Page 43 of Secret Obsession

17

Lila

Acoupleofhourslater, I hurried over to Karma, excited to take her home. Maybe this was the distraction I needed to stop obsessing about Hawk…and where he was…and who he was with.

My new pooch snoozed on Simone’s lap as she typed away.

“Thanks for watching her.”

“I’m so happy you’re adopting her. I was so worried about her, but I already have four rescues at home.”

Karma woke up from her nap with a sneeze, making me and Simone sayAwwwat the same time. The little bundle of grass-stained fur stood up and wobbled while trying to balance on the uneven lap. Karma looked at me, then at the floor, whined, and scratched at Simone’s pants that had decorative zippers running all the way down the front of each pant leg.

I had seen and drooled over those jeans before at the online shop, but the designer didn’t make clothes in my size. The biggest size they carried was a twelve, and Simone squeezed into them beautifully.

I liked my curves most of the time, but sometimes I wished they weren’t so…abundant. I longed to fit into certain designer lines. I should send another email to customer service to tell them to be more inclusive and less fat-phobic.

“Are those Bronzata’s?” I asked.

Simone gazed adoringly at Karma, who was still scratching at her pants. “Uh-huh.”

“Karma, stop scratching.” I hurried around the desk and picked up my dog before she made a rip in the three-thousand-dollar jeans. “Any damage?”

Simone waved dismissively. “Nah. Don’t worry.”

“I know you’re not slumming it in the kennel, but you always bring a dog in here who will drool and jump on you. Why do you wear such expensive clothes?”

She shrugged. “They’re last year’s fashion. If I don’t wear them here, then I’ve nowhere else to wear them. Besides, they weren’t that expensive.”

If pants worth three grand weren’t her best wardrobe, I wondered what was. I knew she was successful, but I never realized how much. Maybe corporate lawyers made a shit-ton more money than psychiatrists. At least ones like Simone who’d been made a partner at the firm after fifteen years.

She stood up and gave Karma a kiss on the muzzle. “Enjoy your new home, sweet girl. I’m sure you’ll be happy with Lila.”

“I think I’m the one who’s going to be happy. It’ll be nice to have a companion to snuggle with while watching TV.” During my lonely nights of dreaming about Hawk.

“Oh, by the way,” she said. “I have exciting news. A benefactor is having a masquerade ball fundraiser for the rescue next week. Isn’t that fun?”

Simone handed me an invitation. The bronze envelope was sealed with a red wax seal with a logo of the initials J.W. I ran my thumb over the seal. “Wow. This looks really exquisite.” I opened the envelope and took out the invitation written in gold calligraphy on the cream cardstock.

“This is so different from the usual charity event,” I said.

“I know, right? I was getting sick of those bazaars in the parking lot with the hotdog stands.”

I reread the invitation four times. “How could the rescue afford to host a ball at the St. Regis hotel? And it’s in the rooftop ballroom? Oh my god, this must be a super fancy event.”

“Didn’t you hear? It’s hosted by some investment genius who likes dogs. The fundraiser will raise money for over forty-nine rescues across the US. The admission cost to the ball, or minimum donation I should say, is fifty thousand per person. It’s fully booked. I heard that the rich on Billionaire Row are calling it the go-to event of the year.”

I nearly dropped the invitation. “Holy shit. Too rich for my blood. I might have a doctor’s salary, but I still have a mountain of student debts to pay off.”

Simone grinned. “Even I couldn’t afford it. But wait ’til you hear the best part. Because we’re volunteers, we get to go for free.” She flicked her hair back. “It’s going to be so exciting, meeting all those richer-than-I-can-possibly-imagine socialites. And celebrities. I wonder if Pink will be there. She likes animals. I bet she’ll be there. Ohhhh. I can’t wait to see who else I’ll meet. I better stuff my purse with enough business cards.”

I didn’t share in her enthusiasm. A lot of our clientele at the clinic were crazy-level rich. And crazy-level jackasses. Fame and money weren’t things I got excited over. That was not what defined a person.

“Lila, you have to come. It’s not the kind of event I like to attend solo.”

“Why would you? Didn’t all the volunteers get invites?”

“None of them want to go. I think they’re too intimidated. Maybe they feel they’ll stick out.”

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