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“All I know is that it’s a dress and I’m meant to wear it tonight,” I shrug. I’ve done an excellent job of pushing tonight’s mission to the back of my mind all week, so I haven’t panicked about it.
However, now that the dress is here, I can’t help the realization rushing in to smack me directly in the face.
Oh god, in just a couple hours I’m going to be taking part in the sale of expensive—and likely highly illegal—information.I’ll be a criminal. Officially and truly.
With shaking hands, I untie the bow and tear off the artfully wrapped paper. To my immense relief, the dress inside isn’t excessively revealing. It’s a simple black satin number, with artful ruching and a hem that will fall a few inches above my knees.
“Oooh,” Rebecca lifts it by the spaghetti straps. “Very elegant. What jewelry did he send with it?”
Panic rips through me.Would he send the necklace with the dress?
I fish a pair of shoes with simple black straps out of the tissue paper and a small black purse, but that’s it. “Um, I think he’s bringing that with him,” I explain, my voice wavering with nerves. “He said something about a necklace.”
Rebecca’s excited smile turns coy. “Well then, I think it’s another updo tonight. Come on, Cinderelly, it’s time to get ready for the ball.”
Once again, my new work bestie takes care of me. She gives me a dramatic smoky-eye look I could never replicate in a million years, and styles my hair up in a sleek ponytail that leaves my shoulders and decolletage bare.
“This way, it’ll be easy for him to adorn you with diamonds,” she winks.
“Diamonds?” I chuckle nervously. “Who said anything about diamonds?”
“Girl, this dress was designed to feature somethingsparkly. If he sent you this and not a single rhinestone anywhere else, my bet is that he’s putting a rock—or several—around your neck tonight.”
Lord, why does this woman have to be so freaking intuitive?
I do my best to deflect. “Well, if that’s the case, it’s probably something he borrowed from his mom, or just a costume piece I’m sure.”
“Like the Vargas family would ever buy costume jewelry,” she snorts. “And there’s no way he’s borrowing something from his mom for you to wear on a date.”
“You never know, I’ve met her. She’s very nice.”
“Honey, you’re so naïve. It’s honestly cute. A man like Vincente Vargas does not go to all this trouble to dress you up, then give you a borrowed necklace. Just trust me on this.”
“Okay.” Anxiety is bubbling in my stomach like a freshly shaken bottle of coke.
“Just do me a favor and send me a picture? I need to see if we approve of his taste.”
“You got it.”
It’s not long before I receive a text message from Vincente, simply stating, ‘your chariot awaits!’ Just as the same limo from last week pulls up in front.
Rebecca follows me through and wishes me an excited, ‘good luck!’ before closing and locking the door behind me.
Vincente steps out of the back, wearing a neat charcoal suit but not a tuxedo this time. His eyes rake over my body in a possessive, hungry way that brings heat to my cheeks, but he greets me in a very gentlemanly manner and helps me inside the car.
I wait until we’re driving away before I speak. “So, are we going to do this thing now?”
“Hell no, it doesn’t start for hours. Besides, didn’t I tell you I was looking forward to our date? We’re going for dinner first.”
“Oh, that’s probably a good idea,” I agree, although I’d much rather just get my job over with and not have to worry about it anymore. Right now my stomach is so full of anxiety I’m not sure I have room for food.
“Before I forget,” Vincente pulls a flat velvet box from the seat beside him. My stomach flip-flops as I watch him lift the cover.
The necklace is a two inch-wide collar of white gold and sparkling white diamonds. Ranging in size from small peas to the stunning robin’s egg-sized stone in the center, every single one seems lit from within.
Not that I’m any sort of expert on diamonds, but these seem really nice.
I just stare at it, allowing the waves of nausea to course through my system. I’m silent long enough that Vincente clears his throat.
