I stood against the mantle on the far side of the ballroom from the door.  I wanted to watch as everyone walked in but I also wanted to disappear into the woodwork if I could.  I just hoped that some of the other men here felt as uncomfortable as I did in these stupid costumes.  At least, I was in better shape than the pudgy Robin Hood that just walked by. 

I still don't know how exactly I managed to be here tonight.  This was the charity event of the year here in DC.  The tickets alone cost at least $500.00 each, then you have to rent or buy the costume.  I could tell that some of them were worth more than the tickets too. 

In my vantage spot, I watched everyone.  I was amused that some of these people were probably very influential, politically and socially, yet they were acting like delinquents because of the masks.  I guess that they didn't realize at midnight when they were unmasked, everyone would figure out who they were.

I turned my attention to a passing waiter and picked up a glass of champagne.  I could overhear a trio of musketeers talking about a woman as she walked in and I turned my attention back to the door.  I didn't expect too much, as I had heard lots of comments from these musketeers so far tonight but this woman was stunning.

She walked into the ballroom a little unsure of herself, as if she were looking for a friend and not knowing what he was dressed like.  I could almost read her thoughts as she took a deep breath and looked around the room one more time knowing that she was unknown to these people. 

What happened next surprised me more than anything.  She looked directly at me.  I never thought that whole 'they saw each other across a crowded ballroom' could ever happen.  I was wrong.  I handed my glass to one of the musketeers as I straightened up and made my way to her.  She must have seen me walking to her and even though she turned away several others I suspected that I intrigued her as much as she did me.  There was just something about her...

I walked up to the bottom of the few steps leading into the ballroom and offered her my hand.  I could see her smile slightly under her mask as she lifted one side of her skirt, revealing glass shoes.  I could not resist smiling at the irony of our costumes.  Once at the bottom of the steps, I bowed to her and gestured to the dance floor. We began to dance, never speaking to each other.  I think that we were both afraid of breaking the spell that seemed to have pulled us together.  Finally, she spoke.

"So, who are you?" she asked in a soft voice.

"My dear Cinderella, I am who I am.  Don't you recognize your Prince Charming?"  I said in an equally soft voice.  I didn't want anyone to recognize my voice even though I don't usually spend time with this crowd.

"Prince Charming was a bigamist," she said with a smile causing me to laugh.  She wasn't the typical damsel in distress.  "He lived happily ever after with Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White to name a few."

"Lucky guy, but I think I got the best one.  There is just something about you..."  I surprised myself by being completely honest with her.  I didn't know her name or even what she looked like but I didn't want to lie to her.

"I know what you mean.  You remind me of someone.  I don't know why though," she said.

"Who do you think you are dancing with?  Or a better question," I leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Who do you wish you were dancing with?"  I could feel a slight shiver run though her as she looked up at me again.

"Unfortunately, that can never happen," she said sadly.

"Why can't you dance with the one you want?  Did your evil step-mother cast a spell on him?"  I wanted to know but I didn't want her to think that I was prying so I tried to keep the pretense of our costumes.

She smiled sadly before looking down.  She eased a little closer to me and mumbled something.  I couldn't quite make it out but it sounded like, "A co-worker."

I knew how she felt.  I too had a co-worker that I was attracted to but there was nothing possible between us.  For so many reasons.  I gently lifted her chin, looked deep into her dark brown eyes so reminiscent of the one I couldn't have. 

"Then let me be him for you tonight, Cinderella."

"What?  I can't let you do that," she insisted.

"Why not?"

"Because it isn't fair to you," she said once again breaking eye contact.

"Will it be fair if I think of you as the one I can't have?" I hadn't intended on saying that but it turned out to be the perfect thing to say.

"That evil step mother sure gets around doesn't she?" she asked as she looked back into my eyes.

"You could say that," I grinned.  "How about we forget about the evil step mothers and just enjoy ourselves?"

"Just Prince Charming and Cinderella,” she asked. “As you wish, Prince Charming.”

"Then I wish we dance, my lady." 

I led her back to the dance floor and after a few fleeting feelings of guilt, I began to think of her as the one I shouldn't.  I was having a wonderful time, surprising myself because I didn't think that I would enjoy myself at all tonight.  I think that the beautiful masked woman in my arms was the reason.  Since she had no idea who I was, even though she pretended I was someone else, I was more myself tonight.  I wasn't at all like the person most people think of me as.  It was a good thing that I was masked, because no one would recognize me.

We spent most of the night dancing and softly talking about ourselves.  I think that we were both surprised that we had so much in common.  The fact that we both seemed to have received the ticket shoved under our doors was the biggest surprise.  I had to wonder who had set us up like this.  I saw her smile up at me and I decided that it didn't matter.

I looked over her shoulder and noticed one of the musketeers headed our way and somehow I knew he was going to try to ask her to dance.  I am usually not a possessive person but I didn't want anyone to touch my Cinderella so without her knowing what was happening, I led her to the balcony.  It was getting close to midnight and the unmasking was to start soon.  I wanted to be alone with her if we both decided to take off the masks. 

I knew that even if she didn't take off her mask or tell me her real name, I would find out.  I wasn't sure how but determination can work wonders.

"So, my lady.  Midnight is approaching.  Shall I see you to your carriage or would you like to stay for the unmasking?" I asked.

"I'm not sure," she said honestly.  "Part of me wants to just remember tonight as the magic that it has been and the other wants to know who you are." 

"I know how you feel.  Tonight has been..." I caressed her cheek with my thumb as I slipped the other arm around her.  As the clock began to strike midnight, I leaned down and touched my lips to hers. I held her tighter for a moment only letting her go when she pulled away as the chimes finished ringing.