20. Rosie
20
ROSIE
W e sent Emily off first after she spent the afternoon trying on designer dresses Louis had sent over for her to wear for her exhibition tonight. We popped champagne and she tried on couture, it was a perfect day really. And then I got back to my room and found a dress bag laid out on my bed with a note attached to it.
Rosie,
Please wear this.
Daniel.
He bought me a dress. I unzip the designer bag and pull out the most stunning silver sequin cocktail dress. I gasp as I run my hands over the detailing. I can’t wear this. My friends would know instantly that someone else bought this for me.
I pick up my phone and text Daniel.
Rosie: Thank you for the dress but I can’t wear it.
Daniel: Why? Do you not like it? I can send another if you wish.
Rosie: No. I love it. But my friends would know that I can’t afford anything like this.
Daniel: I convinced Louis to send dresses to each of you as a thank you for looking after Emily for him. No one will know.
That is kind of genius.
Rosie: Did everyone get a handwritten note from you then?
Daniel: No. Because I chose your dress. Matthieu chose the rest.
Rosie: So, I’m wearing this for you?
Daniel: Yes.
Daniel: It will be sealing the deal to our arrangement.
The indecent arrangement he proposed while his fingers were deep inside me. The one that I agreed to as he pulled orgasm after orgasm from my body while denying his own release. An arrangement that I might secretly want.
Rosie: And if I don’t wear it.
Daniel: Then I’m just a client and your boss’ fiancé’s friend.
Rosie: Guess you’re going to have to wait to find out.
I’m wearing the damn dress, let’s be serious.
Daniel: Hope you make the right choice. See you soon.
“Oh my god, you guys look stunning,” I say, stepping out of the elevator and into the hotel’s lobby where Ava and Georgia are waiting for me.
Georgia squeals. “You look so sparkly,” she says, rushing up and kissing my cheek. She’s dressed in a gorgeous sparkly blue cocktail dress, and Ava is in a pink sequin dress.
“Guess Louis is into sparkles.” Ava groans, not looking happy. She isn’t a pink kind of girl, which makes me giggle.
“You look fantastic though,” I say, giving her a kiss as she rolls her eyes. “Come on, let’s go.”
We arrive at the DuPont gallery, and there is a red carpet and paparazzi. This is wild for an art exhibition. We get out and the cameras start flashing before they realize they don’t know who we are. A couple of photographers take our pictures, but we walk up the red carpet unbothered as we take the glass of champagne that is waiting for us at the end and then anxiously look around for Emily. The gallery is full, and I look around the room to see if Daniel is close by, but I can’t see him with the huge crowd around us.
“Come on, let’s check out the art,” Georgia says as we make our way through the gallery. We stop and look at the art, and as beautiful as it is, I can see the pain painted onto the canvas in both of their works. We continue walking around, admiring how talented our friend is and wishing and hoping that this is the start of something spectacular for her.
Ava’s phone starts ringing and she excuses herself for the moment.
“Ladies,” Matthieu calls out to us and that’s the moment I see Daniel for the first time tonight. “You two look spectacular,” he says, greeting us. He’s dressed in a green velvet suit and Daniel in a navy blue suit. When I look over at Daniel, his eyes take in the dress he chose for me, and a wide smile lights up his face, making those dimples pop, which sends a shiver over my body. “What do you think of the event?” Matthieu asks.
“Amazing. But we knew Emily was talented, but Louis is, too,” Georgia states.
“I think your best friend is about to be the new IT girl on the art scene, people are going wild for her work.”
“They are?” Georgia asks. I look over at Daniel and he nods.
“They are selling like hotcakes,” Matthieu adds.
“Where is she?” Georgia asks him.
“She’s around somewhere. Louis is introducing her to everyone,” he explains.
“Did you want to check out the art?” Daniel asks.
“Sure,” I answer as we excuse ourselves.
“I see you’re wearing the dress. Is it safe to say that your answer is yes?” Daniel asks as we stand in front of a blue and white piece of art.
I take a sip of my champagne to calm my nerves. “You would be correct.”
“So, no touching until after the project is complete?” he asks, staring at the canvas.
I nod my head. “Yep.”
“And how quickly do you think you can furnish the home?”
“A couple of months.”
“A couple of months?” He gasps, almost choking on his champagne. “Can’t we go to IKEA or something? I don’t care, a bed is a bed,” he grumbles.
I turn and glare at him. “You think I am going to go to IKEA?”
“They sell good things,” he argues.
“Yes, for a first-year university flat not a home that is worth nearly ten million pounds,” I argue.
“Can’t we go to the high street and buy like off the rack?” he questions.
“This project has my name on it. I have a reputation to uphold,” I remind him as I sip my drink.
“Fine. You’re one of the best and I have faith in you, but …” he leans forward, “… I’m eager to slide my cock inside of you, too,” he whispers against my ear. I throw back the rest of the champagne in my glass as I struggle to contain myself.
“I’ll look into some high street stores with quick turnarounds as a compromise,” I tell him.
“What level of finish does the property need to be? Is it furniture in or soft furnishings, too?” he asks with a grin.
“When the project is done, completed, and signed off.”
“I don’t care what it costs. This better be your quickest project,” he says before someone interrupts our discussion and pulls Daniel away.
I head back to where Georgia and Ava are standing looking at artwork.
“Guess what.” Georgia squeals.
“Georgia,” Ava moans.
“I’m excited for you. Tell her.”
What on Earth is going on?
“The Harper Rose from The Rose Agency just called and wanted to see if I was interested in working in the New York office,” Ava explains.
“What? No.” I gasp.
She nods eagerly. “She said she was impressed when I came in and she’s been talking with her staff and wondering how she can get me over here.”
“I can’t believe it. Your manifesting has worked.”
“Right? Now we need to get Georgia a new job, you need to accept Dubai, and Emily … well, look where we are, her dream has come true. This was our year girls.” Ava squeals excitedly.
We finally catch up with Emily.
“You look happy,” I say to her. There is a huge smile on her face, and she’s glowing.
“I am.”
“So, Louis and you are back on again, officially?” Ava asks.
“Yeah. He just declared ‘together forever’,” Emily confesses.
Oh my gosh, this is huge.
“He’s asked me to move in with him after all this is finished.”
“So, you’re moving to France?” Ava asks.
Emily shrugs. “He said he’d move wherever I choose.”
“Don’t leave us,” Georgia pleads.
“Stay in London,” I suggest.
“France isn’t really that far,” Ava adds.
“Let’s worry about that later. Tonight, we need to celebrate all my paintings selling out,” Emily says excitedly, and we do.