Rachel had me try on what felt like every piece of clothing in the store. I didn’t mind though. With her artistic eye, it was actually fun to try things on. She made sure to pick things that were always in my size, or at least close enough that I didn’t get the frustration I usually did trying on clothes. She picked out things I would never have thought to wear on my own, but I was constantly amazed at how good they looked in the mirror.
I tried not to look at the price tags. A single shirt cost a month’s salary and some of the dresses made me feel woozy thinking about how many times I could pay rent with a single garment.
Rachel made sure I had everything I could possibly need. We spent the next three days perfecting my look, getting measured for custom clothing, and picking up more clothes than would fit in my closet at home. I even got real French lingerie.
The only thing I insisted on was keeping my current pajamas. Rachel tried her best to convince me that a new pair of embroidered satin pajamas would be far preferable to my very comfy scrub pants and t-shirt.
“But I like my current pajamas! I don’t want new ones. Besides, anyone who sees me in my pajamas shouldn’t be worrying about whether or not I look like I belong with a billionaire,” I told her.
“What about Mr. Saunders?” She asked, raising her eyebrows and clearly expecting me to relent.
“Who says I will be wearing pajamas with Mr. Saunders?”
She let me keep my scrub pants and t-shirt.
I stepped out into the cold, March, New York air and took a deep breath. It smelled different here, the scents of cars, food, and cement all different than the city smells from Des Moines. I still couldn’t get over how big the city was and I had a feeling I never would. I pulled up the collar of my new jacket against the wind and headed towards the waiting car.
Dean smiled and opened the door for me as I stepped into the warm car. He ran around to the passenger seat and slid inside, moving stealthily like a hunting cat. As soon as his door shut, the driver pulled out onto the busy street and merged with a sea of yellow cabs.
“Off to visit Mr. Saunders today?” Dean asked, turning in his seat to look at me. I could feel the blush creeping onto my cheeks as I nodded.
“I haven’t seen him since I arrived. Rachel says he has been working nonstop at the office, so I thought I would surprise him.”
Dean’s face clouded for a moment. His mouth made a twist, like he was going to tell me bad news. “So, his secretary doesn’t know you are coming? This may not be the best idea Emma.”
Indignation flared up in my stomach. His secretary? His secretary was the reason I was in this mess in the first place. I was away from my home, my friends, and my family because a secretary released a picture. I was here because Jack wanted me here and no secretary was going to stop me. I bit down a flippant remark and smiled instead.
“I want to see Jack. He’s the reason I’m here and it feels weird sleeping at his house and eating his food, but never seeing him.”
Dean frowned, but nodded and turned back in his seat. He wore the ‘she’s got to make her own mistakes’ expression that my dad wore whenever I was about to do something stupid. I sighed, suddenly feeling a little less confident. I was going to see Jack today, even if it meant breaking the rules.
The rest of the drive was uneventful, the city flying past in shades of gray and glass. The DS Oil and Gas building quickly loomed up in front of us, a tower lost in a sea of murky sky. Dean opened the door and I stepped out, the air colder than I remembered. I hurried though the big glass doors and into the yellow warmth of the lobby.
Business suits swam around me like a school of giant black and gray fish as I worked my way towards a security desk. I stepped up to the desk and a man in an imposing uniform glared down at me. I was about to speak when Dean stepped up. The security guard broke out in a smile, completely changing his features from scary to pleasant.
“Dean! How’s it going?” The big guard greeted Dean. Dean leaned up against the counter, his frame shielding me from the people entering and exiting the elevators.
“Doing good. I want to introduce you to Emma LaRue. She is to have full access to Jack Saunders’ floor.”
The big man smiled at me, suddenly friendly. “Nice to meet you Ms. LaRue. Or will it be Mrs. Saunders?”
“Emma is fine,” I said. I wasn’t sure myself.
“Of course Ms. Emma. Let me get you a badge. I believe Ms. Weber had one made for you already.” The man ducked under the desk and unlocked a cabinet. He reappeared with an official looking badge with my picture smiling on the front. “This should get you onto his floor. The rest is up to you and his new secretary. Dean, you’ll show her the way it works, won’t you?”
“Of course. Thanks Jim,” Dean said. The big guard waved and replaced his friendly smile with the threatening frown as Dean guided me towards green elevators. I stayed close to him, not wanting to lose my guide. We stepped onto a green elevator with several other people and Dean hit the highest button, 27. I was sure that Jack’s office was higher than that, but I didn’t say anything.