Page 75 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

From the top of the ladder, Sam wrestled the balloons to the left a couple of inches. “Good?”

“Awesome!” Turning around, I assessed the rest of the room. It had only been two days ago that Aunt Jenny had contacted me, asking if I’d be willing to help her out with a little decorating for some launch after party. ‘A little’ had been a slight understatement. The room was huge, and so were the number of decorations. It had taken ten of us to get it finished on time. Looking around, I wondered if this was what Aunt Jenny had wanted. “What do you think?” I asked Sam.

She gazed around with scrutiny from her perch on the ladder. “I think it looks good.”

I was just considering going to fetch Aunt Jenny for her approval, when the door swung open and she appeared. Her eyes widened. “Oh, wow. This looks amazing, guys. Awesome job!”

“Are you sure it’s what you wanted?” I asked, biting my lip.

“It’s perfect, precious,” she said, coming to squeeze me in a one-armed hug. Then she thrust a bag into my stomach. “Now, go get changed.”

I frowned. “What’s this?”

She winked. “That is what you’re wearing tonight.”

Giving her a deadpan look, I sighed and tried to pass it back. “I brought a change of clothes.”

Her returning look was full of sarcasm. “Does it involve denim?’

I smirked. “Maybe.”

With lips pressed together, she blinked, long and slow. “Okay, unless said denim involves four-inch pumps and a slinky blouse, you’re wearing what I bought you.”

Huffing, I looked up to the ceiling. “Really?”

“Really. Now, go get changed. The both of you. And I hope you’re more girly than Liv is, Sam.”

Sam smirked. “Oh, I am.”

Heading to the room Aunt Jenny had us store our bags in, Sam locked it while I assessed what it was I was expected to wear. As soon as I pulled out the glittery, silver dress, Sam gasped. “Oh my God, Liv. It’s gorgeous.”

It kind of was. It was relatively short—maybe mid-thigh length—and had little capped sleeves and a plunging neckline. It looked sexy as hell.

“What else did she give you?”

Checking the bag, I pulled out a shoe box and something wrapped in tissue paper.

Sam ripped the box out of my hands, her eyes almost popping out of her head. “Jesus, Liv. She gave you Jimmy Choos? What the hell?”

I peered inside, to see a pair of silver strappy heels. I had no idea how she expected me to walk in them. I hadn’t exactly worn heels before. And these were like four inches. Opening the tissue paper, I found a pair of lacy panties, the material softer than I’d ever felt on anything before.

Placing the items on a chair, I sat down and chewed on my lip. “It feels wrong, Sam. I can’t wear this stuff, knowing there are people out there struggling to find enough food to feed their families, let alone new clothes to wear. I mean, we work for a magazine that promotes the damn United World Aid Group, for crying out loud. I feel like a freaking hypocrite.”

Sam sighed and knelt on the floor in front of me. “I know. But the world is one big contradiction, babe. For us to do what we want to do, we need the support of the rich. It’s their contributions that keep us going and able to provide for those people. And that means we have to mingle with them in their habitat. I know this party isn’t for WAM, but it’s the same concept, really. And if I see anyone worth talking to about U-WAG’s cause tonight, you can bet everything that I will be on it in a flash.”

She was right. If I could convince even one person to get involved or donate in some way, then it would be worth it. Straightening my shoulders, I steeled myself. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

Sam grinned from ear to ear and jumped up with an excited clap. “Can I do your makeup?”

Crap. I hadn’t thought about that. I guessed I couldn’t go as far as dressing in sparkles and not wear makeup. “As long as it’s simple,” I said.

“You’ll love it,” was her only reply.

Stripping, I slipped on the underwear Aunt Jenny had bought me and carefully shimmied into the dress. I hated to admit it, but it felt incredibly nice. Until I looked down. “Oh my God! I can’t wear this. My boobs are about to fall out.”

Sam laughed, half into her own dress. “They are not. That’s the way it’s supposed to look. It looks great. You’ve got amazing boobs. Show them off.”

I worried at my lip. “I think it’s too short, Sam.”

---