Maybe not the choice to wear this blue dress today, but in thirty days I can do anything I want. Maybe just hand the farm over to Tim, wipe my hands clean. The opportunities are now endless.
The sound of someone clearing their throat makes me jump.
“Sorry, I knocked, but there wasn’t an answer so I let myself in,” the tall, stunning brunette standing in the doorway of the closet says as she holds up a key card.
“Mandy, I’m guessing?” I say, taking my hand from my chest now that my heart has stopped trying to leap from it.
“That’s me,” she says, striding towards me, her long legs eating up the distance between us. She extends her hand, her perfectly polished dark purple nails catching the light. She’s stunning in that very uptight kind of way. Everything about her seems to be precise and in place. She is perfectly put together. From her crisp white button-up shirt to the tight pencil skirt that matches her nails and shoes to a t.
Reaching out, I take her hand in mine, and her face lights up, a warm smile spreading across her face and revealing perfect teeth. Yes, ‘perfect’ is the word I would use to describe her. At first glance she looked like she would be cold, but looking up into her face, all I see is warmth.
“I’m so glad you’re finally here. You’re even prettier than the pictures,” she says.
“Pictures?” I question.
“Oh! We’re on a tight schedule. I have you set up at the spa,” she glances down at the Blackberry in her hand, “now!” She quickly clicks some buttons, shifting from one extremely high-heeled shoe to another.
I can tell my question is one she doesn’t want to answer, and I don’t want to make things awkward.
“I just need to grab some shoes,” I say, trying to just change the subject.
Her face lights up. “Now that is something I can definitely help you with.”
She looks at my dress and starts pulling shoes off the glass shelves. “Any of these would match perfectly.”
I eye a pair of silver heels. Maybe if I wore those Mandy wouldn’t dwarf me all day, but I’m not sure how long I’d last in them. I’d kill for some flip flops right now.
Mandy picks up a pair of wedges. “Sit,” she says, pointing to the ottoman.
I do as she says, and she kneels in front of me. “Heel virgin, I’m guessing?” she asks as she starts to slide the wedge onto my foot. I almost laugh at her question. I seem to be an everything virgin lately.
“You could say that,” I respond, because I am one, unless the heels on cowboy boots count, and I’m guessing they don’t.
“Then wedges are the perfect place to start, and the ribbons lace around your ankles, makes them sexy,” she says, giving me a quick wink before standing and pulling me to my feet.
“Come, to the spa we must go. I’ve been given strict instructions to pamper you and not let anyone near your hair with scissors,” she tells me over her shoulder as she strides from the closet. I trot behind her, trying to keep up in the shoes. She stops in the entryway, picking up a few binders. She pops one open and hands me a little wallet and a cell phone. “These are for you.”
Making her way over to the elevator, she slides her card in and the door opens. I follow her in.
“Everything you need is in there. That room key does everything for you. There isn’t a door in this entire building that won’t open for you. Keep it close because I’m not kidding. There are only two other keys like it, Aaron’s and Justin’s. Not only is it your key to get everything you want in this building, you flash that thing in the jewelry store downstairs and they will load you with diamonds until they cover every inch of you.” She says it like it’s no big deal.
I just stare dumbly at her, not quite sure how to respond to that. Why would they give me a key like that? There must be a mistake or something. Maybe when they told her to get me a key to their room, she thought one like theirs.
“I think I just need a key to the room.”
“Nope,” she says as the elevator doors slide open and she quickly exits through them.
“Does everyone around here walk so fast?” I whisper, mainly to myself but Mandy hears me.
“Sorry, I’m kind of excited about the spa. I can go anytime I want, but I’m kind of a ‘go-go’ person and never really seem to let myself find the time. Today I’ve been actually ordered to go to the spa, so I’m a little excited.” The same warm smile she flashed in the closet slips across her face.
“I’ve never been to one before.” A virgin once again, I think, but I keep that part to myself.
“Well, I say we order some champagne and get this started.”
I nod in agreement.
8
JUSTIN