Page 185 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5
“Do you know what causes panic attacks?” he whispered as his fingers drove me insane.
God.I dropped my head back against the wooden door. How did he expect me to answer him like this? My fingers dug into his strong shoulders.
“Stress,” he said and gently kissed my neck. “And I think I know how to make my girl relax.”
Betrayal - Chapter 20
Friday
“No way,” Kennedy said when we were ushered out of our car on 5thAvenue.
I was just as surprised as she was. We were in the fashion center of New York, standing right outside the world famous Odegaard boutique. I had never been here before, but I’d remembered Justin mentioning it. He worked for the head stylist of Odegaard – Diane Cartwright. Who just so happened to be my personal stylist too thanks to my dad.I wonder how pissed she is that all those clothes got destroyed by Isabella…
“For girls’ night we’re getting makeovers!” Matt’s mom said.
Kennedy opened her mouth but no words came out.
“I’ve rented out the whole store for the evening,” Mrs. Caldwell said. “We have a hairdresser and a makeup artist coming. And of course we have to go shopping. Plus you two will need costumes for our annual Halloween party next weekend. My treat, of course.”
Wow.When she mentioned that all girls’ nights involved shopping, I kind of figured we’d end up at the mall or something. But Mrs. Caldwell was always dressed flawlessly. This made perfect sense. I’d seen Matt, Mason, and even Mr. Caldwell around the house in pajamas. But never Mrs. Caldwell. “Mrs. Caldwell, you don’t have to…”
“I want to. That’s why it’s my treat. Come with me, girls.” She walked through the ten-foot-tall glass doors and greeted the person standing there with a kiss to each cheek.
Kennedy and I both looked at each other. “I feel like I’m going to be arrested just for stepping foot in there,” she said.
I laughed. “This is surreal, isn’t it?”
“It’s freaking amazing is what it is!” Kennedy grabbed my arm. “I mean…makeovers?! At Odegaard? That’s not even a thing! This isn’t real life!”
I laughed.
“And I’ve heard rumors about the Caldwell annual Halloween party. It’s supposed to beepic. They go all out. Apparently last year there were even fire dancers.”
I wasn’t sure how fire dancers related to Halloween at all. But the Caldwell mansion was perfectly suited for a Halloween party. There definitely wasn’t much decorating they needed to do. That’s why I mainly hung out in the warm and cozy kitchen and Matt’s room. I barely even went in the guestroom I was supposed to be sleeping in. I just went in every now and then and pushed around the sheets.
“Girls, what are you waiting for?” Mrs. Caldwell said and waved us inside. The woman she’d been chatting with had disappeared through another set of doors.
I forced myself not to spin around. The air even smelled fancy inside, kind of like how when you walked into a departmentstore and got sprayed by one of the perfume sellers. Only…nothing like that at all. Because it didn’t even look like a store. There were marble walls and a chandelier. It was more like the entrance of a five-star hotel than a boutique.
Where are we?Kennedy was right. This wasn’t real life.
I heard someone squeal and turned to see Justin walking over to us.
“Ladies!” he said. “I saw that you were on the schedule tonight so I took the overtime hours. You’re so welcome.”
“Ah, Justin!” Kennedy said and gave him a hug. “I didn’t know you worked at Odegaard.”
“I know Odegaard backward and forward. I’m Diane Cartwright’s personal assistant. And tonight I’m yours.” He winked at her. “Great to see you again, Brooklyn.” He gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “And Lori. You look fabulous as always.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it.
“Thank you, Justin,” she said with a laugh. “I didn’t realize you knew Brooklyn and Kennedy.”
“Please. I know almost every woman on the Upper East side. How did the three of you become friends?”
Mrs. Caldwell put her hand on my shoulder. “You’re looking at my future daughter in law.”
“No.” Justin gasped and then grabbed my hand. “Yes! I knew I’d be planning your wedding soon. Wow, what a ring.” He fanned himself with his freehand.
I laughed. “It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
