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“A ball,” I repeated. With how hard the trainers had been working us lately and the physical competitions we’d had, it felt weird to think of participating in something so formal and elegant. “Like dresses with music and dancing?”
“Exactly.” Faye clasped her hands together by her cheeks and sighed. “Your class time will be spent working in committees to get things ready for the event. And a team of designers are coming in with dresses for you to choose from. It’s like a dream come true.”
I arched a brow. Perhaps for her. I’d never been to a formal event, and dancing wasn’t my strongest suit, though I had some semblance of rhythm. As much as Faye loved pretty dresses, I could only imagine her excitement.
She followed me around the room as I got dressed and brushed my hair, tying it back into a fresh braid, chattering away about how wonderful today would be.
“I’ll meet you back here after PT,” she said as I pulled on my shoes. “You can shower, and then we’ll meet everyone in the conference room to assign you all your tasks.”
“Sounds good.” I hurried down to the gym, where training was easier than usual, just some cardio and strength training, but I could barely focus on it. My eyes kept drifting back to the mat where Holden and I had sparred last night, my body tingling and hot as I remembered in great detail just what we’d done there on the floor.
I didn’t want to feel hope or set myself up for disappointment, but his words echoed in my mind as my feet pounded the treadmill. We’ll find a way to make this work.
I only hoped he was right.
After I showered and changed into a simple, formfitting tea-length dress Faye selected—elegant and professional, as she’d described it—she escorted me to a conference room on the third floor swarming with assistants and coordinators. They bustled around, talking to each other and through their headsets. It was clear this ball was a big deal.
Spotting Jessica and Brooklyn sitting together at a table to my right, I headed over to join them.
“Isn’t this exciting?” Brooklyn gushed. “It will be the first ball I’ve ever attended. I can’t wait. Did your assistants tell you we get to choose our designer dresses?” She sighed dreamily. “It’s like a fairy tale come true.”
I arched a brow and glanced at Jessica, who was smiling and appeared excited, though not nearly as much as Brooklyn.
“Have you been to a ball before, Jess?” I asked her.
She nodded. “Several, actually. Part of being my father’s daughter.” She smiled. “But I do enjoy event planning. If I make it onto the council, I’d love to have a chance at a job similar to Willow’s.”
I looked toward the front of the room where Willow was giving directions like a queen presiding over her court. She was in her element for sure. While I couldn’t see Jessica being as firm and commanding as Willow, her kind and gentle nature could go a long way toward winning people over.
A few moments later, once all the remaining contestants had gathered in the conference room, Willow clapped her hands and greeted us, the room falling silent as she did so.
“Today will be quite a special day for each of you. You will each be allowed to choose your partners to work with on the preparations, as well as have your choice of which committees you’d like to work with. First come, first served, of course.”
Willow went on to list, in detail, the various event-planning committees that would be required to pull together an event in such a short amount of time. “And ten of my assistants are at your disposal to help you procure anything you might need.”
“Do you guys want to work together?” I asked Brooklyn and Jessica.
“Yeah, for sure,” Brooklyn said excitedly.
Jessica nodded. “Let’s go for the decoration committee.”
“Perfect.” When Willow gave us the go-ahead to select our committees, I hurried up to her primary assistant and requested our preferred committee.
“Sure thing,” she said with a smile.
“I’d like to be in charge of catering,” Sydnee said loudly as I walked away. “Everyone knows the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
I rolled my eyes and rejoined my friends, ready to make a game plan. “Okay, so here’s the deal. Willow said we have five hours to get everything taken care of before the dress designers arrive, so we need to get organized and stay on task. Let’s brainstorm some ideas, and then we can divide them among ourselves, as well as use the assistants. That’s the most efficient way to get as much done in such a short time.”
As we talked and strategized, Kessa, Willow, and some other ladies that looked to be around the same age wound their way through the groups, watching and observing. No doubt to form their own opinions about who would make Holden a good wife.
“I don’t think the flower arrangements are a one-person job,” Brooklyn said when Jessica volunteered to oversee it.
“One manager is all that’s needed,” Jessica countered. “That’s what the assistants are for—to help fulfill our visions.”
“But that’s what I wanted to do.” Brooklyn crossed her arms and pursed her lips.
“I think we should go with roses,” Jessica said.
