I cringed. "A garden party?"
"Yes, a garden party," he answered.
"When?"
"Today at 2pm."
"Today!"
"Yes."
"I have a train ticket for 1:30 pm!"
"I'll get you a train ticket for later, business class," Xander said and I remembered the coffee date with Dad.
"I made plans with my dad for coffee," I replied.
"Reschedule it for another time; this event takes precedence," Xander ordered.
"You want me to blow off my dad...to go to a party with you?" I asked, bewildered.
"That's right," Xander answered.
"A garden party?"
Xander nodded.
Moaning loudly, I plopped back down onto the bed and cradled my head in my hands. "This is not fair!"
My head snapped up as another brilliant realization popped up. "I don't have a fucking garden party outfit!"
Xander rolled his eyes, giving me his infamous knowing sketch look.
Let me guess: he can fix that too!
"That is not a problem." Xander stated slowly, smiling a cocky grin.
"Don't even say it. It's an easy fix, right?" I sneered.
His grin widened, showcasing his pearly whites.
Yeah... that's what I thought.
The next few hours went by in a blur. I quickly called Dad and informed him that I had to cancel our coffee date, that something unexpected came up.
I couldn't tell him, a twenty nine year old man whose beauty blinded innocents of what he really was, a slimy menace was holding me hostage over supposedly 'owing him'.
Dad accepted 'something' but was still not happy. So to ease the guilt I felt for blowing off the meeting, and after hearing the sadness in his voice as he reminded me of what little time we'd had to connect after my five month absence, I gave him my phone number. I instructed that it was for his use only. This seemed to calm him down, and now I'd be getting weekly phone calls from him to make sure 'I was okay'.
After the phone call, I packed the rest of my things and checked out of the Inn. As I brought my carry-on and the brand new luggage out to the SUV on the curb, Daniels helped me place things in the trunk.
You know who wasn't helping? Mr. Princess, a.k.a Xander; he was busy chilling in the back, on his cellphone, completely oblivious.
"Aren't you a chivalrous gentleman? No no sit... I got this," I yelled as Daniels and I slid in the rest of my things.
"What was that?" Xander asked after Daniels opened my door, stifling a smile as Xander shuts off his phone.
"Oh nothing, just observing," I climbed inside the SUV. "Wouldn't want to get your delicate fingers all roughed up by helping me with my bags."
"What was that about bags?" He pointed to my brand new leather bag. I pulled it away from his nearing touch.
I cradled the bag closely to my chest. "This is my bag!"
" Xander chuckled. "Couldn't agree with you more.
"And completely well deserved," I added.
"Absolutely," Xander laughed, turning to his window.
As Daniels drove us away, I turned to Xander, "What now?"
"Now, we get you ready," he said.
"How? Where?"
Xander looked from the window and grins. "We're going to Gustavo's."
My eyes widened. No!
I. Hate. My. Life!
Have I mentioned that lately? Because I do. I hate my life!
"Hold still, girl!"
I glared at the madman in the mirror as he pulled and tugged and ripped my hair with a round brush, as his other hand held the world's hottest hairdryer. Swearing to God, any hotter and it would become a kitchen appliance.
Fuck my life! I groaned loudly as my hair was pulled one last time.
"My... you're a troubling one!" Gustavo exclaimed loudly, turning off the hair dryer. Was he the same sadistic guy I actually thanked yesterday for making me look like I never had before?
Yep! It sure is, unfortunately.
Asshole! I stared at his perfectly put together reflection in the mirror. From the moment I sat in his white leather salon chair, I didn't hide my distress, and showcased every single time my body withered in pain. I wasn't a hide-your-emotions type of girl. If I was being abused, I was gonna show it.
"You're lucky you're pretty, girl! Because if you weren't..." Gustavo trailed off, not so under his breath. I scowled at him again as the hair dryer abruptly turned back on and my head was painfully jerked back. The torturous round brush yanked my hair back.
After a few more minutes of torture, the hair dryer shuts off.
Thank God!
Gustavo swivelled my chair around and pulled out the hairspray, getting to work spraying every inch of his masterpiece.
Why? Why me? I thought, holding my breath. After turning my hair rock-hard, he finally puts the hairspray down.
"Sammy! Get over here now; it's your turn! Thank goodness," Gustavo screeched at the top of his lungs.
Sammy jumped out from nowhere, wearing a black jumpsuit. "Here boss!"
"She's all yours." Gustavo swivelled my chair towards her and marched away.
"Got it," Sammy chirped.
The makeup was less painful to get through than the hair treatment. I sat patiently and quietly as she applied everything from her kit onto my face.
"It's going to be spectacular, Marisa," Sammy gushed as she brushed powder onto my cheeks.
"Thanks, Sammy," I murmured underneath the stroke of her brush.
"No problem." She continued spreading the powder. "Did you take pictures last night?"
Shit!
"Sorry... forgot," I explained. "I had a lot on my mind yesterday."
"S'okay," she mumbled, dropping the brush down and picking up lip gloss. "Pucker, please."
As Sammy applied gloss to my lips, the door opened. Maria entered the empty salon holding a stack of dresses. The salon was empty and is normally closed on Sundays. But thanks to Xander, it was opened for me. I don't even want to think about how much that cost him. These people clearly didn't do things for the cheap. I stared at Gustavo's alligator-skin loafers as he hurled himself off his white leather sectional.
"Maria, finally!" he exclaimed, sounding relieved.
"Darling," Maria gushed as Gustavo leaned in for three air kisses. "What...a...morning it's been!"
Gustavo sighed dramatically and nods in understanding. The both of them turned to face me; Maria raised a perfectly penciled in eyebrow, making me feel guilty.
Not fair, they should be blaming Xander for having them work on the rush and on their day off.
"Done!" Sammy declared happily. She took off the salon cape around my neck. Maria and Gustavo gave each other knowing looks as I got out of the chair and stretched my joints. I'd been in that chair for a long time.
"What?" I asked as they turned facing me, raising one eyebrow each.
Maria sighed, tilting her head to the side. "Really? That's what you picked to wear... after everything I left for you yesterday?"
She shook her head, a mixture of disgust and horror at the sight of my plain, flared jeans and regular ocean blue shirt.
I shrugged, unapologetic. "I was in a rush,"
"Sure you were," Maria stated, unconvinced, giving Gustavo another one of their infamous exasperated looks.
Whatever! Deal with it!
They're the stylists, not me.
"So... I take it you brought me a dress?" Jerking my chin to the hanging dress cover on the wall. Maria's eyes brightened as she nodded happily.
"And fabulous shoes!" Maria said, and then turned to unzip the cover. "My, you're a lucky girl... outfits galore!"
Maria took the hanger off the hook, turning around to face me with it cradled safely in her grasp. She eyed everyone, "Are you all ready for the most amazing dress ever?"
Everyone nodded enthusiastically. Satisfied, Maria unzipped it the rest of the way, then reached in and brought out the dress.
"Magical!" Gustavo whispered, sounding amazed.
My jaw dropped.
Ugh...wow!
It's blue...actually blue this time, not just on the outer edge of the blue colour-wheel. Maria held the hanger sans-cover up into open air and a beautiful, midnight blue, sleeveless dress with a round neck took our breath away. The sheer lace on top covered a sweetheart bondage bodice and an A-line skirt.
It was pretty.
"It was the best I could pull on such short notice. Thank God for W. Terriere designs; they always pull through!" Maria gushed while staring at the dress, clearly as transfixed by its sparkling beauty as we all were.
"Now..." Maria said breaking the trance. "Let's sort out the underwear!"
My eyes widened. Oh no... not again!
After struggling into another bustier, which I needed the help of Maria again to put on, I slid the dress over the nude-coloured undergarments. I wore a simple thong, and this time it's staying on. Even if Xander begged for it, I'd rather die with it still on than give it to him.
Perverted bastard!
Maria handed me a pair of beautiful, black, open-toed sandals with a golden cuff at the ankle. I happily slid them on, finishing the look.
Wow!
As I stared at myself in the mirror, just like yesterday, everyone made exaggerated noises expressing their joy at my transformation. My hair was styled to perfection, falling into waves around my shoulders. My makeup was lighter than last night, but just as beautiful.
I was handed a black clutch, which I transferred some of my essentials from my fab leather bag.
I was ready.
After doing my twirls testing out the flowy-ness of the dress, and after I gawked one more time at how amazing I looked, the front door opened.