FIVE MILLION FOR ONE NIGHT

RAMI

not forgi

em in borrowed silk for one night and then threw them ba

s wearing a b

ucia whispered, tightening the laces at my bac

his dress from a lost-and-f

broke," she said, and s

recognize

e waves over my shoulders. And the gold mask Lucia had lent me

la Vega Masquerade Ball. E

rs with their name written in gold across the sky. And tonight

here for

ne

cost five million pesetas - money we woul

t the ball tonight, rich men paid girls to... keep

I told myself I would just watch. I tol

yself about

-

m took my b

covered every table. Champagne flowed like

in silk and diamonds. Laug

en I s

, looking out at Madrid like the c

Black mask covering his eyes, but not his mouth - a

ro De l

. Spain's Most Ruthless Billiona

fia. Don't even look at h

looking,

were. Ever

rned

d mine across the

appeared. Like he had seen straight through my go

d walking

o hard I thought ev

brain

eet didn

ispered in panic.

ing," I whispered.

ose enough that I could smell his c

said, his voice low and calm

t dry. "I...

ss, my hands shaking at my sides. "Waitresses don

run. I sho

my chin. "Then who

ng flickered in his eyes. A

to make a very dangero

out hi

e wit

-

n't have

tal bed. And this man had more mon

my hand

closed around mine like he h

orld tilted. The music swelled. His hand settled on m

our name?

efore I could stop mys

d, like he was tasting the

who you are, M

you should be

" I ad

opped lower. "Fear k

never looked away. People stared, whispered, but he did

re are a hundred beautiful wome

is breath touched my ear, "you are the

was wrong. I was pret

could swallow them. "My mother... she needs surgery. Fiv

ke. Shame bu

augh. To push me aw

did

t very

on," he rep

said quickly. "I'm sor

th me,"

ha

with m

through the crowd, down a dark hallway I had never

s is how girls disappe

e terrace. Cold Madrid air hit my

ask made him look even more

ion for you, Sofia

d. "What kind o

. "Five million. For

rld st

r tonight. You get your mo

embling. "And af

u walk away and never

ng. It was everything my

on meant my mo

ors at our door. No more crying myself

utiful, terrifying man - and I knew

say no?" I

es dar

your life wondering what would ha

d brushed a strand of hair from my face. His t

" he whispered. "Wh

sed m

hat would destroy my old

es