Page 51 of No Longer Safe

Ugh.

No.

Carina lounged on my bed in a big, puffy white chiffon dress that fell right at her ankles. The neckline went up to her neck but was tasteful and gorgeous with her bronzed skin. She was glowing. I was hoping the professional makeup artist could make me artificially glow. My dress was similar but the neckline was square and let a little bit of cleavage through. A string of pearls was waiting on my vanity to go with it. The baby blue color was tasteful and pretty against my skin and the beige heels that went with it made my legs look incredible. What I would give to be dressed by Carina for the rest of my life… I’d never looked or felt better than I did now, despite the breakup. I could get through this healing at a rapid pace if it meant all this self-care and beautiful clothes.

“Soooo,” Carina rolled onto her belly and raised an eyebrow.

I knew where this was going. I held a hand up. “I don’t want to talk about the Cristof brothers.”

She pressed her lips into a thin line and narrowed her eyes at me. “Fine. Get dressed then, because there’s nothing else I’d rather talk about!”

She was up and off of my bed before I could say a word. A few minutes later, she was rushing the makeup artist into the room. The woman pushed her wireframe glasses up her nose and inspected my face carefully. I tried my best to keep my face neutral.

“I can work with this,” the woman said and immediately got to work. When she was finished, the artificial glow was accomplished and I looked like I’d had the best sleep of my life. The bruises were gone and my swollen puffy eyes looked normal.

“You worked magic,” I breathed as I hovered my fingers over my cheeks.

“I worked in a funeral home for a few years; it taught me a lot.” I blinked at my reflection. That would do it, I guessed.

“Thank you so much,” I gushed as she nodded and walked out. She hadn’t been much of a talker the other times I’d seen her. Oh well.

The dress was soft against my skin as I bent over and buckled the straps to the heels around my ankles. My light brown hair was curled and fell around my shoulders. A few pearl clips that matched the necklace, held my hair back from my face. For the first time in what felt like forever, my eyes sparkled.

Carina poked her head into the room and beamed. “Oh! You look amazing!”

Her black hair was pinned back with a netting of various sized pearls and her ears held little pearl studs. Her covered hands held out a matching pair of gloves that stopped at mid-wrist. I frowned at them but put them on anyway. This was what I signed up for.

Disbelief coursed through me as I took a step into the garden. It had been completely transformed. It was absolutely breathtaking. There were wicker chairs set up against little glass tables that were covered in light pink and gold china. It wasn’t fake china either, I checked, much to my embarrassment to the women surrounding me. Champagne flutes were passed around by wait staff holding golden platters. Each person wore a three-piece suit and stared straight ahead as if they weren’t real. It was like I’d traveled into an alternate reality. I most certainly didn’t belong here.

“So why did the guys come upstate for this? It’s only women here.” I asked Carina behind an elaborate fan as I watched the rich—probably— gossip about us. Not many bothered with introductions and instead watched us from afar as if we were a new zoo exhibit. Carina didn’t mind but it was making me sweat. The sun wasn’t even out for goodness sake and my back was coated. If we’d been anywhere else I would have kicked my shoesoff but all eyes were on us and I wasn’t going to let these people get to me. I would rather turn into a puddle than show weakness.

“They didn’t come for all the wedding festivities, they came to see you!” Carina waggled her brows at me but I chose to ignore the comment. There was no way all the Cristof brothers came to see me. I refused to believe it. So instead of making a comment, I focused on something I cared about far more.

The gifts, piled in expensive-looking boxes, each coordinated with the others. It looked as if all the guests got together to coordinate, or they had their hired shoppers do it. Maybe they all had the same person wrap their gifts for them. It was bizarre and I hated it… but I also loved it. It was impersonal but also… strangely appealing. More than anything, I wanted to see what was inside the big, elaborate boxes. I didn’t care about anything else until the first course was placed in front of me and my mouth started watering.

I hadn’t been overly impressed with many of the dinner selections while staying here, but I knew now that was because Sinclair was in charge of dinner menus. He had entirely too much time on his hands it seemed.

A crisp strawberry salad with a raspberry vinaigretteis what the menu read. It was light and refreshing and I fought to keep my eyes open with every bite. I’d never had something so delicious until the second course was wheeled out and I realized everything I’d been missing out on. Now this was how the rich lived and I was envious.

French toast with caramelized bananas, pecan nuts, and maple syrupwas next. It was everything my heart could have desired. Absolute perfection served up on the prettiest china I would ever see again. Paired with bottomless mimosas and I was so happy. This was my heaven, good food and unlimited alcohol. Where had this been all of my life?

I closed my eyes in reverence of this absolute masterpiece before I looked over at Carina in adoration. “Thank God for Ace Cristof.”

Carina snorted and held up her glass to hide her smile. “I’ve been trying to tell you all how amazing he is.”

“I hate these kinds of parties,” Nana sat down next to us and my eyes got wide. She was wearing a dark green pantsuit and looked like a mob boss. Her silver hair was rolled into a side knot and her lips were dark red. This woman, right here, was the woman that killed her husband,one hundred percent. She didn’t look like she belonged at a croquet-themed bridal shower. Grandmother was next and I swore I wasn’t going to be able to keep my food down. She was wearing a frilly dress with her white hair curled around her heart-shaped face, but her cane was looking extra menacing. Something about it seemed different and I wouldn’t put it past her to have a weapon hiding inside of it today,

“I don’t know,” I shrugged as I took the last bite of the most incredible French toast I’d ever tasted. “This food really makes up for it.”

Nana wrinkled her nose. “As long as Sinclair didn’t plan the menu. He loves bland food. What kind of man did you raise?” She looked at the other granny.

Grandmother lifted her nose. “A ruthless one.”

“He doesn’t have much taste.” Nana sniffed.

“At least it’s a beautiful day,” Carina tried. Both women decided to ignore her and each other. At least aPoached pear with vanilla ice creamwas on its way. That sounded divine and I could put up with the grannies for all eternity if it meant getting to eat like this through it.

Emeline clanked her butter knife against a champagne flute and we all turned our gaze to the magnificent woman. Her blonde hair was in an elaborate updo at the back of her headand little diamond studs sparkled in her ears. She wore a pastel green dress that looked like it was completely made out of lace, it fell right above her knees. She wore a pair of tasteful beige flats. “Thank you all so much for coming out to celebrate my firstborn and his love match.” She said the words with so much favor and love that I couldn’t look at anything else. A slight blush colored her cheeks as she spoke.

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