Chapter 124: Madame Duval

Ethan cleared his throat as the group made their way out of the building, the late-afternoon sun casting long shadows across the courtyard. He turned to Leitana who was now looking up at him with those big, luminous hazel eyes and felt his heart thud hard against his ribs. His cheeks flushed all the way to the tips of his ears, and he could feel the weight of everyone else’s stares. They all knew of his crush. The only person who didn’t was Leitana herself.

“So um, Leitana… we…” He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. “We were thinking… there’s this party tomorrow night. Saturday. Nothing crazy just some of us from class, a few friends from other programs. Music, food, dancing. It’s at Theo’s place. His parents are out of town. We’d… we’d really like it if you came.”

Leitana’s eyes lit up with genuine surprise, then softened into a shy smile. “Party?” she repeated carefully, tilting her head. “What kind of party?”

She had never been to one of these a normal, messy, college-age gathering full of laughter and loud music and people her own age. The only party she’d ever attended in America had been that first awful one a month ago—stiff, glittering, full of powerful adults who looked at her like she was something exotic to be acquired. Tonight’s masquerade with Lafu and the others would be her second real party ever… and it wasn’t exactly the kind she could tell her Juilliard friends about.

Ethan swallowed. “Just… casual. Red cups, pizza, playlist someone made on Spotify. We’ll probably end up playing stupid games or watching bad movies. Nothing fancy.”

Leitana’s smile grew a little wistful. In her heart she thought: Hopefully tonight at the masquerade, we get enough proof to end this nightmare. Then maybe tomorrow… maybe I can come to their party too.

But another thought chased right behind it, cold and guilty.

Ravial didn’t know she was going tonight.

He’d find out when he came home and she wasn’t there. He’d be angry—furious, probably. Protective. She could already imagine the storm in his voice, the way his arms would lock around her the second he saw her again.

She’d have to make it up to him.

She’d cook amazing foods, like the ones he finished every bite of the last time she prepared it. She’d wear that soft silk robe he loved, the one that slipped off her shoulders too easily. She’d let him take her slow and long and deep, as many times as he wanted, until he forgot to be mad.

But first… this invitation.

She looked back at Ethan. “Mi… mi not sure,” she said softly. “Mi have something tonight. But maybe tomorrow… mi can make it.”

Ethan’s face fell just for a second before he forced a smile. “Yeah. That’s cool. No pressure.”

Mia stepped forward quickly, smiling brightly. “Yeah, totally fine. You have a lot going on.” Her voice was warm, but her eyes didn’t quite match—something sharp flickered behind them. Mia liked Leitana. Genuinely. But she also liked Ethan. Romantically. Painfully. And every time Ethan smiled at her with that lovesick look, Mia felt the quiet ache of being invisible.

Leitana noticed Ethan’s disappointment. Guilt twisted in her chest. She reached out and gently grabbed his hand.

“Ethan,” she said softly. “Put yu number in mi phone. And mi put mine in yu phone. Mi will call yu tomorrow—tell yu if mi can come. Den yu come pick mi… or mi tell yu mi can’t.”

Ethan’s whole face lit up like sunrise. “Really?”

She nodded, smiling shyly. “Really.”

She handed him her phone.

He typed quickly, fingers trembling just a little then passed it back. She saved his contact.

“What about me?” Theo teased, grinning. “So only Ethan gets your number? I thought we were all friends.”

Leitana giggled, bright, and almost musical. “It fine. Yu too.”

Theo added his number. Then Lila. Then Kai.

Mia hung back, arms crossed, smile tight.

Leitana turned to her. “Mia? Yu too?”

Mia hesitated, eyes flicking to Ethan, then back to Leitana. “I… um…”

Lila noticed immediately. The jealousy. The hurt. She stepped forward smoothly, cutting in.

“Here, give me—I’ll put Mia’s number in. She doesn’t remember hers off the top of her head and her phone’s off anyway.”

Leitana looked at Mia, confused but sweet. “Mi too,” she said softly. “Mi no memorize mi number either.”

Mia forced a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah. Sure.”

Theo and Kai exchanged a quick glance; they both knew Mia’s phone wasn’t off. But neither said anything.

Lila quickly added Mia’s number, then handed the phone back to Leitana with a reassuring wink.

Just then,a sharp honk from the street.

Leitana turned.

Lafu was leaning out the passenger window of a black SUV, waving. “Leitana! Let’s go!”

Leitana looked back at her friends, beaming. “Goodbye. Mi see yu soon.”

“Bye!” they chorused, Ethan’s voice the loudest.

She rushed to the car, climbed in, and waved one last time through the tinted window as they pulled away.

Inside, Lafu turned to her. “You okay?”

Leitana nodded with a big smile. “Yes,”

“Dis really something,” Leitana said with a smile as she looked at herself in the full-length mirror pressed against the side of the large van. They were parked a few miles from the estate, hidden in the tree line. Everyone had changed into their outfits inside the van, carefully, quickly, nerves buzzing.

Stacy came up behind her, already wearing her mask, a black lace filigree that framed her eyes like dark wings. She held Leitana’s mask in one hand.

“Yes, you look so good, I could eat you,” Stacy said, making an exaggerated chomping motion with her teeth.

Leitana lifted her hand to adjust the neckline of her dress, trying to tug it higher to cover more of her cleavage. The gown was deep emerald green silk, slinky, backless, with a plunging V-neck that pushed her full breasts high and proud. The fabric clung to every curve like liquid, hugging her tiny waist, flaring slightly over her hips, then molding to her pert, rounded ass and falling in a sleek line to the floor. Her long, dark curls cascaded freely down her back, brushing the top of her buttocks, framing the deep dip of her spine.

Stacy caught her wrist gently. “Don’t. It’s gorgeous. Leave it.”

Leitana hesitated, cheeks flushing. “It… it too much.”

Stacy stepped back, eyes raking over her slowly. “Damn… your ass looks biteable.”

Marco, midway through touching up Lafu’s makeup looked over and laughed. “Should we be worried that you’re also going to fall for our Leitana?”

Stacy grinned, shameless. “Maybe. Damn, she’s fine. But I like dick too much.” She paused, tilting her head with a wicked smirk. “But picture her in a strap….”

Lafu cut her off sharply. “Stacy. Don’t finish that statement.”

Stacy’s face flushed bright red. She giggled, covering her mouth. “Okay, okay!”

Leitana blinked, confused, cheeks burning hotter but she didn’t ask. She just looked back at herself in the mirror, heart racing in her chest. Fear and guilt twisted together. Tonight was dangerous. Tonight she was lying to Ravial. Tonight they might finally get the proof they needed… or everything could go wrong.

Stacy stepped close again, holding up the mask. “Final touch.”

The mask was breathtaking, gold filigree vines curling around black velvet, encrusted with tiny emeralds that matched her gown. Delicate chains draped from the sides like tears, framing her face without hiding it. Mysterious. Regal. Unrecognizable.

Stacy carefully placed it over Leitana’s eyes and secured the ribbons behind her head.

Leitana looked in the mirror again.

She didn’t recognize herself.

Anya whistled low from the corner. “Y’all look good enough to eat.”

They gathered in a tight circle, masks on, wires hidden under clothes, hearts pounding.

Lafu went over the plan one last time.

“Leitana, you’re Madame Élodie Duval, eccentric French billionaire.I’m your interpreter. Marco and Stacy, you’re the art-collector couple, the Laurents. Mingle, record, listen. Jules, Anya, Diego, you’re in the van. We’re all wired. Everything we say or hear goes straight to you. Record everything. If we get even one sponsor offering a model for a ‘private arrangement,’ we have them.”

Everyone nodded, giddy, scared, ready.

Leitana’s phone rang.

She looked down.

Caller ID: Avery.

Her heart clenched. She couldn’t answer. Couldn’t worry her sister right now.

She silenced it.

The phone rang again.

Caller ID: mi ting ting.

Ravial.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

It rang.

And rang.

And rang.

Lafu snatched it gently from her hand, turned it off, and passed it to Diego.

“No distractions, honey,” she said softly.

Leitana nodded, small and shaky.

Jules looked at them all. “Good luck.”

They climbed out of the van, masks in place, hearts racing.

Stacy and Marco walked hand in hand, beautiful, effortless, like a couple who belonged at a party like this. Their masks made them look dangerous and glamorous.

Leitana and Lafu followed—Leitana’s emerald gown catching the moonlight, Lafu in sleek black, her interpreter mask a simple silver half-face.

They reached the entrance.

Two bodyguards in tuxedos flanked a man with a tablet, checking the list.

It was their turn.

The man looked at Lafu and Leitana. “Names?”

Lafu spoke in flawless English. “Madame Élodie Duval and her interpreter, Camille Moreau.”

The man scanned the list.

A beat.

Then he nodded. “Welcome, Madame Duval. Enjoy the evening.”

They stepped through, walking the red carpet into the large building.

Lafu glanced back at Marco and Stacy right behind them, Stacy grinning like a maniac under her mask.

As they stepped through the double doors, Leitana’s eyes went wide at the place.