Chapter7
Kelissa emerged from the dressing room, hair and makeup freshly done by Tina, the woman who’d worked with Kelissa on the photo shoot for the billboard ads.
“I’m doing minimal makeup,” Tina had said, sitting on the edge of the makeup counter, her touch gentle yet quick. “I want the focus to be on those eyes and these luscious curls.”
As predicted, Tina’s light touch had drawn the focus on Kelissa’s eyes and her natural hair, with just a hint of color on her lips to give her that just bitten look. Tina stood behind her while she took in her reflection in the full-length mirror.
The jade green sheath dress hugged her curves in all the right places, but the fabric was stretchy enough that the seductive look was both eye-catching and classy.
“David said he wanted people to notice the woman on his arm, and he’s getting exactly what he asked for and then some. Girl, you are a vision.”
“Thank you, Tina.”
“No thanks needed. You provided the canvas. You could go out fresh-faced in a paper sack and still turn heads.”
“So, I’ve been told,” she laughed.
She admired the dress, and the way thin gold thread was expertly woven throughout the fabric, making it shimmer with her every movement. Strappy gold sandals with a modest heel and a matching clutch finished off the look, but it was Tina’s attention to detail that really tied everything together.
“I love the gold tips in place of the white on the French manicure,” she said. “You really have a knack for managing the smallest details.”
“Thank you. Now hurry up. David isn’t known for his patience.”
The women shared one last laugh before Kelissa opened the door and stepped into the small sitting area outside the dressing room. As expected, David was sitting there, eyes trained on the door, waiting for Kelissa to come through it.
“Wow,” he said, his voice barely above a shocked whisper. “You look…wow.”
“Do you like it?”
“I do,” he said.
She did a slow twirl for him.
“I feel like a princess.”
“You look like a queen. Come here, I have something for you.”
She went to him, her smile faltering momentarily when he pulled out a small box, then she recovered. It looked like a ring box, but she knew that it couldn’t be; she felt silly for thinking it. But it was a jewelry box, and she felt giddy wondering what it could be.
“At some of these events, they have pieces for you to wear as part of the fundraiser, but not tonight. I didn’t know which dress you were going to wear, so I went neutral. It’s yours to keep. I hope you like it.”
He held the box out to her, then he opened it, displaying a perfect gold chain with a large diamond dangling gracefully. He carefully put it around her neck, then led her to a small mirror in the hallway. The diamond was heavy on her chest, and she wondered how many carats it was, but she didn’t want to ask. It was at least two, if not three, and it was the clearest, most perfectly cut diamond she’d ever seen.
“It’s so beautiful.”
“I was wrong about you looking like a queen,” he said, standing behind her and kissing her softly on the cheek. “A queen is a mere mortal. You’re a goddess, plain and simple. I can’t wait to spend this night with you.”
“This is like a dream,” she whispered.
“It’s your dream, isn’t it?”
“It is. I’ve always wanted this life. I just can’t believe that it’s happening.”
“It’s only going to get better from here.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I have another surprise for you,” he said. He opened a narrow drawer in the table beneath the ornate mirror. “When you went for a run the other day, you left your laptop on. I wasn’t trying to be sneaky; I just didn’t know you were gone. Anyway, I saw that you were looking at business cards and I took a picture of your design and had them made for you. I hope you like them. I have a guy that does them and they’re much better quality.”
He handed her one of the cards out of the small box and waited while she looked it over.
“This is beautiful. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know I didn’t, but if you’re going to be at these events, you need to have business cards in case an opportunity comes up. I just got a small sample box to start, but if you like them, I’ll have him print more.”
“They’re really nice,” she said.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
“No, it’s not that. I’m just overwhelmed.”
“With me?”
She laughed, taking the small stack of cards he handed her and putting them in her clutch.
“Yes and no. You’re wonderful, and this is so…amazing. It’s hard to explain. Things just seem to happen so easily when you’re around. I want a new phone and it appears on the doorstep the next morning. Before it’s even available to the public. I look at cheap business cards from one of those low-rate online stores and you buy me premium ones with everything on it except the website I haven’t set up yet.
In my life, everything I’ve ever done has taken so much effort. I hustle, but it’s so much work sometimes, and I almost feel like I work too hard, you know? Here, things just fall into place, and it’s perfect. But I have that feeling that comes with newfound success. Like I’m waiting for the rug to get pulled out from under me, or at the very least, for the illusion to shatter.”
“You shouldn’t think that way.”
“I know that, but it’s in the back of my mind. I know the feeling will pass, but sometimes the dread I feel is too much. Maybe you’ve never felt that way.”
“I have,” he admitted. “Maybe not to the extent that you are, but I understand what you’re saying. You’ve been taking care of yourself for so long, and now the only thing you have to do is relax and show up when you have an appointment. It’s a huge departure from your normal life, and change is scary. Even when it’s exactly what you wanted.”
“Exactly. You get me.”
“I try.” He held his elbow out and she slipped her arm in his. “Let’s get going. We don’t want to be fashionably late and I’ve been looking forward to this night all month.”
“I thought you hated these boring dinners.”
“I do. But now that I have you with me, I know I’m going to enjoy myself.”
He led her out of the house and to the limo that waited in the circular driveway. He opened the door for her and helped her in, then slid in beside her and closed the door. When the limo eased down the winding driveway and out the gate, she took a deep breath and sat rigid in the seat beside him.
“Are you nervous?”
“Just a little,” she said. “It’s my first big event.”
“The first of many. You’re going to do great. Just let me get all the way out and take a few photos, then I’ll help you out of the limo and we’ll stand together for photos. It’s very Hollywood-esque. Once they’ve gotten pictures of us arriving, it will be pretty easy to forget that there are cameras everywhere and just be your natural self. They only publish the best pictures of the night, so there’s no need to worry about getting caught in an unflattering pose.”
“Excellent tips,” she teased. “Anything else I should worry about?”
“Not until you’re headed home. I would worry about that return trip in the limo. Your escort probably has plans to ravish you right here in the back of this limo.”
His hand was on her thigh, sending a thrill of electricity through her already tense body.
“I’ll watch out for him.”
“Maybe he can contain himself until you get to the beach house, but there’s no way he’s going to make it to the mansion in Bonita,” David said, his words setting her nerves on fire.
“I thought we couldn’t go to the beach house.”
“The update on the beach house is done.”
“See? That’s what I mean. You talked to your friend yesterday, and now your beach house is completely revamped.”
“Technically, I talked to him about all that the night before. He put in the panic room this morning, and the system is up and running. Julia had a bit of trouble getting into the house to stock the fridge and do her regular Friday cleaning, but she texted me a little while ago that everything was good.”
“That’s exciting,” Kelissa said.
“I’m just impressed that she finally learned to text. Julia’s a little older and she hasn’t really gotten on board with communicating by text. I usually get a voicemail from her.”
“Some people just take longer to catch up with the times. Progress can be scary. But, I’m glad she has everything ready. I’ve been dying to go the past two weeks, but you didn’t have time.”
“I have the entire weekend,” he said. “Julia made sure there’s enough food to survive the apocalypse. We can crash there when we leave the fundraiser tonight and stay until Monday morning.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“That sounds fantastic. I can’t wait.”
“First, you have to get through the fundraiser.”
“I’ve got this,” she said.
“I know you do. We’re almost there.”
She saw the lights down at the end of Rio Vista Road long before she could see the actual house. When they finally pulled up to the massive house situated on at least five acres of manicured grass, it took her breath away.
In front of the house was a wide, circular drive that could hold several cars side by side. On the hill that rose behind the house was a beautiful barn, strategically placed lights illuminating it from all angles. The entire property looked like something out of a storybook.
“This is amazing,” she said, looking at David excitedly. “How much does a place like this cost?”
“Fifty-two million and change.”
“Wow. That seems like so much.”
“Actually, it’s a steal. The original owner was asking sixty and I got him to drop his price down to a more reasonable level.”
“You sold this house?”
“I did. They were looking for something that could contain the wife’s charity balls and the husband’s love for polo.”
“I didn’t see a swimming pool.”
“That’s water polo. Polo is played on horseback. They hit a ball with a mallet.”
“That sounds difficult.”
“It is. The owner is team captain. If you mention that you heard he plays polo, you can get him to talk nonstop all night long. Otherwise, he’s a little aloof, even for someone as wealthy as he is.”
The limo stopped and David got out, stepping away from the limo for a brief moment to take pictures, then returning and holding out his hand.
“Take your time,” he said just loud enough for her to hear. “The wait builds excitement.”
She stepped out of the limo, and the instant her foot hit the walkway, the cameras started going off. She planted a warm smile on her face, but she kept her eyes on David. She was there for him, and even though they weren’t a serious couple, focusing on David would add to the mystery surrounding her identity, and David had assured her that curiosity would have everyone talking. If she turned to the cameras too soon and looked like she was after their attention, she would be ignored. It didn’t make much sense, but she knew David was right. The best way to get people talking and the cameras flashing was to pretend that the last thing you wanted was attention.
He leaned in, whispering against her ear about his plans for her and sending shivers up her spine. Her smile widened and then he turned, arm around her, giving one quick pose to the cameras before he whisked her up the stairs and into the house.
The entryway was huge, opening up into a formal sitting room that doubled as a library. People milled about the area, chatting with acquaintances and catching up on celebrity gossip. Kelissa recognized several celebrities, but she kept her excitement in check.
“Would you like something to eat?” David asked, guiding her expertly through the throngs of people.
“I’m too excited to eat,” she whispered.
“Good. Let’s work off some of that excitement so you can relax and enjoy yourself.”
A man in a crisp tuxedo opened the door in front of them, which was situated between double staircases that led to the second and third stories. Kelissa inhaled sharply, the beautiful scene before her beyond surreal.
“I don’t know how to dance,” she said, the music from the string quartet on the small stage filling the room. “I mean, I can dance, but I don’t think you want me twerking up here.”
“Save the twerking for later,” he said, winking. “Don’t worry, I’ll lead the way. Just relax and let me guide you.”
He pulled her into his arms, one hand settled on her hip, the other holding her comfortably away from her body.
“I feel like I’m on one of those dancing shows,” she sighed, swaying along with him as they stepped onto the dance floor.
“It’s exactly like that,” he said. “Just keep your eyes on me and don’t worry about anything else that’s going on around us.”
“You have no idea how easy that is.”
“I would say that I do. The view is stunning from where I’m standing.”
“You’re too much,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder and sighing happily.
“And you, Kelissa, are more than I deserve.”