AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tad had a crease between his brows. He looked curious and almost concerned at the same time. "He actually invited you to his event?"
"No, I'm there to work," she clarified, wondering what had put that look on Tad's face.
"No, honey," he said, moving to sit on the couch, "aside from maybe giving an instruction to a server or two, which trust me he was more than capable of handling in the past, you will just be attending the event like everyone else." When she shook her head, adamantly against agreeing to his line of thought. "Don't shake your head at me. I've been here for longer than you. I have seen quite a few of these events go down. No one from this office has ever been invited. This is kinda a big deal, Hannah-Banana."
"Don't say that," Hannah objected, hopping out of her seat and pacing in front of the windows. She had enough pressure to deal with, she didn't know what to make of this little tidbit of information. And, somehow, it had never even occurred to her to consider just how little work there would be for her to do there. Was she supposed to act almost like a host? Was she supposed to greet and chat with all these high-powered people? What would she even have to say to them? She was nowhere on their level. Maybe she could spend the night hiding away in the kitchen with Mary.
"You're going to need a dress," Tad said, looking interested. "Like a nice dress. Somehow I doubt your closet is hiding any real treasures in it."
"Hey," Hannah yelled, throwing a crumpled up piece of paper at him. "And I don't think I need a dress. I could just wear slacks and a nice shirt."
"Um, no, princess," Tad got up, smiling almost condescendingly. "You need a dress." At her completely hopeless expression, he laughed. "No worries, I will take you dress shopping. Your taste obviously can't be trusted."
"Gee thanks," she laughed, then sobered. "But seriously... thanks."
"Oh don't kid yourself, this will be more fun for me than it will for you."
And it was. Hannah could feel frustration bubbling up under her skin after the fourth store Tad had dragged her through and announced that nothing was up to par. And these weren't the department or box stores she was used to going to for clothes. Tad insisted that she had to bite the bullet and drop a pretty penny on a dress (and shoes) for this kind of event. He dragged her to boutique stores where people asked them if they wanted wine or sparkling water and after the second store, she had started agreeing to the wine.
At the fifth store, Tad had found five dresses and shoved her into the dressing room. He settled outside of them, sipping a mimosa and looking utterly at home. She wondered how much of his wardrobe was designer. She imagined all of it.
The first dress was vivid blue and skin tight. She grimaced at her reflection, it clung to things she really didn't want highlighted, despite having losing a good ten pounds the past few weeks.
"No," Tad said before she could barely open the door fully.
"Agreed."
"It's the pink one," Tad said when she closed the door.
"Then why make me try all of these on?" she asked.
"References," he said matter-of-factually, as if it was known by everyone else but her.
Hannah decided to cut to the chase and put the pink one on next. She didn't need references. She struggled to get the zip up the back before turning to look at her reflection. "Oh," she said out loud.
It was a very light coral pink with a boustier top, tight midriff that flared out at her upper thighs and fell just above her knees. It made her look thin and curvy all at the same time and the color offset her pale skin and dark hair. She had never felt more lovely in anything else before.
"Oh," Tad's response mirrored her own when she walked out. He stood up with a huge smile that matched hers. "I knew it. Perfect."
–
Hannah tried to keep her nerves under control the days leading up to the event. She slept even less than she had been sleeping before. The day of the event, Elliott had informed her via Sally that she wasn't expected in at work. She was to go straight to his house and handle all the comings and goings as he could not be there himself.
She was excited to have the day off so she could make sure everything went off without a hitch. And then she got a phone call from the housekeeper at seven in the morning of that day. Hannah felt her heart sink when she was informed that her ever punctual and accommodating housekeeper had broken her hand while playing with her grandchildren and would not be able to be at the house to clean for the party.
Hannah spent all of two minutes wallowing in her misfortune before she snapped out of it, packed her dress and shoes and makeup into her car, changed into a sweatshirt, leggings, and sneakers and drove to EM's house, bent on cleaning the house top to bottom herself.
It was the first time she had ever seen his house. But 'house' was not the right word to describe where he lived. Perhaps 'estate' was more appropriate. He lived in a wealthy area about an hour outside of Manhattan called Manhasset. She had to pull into the gated community and tell the security guard who she was and accepting a quick set of directions from him. She drove past massive houses with perfectly manicured lawns. The trees were mature and provided charming shade that reminded her of her hometown. Finally she pulled up to the correct house and up the massive winding driveway. Climbing out of her car, she looked up at his house with a sense of awe.
It was a huge two story house with a stone front and large windows. The front door was painted red like her parents' front door. Despite its enormous size, it seemed quaint and homey to her. It wasn't what she was expecting at all. She had pictured something in simple stucco or glass and metal. Something cold and sterile.
Punching in the pass code to the security system he had provided her with the night before, she let herself in.
The entryway was enormous with a horseshoe shaped staircase. All of the flooring was gorgeous, shiny dark wood. To her right was a study with an executive desk facing away from floor to ceiling bookshelves that were, surprisingly, packed. To her left was an enormous sitting room with couches of buttery looking brown leather and captain's chairs of brown and cream stripes. Judging by the EM headquarters and his house, either EM or his interior decorator really had a thing for earth tones.
Hannah walked straight ahead underneath the balcony from the second floor and toward, where she assumed, she would find the kitchen. She passed two full bathrooms and another, smaller sitting room which held a huge flat screen television and reclining chairs. All the way toward the back of the house, she found a kitchen that was bigger than her entire apartment. It was stark in all shades of white, tile, back splash, and cabinets. The counter tops and appliances were stainless steel. He had the largest stove top she had ever seen with eight burners. Mary was going to love it.
Past the kitchen was an all-seasons room made completely of windows. There were comfortable looking fabric chairs and an abundance of greenery. She could see a huge in-ground pool set far in the backyard.
