Unwanted Heat

I spend the afternoon at the salon, my hair is trimmed and highlighted before placed into a half up half down style which Bridget recommended to compliment my gown. After my hair is done, I have a manicure and pedicure, plus get my eye brows waxed before my make-up is applied. I’ve never attended an event of this magnitude and I’m very grateful that Bridget scheduled all of this for me today. Business dinners, dates and small events I can handle but I don’t think I would be able to get myself ready for something this large by myself. By the time I leave the salon, even I’m shocked at the woman I see before me. I look elegant, sophisticated and somehow the salon made me look like I should be attending an event where people in attendance easily earn in a month what I earn in a year. I decide to splurge and take a cab back to my apartment rather than the subway. Although it cost an arm and leg to go this far, it’s worth it as to not mess up my make up or hair while on a train.

When I finally reach my apartment, I have less than thirty minutes to get changed before the car service Bridget organized is scheduled to pick me up. I take my gown out of the garment bag and place it on my bed before getting out the undergarments and other accessories needed for tonight. The gown is black with sequins sewn in allowing the light to shimmer off of it. The dress is form fitting on the top but loosens at my hips so it falls to the floor.

I fell in love with the gown the moment I tried it on but had sent a picture to Bridget just to make sure it was appropriate for the event even though the sales woman working with me insisted it would be fine. She, of course, confirmed the dress was perfect and insisted I had to wear it tonight.

I still don’t understand why Bridget felt I needed to purchase all new undergarments; it’s not like Mr. Parker will be seeing any of them. Bridget said something about it would make me feel sexier and therefore more confident. I agreed to appease her, once again grateful that I’m not the one having to pay for all of this. I didn’t catch the price on the gown, but I know the bra and panties cost a several hundred dollars together. Then there were stockings, shoes and jewelry that were added in with the gown to complete the outfit for tonight. It’s funny, I’ve been dressing women for events just like this for the last year and a half but never once considered how much really goes into the outfits or the price of everything.

By the time I am strapping my shoes on, the alarm on my phone indicates that it’s time for me to leave. I grab the silver clutch and wrap before peeking out the window to confirm the car service has arrived. It’s not hard to determine which car outside is for me. A sleek, obviously fairly new sedan stands out in front of my crappy building with a man dressed in a suit waits in front of it. The car obviously is unique among the usual curbside wrecks and doesn’t belong in this type of area, so it’s pretty safe to say the car is for me. I glance at the bathroom mirror one last time, making sure that everything is perfect before I lock my door and head downstairs.

“Ms. Rose?” the gentleman at the car greets me as soon as I step outside.

“Yes,” I confirm.

“I am here to take you Wilder Consulting,” he opens the door and I immediately slide across the leather seats.

“There are water bottles in the cooler at your feet if you’re thirsty.”Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

The ride to Bridget’s office doesn’t take long but as we approach, I can’t help but get more nervous as each minute passes. So much rests on tonight: whether Mr. Parker knows it or not, he holds the key to my future. If everything goes well tonight and he still wants to move forward with this arrangement, I will finally have extra money to change all the things in my life I’ve wanted to change. If tonight doesn’t work out and he decides I am not the type of woman he needs for this type of an arrangement, I don’t think I will move forward in working with Bridget. I think it would just be a sign that this business opportunity wasn’t for me.

“Ms. Rose, we have arrived,” the driver pulls me from my thoughts before I’ve even realized the car has stopped. “Take the elevator in the lobby to the fourteenth floor where your party will be waiting for you.”