“Your hotel?” I repeated.
“Thank you, Avery. I’ll take it from here,” she said to him.
“No problem, Ms. Callahan.” He nodded at her and then at me. “Ms. O’Davoren, it was a pleasure.”
Just like that, before I could say anything, he walked out of the suite and I was trying to catch up. When I remembered what he’d said in the car.
“Ms. Callahan?” My head whipped back at her.
“Do I not look like a Callahan?” she asked, taking a seat in the throne-like chair, crossing her legs elegantly.
“No…I mean, not that...ugh. I’m sorry, do you mind letting me know what I’m doing here? I thought I was going to see Mrs. Callahan…well, the older Mrs. Callahan. Or…how many Ms. Or Mrs. Callahan’s are there?”
“We’ll get there. As for my grandmother.” She tilted her head to the side. “Do you really think you’re suited to meet her?”
The tone in her voice was sharp…and familiar.
Standing up straighter, I didn’t back down. “Yes. I’ve already met her—”
“Incorrect. Grandmother chose to see you because she is nice like that and overlooked your obvious flaws.”
Kind is hardly the word I’d use. “I’m sorry, what? Flaws? Just because I’m not all dolled up doesn’t mean—”
“Incorrect again,” she cut me off for the second time, glaring back. “How you present yourself now means everything…for you it is the only thing that matters. When my grandmother met you, you were no one. Now you are on your way to being someone. That means before she sees you again, you need to look the part and not like a starved teenager from 1985. Even I couldn’t bring myself to walk you here.”
“I’m sorry prison doesn’t come with a Bloomingdale’s card!”
“You’re forgiven, that’s why you were sent to me first.” She smiled even as I glared at her. “Now, would you sit so we can get started?”
“I’ll stand.”
“I wasn’t asking, Ivy.”
“Is everything all right, ma’am?” A maid, dressed in some of those ridiculous French outfits, came out of the bedroom.
The woman looked at me, waiting, and so I did as she said and sat on the couch.
“Yes, tell them we’re ready.” She directed the maid.
“Are you going to tell me your name or do I have to call you ma’am too?” I asked, reaching for the apple from the bowl of fruits on the table.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” She smiled, adjusting the ring on her finger. “We’re about to be family soon. You can call me Nari. I’m Ethan’s cousin.”
“Ethan?” I repeated. “Is that the grandson I’m supposed to be marrying or whatever?”
She stared at me as if I were crazy and then just shook her head. “One step at a time.”
And not a second later, the doorbell, which I didn’t even realize hotels had, rang. The maid walked to it and opened the door, allowing at least a dozen people to enter. They came like soldiers, standing in front of us for inspection.
“The first three will take care of your nails, waxing, and facials.” She pointed at the three women, who just nodded, and she went on directing them. “I want her nails an opaque cream color. You’ll need to add length but not much, oval-shaped. For the waxing and facial...”
She looked back at me, and I just stared at her, not sure what half of the words coming out of her mouth meant. So I bit into the apple…annoyed at how good it tasted and how much I enjoyed it. It was just a damn apple.
“Her eyebrows are full. Keep them that way with a slight arch. Nothing drastic or strong. Everything else removed. Luckily her skin isn’t the worst, thank Jesus. She’ll need a laser facial, though, and smoothing mask. Do you have bumps anywhere?”
“Huh?” I licked my lips, looking at her.
“Bumps? Acne? Zits? Anything on anywhere?” she asked again. “Don’t waste time and be embarrassed, just say it. They aren’t anyone.”
Jeez, they are standing right there. And yet when I looked at them they didn’t even look fazed, just waiting.
“Ugh, I have this ingrown hair under my chin—” I said. When I did, she grabbed my chin, lifting it up and nodding.
“Take care of it,” she told the women, who nodded. “Anything else?”
“Do bruises count?”
Her eyes widened. “Where?”
“My ribs and a few on my legs—”
“Make it a full body laser, and also add buttermilk to her bath,” she said to them. “I want it done every day she’s here and also send a message to the head maid at the mansion for the same treatment to be done once she arrives.”
“Yes, ma’am,” one of them spoke out, and when Nari nodded they took a step to the right and a slim, tall woman stood alone.
“Her teeth—”
“My teeth?” I put my hand over my mouth. “I hate dentists.”
“I can tell,” the bitch shot back and then looked at the woman.
“Whiten, and while I see nothing wrong with perfection, the Irish…well, they don’t need her to be perfect. Don’t cut her teeth to be seamlessly straight…but as close to it wouldn’t be bad.”
Did this woman just say cut? And teeth? What the hell?
Next up was one short man, who stood waiting for his orders.
“Drop your hoodie,” Nari said to me.
Doing what she asked, I watched as both of them grimaced.
“What?” I asked, running my hands through my blond hair.
“You can’t be serious.” Nari sighed deeply. “What have you been doing to your hair?”
“Wash, dry, repeat…again prison—”
“Isn’t an excuse for this one. I’m sure they have a comb at least.” She shook her head and looked at the small man. “Obviously, we’ll need to take care of the knots and length. If you must add, cut it and add extensions, but I’d prefer not. She’ll need whatever miracle you can pull but keep it long.”
He nodded and stepped to the side for the final four, two men and two women, to stand in front of her.
“Clothes,” Nari told me. “Stand.”
“You told me to sit.”
She stared, waiting, and I got up. When I did the two women came over.
“We’re going to measure you, ma’am,” they said to me. I made a face and just nodded, lifting my arms up and out, allowing them to do their thing.
“She’ll need shoes, heels nothing less than three and a half inches. Nothing more than five.”
“Five? I’m already tall for a girl!”
“Ethan’s six foot four.” She said it as if that was the only thing that mattered.
“And if I can’t walk in these shoes?”
“I’ll teach you. Can I continue now?” she asked but didn’t wait for me to reply before going on. “Also get her bedroom and bathroom slippers, monogrammed IC. For the clothes, enough for at least a month. I’m sure Grandmother will settle the rest. Have those sent directly to the mansion. She’ll need at least a week’s worth here. That includes nightgowns, underwear, and a few dresses. Our biggest priority now will be the gowns for Ethan’s party. I want those custom. Contact whomever and tell them we need them for Saturday. Any questions?”
No one spoke.
“Brilliant. Now please save her.” She smiled at me, leaning back in her chair.