He couldn't waste any time, he couldn't do the same mistake twice. After the brief dance they shared, it was like his feelings about Emily were more clear than ever. Alfie was sure that breaking up with her would leave the path clear for Emily and Gabriel finally be together; but two weeks have passed and that didn't seemed to be the case. That means that he still had a chance of undo his mistake and get back the girl who managed to broke down the barriers he spend so much time building.

He ran down the big stairs of the Maison Baccarat, the guests already starting to leave the masquerade ball, when he saw the black and white stripes jumpsuit. There she was. Alfie gently but urgently took her by the arms and didn't waste any time to say what he had to.

I don't wanna be stuck with you. I want you. I should never have let you go. I made a huge mistake.

Moved by his emotions, he didn't even gave the time to reply as he pulled her into a kiss. Altough the kiss was indeed, he had kissed Cooper enough to know that those weren't her lips.

It doesn't seems like a mistake...

Yup, that definetly wasn't Emily's voice. Now with their faces apart, he saw the lady infront of him take off her mask. She was beautiful, he couldn't deny it, but not who he was looking for. Her shy grin showing that she understood the embarrassment he was feeling at that moment.

Wait, you're not-

The words left Alfie's mouth as he scanned the room right on time to see Emily leaving with Gabriel, the two sharing big smiles that made Alfie feel like the biggest dumbass in Paris. Why did he thought that this time it wouldn't end with his heart breaking again?

And this is why masquerade balls are a dumb ideia.

He could only chuckle in embarrassment, realizing that the stranger he just kissed was still watching him.

Have a good night.

With that brief and polite goodbye, he threw his own mask above his shoulders to the ground and made his wait out of the Maison, wishing for nothing but to be able to forget this night.