Page 5 of Monkey Business

The young woman screamed like a petulant child, ripping at the dress, tearing it from her body. Gwen just watched, raising her brows at her mother and mother-in-law. When the girl was finished, she stood in only her panties and no bra. Nine and Gaspar didn’t even blink.

“See. Now we’ve seen what your fiancé has. No secrets. Might as well photograph it all and put it on the internet. I’m sure he’d love that,” said Nine.

“What? No. Don’t be stupid! I wouldn’t do that.”

“But someone at your wedding will. They’ll film the whole wedding and put it on the internet talking about the bride that showed more on her wedding day than on her honeymoon. They’ll send it out to the world for everyone to see and judge. Comments will flood into the stream, people making fun of you and your husband, and in the end, the person who will be hurt the most is you.”

Slowly, her arms came up, covering her breasts. Anna, Gwen’s assistant, brought out a silk robe and slid it over her shoulders. The young woman turned, walking back into the dressing room.

“I’m sorry, Gwen,” said the mother. “I’ll talk to her.”

“I’m sorry, too,” said Gwen. “She’s ruined any hope of turning that gown into something wearable. You’re one month out from her wedding. I hate to say this, but I can’t help you. She’s going to have to buy a gown off the rack somewhere else.”

“God,” muttered the future mother-in-law. “I’m going to call Bradley.”

“I’ll handle it from here, Gwen,” said Anna. She nodded at the woman and walked out of the fitting room with Nine and Gaspar.

“Sorry you guys had to see that. Welcome to the world of bridezillas.”

“Business must be good if you’re not worried about losing that client,” said Gaspar.

“Business is amazing. It’s not the bridal gowns that keep me in business. It’s all of my authentic indigenous designs. My bridal business is small, and normally, I only do it for people I truly know. Her mother called, panicked. Rightfully so. She’d worked with someone else and kept making her cut it lower or higher. There was hardly anything left to work with.”

“What is wrong with her?” asked Nine.

“She’s insecure,” said Gwen. Both men stared at her, then back down the hallway.

“She believes her beauty and self-worth are tied to her body, that’s why she’s desperate to show it to the world. I worry that her fiancé has made her feel that way. He’s much older than she is. At least fifteen years from what the mother said. He might feel some pride in snagging the younger, hot chick in the room.”

“Well, hopefully, they figure it out,” said Nine. “Everything else is good. No issues?”

“No issues,” she said, frowning.

“What? What is that face?” asked Gaspar.

“Well, it’s just weird. I have a bin out back that I put scraps of fabric in. It’s really not much of anything. Pieces that I can’t make anything from, but it’s good for someone wanting patch material or something to make a patchwork quilt.”

“Okay,” they nodded.

“Anyway, usually, the women’s shelter will pick it up, but they said the last few times it’s been empty. Someone is taking the scraps, but the guys don’t see anyone on camera.”

“That’s fucking weird,” frowned Nine. “I’ll see what we can find out for you. Good luck with her.”

“Thanks,” she smirked. “I think I’m very glad I had a son.”

By the time they made it to the spa, it was almost the end of the day. Keegan, Winter, and Ramey were sitting in the kitchen space, happy to be rid of their last client.

“Hi, ladies,” smiled Gaspar. “Just checking in with everyone.”

“Hi. What a nice surprise,” smiled Keegan. “You guys want a massage? Maybe a manicure or pedicure?”

“No. I’m good,” smiled Nine. “Everything okay here?”

“Perfect. We finished the last client, and she’s finally gone. What a stressful appointment for all of us.”

“A problem client?”

“Let’s just say she came in with a picture of a movie star forty years younger than she is and was demanding we make her look just like her. Her fiftieth high school reunion is this weekend.”

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