Three days before we were to fly out was the worst. I went to bed with Dawson, and the dread and anticipation of being in Las Vegas was nerve wrecking. I fell right to sleep after he had fixed me a cup of Starlight’s famous relaxing tea.
It was the first time ever that Drew had taken me out in public. He had a benefit banquet and a lot of well-to-do people were going to be there. He had someone come and do my hair, bought me a beautiful evening gown, and my makeup and nails were done professionally as well. I met him at the foyer, and I actually felt a little something for him. He looked so handsome in his tuxedo and his mouth noticeably dropped when he saw me. My hair was up with soft dangling curls. I wore a beautiful, opened back dress that was black with a low cut front, showing just the right amount of cleavage. The dress was long and slit clear up my right side. The material hugged my curves perfectly and the three inch stilettos with the strap delicately wrapping my ankles, tied it all together.
That was the first time that I knew for sure what Drew did for a living, and why he was as rich as he was.
He took my hand and opened my door for me. I felt happy and was glad to be getting out of the house, of course he coached me the whole way. I knew what I was allowed to say and what I wasn’t, which was pretty much nothing.
Smile and look pretty, that was my job.
We pulled into a fairly empty parking garage, and I wondered what we were doing there. It didn’t look like a place for a banquet; however, the building was breathtaking. I had been to downtown Las Vegas a few times, but not in the evening where the lights seemed magical.
“What are we doing, Drew?” I asked, wondering whether I should or not.
“I am taking you to one of my stores,” he replied as the driver pulled right up to the elevator doors.
I wanted to ask him what kind of store, but I did have a pretty good idea. I had heard him on the phone enough to pick up bits and pieces.
We went up in a very impressive elevator. The back wall was mirrored. White, soft leather benches covered the other two sides. My breath caught in my throat when the doors opened to the sixteenth floor.
We were standing in the most exquisite jewelry store that I had ever seen. Well, I had never seen one, but still. The white marble floors gleamed, and the massive amount of lit display cases with sparkling diamonds were breath taking. I knew that Drew worked in diamonds, but I wasn’t expecting that, at all. The lighted sign above the store read, ‘Callaway Jewels.’ I had seen the commercial a million times and never knew. I knew that this was not his only store, and the commercial made it clear that there were twelve others throughout the country along with three in Europe.
“Drew?” I said, questioning what I was doing there. A man in a white tuxedo reached for my hand.
“You need to go pick out your wedding rings. I can’t take you to a party as my wife without rings.” He actually smiled happily at me.
“I need your help,” I assured him.
“Why?” he asked annoyed.
“How do I know what to get? How much money should I spend? I don’t know how to do this, Drew. Come with me, please,” I begged.
He laughed. “Don’t worry about the money. Pick out what you want. I have to make a call. Carson is here to help you.”
I took the man’s white gloved hand, and he led me to the lit case of rings.
“You can pick anything from this case,” he instructed.
I didn’t want to pick from that case. I knew that I was being shown the most expensive pieces in the store.
They were all so beautiful and I had a hard time deciding.
I wanted them all. I could only remember owning one ring my entire life. My grandma Joyce had ordered it from Avon for me. I felt bad for leaving it behind when I was taken away from my home. I didn’t wear it much because it had left a black ring around my finger when I did, but I cherished it because it was a gift from my grandma.
I chose a stunning, boasted with a six-carat shimmering pink diamond ring, complete with three baguette white diamonds set in platinum and rose gold. I stared at the ring constantly as we drove to our destination. Drew noticed my joy and commented.
“You like that?” he asked.
“I love it. It’s the most beautiful thing I have ever owned. Can I ask how much it’s worth?” I asked. None of the prices were on any of the rings, and I was sure that elegant jewelry stores like his didn’t place the price on their jewels.
“Thirty five thousand,” he replied. I gasped.
Holly Shit….
I thought that I did exceptionally well at the banquet. I stayed close by Drew, and mostly only smiled when he would introduce me to his acquaintances. I wouldn’t have called them friends. I was sure that Drew wasn’t capable of having a friend. Even the guy, Derik that seemed to be his sidekick and was with him all the time seemed to be annoyed with him more than anything.