“What size shoe do you wear?” I asked Lissa.
“Size eight.”
“Do you have a pair of heels I could borrow?” I asked, pointing to my feet. “Anything, but my boots.”
“Yes, good idea.” Lissa smiled, leaning in. She reached out and squeezed my arm. “I keep an extra pair in the back. Give me a minute.”
I walked across the lobby to the ladies room. Inside, the walls were floor to ceiling Carrara marble walls, which suggested opulence, but the countertop was etched and dull.
I knew my family needed to re-sand, re-seal, and replace pieces of this stone if they expected the Mia Sorella to retain her four-star ranking. We could not afford to let another season pass without making improvements.
I used the restroom and stood at the sink in front of the gilded mirror. I found a ponytail holder in my pocket and brushed my wavy black hair into a high ponytail. A few wisps of untamable hair framed my face.
The door to the restroom opened, and Lissa popped her head in, holding a pair of shiny black heels with red soles in one hand, and a red-and-black scarf in the other.
“I thought you could use a color change-up,” she said, putting the heels and wrap on the counter. She handed me a tube of lipstick. “Use this,” she said. “It’s a gorgeous red. Trust me.”
I sighed and nodded, trusting her as if she were my sister. I put on the lipstick and smacked my lips in the mirror. The red color was good. Lissa helped me adjust the scarf so it wrapped around my shoulders just right.
“Much better.” Lissa said.
“Yes?” I smiled. My heart raced, this time with confidence. “This is better.”
“You look like a woman who has come to win,” Lissa said, standing beside me and squeezing my shoulders.
“Thank you.”
“Of course,” she said, leaning down, her face next to mine. “The women in this family need to stick together.” We were notrelated by blood, but she had lived with my family for so long, she was like family. “You need to go upstairs,” she said gently.
“I know,” I said, mind racing and toe tapping. At least now I had on beautiful shoes. I understood how Cinderella was transformed by her glass slippers. I intended to walk into that room as if I belonged at the ball.
“I need to send one text,” I said, taking out my phone. I fired off a message to Leo and asked Lissa to connect with him when he arrived.
“Of course,” Lissa said.
“All right then, I’m going in. Wish me luck.”
Lissa and I exited the restroom and headed to the grand staircase. Outside the dining room doors, I heard muffled voices inside. I wasn’t the first to arrive, but I wasn’t late. I glanced at my phone. I had five minutes, although I knew I was cutting it close.
I paused to give the agenda a quick review.
Uzano Board Meeting
Introductions
Financials