Page 2 of Treasured
“Leave me with my regrets.”
My phone beeped with a message—my appointment was on her way up. I tugged on the cotton bottoms fast while I said, “What regrets? You saved my life more times than I can count.”
“I… the best thing I did for you was chase him off for good.”
“Him” meaning Arthur. My son’s father had been my biggest mistake, but then again, without him, I would not have Bruce. His still name sent ice chips through my spine. When Arthor snapped, I feared for the safety of my son and knew I had to leave. Now he was long gone, and I glanced at the door and hoped the staff coming were all women. “You did that twice for me. I won’t need that service ever again.”
“Call me when you get home.”
“I will.” There was a knock at the door. My hands trembled a little. Then I glanced through the peephole and saw three women in a black smocks, carrying rolling luggage that must have been filled with hair products, makeup, and whatever a masseuse carried. I unlocked it as I said to Joseph, “Tonight I’m going to pretend to be a princess.”
“You’ve been playing that game all our lives.”
When I’d been a girl, the game had been to mentally check out so I wouldn’t have to listen to our drunken father. Now, I waved for the three women to come in and said, “This time, it’s fun.”
“Fair enough.”
We said, “See you tomorrow,” and I hung up the phone.
The masseuse set up a table that had been folded, and the hair and makeup ladies found stations in the room—it was like my hotel room was a salon. I lay down on the massage table, and once the woman started, I closed my eyes.
Maybe tonight would be my coming-out ball or like the prom. I never had the chance to just be pretty. Sure, my job tonight was simple. I would pick up the check from the benefit, say a one short sentence thanking the benefit guests, and fly home the next morning. However, I never had any of this pampering stuff, ever, where someone else did my hair and face. My cousin, Indigo, who owned the shelters I ran, had really set me up.
I followed the women’s directions, and soon I was done. My hair was in an upsweep, like I was some noble of old who had lady’s maids to ensure every strand of hair was perfect.
In reality, I would have been the maid in any scenario of my life, except I had no special skills with a brush.
I tipped them, and they left together.
I shoved the rest of my money back in my pocketbook and locked it in the safe. Done. I checked my dress in the mirror to ensure everything was on right and stopped and stared at myself. It was me, but it wasn’t. I glowed. My dark blond hair, which normally reminded me of dry baked dirt, now seemed soft and elegant. The dress was strapless, though my breasts were covered.
This was the princess version of me, and no one was going to stop me.
However, as I turned to the door, I froze. The dress had no pockets, and I never went anywhere without my phone. I sucked on my bottom lip until I realized I had on lipstick and stopped.
If something happened to Bruce, I would need to know. No one would see me anyhow, so I tucked it in my strapless bra and floated out the door to the first floor and headed to the conference rooms.
There was a table with name tags on it. I checked in with the first person and took my name badge, then a woman holding papers gestured for me to follow her. “Ms. Steel, this way.”
The room had a crystal chandelier. Every table had fresh pink and red flowers that were prettier than roses, with a white tablecloth and a sheer gray overlay.
She showed me to my already half-full table and left.
My table was number one—beside the dance floor and near the stage. Perfect.
I could dash when my mission was finished. I sipped my water and glanced across the room.
The room was half-filled already. Groups were visiting like they knew each other, and everyone was dressed elegantly. Black attire, blue attire—even one woman in orange. They all oozed class and money, and the men in the room all wore suits and tuxedos that probably cost a lot.
Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. Across the room sat a man with dimples and huge muscles who commanded attention in a black tux.
I’d thought men with that huge of a frame couldn’t be real. My brother worked out for hours every day, but he was still thin. This sexy man mesmerized me, and he filled out that tux. His white teeth and that sexy stubble on his face made my girlie parts come alive.
My eyes refused to look away. I stared for a moment, and my mouth watered.
I leaned closer to one of the older couples at my table and pointed toward the confident man with mesmerizing dark eyes and asked, “Do you know who he is?”
A woman with white hair shrugged. “I don’t know exactly. One of the guests.” Then she added, “He’s at the Cole Security Forces table.”
