32. Rosie
32
ROSIE
“ F uck, fuck, fuck,” I curse, stepping out of the rental car I have booked for the weekend. Stupidly, I got dressed in the evening dress, thinking it would save me time when I got here because I was running late. It’s a formal black-tie cocktail party. As soon as I stepped out of the car, my zipper broke on my gorgeous dress, and I can feel the wind against my skin. This is so embarrassing. And I don’t have another dress. I pull out my phone and quickly text Ivy, I’m not sure if she will get it as the party is about to start, but I wait and hope that she gets my SOS.
“Rosie,” I hear Ivy calling out to me in the parking area and she’s not alone.
Shit. More people to witness my embarrassment.
“Hey, I’m sorry for calling you out of your party. I don’t know what to do or if my ass is showing.”
“It’s okay, we were up in my bedroom having champagne and chatting, you didn’t disturb a thing. You remember Lauren and Eloise,” she says, pointing to her friends. I give them both a small wave. “And this is my sister Camryn, she’s engaged to Alex’s brother, Nate.” I remember meeting her once or twice at the office. “My bestie, Olivia.” She points to another gorgeous woman, again she’s popped in from time to time, I think she’s married to a rock star. “And my sister’s bestie and business partner, Kimberly.”
“Hi, everyone. Nice to meet you all under this interesting circumstance.”
“How bad is it?” Camryn asks, indicating with her hand for me to spin around. I do as I’m asked, slowly spinning to show them. “That is well and truly ripped.”
“Cute G-string though,” Lauren adds.
My cheeks flush with mortification.
“Come on, I have a closet full of dresses upstairs that I never wear, you can borrow one,” Ivy says, throwing her arm around me.
“You don’t have to do that,” I tell her.
“What else are you going to wear?” She’s got me there. I don’t have any other option.
“Let me take this to your room,” Eloise says as she grabs my overnight bag and disappears with it.
“We love makeovers.” Camryn squeals excitedly.
“Don’t fight it, these girls love playing dress up with unsuspecting people. It’s your initiation.” Olivia giggles.
I let the girls shuffle me up to Ivy and Alex’s bedroom and take a seat on their bed as the girls all move around me.
“Rosie, are you single?” Camryn asks, sticking her head out of the closet.
“Um, yes.”
“Babe, how many single men are at this event tonight, that would be worthy of Rosie’s time?” Camryn asks Kimberly.
“My guess is ten.” She grins.
“Oh no, I’m not looking for anyone,” I tell them.
“Actually, Rosie is considering my offer for Dubai,” Ivy tells the room. The girls all congratulate me, which is so nice of them.
“Thanks, I’m honored that Ivy would consider me,” I tell them.
“My sister doesn’t heap praise on many people, so it is well deserved then,” Camryn adds.
“Dubai sounds exciting. My sister has played at some VIP events there and raves about the city,” Lauren says.
“Her sister is a famous DJ,” Eloise adds for context.
“There’s still a lot to sort out. I’m planning on taking the people interested in joining the Dubai office there for them to check it out, probably next month, just working out schedules,” Ivy explains to her friends.
“Can I come? The events scene is insane. I have a lot of clients who live there, and Kim and I have talked about checking it out to see whether a Starr & Skye Events company needs to start an office up there,” Camryn adds.
“No way. You need to come. We can take over, Dubai,” Ivy says excitedly.
“I want to come, too.” Lauren pouts.
“Girls trip to Dubai,” Olivia adds.
“We can take a jet, there’s enough of us,” Camryn suggests.
My mind can’t keep up. Are they casually talking about taking a private jet to Dubai? How am I even in this world? This group of women is phenomenal, all successful businesswomen, either married or engaged, and completely winning at life. These ladies are goals.
“Yes, let’s do it,” Ivy says excitedly.
“One request, can we go before you bring the others and literally make it a girls’ trip, with Rosie of course,” Camryn says, smiling at me.
“I’m sure I can work something out. Rosie, you down?” Ivy asks me.
“You’re the boss, can I get an extra couple of days off?” I smirk.
The girls burst out laughing. “I think I can arrange that,” Ivy says. This is so exciting.
“Back to single men at this party. What kind of guy are you looking for?” Camryn grins.
“I’m not really that interested in looking for anyone,” I answer quietly.
“When was the last time you got laid?”
“Camryn, you can’t ask that,” Ivy exclaims to her sister. “Please excuse my sister, she has no boundaries.”
I give Ivy a smile.
“Tell me you at least have a roster?” Camryn asks.
“Camryn,” Ivy warns her sister.
“Fine, no matchmaking tonight. Still doesn’t mean Rosie can’t look hot.” Camryn huffs and walks back into the closet. “Hey, is that Daniel still single? That man is hot and with that French accent, oh la la,” Camryn asks with a grin.
“Daniel keeps his cards to his chest, you never know what’s going on with him,” Ivy says.
“Rosie, have you met Daniel?” Camryn asks.
I still. What does she know? Does she suspect that’s why there are a million questions about him?
“Yes, I’m working on his cottage in Kent,” I explain to the room.
Camryn raises a curious brow at me. “He’s hot, right?”
“He’s my client,” I reiterate.
“He may be a client, but you can appreciate what your eyes see. And he’s hot,” she teases.
“And he’s nice. Daniel deserves happiness, especially now his brother has found it, with your best friend,” Ivy adds.
“Wait a minute, your best friend is dating his brother? He’s that famous artist, isn’t he? Nate has some of his paintings at work,” Camryn explains.
“Yes, Louis Marchant. Emily was his assistant and they fell in love,” I tell her.
“Those forbidden relationships are the best. You should try it with Daniel.” Camryn smirks, disappearing again.
“No, no, there’s nothing there, I swear,” I tell the girls as panic starts to race through my veins.
“I’ve noticed he likes to come into the office a lot to discuss the project,” Ivy adds, her eyes crinkling with a smile, but she doesn’t look upset.
Camryn pops back out again. “So, we’re looking for a dress to impress the Frenchie?” she asks.
“No,” I answer.
“Yes,” the rest of the girls call out.
“Please, there’s nothing going on between Daniel and I, it’s purely professional.”
“Daniel does deserve a nice girl. We would all love to see him settle down,” Eloise adds.
“It won’t be with me,” I say.
“She’s moving to Dubai anyway,” Kimberly states.
Yes exactly, someone gets it.
“We’re teasing. We married or soon-to-be-married women like to live vicariously through the single ladies.” Olivia chuckles.
“I’m concentrating on my career, so sorry to disappoint but this single lady is boring,” I explain.
“We all said the same thing,” Camryn says, popping her head out of the closet with another dress and passing it to Kimberly. “It’s also okay if you just need a good fuck.” My cheeks heat at her words.
“Like I said, my sister has no boundaries.” Ivy chuckles.
“I used Nate for my pleasure, we started out as friends with benefits. Then he realized my benefits were so much better than anyone else’s.” She smirks.
“Jasper and I were the same,” Lauren states.
“Same with me and Alistair,” Eloise adds.
“Sam and I were long-time friends,” Kimberley says.
“And you’re all now engaged,” I say, looking between them all, they nod. “I’m not looking to get engaged. You can use your powers on someone else.”
They all burst out laughing.
“We need more champagne and, Rosie, you need to give us a show, and then we will pick which dress we think you should wear,” Camryn says, taking a seat on the bed with Ivy and Olivia.
“I’m sure any are fine,” I say, looking at the designer dresses.
“Please, indulge us,” Camryn pleads.
Everyone has been so lovely, especially with their advice, and to be fair, this is something I would do with my girlfriends.
“Fine.” I moan as they all clap enthusiastically.
The dresses that Camryn has picked out for me are stunning, but they are sexy and not something I’m used to wearing. The first one is a yellow evening dress that is sheer, with a red floral top. Underneath it’s like a yellow swimsuit, everything is exposed. I step out and I’m instantly mortified. The girls wolf-whistle and make me spin around, they all tell me how gorgeous I am, that the color suits me but I’m not sure, I feel too exposed.
“You don’t look comfortable,” Ivy asks.
“It’s stunning but a little more skin than I am used to showing,” I tell them.
“You have to be comfortable, so next,” Ivy states and the girls agree.
The next dress is a gorgeous nude and green beaded evening dress with a plunging neckline and thigh-high split with a train of feathers. I feel covered except I’m worried my boobs might fall out at any moment. The girls all ooh and ahh when I come out, and I’m more relaxed this time as I twirl around in the dress.
“You look beautiful, but a little ballroom-esque with the feathers,” Camryn adds. I can see that. They all tell me to change again and try on the next one, so I do.
“That’s it,” Ivy says, jumping up off the bed, all the others agree.
I look at myself in the mirror and I don’t recognize the woman staring back at me. It’s a nude corseted top with emerald-green piping around it. It then flows into a satin bottom with a thigh-high split. I look beautiful, it’s as if I’m seeing myself for the first time, I never thought I could look this elegant.
“You need your hair out in waves, it’s very old Hollywood, and some jewels,” Camryn says. The girls all mutter and nod in agreement and head off in different directions. I feel like a princess.
“Come over here, and we will get you ready. Daniel isn’t going to know what hit him,” Lauren says as I take a seat at the beauty counter in Ivy’s bathroom. The girls are pulling out all manner of hair items. Kimberly hands me a glass of champagne and I eagerly take it. I sit in silence, listening to the women talking as they make me over, and honestly, as embarrassing as it was when I arrived, these women have put me at ease and given me some much-needed confidence.
“There you go,” Lauren says, stepping away from me. My coppery red hair is falling in luscious waves. They added some bright red lipstick to my lips and a bit of emerald-green eyeshadow to my lids.
“Wow,” I gasp, admiring myself. Every single woman gives me a compliment and it’s almost overwhelming the support they have given me for no real reason. “I don’t think I realized how much I needed this,” I confess to the women, they all give me a knowing smile.
“We’ve all been there,” Ivy says, looking at me in the mirror as she stands behind me. Her hands give my shoulders a gentle squeeze. “Enjoy the night with whoever you want. There are a lot of eligible men downstairs, and I’m sure any would be only too happy to spend their time with you.” I smile, and she walks out of her bathroom, most of her friends follow her, leaving only Lauren behind who is packing away the hairdryer.
“We all love Daniel and want to see him happy. We don’t mean to be pushy,” she explains.
“He’s a good guy.”
“Sounds like there’s a but at the end of that statement.” Lauren smirks.
“Ivy’s my boss. He’s my client. I’m moving to Dubai,” I explain to her.
“I get it, but you also need to have fun. Life is short,” she says, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and pulling me to her.