Part 8 ( Ellie )

The balcony door clicks shut.

The weight of her presence shifts the air, pressing into my skin like something tangible, something heavy. My fingers tighten against the railing, cold metal biting into my palms, grounding me against the steady hum of the city stretching beyond the terrace.

I inhale through my nose, slow and controlled, forcing my pulse to even out.

For a long moment, neither of us speak.

The sounds of the masquerade filter through the glass doors behind us, soft music, distant laughter, the murmurs of high society indulging in their own illusions. But out here, beneath the open sky, it's just us.

And the silence.

Juliet Baldwin stands a few feet away, her gown cascading in rich waves around her, the deep red a stark contrast against the cool glow of the city lights. Her mask is still in place.

She doesn't move. Neither do I.

We just... stare.

The tension is thick, coiling between us, stretching tight enough to snap. My heartbeat pounds against my ribs, too loud, too fucking erratic. I wonder if she can hear it.

Juliet inhales, just slightly, before exhaling just as slow.

"I didn't mean to follow you," she says finally, her voice measured, steady, but there's something underneath it. Something almost hesitant. "I just needed a moment to breathe."

She shifts slightly, like she's about to leave.

I react before I think. "Wait."

She stills.

A pause, barely noticeable, before she turns back toward me, eyes unreadable behind her mask.

I don't know why I stopped her. I don't know what I'm doing. But I do know that if I let her walk away right now, this moment will never happen again.

The tension between us is unbearable. It coils between our bodies, a push and pull neither of us seems to know what to do with.

I should let her leave. I should let her turn and walk away before this becomes something we can't ignore. But my body, my mind, won't let me.

Instead, I shift, leaning back slightly against the railing, crossing my arms over my chest. "So," I murmur. "Baldwin Lux, huh?"

Something flickers in her expression. Surprise. Amusement. Maybe something else.

"You finally figured it out," she says, her tone smooth, detached, but there's an undercurrent of something deeper.

I swallow, forcing my voice to stay level. "You didn't know I was here, did you?"

Juliet's gaze sharpens just slightly, but her expression doesn't shift. "No."

My fingers tap against the railing, a quiet, rhythmic movement as I process that.

She didn't know. She didn't expect to see me any more than I expected to see her.

I watch her closely, taking in the way she stands, posture straight, shoulders set, every inch of her composed, controlled. But I know her. I know when something unsettles her.

And right now? She's unsettled.

I exhale, shifting my weight slightly. "So... this is you now."

Juliet tilts her head, regarding me. "It always was."

I huff a quiet breath, glancing back at the skyline. "I don't know if I believe that."

She doesn't answer right away. When she does, her voice is quieter. "Believe what you want."

Silence. The weight of unspoken words sits between us, heavy, suffocating.

"You always hated this," I say, and I don't know why. Maybe just to remind myself that I used to know her.

Juliet doesn't blink. "You know I didn't have a choice."

I glance back at her, studying her face. I swallow, shifting my stance. "You look different."

She hums, tilting her head. "So do you."

I let out a breath, running a hand down my face. "Yeah, well. Time does that."

Juliet's gaze flickers slightly, something unreadable flashing behind her eyes. "It does."

Then she says, "And you? Football. You made it."

I exhale, dragging a hand through my hair. "Yeah. Guess I did."

Juliet's expression remains unreadable, but something flickers across her face, too fast for me to catch.

She watches me for a beat longer before finally murmuring, "I didn't think I'd see you again."

Something sharp twists in my stomach. I don't look away from her. "Me neither."

We hold each other's gaze, neither of us speaking. The air feels charged, suffocating, like one wrong move will crack whatever fragile thing is keeping us steady.

Juliet exhales again, her fingers twitching just slightly at her sides. "I should go."

I don't know why, but the thought of her leaving makes something in my chest clench.

I swallow, my voice quieter when I ask, "Do you want to?"

She stills. A hesitation, small but telling.

Her eyes flicker to mine, something unreadable passing through them.

And for a brief, fleeting second, I think she's about to answer. But then, just as quickly as it appeared, whatever was there vanishes.

Her chin lifts slightly, the mask slipping back into place.

"It doesn't matter," she says, voice perfectly even. "Goodnight, Ellie."

And before I can stop her again, before I can even think of what I would say if I did, she turns, slipping through the doors without another word.

Leaving me standing there, with nothing but the echoes of a past I wasn't ready to face.

-

The breath I release is unsteady.

I grip the railing a second longer, trying to convince myself that I imagined the past five minutes. But I know better. I shake my head, inhaling sharply before pushing off the railing.

I have to get my shit together. I didn't come here for her.

My legs move and i force myself back inside, back into the golden glow of the ballroom. The noise swallows me whole, laughter, music, the clink of champagne flutes, but my body moves on autopilot, scanning the crowd for Bella.

She's still at the bar. Still talking to Mia.

Relief floods my chest, but it's brief.

Because the moment my eyes land on them, I see Juliet.

Standing there.

With Mia.

And my girlfriend.

Fuck.

A sharp jolt of panic strikes through me, my pulse spiking as I move faster, cutting through the crowd with single-minded purpose. I don't think. I just move. Because I see Mia gesture toward Bella, and Juliet shifts slightly toward her, and suddenly there's no space left between them.

I walk faster.

I hear their faint conversation. Juliet reaches out her hand, perfectly poised, every movement elegant, calculated. "And you are?"

Bella, oblivious to the weight of this moment, takes Juliet's hand without hesitation. "I'm Bella."

My chest tightens.

I finally reach them, slipping into place beside Bella, my heart hammering in my ears.

"Hey, babe." Bella turns to me, smiling, and before I can prepare for it, she leans in and presses a soft kiss against my lips.

Shit.

I don't react. My entire body locks up, my muscles going stiff.

Juliet sees it. I know she does. I feel it in the way her posture shifts just slightly, in the way her lips barely part, like she's about to say something but doesn't.

Bella, still oblivious, leans into my side. "I'm this one's girlfriend. You are?"

Juliet hums, taking a measured sip of her champagne. "I see." There's a beat. Just a fraction of a second.

Juliet straightens. Composed. Effortless.

"Juliet Baldwin."

The name lands between us like a fucking grenade.

Bella's jaw drops slightly. "Oh."

Oh.

My stomach twists violently.

Juliet tilts her head, watching Bella carefully. Not smug, not amused, just watching.

From beside us, I hear Mia whisper a quiet, "Oh my god."

Yeah. That about sums it up.

"You're Juliet Baldwin." Bella repeats, her gaze flickering between us.

Mia, standing slightly to the side, lets out a quiet exhale, muttering something under her breath that I don't catch. Probably something close to holy shit.

Bella, ever the composed one, keeps her voice light. "I've heard a lot about you."

Juliet's lips curve into something faint. "Have you?"

Bella nods. "Baldwin Lux is everywhere. You've built quite the empire."

Juliet's smile doesn't falter. "That's the goal."

Bella laughs softly, glancing at me. "I just can't believe I'm finally meeting you. Ellie never really talks about her past relationships."

My throat tightens.

Juliet doesn't react, but I know she registers the weight of those words. She doesn't say anything, just watches me, waiting.

Waiting for what?

For me to acknowledge it? For me to confirm that I've spent six years pretending she doesn't exist?

I clench my jaw, my grip tightening around my glass.

Bella, still unaware of the sheer fucking weight of this interaction, keeps going. "It's funny, though. You two never crossed paths before tonight?"

The question lands between us like a challenge.

Juliet lifts a single, perfectly arched brow. "New York is a big city."

Bella tilts her head slightly, curious, but doesn't push.

I finally find my voice. "It's been a long time."

Juliet's gaze flickers to mine again. The tension between us is suffocating. Bella watches the exchange carefully before squeezing my hand again, gently pulling me toward her.

"Well," she says, offering another polite smile, "it was nice meeting you."

Juliet inclines her head slightly. "Likewise."

Bella turns toward Mia, shifting the conversation, saying something about how wild this event is, but I barely register it. My focus is still locked on Juliet, on the way she's watching me, like she's trying to decipher something I don't even know how to explain.

I swallow, forcing my expression into something neutral.

Juliet, always unreadable, tilts her glass toward me slightly in some kind of silent acknowledgment.

And then, just as smoothly as she appeared, she steps away, disappearing back into the crowd.

I exhale.

Bella glances at me, her brow furrowing slightly. "You okay?"

I force a smirk. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Mia side-eyes me but doesn't comment. Bella hums, not entirely convinced but not pushing either.

I lift my drink to my lips, taking a slow sip.

-

Conversation and laughter surrounds us as we weave through the ballroom, Bella's hand comfortably tucked in mine. Mia and Aiden move alongside us, seamlessly blending into the crowd as we mingle with the city's elite.

The rich and powerful are out in full force tonight, draped in designer fabrics, their masks adding to the illusion of mystery. Celebrities, CEOs, socialites, people who shape industries, people whose names carry weight.

People who recognize me.

A young actor, barely out of his twenties but already a household name, lights up when he spots me. "Ellie Crawford?" he exclaims, stepping closer. "Man, I'm a huge fan. You're killing it out there."

I smirk, offering a handshake. "Appreciate it, man."

The moment my name is spoken, others take notice. More familiar faces turn in my direction, some eager, some curious. Before I know it, I'm taking photos, shaking hands, engaging in light conversation with people who know me from the headlines, from my games, from the world that, for better or worse, made me a name worth remembering.

Bella laughs softly, nudging me as another person asks for a selfie. "Look at you," she teases. "Always the star, even at a masquerade ball."

I chuckle, wrapping an arm around her as we pose for another picture. "What can I say? People love me."

Mia snorts. "Yeah, yeah. Let's not inflate your ego more than it already is."

Aiden huffs a laugh beside her. "Too late for that."

I roll my eyes, but the energy is light, easy. I let myself relax into the moment, into the comfortable rhythm of conversation, the clinking of glasses, the warmth of Bella's presence next to me.

A sharp clink echoes through the space, cutting through the noise.

The sound of a glass being tapped.

The shift is immediate. Conversations pause. Heads turn. The air thick with anticipation as all eyes move toward the grand staircase.

Standing at the top of the balcony, bathed in the warm glow of the chandeliers, is Juliet.

She stands poised, a vision of elegance. A flute of champagne rests delicately between her fingers, lifted just slightly, commanding attention without needing to ask for it.

The room hushes. Every movement, every breath feels measured as Juliet takes a step forward, the crowd parting for her without hesitation.

With effortless grace, she speaks.

"Good evening, everyone," she begins, her voice smooth, steady, laced with an air of quiet authority. "First, allow me to thank each and every one of you for being here tonight. The Baldwin Lux Masquerade Ball is more than just an event—it is a celebration of ambition, of legacy, of the relentless pursuit of excellence."

Her gaze sweeps over the crowd, her presence commanding. "For years, this gala has been a testament to the power of innovation, of perseverance, of vision. Baldwin Lux was built on those very principles, and tonight, as we stand among some of the most influential minds in the world, I am reminded of what it means to create something that lasts. To build something greater than oneself."

A murmur of agreement ripples through the audience. She has them in the palm of her hand.

Juliet exhales softly, just barely, before continuing. "This ball is not simply about status or wealth. It is about legacy. It is about the people who stand beside us, the ones who push us, challenge us, inspire us. It is about the moments we create—the ones that define us long after the music stops, long after the masks are removed."

Something in her tone shifts, something deeper, something heavier, but she does not waver.

"So, tonight," she lifts her glass slightly higher, "I ask you all to raise a toast. To ambition. To the choices we make, and the ones we live with."

The silence stretches. Juliet's eyes scan the crowd, her gaze unwavering.

Then, with the same effortless control she's always had, she finishes, "To the future."

The moment the words leave her lips, a sea of glasses rises in response. A chorus of voices echoes back at her, firm, reverent.

"To the future."

And just like that, the champagne flows, the glasses tilt, and the night presses forward.

But as I sip from my own glass, the bubbles sharp against my tongue, I can't shake the weight of her words.

The choices we make. The ones we live with.