Page 11 of The Mark (The Players 2)

“This is the employee locker room?” My browsshotup.

She shook her head. “The employee locker room will be overflowing right now.” She showed me the screen of her phone. It was after seven. “Shiftchange.”

My stomach growled and I laid a hand on it. “I have no idea why my body wants food,” I grumbled. “I cannot even think about eating.” I gestured to my clothes by way ofexplanation.

Kate bit her lip as if trying to hold back, then she tilted her head and spoke. “I’m sure you’re going to decline, but we’re having a special dinner tonight. And there’s plenty of food. Private dining room. Eight o’clock. You’re more than welcome to join us.” She wore such a hopeful expression on her face, I actually believed she wanted me there. And for all of a split second, I consideredgoing.

Then I shook my head. “Company policy. I really can’t.” Her face fell and I truly felt guilty fordeclining.

“Okay. Well, I guess I’ll let you be. There’s a dispenser for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the shower.” Then Kate hung the garment bag on the hook protruding from the door, set the paper bag on the vanity, and backed out oftheroom.

As soon as I was confident I was finally alone, I began to undress and then started the shower, making the temperature as hot as I could handle. There wasn’t enough soap and scalding water to make me feel clean again. Still, I was willing to give it a go. So, I stepped into the stream and filled my lungs with the moist air. Soon, my shoulders were relaxing and I begantosing.

This had been my thing for as long as I could remember. I loved the acoustics in the bathroom, and this one promised to be amazing. “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.” I started tentatively as I wet my hair down and started rinsing off. While I shampooed, I went with a classic. “Beauty school dropout,” I crooned. By the time I had finished washing my body, I was belting out, “Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundredminutes.”

Finally, I turned off the shower, stepped out and grabbed one of the ultra-plush towels on the bar. “My God, I’ve never felt anything so soft in all my life.” Then I stared at my reflection in the mirror. There was a hint of pink in my cheeks and my long, dark hair fell in wet waves around my shoulders. Since my hair tie reeked, I tossed it in the garbage. Still, I felt pretty good about my reflection. A foggy mirror was the best filter. I shook my head and opened the paper bag on the counter. Sticking my hand inside, I moved my fingers around, but felt nothing. So, I picked up the bag, shook it a few times, and dumped it on the vanity. To my dismay, a tiny black triangle and two loops of silken string slid out onto themarble.

“What the hell am I supposed to do with this?” I grumbled before I picked it up between my thumb and forefinger. Studying it up close didn’t make it seem bigger. I considered my options for all of three seconds. At the moment, I didn’t have the luxury of being choosy. It was this joke of a thong or commando, and my time in the uptight New England boarding school wouldn’t allow me to go the latter route. With a sigh, I stepped into the loops and began to pull the panties up to my hips. They managed to get tangled partway up my thighs, but finally, they were in place. Thankfully, the bathroom mirror was still coated in condensation. If I had to see my reflection, I might’ve lost my nerve and never opened the garment bag. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, I moved to the door where the bag hung and began to unzip it. As I pulled the zipper down and peeked in, I gasped. At least these two items of clothing seemed to gotogether.

The black velvet mini-dress made me happy I wasn’t some six-foot-tall model. At just over five feet, this might actually cover my va-jay-jay. I slid the straps off the hanger and held it in front of me. Naturally, I had no bra and for the first time maybe ever, I was pretty glad I was only a B-cup. I might make it to my car without humiliatingmyself.

There was a knock on the door. “How’s it going, Miss Jenner?” Kate called fromthehall.

I sighed. I’d forgotten about her. After I managed to slip my hands through the arm holes of the dress, I lifted it over my head and began to yank it down over my body. It could’ve been a second skin. And the seams on the sides were strangely thick and scratchy. I examined them more closely and felt my spirits sink evenlower.

The bathroom door flew open. “Oh, sorry! When you didn’t respond, I feared you’d fainted again. I…” Kate bit her lip and studied me. “It fits.” She smiled, but I knew it wasn’t genuine when it didn’t reachhereyes.

I began to bend over and we both heard the ripping sound coming from my thighs. I sucked my lips in. I had nowords.

“Velcro,” she murmured as she reached out to secure it. Then Kate smoothed out the side of my dress. “There. All better.” She smiled warmly, but I could feel a tension under the surface. Finally, Kate held up her other hand. “So, I found these. They are a half size too big, but I thought they might be better than your own shoes, if only because they don’t have puke splatteronthem.”

I licked my lips and dug deep. She was being so nice, trying so hard. Hell, I almost believed she didn’t want anything in return. “They match the dress.” I reached out to take the clear platform heels from her hand. “And how much damage can I do? They have astrap.”

“Listen, I know you mentioned that you can’t be beholden to us or risk compromising the audit, but I think you should pop by and grab some food from our dinner.” She frowned before continuing to make her case. “There’s an hors d’oeuvre buffet during the cocktail hour. You could just eatandrun.”

Her suggestion was tempting. “I couldn’tdothat.”

Kate huffed. “Well, you should. I could practically hear your stomach growling from the other side of the door.” Then she moved to stand behind me. “Your hair. Let me help. You don’t want to walk through the hotel with awethead.”

I smirked at her in the mirror. “Yeah. I wouldn’t want to beembarrassed.”

We both giggled. Kate grabbed the blow dryer and began to dry my hair. I let her. I felt too worn down, too broken, to object. Once in a while, it might be nice to have someone take care of me since I’d spent years doing it for everyone around me. In less than fifteen minutes, she finished my hair. For the first time ever, it hung loosely around myshoulders.

“I almost feel pretty,” Iwhispered.

“Girl, you’re ridiculously attractive. You just hide it.” She moved to stand in front of me. “MayI?”

I wasn’t entirely sure what she meant, but I didn’t feel like arguing and I was more than a little curious. “Whatever. It’s too late to worry about myreputationnow.”

Kate laughed. “Miss Jenner, you’re in Vegas. No one else will ever know.” She rifled through her purse, which she’d set on the counter. “We have similar coloring. So, I’m pulling out all thestops.”

“Do you even wear makeup?” My eyes narrowed as I scrutinizedherface.

“Barely. Powder, lipstick, some eyeliner so my eyes don’t completely disappear.” She shrugged before she began to work on my face. With her help, my face was finished in a matter of minutes. “This is my lucky lipstick.” She sighed happily as she openedthetube.

“What’s so lucky about it?” I tilted my head. The brand seemed pretty common. SomethingfromUlta.

“I was wearing this when I met Ty, in the lobby of the hotel. Maybe you can have the same luck.” Shesmiled.

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