment, I felt anything but. I hadn't felt this paranoid in a long time. Did anyone recognize me from the tabloids? Since appearing on the cover of Fortune last month, and being featured in Forbes the month before, I had been followed by the paparazzi or by crazy admirers everywhere I went. It seemed they were just waiting for me to slip up, so they could discredit me. I had been forced to hire a personal security team because of the attention I had started receiving, but I had given my Close Protective Officer, Luke, the night off tonight, mainly because I didn't want him to know about my "research." No way in hell was anyone who worked for me going to find out about my interest in BDSM. I had worked my ass off and taken great risks to become one of the top CEOs in the country, a fight made even tougher by my gender... the glass ceiling is real, my friends, and breaking through it can leave you with cuts and bruises. I was not willing to throw all my hard work away, no matter how sexually repressed I felt. And no way in hell was I going to let anyone in the business world find out that the woman they recognized as always in control secretly longed to give up that control, just for the sexual fulfillment that it would bring.

"Should we have put our masks on before we entered the building?" I asked Kate as we waited for the elevator. Why didn't I think about that beforehand? Did the people turning their heads to watch us know where we were going? How many people knew about the event happening in the Mile High Club tonight? I didn't have to ask what would happen if word got out that Anastasia Steele, CEO of Ismintis International, a Fortune 500 company, was seen attending a BDSM event, even if it was just an informative get together, which I now knew was called a "munch," and that there would be no playing going on. Once the media got wind of this, it wouldn't matter that this was my first time to ever attend such an event or that I was still learning about this lifestyle. In spite of my billionaire status and my expert public relations team, my reputation would be tarnished. Stakeholders would take note. My company would be damaged.

Kate ignored me as we stepped into the elevator. Once the doors closed, she opened her bag and took out both of our masquerade masks. She smirked as she handed me mine. "Just chill, Ana. Take a deep breath. You're going to love this. And nobody is going to recognize you. That's why we chose a masked mulch. The other people here want to protect their identities too. They have just as much to lose as you do. So relax."

"I seriously doubt that," I muttered. I looked in the mirrored wall of the elevator as I slipped my mask on. My hair was down, curling around my shoulders and flowing down my back. As part of my professional look, I always wore my hair up in a tight bun; it was one of my two trademarks. The other was my oversized tortoise shell glasses, which I also left at home tonight. I always wore my glasses to work and to business meetings in spite of my 20/20 vision. When I started my company, I realized quickly that I would have to work harder than any man to be taken seriously. I needed to downplay my sex appeal, which I did by dressing the part; in addition to my signature bun and glasses, I only wore skirts that touched my knees, and I kept my dress blouses buttoned high enough to hide my cleavage. I wore clothes that fit me well; I didn't try to hide my figure, but I didn't show it off either. No one would describe my attire as "sexy." When the photographer from Fortune did my photo shoot, he tried to get me to wear my hair down and to wear a sexy dress. I gave him an ultimatum: I would choose my look or there would be no photos taken. I got my way, as I always do.

"Do you think we're overdressed?" I asked Kate nervously. "This is just a munch. People don't usually dress up for munches, do they?"

Kate rolled her eyes. "They don't dress up, as in no fetish wear. But the Mile High Club not only is one of the hottest clubs in Seattle, but it also has an upscale restaurant, which is where this meeting is happening. We look good. In fact, I haven't seen you look this hot since we were in college. You should do this more often. It's nice to see you looking like a girl instead of your usual butch look."

"It's not a butch look," I argued. "It's business professional."

Kate rolled her eyes and didn't respond. She knew by now that it would do her no good. I didn't care if people like Kate thought I looked like a lesbian when I went to work.

"So you're sure nobody will recognize me?" I continued to worry.

Kate sighed loudly and sounded annoyed as she answered, "As I've explained repeatedly, that's why we chose this particular munch. It's masked. It's anonymous. It's safe. Nobody will recognize you, hotshot."

I looked down at my little black dress and then at my shoes. The designer cocktail dress fit me like a glove and showcased all my best features. I was showing more cleavage than I had in years, and my back was almost completely bare, which made wearing a bra impossible. I felt more comfortable with my Louboutins, even though the heels were a bit higher than the ones I usually wore with my business suits. But I felt good about my appearance tonight. No one would suspect Anastasia Steele was behind this mask. I did not look like myself but I liked how I looked.

Two hours later, I felt totally at ease. Most of the people present were clearly submissives and were open and easy to talk to. Even the few Dominants who'd shown up were relaxed and not at all as intimidating as I had expected them to be. Now, Kate and I were seated at a table laughing at how hard she had worked to convince me to come to the munch tonight.

"... I mean, you have to admit," I laughed, "it is pretty damn ironic that my best friend is into this shit too. I'm just glad that there were so many other subs to talk to tonight. It's different talking to them than to you, Madame Katherine."

Kate laughed. "Of course it is. Do you believe me now, that submissives aren't all weak and brainless? It takes a great deal of strength and courage to be submissive. I tell you that all the time, Ana. Do you believe me now?"

"Getting there," I answered. "I just can't tolerate somebody thinking I'm weak."

"If a Dom thinks you're weak, he's not the Dom for you," Kate responded.

I shivered a little. "The Dom for me. Scary thought."

"You want it, Ana," Kate insisted. "Admit it. I've known for years that you craved this. I saw it in your eyes when I told you about my first experiences with it, in college. I didn't think you'd ever come over to the dark side though. And I'm still not convinced, when it comes down it it, that you will. You still may be too chicken shit to attend a play party. And I can just imagine how you'll respond if you feel intimidated by a Dom... You'll probably go all CEO Anastasia Steele on him, and then he'll never believe you're a sub."

"OK, as fun as it is talking about how chicken shit I am, sadly I have to pee. Maybe by the time I get back you will have figured out how to get me to a play party where I can remain as anonymous as I've been here tonight. Oh, and stop using my name. I'm Daisy, remember?"

Kate snorted. "So fucking bogus. If you needed to use a fake name, why couldn't you choose something normal? Mary. Susan. Jennifer. Amy. Even fucking Jane would be better than Daisy."

"Hey, I like daisies. They're happy," I said as I got up and started towards the restroom. I turned back towards the table and added before I walked away, "And anyway, fuck you, Madame Bitch."

I could hear Kate still laughing as I entered the restroom. I took care of business and touched up my lipstick. Before leaving the restroom, I looked in the mirror at the sexy goddess looking back at me. I looked nothing like one of the most successful female CEOs in the country, but if the glow on my cheeks was any indication, I was just as in my element here as I was in the boardroom. I was having fun for the first time in a very long time.

As I left the restroom and headed back to our table, I heard a loud crash behind me, and I turned to look, wishing for a moment that Luke was there. But someone had merely dropped a glass, which had shattered on the floor. No danger there. I turned back towards our table, and as I did, I ran into a brick wall. Or at least, that is exactly what it felt like. It was actually a wall of solid muscle. I almost fell, and I clutched the man's arms to steady myself.

"Oh, excuse me, I'm so sorry," I breathed as I looked up at the most gorgeous face I have ever seen. His mask covered only his eyes, and his five o'clock shadow only enhanced the lines of his cheekbones, which were so perfect they could have been carved in stone by a master sculptor. His gray eyes stared back at me, looking straight through me, I felt. His copper hair was tousled and oh so sexy. Even in that first moment of seeing him, I could easily recognize that he was the sexiest man I'd ever seen.

"Watch out! Are you OK?" he spoke at the same time that I did, his deep voice reminding me of melted butter, and then he held me as I steadied myself. As I looked in his eyes, I wondered if he felt as attracted to me as I did to him. I wondered if he felt the same charge of electricity that I did. I wondered if he wanted me as much as I wanted him.

"Yes, thank you," I replied after a moment, finally looking away from him, but only after glancing at his kissable lips. God, those lips could do things to me; I instinctively knew it. I could feel my cheeks burning as I continued, "I'm sorry I ran into you."

"No, no, I think it was I who ran into you. I think we were both distracted by the commotion behind us. Please, may I walk you to your table?" He didn't wait for me to reply as he took my arm and walked with me to where Kate was watching the show that we had just inadvertently given her. I could see her smirk under her mask, and I knew that she had one eyebrow raised like she always did when she was interested in something I was telling her.

Mr. Gorgeous pulled my chair out for me. "Do you mind if I join you," he asked as he sat down.

"Not at all! Please join us!" Kate responded even though he was clearly directing the question to me. "How nice to meet another Dom! There have been too few here tonight."

"Kate, how do you know he's a Dom?" I asked.

Mr. Gorgeous and Kate both sniggered. Before she could answer me, he did. "The fact that you're asking that tells me you haven't been to many events like this one. If you've been around long enough, you know how to recognize a Dom."

I wasn't offended that they were laughing at me; instead, I found his words funny, but I didn't want to offend him, so I kept silent. But he noticed my smile. "Is something funny?" he asked.

"Well, yes," I answered. "The fact that we're at a munch should tell you that I haven't been to many events like this. Kate here has been in this lifestyle for several years, but I'm new to it. I'm Daisy, and this is my first time at an event like this. So there you go."

Mr. Gorgeous smirked at me. "Daisy?" His mask covered his eyebrows, but I'm sure they were raised, questioning my choice of pseudonyms just as Kate had. "Well, that's very... inventive," he mumbled, earning a snigger from Kate.

I raised my eyebrows at him in indignation, which he couldn't see anyway because of my mask. "And you are...?"

"Thomas Hardy," he answered proudly. "You may call me Mr. Hardy."

I snorted. "And that name is more inventive than Daisy? Really?"

He gazed into my eyes, making me feel that we were the only two people in the world. We were both unashamedly ignoring Kate.

"What's wrong with Thomas Hardy?" Mr. Gorgeous asked. "It actually tells you something about me. Daisy tells me nothing about you except that you like flowers. What woman doesn't like flowers? It's useless."

We both ignored Kate's laughter. "So you like classic literature. I do too. Big deal."

"Yes, well, you're probably more of a Jane Austin kind of girl. Looking for your Mr. Darcy or Mr. Knightly? Someone who'll give you handpicked bouquets for your happily ever after." His tone was mocking, and I felt offended.

I snorted again. "At a BDSM event? Hardly! Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hardy. I'm sure you have better things to do than to continue wasting your time sitting here talking with an empty-headed, hopeless romantic, dreamy-eyed flower lover."

Instead of taking my hint, he called over the server and ordered a bottle of wine. Then he gave me a panty-dropping smile that showed off his perfect teeth. "I do like your smart mouth." Then he became more serious and continued, "It's unusual to find that in a sub. I have a feeling you aren't a typical sub, are you Daisy? No, there's nothing typical about you, is there?" His gaze penetrated me again, and I had to look away.

I looked at Kate and said, "You still didn't answer my question, Kate, about how you knew he was a Dom, and now I have the same question, Mr. Thomas Hardy... how do you know I'm a sub?" I managed to look at him again, but I couldn't look in his eyes. But I continued, "And don't say it's because you've been around long enough? What is it? What do you look for?"

"Everything about him screams Dom, Ana," Kate said. "Can't you see it?"

I answered, "Yes, I see it in his demeanor, although he was much more polite at first than I expected a Dom to be. He didn't order me back to the table; he said please. But the way he carries himself... the way he holds my attention with his eyes... yes, that screams Dom, I agree." I turned to Mr. Gorgeous and asked, "What about me, Mr. Hardy? Does everything about me scream sub?"

"Not at all," he answered, "Like I said, there's nothing typical about you. From the moment we met, your body language has been obviously submissive. The way your breath hitched, and your neck blushed when you first spoke with me. Your mask couldn't hide that. And the way you averted your eyes after making eye contact with me. You recognized me as a Dom right away, didn't you? Why did you even need to ask Kate how she knew I was a Dom, when you clearly already recognized the same things she did?"

"She hadn't even talked with you. She could tell just by looking. I was surprised."

"No, An... Daisy, that's not completely true." Kate argued. "I watched your little encounter with him, so I'd seen how you interacted together."

"OK, that makes sense," I responded to Kate, and then I turned back to Thomas Hardy. "Why is there nothing typical about me?" I asked.

He smirked at me. "None of the subs I know would talk to me like you're talking. But I like your smart mouth. And the way you excused me a couple of minutes ago..." He smiled suggestively. "I'm a Dom, and that behavior was pretty un-submissive, but I found that hot. I find you... hot. I could see you wearing a black leather corset with a whip in your hand." He looked thoughtful. "You could be a switch, I suppose. Do you like the idea of being a Dominatrix? Would you like to tie me up and have your wicked way with me?"

My face felt hot under my mask, and I was grateful that the server was prompt bringing our wine. I had time to recover from Thomas Hardy's tirade as the server poured three glasses of wine. "You're too astute for your own good. And no, I don't think I'd enjoy that."

Mr. Gorgeous smiled at me as he lifted his wine to his perfect lips. "That's what I thought, Daisy." He turned to Kate and asked, "What about you, Kate? How do you like being a Dominatrix?"

"It's who I am," she replied simply.

He turned back to me and said, "And I rest my case, Daisy. Kate's response was so different from your own. Simple. No blush, just the truth. It's who she is. Why should she blush at the idea of being herself? But your blush is adorable. And you should know, one can never be too astute. Your mask may hide your face, but your neck is still flushed again, all the way down to your delectable breasts. I must say, that shade of pink looks amazing on you. I find that even hotter than the idea of you with a whip. I'm no sub, so as hot as you would be as a Dominatrix, we just wouldn't be compatible, and that would just be sad. So let me ask you a different question. Do you like the idea of being tied up in my playroom and at my mercy? Does the idea of me making your gorgeous ass as pink as your beautiful breasts at the moment turn you on?"

I felt my blush deepen, and the glimmer in his eye showed that he noticed not only the flush making its way down my neck again, but also my intake of breath as I felt a surge of heat between my legs. I took a sip of wine. Before I could compose myself enough to respond to him, he leaned towards me, close enough to kiss. He smelled amazing, and I imagined that he tasted just as good. All I needed to do was turn my head toward him, and I could feel his lips against mine. I've never wanted a kiss so badly. He teased me by not touching me, not kissing me, even though he unquestioningly knew I wanted him to. I felt his breath brush my cheek as he whispered, "You know what, Daisy, you don't have to speak. You've already given me all the answer I need." He leaned back confidently and looked at Kate. "Well, look at that," he said. "I've been so captivated by your friend here that I've let your glass get empty." He picked up the bottle of wine and filled Kate's glass. Then he leaned over and topped off mine as well.

I finally recovered enough to speak. "I thought these events were alcohol free."

"Ah, so you've done your research," he responded. "If we were playing, we would stay alcohol free, that's true. In a scene, you want your senses to be fully alert, for the full experience. But we aren't playing tonight, are we?" He smirked at me again. "Unless you want to, of course. I'd like nothing better than to take you back to my place and show you my playroom. And make your wildest fantasies come true."

This time as his provocative words washed over me and caused me to blush again, I was able to respond, even though my voice quivered. "Thank you for the invitation, Sir, but I think I'll pass."

His smile continued to light up his face. "Well, that's disappointing, but I really liked it when you called me 'Sir' just now. Anyway, the bright side is that you can feel free to drink up if we aren't going to play tonight."

I smiled and said, "Mr... Hardy, we aren't going to play tonight. Like I said earlier, this is my first experience. Baby steps. Kate has been trying for years to get me to take this first step. She's responsible for my presence here tonight. I've been interested for a long time, but this is the first time I've ever talked with anyone other than Kate about this lifestyle."

Kate spoke again. "I've been trying for years to convince A... ah... Daisy... to attend an event. I've known she was interested in it since we were still in college, but it's taken about five years to get her to even consider a munch."

I rolled my eyes and said exasperatedly, "Ana, OK. My name is Ana. Sooner or later, Kate's going to fuck up, so let's just put it out there."

"Thank God," Kate mumbled.

"Well, this is enlightening," Thomas Hardy said, with a smug smile. "Thank you, Kate, that was very insightful." He turned back to me and said, "Ana... don't roll your eyes. It's not only rude, but also unattractive. Yes, you mentioned earlier that this is your very first munch. And I'd bet good money that you chose this one because it's masked. Relax, darling, your identity is safe here." He paused, and then said thoughtfully, "Ana. It certainly suits you better than Daisy, but it still doesn't quite seem adequate enough."

"Well, it's all you're getting for now, Thomas Hardy," I responded.

He smirked. "I can live with that... for now. God, I love your smart mouth." He turned back to Kate and asked, "How did you finally convince her? I'm glad you did, by the way."

Kate responded. "Well, this is the first munch I've come across that's masked. I don't think I could have convinced her otherwise, so you were right about that. She's really interested in BDSM though. In fact..."

"Thank you, Kate," I interrupted, "but I can speak for myself."

"Yeah, you can, if you will," Kate snorted. She turned to Thomas Hardy and asked bluntly, "Are you looking for a sub?"

He snorted. "Is that an offer?"

Kate responded, "I think you know you aren't my type, and you also know who I'm asking for."

I glared at Kate. "Once again, let me make this perfectly clear to both of you. I can speak for myself." I turned to Thomas Hardy and said, "Kate's a bit... premature in her 'offer' as you called it. I don't even know your real name. I know nothing about you except that you're a Dom and you like classic literature. I'm not even sure at this point that I even want a Dom. I'm still researching. I'm still learning. Let's not entertain questions we have no business asking just yet."

"Questions you've been asking for five fucking years," Kate muttered under her breath, but we heard her.

Thomas Hardy turned to Kate and said, "To answer your question, yes, I am looking for a sub, but I didn't come to this event tonight with that in mind. A munch isn't the best place for a Dom to find a sub."

"Why did you attend tonight?" I asked suspiciously.

He smiled his million dollar smile at me again. "Well, that's easy, and it will start filling in some blanks for you since you so clearly want to know me better, Ana. I own this club. I don't host these events, but I provide the space for them. Every Thursday evening, the restaurant closes to the general public for a private event. What exactly the private event is... we keep that confidential. Everyone who works here signs a Non-Disclosure Agreement. There are various events, a lot of them charitable. My mother's nonprofit has an event here at least once a quarter. And we also have a munch here at least once a quarter. They are usually masked. When they are, I try to make an appearance whenever possible, although my busy schedule doesn't always permit it. But I happened to have some free time tonight, so here I am."

"You do realize that you just gave yourself away, right?" I told him. A quick google search will tell me your real name."

"I have every intention of telling you my real name before you leave here tonight, Ana. You both had to pass a security check and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement in order to get in tonight. Besides, you have no desire to expose yourself by exposing me. I'm not worried. But why rush? This game is fun, isn't it? You had to check all your electronics at the door, so you can't google me yet. And anyway, why resort to google when you can just ask me anything you want to know?"

"We're ignoring Kate," I responded.

"You're right," he agreed. He took a card out of his pocket and wrote an address on the back. "It was nice meeting you tonight, Kate. What about you? Are you looking for a sub? And before you ask, no, it's not an offer." He smirked as he waited for her answer.

Kate smiled wickedly. "As a matter of fact, yes, I'm currently single. Why? Do you have someone in mind?"

Thomas Hardy nodded, "I do, but I don't want to tell you who he is. I want to invite you to a party where he'll be. It's tomorrow night, and you'll need this card to get in." He continued to hold the card, as if he were waiting for something.

Kate looked surprised. "Tomorrow night. That's soon, and I may have had other plans. I could cancel them though... if the party is worth it. Is this party worth canceling my other plans?"

Thomas Hardy snorted, "Well, I suppose that depends on what your other plans were and how much you enjoy private play parties."

"Well, that depends on the private play party," she responded. "I've been to a few parties that I'd rather never experience again. Weird shit even for me. They forgot the safe, sane and consensual part of BDSM. If you tell me this party won't be like that, I'll consider it."

His smile didn't waver as he said, "Whether or not you 'consider it' is up to you... I invited you because you're Ana's friend, and I'm interested in Ana. But no, I know the host of the party. He doesn't allow any 'weird shit,' as you say. There are rules everyone must follow. Like this munch, you have to check your electronics at the door. You have to bring a copy of a recent health record to prove that you don't have any STDs. You have to pass a security check like the one you did for this event tonight, but I'll vouch for you since you passed the one for this event. Also, you aren't allowed to bring knives, needles, or matches in your toy bag. And there won't be any alcohol served, although there will be food and water readily available. There are dungeon masters who are there to ensure everyone's safety. So yes, everything is safe, sane, and consensual."

"How many people will be there?" Kate asked.

"Usually... forty or so. Perhaps more," he answered.

"All in one house?" she asked. "I hope it's a large house."

"Yes," he nodded. Four floors, and only the top floor is off limits. The owner has turned his entire basement into the most elaborate dungeon you've ever seen. There are also rooms on the first and second floors of the mansion that will be in use throughout the duration of the party."

"Well...," Kate hesitated. "I think I'm in. I just need to find something to wear. It's been a while since I've been to a good play party. I assume people come dressed appropriately?"

"You assume correctly," he responded.

"You didn't mention any decency rules or no penetration rules," Kate commented.

"That's correct," he said. "I didn't."

Finally, I'd had enough of being left out of their conversation. Now who was being ignored? "Decency rules?" I asked. "I don't remember reading anything about that."

Kate explained, "Some clubs have rules that you aren't allowed to expose nipples or genitalia. Sometimes people hosting private parties have those same rules. It's a lot more fun when they don't."

I nodded. "And... no penetration rules... so some clubs don't allow you to fuck? Really? Why would you go if you don't intend to either fuck or watch others fuck?"

Thomas Hardy turned his heated gaze toward me but he didn't answer me. Kate laughed and said, "Good question, Ana. I don't understand it either."

For a few seconds none of us spoke, and Thomas Hardy kept his gaze on me. I squirmed a little. Finally, he asked me, "Which would you prefer, Ana? To fuck or to watch others fuck?"

My face heated again, and I cleared my throat. "Wouldn't you like to know?" I responded, trying to sound both cute and controlled, but I didn't feel either.

His gaze still didn't leave my face. "Yes, I would. That's why I asked you. Now, answer the question."

I felt so aroused when I heard his dominant tone, and my first instinct was to immediately obey him. But I wasn't sure how to answer the question. Which would I prefer? I don't know. Instead, I said, "I'm not your sub, Mr. Hardy. I don't have to answer your question."

He smirked at me. "Not yet... but you will be." He turned back to Kate and asked, "So, should I tell them to expect you tomorrow night?"

"Yes, tell them I'll be there. Will you be there?" asked Kate.

"I'm not sure yet," he responded. "That depends on Ana." He turned to look at me as he continued to speak. "Right now, I would like very much to have a private conversation with Ana, which is why I'm excusing myself from you. Ana, your first test as my future submissive is whether you can follow my instructions right now. Say goodnight to your friend, stand up, and come with me. If you feel afraid, don't. I'm safe. I simply want to talk with you. I promise not to hurt you until you ask me to."

I stared at him dumbfounded. "What if I don't want to come with you," I responded.

"Ah, but you do. Stop playing games. No, I take it back, don't stop playing games. I like games. But you will come with me, because you really want to talk with me." He turned back to Kate and said, "I'm going to place this card in front of you. Wait until Ana and I walk away to pick it up. My name is on the opposite side, which you'll need to be admitted to the party tomorrow. I would prefer to wait until the end of our conversation to reveal my identity to Ana." He turned back to me and smiled. "Now, Ana, say goodnight to your friend. Tell her to leave without you because you're going to be in deep conversation with your future Dom for at least the next couple of hours."

I was finding it both difficult to breathe and impossible to deny him. I closed my eyes and counted backwards from ten. After a few more seconds, I took a few deep breaths and opened my eyes to find both of them watching me. Kate looked a little worried, but Thomas Hardy had a smug smile. I looked at Kate and said, "I know how crazy this sounds, but I want to continue this conversation with him. I don't know if he's my future Dom or not, but I want to talk with him. I want to find out more from Thomas Hardy than just his real name. I feel safe, but call Luke when you leave and tell him where I am, just to cover all our bases. I'm going to stay. I can find my own way home. I will call you tomorrow morning." With that said, I turned to Thomas Hardy and said, "I will not leave this restaurant with you tonight, and I will not fuck you tonight. Where do you want to take me right now? I want Kate to know where I'll be."

He laughed out loud, and then he pointed. "You see that hallway over there?" We looked in the direction he pointed. "There are four private dining rooms. We will be in one of them. Are you hungry, Ana?"

I didn't answer him. Instead, I looked at Kate and said, "If I don't make it out of that dining room alive, Kate, you can have all my Louboutins, and my autographed Prince albums." With that, I stood and waited for Thomas Hardy to lead the way.

He put his finger over his lips to silence Kate before placing the card on the table in front of her, lightly kissing her cheek and saying good night. Then he took my hand and led me towards the front of the restaurant. As soon as his hand touched mine, I felt a surge of electricity, which he must have felt too, if his sudden intake of breath was any indication.

"Where are we going?" I asked, feeling alarmed. We were walking in the opposite direction from the private dining rooms he had pointed out.

"Relax. I need to talk with the maitre d. I know that none of the private rooms were reserved, but it's still possible that some of them are occupied. I want to be sure we don't interrupt anyone, and I want to make sure that no one interrupts us."

After he spoke with the maitre d, he led me to a private room and closed the door behind us. He pulled out my chair, and when I sat down, he put his hands on my shoulders. "Now, Ana. Close your eyes. Trust me."

Immediately, I closed my eyes. I realized that I did trust him, regardless of how foolish that was. He began to massage my shoulders and neck with expert hands. As I felt the tension leaving my body, I sighed. After a couple more minutes, he sat down across from me, picked up my hand, and looked me in my eyes. "Do you trust me, Ana?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered without hesitation.

"Good," he responded. He reached up and removed his mask. I examined his face, which seemed familiar to me. I knew in that moment that I had seen him before tonight, but in the dim light of the room, I couldn't place where. The thought frightened me. What if he was one of my employees? Or even worse, what if he was a journalist there to get a story? My trust in him wavered. "Your turn," he said.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," I responded. "Tell me who you are first."