by Isabella Rae
“Are you done yet? You know beauty takes time.” He’s just anxious to see the dress because Piper made him promise he wouldn’t peek at it until I was putting it on.
“You know, if you’re so impatient, you could sit your ass down and help me.” I’m waiting for Sage anyway, but it never hurts to have help.
“I’m more of a project coordinator than a manual laborer.” Only Carter would feel that putting things in a bag was manual labor.
“If you help me, I’ll make sure one of these bags disappears.” This is a very tempting offer since these bags each hold over two thousand dollars in merchandise.
“Fine.” Resigned to his fate, he sits down and begins to slowly fill a bag. Even though he’s moving slow, we get finish in about forty-five minutes, and after a quick double-check on everything, we head up to the suite to start getting ready. With four hours until party time, I think we’re fine, but Carter seems worried.
Just as I’m getting out of the shower Leland knocks on the door. “Your friend, Sage, is here,” he gives me a once over while I stand drying off, “and if you want to get ready in time you need to put some clothes on.” Laughing I slip on my robe and head to the top of the stairs. Sage and Carter are hugging and comparing stories of how busy their day was, I’m pretty sure Sage wins.
“Come on up guys, let’s see those dresses.” Turning I push Leland toward the stairs, “Time for you to go have a drink and leave us alone up here.” With a quick kiss before he goes, he obeys my order, heading downstairs.
Carter, Sage, and I rush to the closet like a group of school girls. Hanging there, amidst our clothes, are two purple garment bags just waiting to be opened.
“I still can’t believe you made him take all those clothes back.” Sage, who met Leland about a week ago, has been critically supportive of me staying here with him.
“We compromised, I kept six outfits and all the lingerie, he wanted me to keep it all.” I consider that a win.
“Still, he’s only here for a little while, you should at least come away from it with something.” Sage is a cynic, that’s the only way to describe her. She doesn’t believe in flowers and romance, she believes in hurt and lies. What she doesn’t understand about me, is that as long as I’m happy with him while he’s here, then I have come away with something. Brushing off her cynicism I reach for the zipper on my garment bag and slide it slowly down, for effect, of course. Inside is one of the most beautiful dresses I’ve ever seen. I slide the peach silk through my fingertips and imagine how good it is going to feel against my skin. Carter helps me step into the dress and he and Sage stand back to take a look.
“You look amazing, Vie.” Sage has been overly complementary when it comes to my appearance.
“If I wasn’t gay, Leland would be finding a new date tonight.” They both move slightly so that I can look in the mirror. The bodice of the dress is cut close in a deep V-neck, jeweled bands crisscross between my breasts, running under each one and along the neckline, and crisscross again between my shoulder blades. From the jeweled band under my breasts, the skirt falls loosely to the floor pooling slightly. The back of the dress is bare beyond the straps and starts again low on my hips, with another jeweled band there, trailing a slight train behind me. I hardly recognize myself, my body looks long and elegant, and the smooth fabric accentuates the curve of my breasts and hips.
Satisfied, I turn to Sage, “Your turn!” She hesitates, and then reaches in for her dress, stepping into it, Carter helps her zip up the back. Piper has designed a strapless, gold chiffon gown for Sage, the top is pleated towards the center, and a beautiful band of emerald and gold colored beads create a sort of belt around the dress, creating an empire waist. The skirt flows easily past her feet, but when she slips into her heels she is just tall enough to keep from stepping on the skirt as she walks.
Standing together, we look in the mirror; we’ve come a long way since sixth grade. Carter claps his hands together, mumbling something about pretty bitches, and ushers us to the bathroom for hair and make-up. This, of course, is the part that will take the longest. Even with Carter’s usual team of ladies working away on us, it takes about two hours to decide on, and perfect our hair and make-up. Sage’s hair is left down, her curls tamed into more of a wave, and swept back on one side where it is secured with a gold comb. Her make-up is done in golden tones making her small face glow. For me, Carter decided to braid small sections of my hair and bring them together in a low side bun, leaving my back exposed. My make-up is very light, done in neutral tones, just highlighting my natural beauty, or so Carter says. Once we’re done, Carter takes a million pictures of us, alone, together, trying to escape, you know, the usual. After about twenty minutes of that, he finally lets us leave.
Walking down the stairs, I can’t remember the last time I was this nervous, I feel like I’m going to prom. Keeping my eyes on the stairs, making sure I don’t fall, I make my way down slowly. At the bottom I turn, expecting to find Sage behind me, and find that she has stayed upstairs, giving Leland and me a moment alone. Taking a deep breath I cross to where he stands at the bar.
“I’m not sure we should go to the party.” Seriously, after everything I just went through to get ready, I’m going to this damn party.
“Why not?” He smiles at me.
“Because, looking as good as you do, someone might try to steal you away from me.”
“Ha ha, very funny.” Leaning down he grabs me into a long deep kiss, when he pulls away I have to dig myself out of the fog.
“I have something for you.” Curious, I take the small box he hands to me, opening it I find a pair of earrings. “The center is a one carat white diamond, surrounded by a carat and a half of canary diamonds; Carter helped me pick them out.” For the first time ever, Leland looks nervous.
“They’re beautiful, thank you.” I run my fingers over them lightly; no man has ever given me jewelry. Setting the box on the bar, I pull out the earrings and put them on. “How do they look?”
“They are almost as beautiful as the woman wearing them.” He kisses me again, lifting me slightly off the ground, before we’re interrupted by the elevator arriving.
“Who could that be?” Pulling away slightly, I begin to worry that I missed some detail downstairs.
“It’s probably Conner, I asked him to join us tonight so that Sage wouldn’t feel like a third wheel.” Smiling on the outside, I’m all but laughing on the inside. Sage hates being set up, this should be good. Leland crosses to let Connor in, and I cross to the stairs, where Sage and Carter have just come down.
“I’m sorry Sage, I had no idea.” Sage looks at me confused before looking over my shoulder.
“Please tell me that’s not what I think it is.” She looks at me pleading.
“Yep, that’s your date; Leland didn’t want you to feel like a third wheel.”
“Well, that was very sweet of him, but I’m a big girl and if I wanted a date I would have said so.” Damn, she’s not happy.
“I know, he didn’t tell me he had this planned, I’m sorry.” Smiling at me, she touches a finger to my new earrings.
“It’s ok, sweetie, I know. Nice earrings, by the way.” Looking past me again she grabs me by the hand, “Let’s go have some fun.” I laugh, because I know that when she says this what she really means is, let’s go get drunk.
“I love you, Sage.” I really do, she’s the closest thing to a sister that I have, and I don’t know where I’d be without her.
“I love you too, bitch.” At that, we walk together to where the men are standing. “Well, gentlemen, let’s get this party started.” Sage continues past the men, pulling me with her to the elevator, once inside Leland whispers in my ear.
“What’s going on?”
“You’re in trouble.” The smile I treat him to is as devious as I can manage.
“Are you going to punish me later?” As he whispers this in my ear he gives my earlobe a light nibble.
“Keep that up
and I will.” The rest of the ride down is silent, with everyone inside feeling slightly uncomfortable, except Sage. As we make our way to the ballroom, I forget about Sage’s anger and begin to get nervous. This is the first time anyone at work will know that Leland and I are a thing. We’ve been very careful not to give anything away at work, and so far it’s been working, but showing up to the company party together as dates, that’s going to be hard to explain away.
Among the last to arrive, we enter to a full room. The gold ballroom looks amazing, to my left sits the table full of white gift bags with gold tissue paper standing proudly out the top. To my right, is the most impressive spread of food I’ve ever seen. Connor did an amazing job. The center of the room is full of people standing and sitting around tables covered in gold and white linens. The center of each table is occupied by varied sizes of flower arrangements, heavy with lilies and roses. The back of the room has a dance floor. To left of that, the DJ has set up his equipment. Already a small group of people have migrated to the dance floor, enjoying his music mixes. To the right, where Sage is quickly headed, is the open bar.The line for free alcohol is quickly getting longer.
Everyone seems to be having a good time, enjoying food and talking. A few people are even headed to dance as a slow song begins. Only a few people look our way, but Mary from accounting is one of them, and the look on her face says drama is on its way.
“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.” I say it more to myself than to Leland, but following my gaze he understands and squeezes my hand.
“Best idea I’ve ever had, was you.” Calming a little from his reassurance I prepare myself. We continue into the room to find a table, and as if he could sense it, Connor comes up to flank my other side.
“I always did like a good cat fight, but from the looks of her, you’ve got this covered.” He winks at me and I know that if nothing else, I have someone here to make me laugh. Mary is standing at the second table on the left side, wanting to avoid it for as long as possible, we pick a table near the dance floor on the opposite side of the room. Taking our seats, Leland to my left and Connor to my right, I can sense someone approaching from behind us.
“Open bars are a modern miracle.” Sage, with a drink in each hand, takes a seat next to Connor.
It takes about two minutes for Mary to come up with a few of the other secretaries. A couple of them thank Leland for such an amazing party, but Mary never takes her eyes off of me.
“So, this is how you got your promotion, Victoria, sleeping with the boss? I should have known you were a whore.” Jealousy is not a good look for her.
“And here I thought it was because I’m good at my job.” Sage, who has been quietly inspecting her drinks, passes on over to me.
“Good at your job? I guess you’re good at something, but pretty sure being on your knees isn’t included in your job description.” Laughing, Mary turns to her friends for support and gets none. “I always thought it was suspicious that you became Mr. Marks’ secretary so quickly; guess you were screwing him, too.”
“Mary, that is your name right?” Leland is staring at her without expression.
“You know damn well what my name is, Leland, or did you forget about our weekly meetings in your office?”
“I’m sorry, but by weekly meetings, do you mean when you humiliated yourself by sneaking into his office wearing only a trench coat?” She turns her gaze back to me; the surprise there tells me she thought he didn’t tell anyone. “Oh wait, I’m sorry, you had on heels and stockings too, it’s too bad you didn’t think to include some clothes in your outfit that day, or he might not have kicked you out so quickly.” I’m not very good at being a bitch, but every now and then I give it a try. Before she can respond Leland cuts her off.
“Miss Bryant got her job based on her professional abilities, as I’m sure you did. At the moment however, I am not seeing any professional merit to keeping you employed with my company. Your boss is Mrs. Stratford, correct?” Mary has pulled back her fangs at the mention of her impending termination, and just nods. “I think she just arrived, clearly we have a lot to talk about.” Taking a sip of the drink Sage has provided me with I’m getting oddly aroused at his protection of me, and do my best to hide my smile. “Victoria, would you care to dance?” Taking my hand he doesn’t wait for a response. Once on the dance floor I steal a look at the table. Sage and Connor are ignoring each other and Mary appears to pleading her case to Mrs. Stratford before Leland has his talk with her.
“Are you really going to fire her?” I look up into his beautiful eyes and fight to not get lost there.
“I don’t know, but it will be fun to watch her squirm while I decide.” Leaning down he kisses me for everyone to see.
When the song ends, we part ways for a bit. I grab some food, and Leland makes his rounds, greeting his loyal employees. Going through the line of food, I overhear a few women whispering about me, calling me a gold digger, a slut, you name it, they said it. I knew that this was going happen, but I just have to remind myself that they’re wrong. Avery Simmons speaks up defending me. Avery was my replacement at the front desk, and in addition to working for Mr. Marks, I had to train her when she started. “She got that job because she’s qualified and competent. What she does, who she does outside of work is none of our business. You’re just jealous because he never even gave you a second look.” As she walks away from the group, I remind myself to thank her later.
As I arrive back at our table I notice we have a new guest, when he turns around I realize it’s Nick. Relieved to see another friendly face, I take a seat next to him, I look around for Leland so that I can introduce them, but find he’s still busy talking to his guests. I give Nick quick hug before he steals a beef medallion off my plate.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you too! I’m here on a date.” Nick points across the room to a brunette girl I can’t place.
“Oh well then maybe I should move.” Nick looks over my shoulder and the amusement leaves his face.
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea, here comes your boyfriend and he doesn’t look happy.” Glancing behind me I see that he’s right, Leland looks pissed and he’s looking right at Nick. Even though I have explained the relationship between Nick and I, he still has jealousy over it. When Leland gets to the table, I stop him before he can say anything.
“Hey babe, I want you to meet my friend Nick, he’s here with,” I look to Nick for a name.
“Maggie,” he says before standing up to shake Leland’s hand, “nice to meet you.” Leland seems to have calmed down a little bit, but still squeezes Nick’s hand when they shake, and throws an arm possessively around me. It’s Sage who breaks the ice.
“Oh come on guys, this macho man bullshit act is really over-played. Nick and Vie went on a couple dates, now they’re friends. Leland, she sleeps in your bed every night, and you’re just about all she seems to talk about.” Thanks Sage. “You’re the one who’s going to be leaving in a few months; if anyone should be pissed off it’s me, because I’m the one who’s going to be there for her when you break her heart.” We’ve only been here for an hour and she’s already drunk. Everyone at the table is quiet.
“That’s ok; when he leaves she knows where to find me.” Once again Connor is there to make me laugh.
“So do I.” Leland says with a slight laughter in his voice. Everyone calms down and we manage to have a decent night.
Connor took Sage home around 11, after she stole the microphone from the DJ and started her very own karaoke night. Nick and Maggie left separately, after her ex-boyfriend showed up and they spent half the night making out, around 12. The remaining guests stayed until the party ended at 1am. As we left the party, I made sure to grab a gift bag for Carter, I mean, I did promise him one for his help, after all. Riding the elevator up to the suite, I snuggle into Leland’s chest and miss the last three floors of the ride.
Chapter 24
Tonight was
a night of ups and downs, but looking down at Victoria as she sleeps in my arms, I know I’d rather ride the roller coaster with her than have a mundane relationship with anyone else. Laying her gently down on the bed I do my best to get her out of her dress. Finally, after about 10 minutes of struggling, I manage to pull the intact dress from her body. It’s a miracle really. I’ve always wondered how women wore things like this, but damn she looked amazing tonight. I’m pretty sure my heart skipped a beat when I saw her come down the stairs. Brushing the hair out of her face, I enjoy seeing her so relaxed, her features so peaceful. It’s humbling to finally have someone in my life that I would do anything for. Seeing her happy, truly makes me happy.. I’ve thought a lot over the last three weeks, and while a lot of things are up in the air, there’s one thing I know for sure. I don’t want to leave Victoria. Seeing her with Nick tonight, sharing that closeness with another man, even if he is her friend, touched something inside me. I know I don’t want to have to think about her being with anyone else. I head downstairs to check my email, making sure everything is confirmed for this weekend, and have one more drink before I get to work.
Checking my watch, I figure I have a little more than three hours before I wake Victoria up and surprise her. I head to the closet, remind myself why I’m doing this, and start putting clothes into a suitcase. I have no idea what to pack, or how much of it, let’s hope I get it right.
Chapter 25
Groggily my mind wakes, something has pulled me from my dreams, and I fight to stay. I’m enjoying the place my sleep has taken me to, there Leland and I are together, without the threat of him going back to his life away from Atlanta, and away from me. For a moment, I think I’ve succeeded in going back into my dreams, but then I realize that Leland’s voice is real.
