AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, I have worked with him for over ten years.”
“Ten? That’s a long time.”
“Yes,” she grinned like it was an achievement she was very proud of.
“So…” I inhaled gently. “You knew his wife?”
I saw her demeanor shift. She looked at me for a few long seconds in the mirror and I noticed her eyes looked glassy like she was about to cry. She sniffed hard and exhaled painfully.
“Yes, I did,” a sad smile played on her lips, “I knew her.”
My training made me hyper aware of other people’s emotions and micro expressions. Stella seemed sweet so I did not want to press on a subject that seemed to bring her great sadness. I shifted my research to Julian himself. He was a mysterious fellow who I had allowed into my confused heart, and I knew so little about him. Morla just told me to trust him if he ever showed up.
“Julian…” I sighed his name. “He is a very determined and stubborn man.”
“It seems that way.”
“Yes, it does,” I frowned thinking about his persistence in wanting me to get the surgery. A man like him does not acquire wealth and fame by merely rolling over for anyone. I felt the frown soften into a smile as I thought about our time at the shop.
“He can just be so stubborn and not give up.”
Stella smiled and bent down, “mirror anyone?”
Before I understood what she meant, she patted my shoulders and said, “you look magnificent.”
I was lost in my own thinking that I did not realize how quickly her hands were moving. I blinked and my hair softly cascaded down my back in bouncy curls.
“Now,” she came around in front of me as she buckled her brush belt around her waist. “Time for some makeup. Heavy or light?”
“Light. I don’t want to look like some China doll. Julian may put me high up on a shelf so no one will break me.”
“Or take you,” Stella sighed. As if wanting to avoid any questions around her comment, she quickly changed her tone, “tell me about this special dinner.”
I cleared my throat trying to recover the whiplash of our conversation.
“Um, it’s just dinner. Nothing special.”
“Then why did Julian call me and tell me to drop everything and rush over?”
“I don’t know,” I could feel irritation rising.
These people. Why did it always feel like they were keeping secrets from me. Like I was too fragile to be told the truth? We had a nice time in bed and now we’re back to these cat and mouse games.
“That’s so weird,” she responded.
In an effort to keep the peace, I remained silent. Julian was the one who deserved my barrage of questions, not poor Stella.
She finished my makeup and told me there was a gown on the bed that she could help me get into if I wanted the help.
“Yes, thank you,” was my only response.
We worked in silence as I got dressed then we went downstairs with Mr. Pickles at our heels
***
The lights glimmered overhead; and it was like I was floating in the sky. The entire place was decorated, and I wondered if all this effort was just for me. The ride had been short but long enough to replace my annoyance with a childlike feeling of excitement.
As the elevator passed each floor, the anticipation grew until the doors opened on the rooftop. I looked up to see a table set for two and Julian leaning over a short glass wall looking out at the city. The night lights left a glow around his body while his hair gently blew in the wind. I watched as he looked lost in thought.
