Page 211 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
I get a second fright when the number calling me registers as familiar. It’s Isaac.
After exhaling a big breath to settle the nerves in my voice, I hit the connect button, then raising my phone to my ear, I attempt to speak, but Isaac beats me. “Put Hugo on the phone.”
“Okay.” Hugo’s brows furrow when I thrust my phone into his chest. “He wants to speak to you.”
He looks more panicked now than when I issued my threat. While working his jaw side to side, he squashes my phone to his ear. “Boss.”
When his eyes dart up from his polished black shoes, my pulse quickens. He has a bizarre glimmer in his eyes I’ve never seen before. I honestly don’t know if I’m in trouble or on the brink of greatness. Fingers crossed it’s a bit of both.
Their conversation is very brief. Hugo only says two words, “I understand,” before he disconnects their call and hands my phone back to me.
“What did he say?”
He doesn’t grace me with a reply. He just grins, winks, then strolls into the kitchen to steal one of Mrs. James’s famous cookies, leaving me on a knife’s edge.
CHAPTER24
ISABELLE
After balling my hands into loose fists, I pivot around to face the full-length mirror in the corner of the room. My jaw gapes when I take in the usual sight in front of me. When Brandon said his mom likes to play Barbie dolls, he wasn’t joking. Mrs. James spent the last three hours treating me exactly as if I were one. She polished me so well, I swear my skin is sparkling like the vampires inTwilightdo when they stand in the sun.
My skin isn’t the only thing gleaming. Every hair on my head has been faultlessly wrangled into place, and a few curls have been added to my usually kink-free lock. Dramatic shadowing enhances the richness of my dark eyes, but my lips are neutral with only the slightest shimmer of lip gloss coating them.
Even my $39.97 bargain dress I purchased from eBay looks even more regal than it is. I originally bought my dress to wear at my graduation party from the academy, but even with me sending my bust, waist, and hip measurements to the Chinese manufacturer six weeks before my graduation as requested, it didn’t arrive in time.
The black skirt is made up of ruched silk, and the silver bodice is adorned with diamante rhinestones. The hem jumps from somewhat risqué to wickedly naughty when I slip my feet into a pair of black and silver strappy heels. I’m showing off more leg than I like, but I feel like a princess, so I wouldn’t change my outfit even if I had packed another dress.
While fanning my cheeks to settle down the heat spreading across my face, I pace out of the bathroom. My heels dig into the plush cream carpet of the room Mrs. James seconded so I could prep for tonight’s Gala, but it has nothing on the gooeyness of my insides when Hugo mutters, “Damn, Izzy. You’re smoking!”
Although he didn’t relinquish his protective bodyguard demeanor this afternoon, his presence hasn’t been overly smothering. He spent the majority of his day reading outdated magazines and tapping his foot in beat to the classic car tunes he played during our drive. For someone who was adamant we weren’t to play any country music, he had no troubles belting out “Sweet Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
He probably kept his distance because anytime he got close, I relentlessly nagged him about his conversation with Isaac. Regrettably, the information-seeping Hugo I’ve become accustomed to the past two weeks has been replaced with a locked-up-tighter-than-Fort-Knox Hugo. He didn’t need to say anything, though, just me still being here several hours later is evidence enough. I had both a victory and a loss today. A win because Isaac trusts me enough to let me stay at a male friend’s house but a loss because his jealousy wasn’t enough to force him to react.
Hugo isn’t the only quiet male today. Brandon has been notably distant as well. I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him since lunch. Shrugging off my confusion of the opposite sex, I gather my black clutch purse from my suitcase. After checking it has the necessities needed for a night out, I spin back around. The heel from my pretentiously high stiletto heels snags on the thick carpet pile.
Just before I collide with the floor, a broad set of arms catches me. Expensive cologne and…cookie doughswamp my senses when my savior assists me back onto my feet. After ensuring I didn’t flash any private parts during my fall, I lift my gaze and am met with the sparkling hazel eyes of Brandon. My mouth gapes when I notice he’s wearing a tuxedo with tails. His hair is slicked to the side, and his dark suit makes the green in his eyes even more noticeable.
Upon noticing my appreciative glance, his cheeks turn a pink hue. “Are you ready?”
Smiling at his flustered face, I nod before accepting the elbow he’s holding out. I’ve never been to a fancy shindig before, so I’m excited and somewhat nervous to see how the night unfolds.
When, in the corner of my eye, I catch Hugo shooting daggers at Brandon, I give him my best ‘behave‘ face. He rolls his eyes before shadowing us out into the hall.
My eyes narrow into a thin line when I spot Hugo’s nosey glance for the fifth time in the past thirty minutes. Being polite, I sat in the backseat with Brandon to allow Barbara to ride shotgun. Even with a gap big enough to park a truck between Brandon and me, Hugo’s eyes rarely leave the rearview mirror. I’m surprised he hasn’t run us off the road.
Because of the number of attendees arriving at the same time, the line to enter the closest multi-story parking garage near the gala stretches for nearly half a mile.
After a stern warning that I’m to stay in the foyer, Hugo pulls Brandon’s BMW in front of the hotel the gala is being held at to let us out. I can’t wipe the excitement off my face when I enter the opulent lobby on Brandon’s arm. Hundreds of people dressed to the nines are milling around the space. The air has the pungent aroma of wealth and importance, which isn’t surprising with how many designer dresses and exorbitantly priced shoes are in one area. Some of the diamonds around the ladies’ necks are larger than the fake ones hanging from the chandeliers above my head.
Harlow would have a field day at an event like this.Other than the occasional quick text message, I haven’t heard from her the past week. Trying to text her on an ancient cell phone is so painful and tedious, I’m going to ask Hugo to stop into an electronics store so I can replace the phone Hunter destroyed.
Barbara excuses herself to assist other charity members who are hosting the gala tonight. I don’t know what charity they’re raising money for, but from the caliber of wealth in the one room, it must be important. Most guests are already wearing their masks as mandated by the fundraising team, but a few are clutching them in their hands like Brandon and me. When Brandon comes to a sudden stop halfway across the foyer, I shoot my eyes up to his. His face pales the longer he keeps his angst-ridden gaze focused on something across the room.
Following his gaze, I discover the girl we saw earlier today leading the horse around the paddock. “Is that Melody?”
Swallowing hard, Brandon nods, his eyes never leaving the woman responsible for the lack of color in his cheeks. I figured her presence would have the opposite effect because she looks stunning in her red silk ball gown that sweeps the ground as she walks. Her blonde hair is pinned off her face, and the vibrant color of her lips matches her dress to perfection.
Sensing our gawking watch, her gaze lifts and turns our way. When she notices Brandon across the room, a vein in her neck pulsates before a huge smile stretches across her face. I nudge Brandon with my elbow, confident she’s throwing out feelers. “Go say hello.”
