I awoke the next morning to a text message from Peyton, saying she was on her way over with coffee and bagels. I rolled out of bed just as Peyton was ready to break down the door.
“Some friend you are,” she spouted as she flew past me to set the coffee and a bag on the table.
“What did I do?” I yawned.
“I waited all night for you to call me and tell me about your day with Connor, but you never did.” She pouted. Peyton loved to pout, and she was such a natural at it. She once told me that she could make a guy do anything just by pouting.
“How did you know about yesterday?”
She looked down and took a sip of her coffee. “Kyle told me,” she said as if it was no big deal.
“WHAT?!” I scowled. Peyton pulled a bagel out of the bag and handed it to me.
“He called me and said he saw the two of you in Central Park. He wanted to know how long you have been seeing each other. I could tell he was jealous.”
“Who the hell does Kyle think he is? Did he forget he’s the one who left me, and he’s the one moving on by dating a plastic bitch?”
She leaned over the table. “I told him that Connor was your fuck buddy and to get over it.”
I lightly grabbed her arm. “You did not!”
Peyton held up two fingers. “I swear to God I did.”
I rolled my eyes as I held my coffee cup in my hands. “Who does he think he is?”
She looked at me as she got up to get a knife from the drawer. “He’s a douchebag, Elle, nothing more.”
I laughed and was startled by a knock at the door. I strangely looked over at Peyton and got up to see who it was. I looked out the peep-hole and saw a tall, attractive woman standing there. I opened the door. I was still in my pajama pants and tank top.
“Miss Ellery Lane?” the woman asked.
“Yes, I’m Ellery Lane.” She pushed her way through the door.
“Very good,” she said as she waved her hand, and three other women with garment bags followed behind her.
“Um, what’s going on?” I looked over at Peyton as she sat at the table with her mouth open.
“Miss Lane, I’m Camille. We’re from Saks Fifth Avenue. Mr. Black sent us to have you pick a dress for tonight’s event. He described you, so we chose which dresses we felt would suit you.”
“Holy shit, Elle,” Peyton said.
I stood there as the women unpacked the garment bags, pulling out the most beautiful and expensive dresses I’d ever seen. I tried on each one, feeling like Cinderella. Peyton was giving me thumbs up at the dresses she liked. The tall woman applauded as I tried on each dress. The last dress I put on was a Badgley Mischka black strapless lace gown. I gasped when I looked in the mirror because I had never worn anything more beautiful. Peyton had a tear in her eye as she took my hands in hers and looked me over.
“You look absolutely stunning, Elle.”
“It’s too much; I can’t accept this or let Connor do this for me.”
Camille walked over and handed me a pair of Jimmy Choo strappy heels. “Put these on, dear, and let the man buy you a new dress. Trust me, if he didn’t think you were worth it, he wouldn’t have done this.” I looked at Peyton and took the shoes from Camille.
“Connor isn’t a douchebag. Let him buy you a dress and definitely those shoes.” Peyton smiled.
I rolled my eyes as I stood in a designer dress and Jimmy Choos. I felt incredible. I grabbed my phone and sent Connor a quick text.
“Hi, Connor, it’s me Ellery. Thank you for the beautiful dress, but it’s too much, and I don’t feel right accepting it.”
Seconds later he replied, “You’re welcome, and it’s not too much, see you at six o’clock. sharp.”
I smiled at Camille. “I like this one,” I said as I ran my hands down my body. She snapped her fingers, signaling the other women to pack up the other dresses.
“Mr. Black will be immensely pleased, as you chose his favorite.” Camille smiled as she walked out the door. I stood in the middle of the room, trying to figure out what Camille meant by his favorite dress. Did he go to the store himself and pick a bunch out for her to bring to me? Then, I wondered if this was a habit of his for all his women.
“You’re over thinking, Elle,” Peyton said as she unzipped the back of my dress. “Go put your other clothes back on; you don’t want to ruin this before tonight. I’m going to call Roger and see if he’s available to do your hair and makeup; he owes me a big favor.”
I went to the bedroom and put on a pair of jeans and a tank top with a sick feeling in my stomach. My phone rang, and that familiar number was calling again. I ignored it and sent them to voicemail.
***
Peyton and I took a cab to Color Me Beautiful, a hair salon that our friend Roger owned. We walked through the doors of the luxury salon as Roger spotted us instantly. He walked over and embraced me tightly.
“Oh, girl, I heard about you and Kyle. I think he’s an asshole.”
“Thanks, Roger. I think he is too.” I smiled. He turned to Peyton and gave her a warm hug.
“Now, tell me where you’re going tonight and with whom.”
Peyton jumped in, “She’s going to a charity event with Connor Black.”
“The Connor Black? The hot and gorgeous millionaire, Connor Black?!”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Roger, that’s the one.” He looked at me seriously.
“Elle, you do know about his reputation, right?” I looked blank because I didn’t know anything about Connor except his one rule about sleepovers and that he didn’t like relationships.
“We’re friends, nothing more.”
Roger waved his hand in front of his face. “Girl, Connor Black doesn’t have female friends. He has sex slaves, not friends.” I gulped and didn’t want to hear any more. Peyton could tell I was feeling uncomfortable.
“I don’t care what he has. I’m going to this benefit tonight as his friend and nothing more.”
“Come on, Roger. Work your magic and fix up our girl so that every guy at the event will be begging her to take them home.” I smacked Peyton’s arm as we followed Roger to his station.
I met Roger through Peyton. He used to work at the art gallery part-time while he was trying to launch his salon. He was a handsome man with brown spiked hair and just the right amount of facial hair outlining his oval face. He cut hair and did makeup like nobody’s business. He once worked as a hair stylist for Miranda Lambert, but gave that up to stay in one place and build a life with his partner, George. I sat in the chair while Roger worked his magic on my hair and face. I’d never felt more beautiful than I did that day.
I stepped into my designer dress and Jimmy Choos and looked in the mirror at my lightly made-up face and elegant curly up-do. For the first time—in a terribly long time—I forgot about all the bad things in my life. I glanced at the clock, and it read 6:00 p.m. I rolled my eyes as there was a knock at the door. As promised, he arrived at six o’clock sharp. I opened the door as Connor stood there, staring at me and taking in a sharp breath. The butterflies in my stomach started to flutter, and my heart started racing as I looked at him in his black tuxedo.
“Were you afraid that I’d get mugged between my door and your car?” I smirked.
“Very funny, Ellery,” he said.
I was surprised that he came to the door himself instead of sending Denny. I bumped my shoulder against his, and he managed a small smile. We got into the back of the limo, and Connor poured us each a glass of champagne.
“You look beautiful, Ellery. What a lovely dress.” I looked at him, stomach still fluttering and heart racing.
“Thank you, Connor. I was hoping you’d like this one.” I winked as he smirked, and we held our glasses up to one another.