Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 48567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
What the hell is a mark?
I’ve been up since five, we’re closing in on dinnertime and I’m still putting on tight dresses that look like crap on my body.
I grab the last one.
It’s red, blood red. I don’t imagine it’s going to look good. It’s strapless and also just plunges way too deep down my boobs, and magically it’s able to stay put while the back plunges to my ass.
It’s beautiful, but it’s daring and definitely not me or my style, but I put it on anyway.
Miraculously, it fits and looks good.
I prepare for another head shake from Gabe.
But when I walk out, he drops the coffee he’s drinking onto the small table and falls onto the couch.
“This.”
“This?” I point at myself.
“That.” He points back at me.
“Is your dress. Damn, wish I liked—” He shakes his head.
“Never mind. This is the dress. Your dress. His dress. Fuck, he’s going to kill me. Okay, time to check out since you only have two hours to get ready and I booked you some makeup and hair. Hope you don’t mind.”
“What?”
“Hmmm?” He’s looking down at his phone.
“Just kidding, we only have ninety minutes, all right, go change.”
“Um.”
“Try not to do the ums or likes. Think for three seconds, then speak, otherwise you sound like an idiot.” He grins.
“Go, go, go. We don’t have a lot of time.”
I turn on my heel and go back into the changing room.
What just happened?
I’m not exactly panicking, but this wasn’t what I thought my first day would be like. I quickly put my old clothes back on and walk out with the dress. Gabe buys everything, including the shoes, and then walks me toward the opposite side of the street to a hotel.
“Hair and makeup are inside,” he whispers and hands me the dress.
“Room 221, here’s the card, go up and get everything done, it’s already been taken care of and be down here at eight. Got it?”
I grab the card.
“Yes.” No, I don’t got it.
“Absolutely.” I need this job.
“I’ll be down right after they’re done and I’ll look hopefully extremely glamorous for whatever event this is.”
“The Hi Gala.” He grins.
“Eli is an idiot and forgot. So you’re right on theme, and you’re his date. Have fun!”
I nearly pass out on the spot.
“I’m sorry, did you say the Hi Gala?”
“Yeah, it’s every year.”
“I know it’s every year!”
“Why are you yelling?”
“Because!” I almost stomp my foot.
“That’s one of the biggest galas ever, celebrities go, influencers, and I’m just now hearing about this? How did he forget?”
Gabe shrugs.
“He’s busy, I’m busy. Things like this are trivial. You’ll be fine, just smile, wave, shake hands, you’ll be good and don’t forget the champagne, they always have the best champagne.”
He waves and suddenly he just walks off and gets into a black car.
And I’m left with oh don’t forget the champagne, here’s your key card to your hotel room with a glam squad.
And Eli.
Chapter 7
Stellar Entrance
ELI
I tap my black Pradas against the ground and take in a deep soothing breath, isn’t that what my therapist always encourages? Five seconds in, five seconds out.
Why is not helping?
I check my Rolex. There are only two of its kind with gold and silver plus a blue face and tiny encrusted crystals. The only people who own one are me and my brother.
It always reminds me of sad memories and I only ever wear it during special events because I know how intimidating it can be to shake someone's hand, look down and know they’re wearing a half a million dollar watch right next to their fingers.
Two minutes late now.
Three.
Should I start counting sheep at this point?
One day on the job and while she did bring an impeccable latte for my consumption, making my day less shitty, I hate it when people aren’t punctual. It’s a pet peeve.
Like stray hairs.
Fur.
There’s a reason naked cats exist, in my opinion. I shudder and turn around just as a panicked looking Ava power walks toward me in nude Louboutin heels, a beautiful red dress that leaves nothing to the imagination in the front and makes my mouth water so hard.
Wait? Is that fang?
I rub my teeth across my incisors and groan, even touching them with my own tongue feels nice. I have never in my life fanged out in front of a woman before.
Oh shit.
She’s coming closer.
She smells so good.
She does a quick turn to show me her back and I’m lost again. I clench my fists at my sides and all I get out is, “You’ll do.”
Her eyes fall, they’re so pretty I want to get lost in them, she nods and shoots me a forced smile, her lips are such a pretty pink, not too glossy, just perfect.
“Well, that’s what I’m here for, to serve you.”
She really needs to stop saying things like that if she doesn’t want me to have visions of her on her knees in front of me doing exactly that.