Approximately seven and a half months before—give or take a day or two.

“Mandy, come on, I really need your help tonight. I’ve already promised Emma that I would find someone else to work for the party!”

Mandy looked up at her roommate who was standing in the middle of their tiny apartment with one hand on her hip and an intent look on her face. It seemed to Mandy that Shay always needed something.

“Look, Shay, I would be terrible at it. I haven’t waitressed before, and I have two left feet. Besides,” Mandy gulped feeling self-conscious as she looked at the other woman who was dressed in the skimpiest of outfits. “I don’t think I could wear something like that.”

Shay rolled her eyes, “Please, Mandy you are smoking hot and if you would wear something other than those frumpy business suits you bought at the salvage store for work someone might just notice how gorgeous you really are.”

Mandy didn’t feel like her clothes were frumpy, she looked professional. She felt that working in an office one had to present themselves accordingly. But Shay wouldn’t understand that. Mandy was quiet, hardworking, dependable, and often according to the Shay—boring.

Shay was her complete opposite. She was wild and carefree, the life of the party and friends with everyone. It wasn’t unusual for her to bring a man home at night, hell it would be strange if she didn’t.

Many people couldn’t understand how their friendship worked. How could two people with such different tastes possibly be best friends? Emma asked this very question all the time. She and Shay were alike in almost every aspect. Emma loved to go out and party, pick up guys, and occasionally share them with Shay.

What Emma didn’t like was Shay’s friendship with Mandy. It could have been jealousy. Mandy didn’t know what else to account for it. She had never been rude or unkind to Emma. But it was apparent that even the way Mandy stayed out of her way irritated Emma.

Mandy had long since stopped trying with the girl. That is why this request for Mandy to help with Emma’s family catering business didn’t make sense. Emma had never wanted Mandy around before.

And that wasn’t all of it. Mandy wasn’t sure what kind of catering company had their waitstaff go around in tube tops, short shorts, micro minis and barely their bodycon ensembles. Some of the things that Shay left the house into work had her looking more like a streetwalker than a waitress.

Mandy sighed, “Emma hates me, there is no way that she really wants me there. Is this a setup so that she can humiliate me somehow?”

Shay puffed out her bottom lip, “Emma doesn’t hate you! She doesn’t understand why you don’t like her and won’t come out with us.”

Mandy knew this to be a lie and wasn’t about to fall into that trap. “I have no issues with Emma, but I don’t want to go, Shay. It’s not my kind of thing.”

Shay’s eyes hardened, “Look, if we don’t find another person to work tonight, Emma and I are going to be in so much trouble. We both promised to find someone extra to help, and I said I would bring you. If you don’t want to do it again after tonight, you don’t have to. But Mandy if you don’t come they will fire me. How are we supposed to make rent if I don’t have a job? This means a lot to me, Mandy. I wouldn’t ask you otherwise. You are my best friend. I really thought I could count on you.”

Mandy set the book down that she had been reading, “One night, Shay, I will help out one night. But you need to find someone else to take the job. I am not interested.”

Shay bounded over to Mandy wrapping her in a large hug, “Thank you, thank you, thank you! I knew that you wouldn’t let me down! You are the best, Mandy. I love your guts!”

Mandy smiled and pushed out of Shay’s arms, “I love your guts too. Alright, what do I have to wear?”

**

MANDY TUGGED AT THE bottom of her short flapper dress with one hand as she tried to balance the tray of bit size sushi in the other. The skimpy uniform, if one could call it that, barely covered her ass cheeks. If it weren’t for the fringe, Mandy would have flashed half the party by now.

Her boobs were pushed up and forward so that they looked like an offering to whomever she faced. Thankfully they had been given masks that covered two-thirds of their faces. She wasn’t recognizable and knew that for a fact because Shay had almost walked right by her.

When Mandy grabbed her arm, Shay had squealed with delight seeing Mandy all dolled up for once. Emma had even said that Mandy looked good. That in itself was the highest praise Mandy had ever gotten from Emma.

When the guests arrived at the venue, it was apparent to Mandy that they were from a completely different world than the one she was used to. More than one guest had come in a limo, and many others drove cars that Mandy couldn’t even pronounce let alone think of riding in.

When he arrived, time seemed to stand still for the briefest of moments. Mandy had just served a couple some champagne and turned to go and return the empties when she caught a glimpse of his dark hair.

She allowed her eyes to trail from the top of his head to the broad shoulders he could have only earned in the gym. From there he tapered down to a flat stomach and lean hips. Mandy would be willing to bet her right ovary that the man was cut underneath that expensive suit.

He wasn’t wearing a costume, only a black mask that matched his perfectly tailored suit. Another man walked in behind him, he was blonde with a wide smile and knowing eyes.

The two of them were perfection and Mandy might have gone on staring if the dark-haired man hadn’t caught her gaze. A slow smile spread across his handsome features, and Mandy felt her insides melt.

Holy fuck!

Mandy quickly turned around the got back to what she was supposed to be doing—serving, not ogling the guests.

His eyes remained on her the entire night. She felt naked under his gaze, but rather than intimidating her. It made Mandy feel empowered—strong.

This wealthy handsome man wanted her, Mandy. He didn’t want the broken girl that she was in her real life. He wanted the attractive waitress that gave him shy smiles as her eyes raked over his incredible body.

It wasn’t surprising that as the party dwindled down, he approached her. Shay had ripped off her mask and was making out with the blonde man from before. It was obvious that Shay had drunk too much. They were told that the alcohol was for the guests, not the staff. But Shay often came home inebriated after work, so this wasn’t anything new.

When the dark-haired man had approached her at the hotel bar, Mandy had only hesitated for a second. But when she saw his kind smile and heated eyes, she was caught—hook, line, and sinker.

One drink at the bar turned into two and then a half dozen. By the time they stumbled up to his hotel room, she was tearing at her own clothes in-between trying to get him out of his.

The stranger was just as needy as Mandy, nearly ripping all of the buttons from his shirt as he wrenched it off. That first time they didn’t make it to the bed. He took her right against the door. The handle was pressing on her back as he sank inside of her.

Mandy had never felt so full, so whole, in her entire life.

The first time turned into two and then a third. And as he pounded into her from behind, balls deep and moaned, Mandy came for what seemed like the hundredth time.

He had begged her for her name the next morning. But Mandy knew that this had been a fairy tale. Men like him don’t stick with girls like her. So, she had merely kissed him with all of the pent-up emotion of what could have been and escaped into a taxi before the real world could taint their perfect night together.

**

TODAY

Tears streamed down Mandy’s cheeks as she stood in front of the same hotel from that fateful night.

The doorman seeing the pregnant women rushed out to greet her and ushered Mandy inside. She knew that she couldn’t afford to stay long. But, it was Christmas, and perhaps this small indulgence for only one night would be alright?

In the morning she would have to call Kim and her parents. Kim would be worried, and her parents would have to be told that she couldn’t give them any more money. Mandy didn’t want to think about that conversation. Nor, did she want to think about where she and the baby would go.

The doorman led her up to the least expensive room available and helped her with her bags. When Mandy tried to tip him, the man shook his head, “You look like you will need that more than I do.”

Mandy looked down at her swollen belly. More tears rushed to her eyes, “Thank you, Sir. Merry Christmas!”

The older gentleman nodded and gently closed the door.

In half an hour there was a knock at the door, room service had been ordered on the house for her.

She ate a few bites and then fell into a dreamless sleep.