Chapter Fifty-NineGrace
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Grace
“ I s Marcos going to be there tonight?” I asked, as Riley and I got our hair done at a fancy place. We’d already finished nails and makeup.
“Marcos?” Riley frowned at her phone.
“Well, I saw his dads at the last one. If he were going to this one, it might be more fun for you. You could hide under a table with a tray of canapes and talk about people,” I said. “Just a thought.”
Riley wasn’t looking forward to this.
She laughed, tapping on her phone. “Love it. Did you ever do that?”
“Not at galas but other things, with my best friend. Usually it was a tray of taco dip.” Thinking of her, of the way she betrayed me, still hurt all these years later.
“Pretty sure there will be no taco dip. I hope they don’t make me go to lots of these.” Riley frowned at her phone. “Marcos won’t be there. But Hiro will be there with his parents. I don’t think he’ll hide under a table with me, but it could be okay.”
“Yeah?” I remembered what she said about not thinking he liked her.
“Yeah. It turns out he’s this reserved and serious guy with resting broody face,” she said. “At the dance he was kind to me, and we studied for the literature test together. I can see now why he and Marcos are friends.”
“I’m glad he’s a nice guy.”
“I’m trying to get him to apply to the Compass BioTek internship program with me,” she added. “Is it okay if I give Kilroy your info so his mom can text you?”
“Sure.” I’d met her when she dropped Kilroy off for Wes’ birthday party.
We finished getting ready.
I looked at my phone. “They’re almost here.”
“How do I look?” Riley smoothed the fabric of her silver gown with her hands. Her hair was down and wavy. She looked fantastic.
“Amazing.” I maneuvered my dress. I felt so special in it. Not to mention the way Spencer looked at me sealed the deal. “Should I put up the train so I can move?”
“No. Not until they take your picture on the staircase,” Riley told me. “The front of the Gladiola has this enormous staircase and at fancy parties they take pictures of everyone going in, and it’s a thing to have your dress trail down the staircase. Look.”
She showed me pictures of beautiful women in cascading dresses, smiling as they walked up a staircase–like at the Met Gala.
We went out into the lobby. Riley giggled as we passed a mirror. “We look like princesses. Let’s send Rose a picture.”
“We do,” I agreed as we took one on her phone. I felt like a princess. I even had clear heels. When Andre altered the dress, he’d made it so it helped hide my scars, and Riley covered the rest with makeup, so that I didn’t have to use a wrap if I didn’t want to.
“Remember, don’t let the bathroom bitches get to you,” Riley told me. “You have an alpha–and my brother. And maybe a Spencer?”
“True.” I smiled as a limo pulled up. I’d never been in a limo, let alone one so big.
The door opened, and Wes got out. He wore a black tux with a silver vest and tie. Since Riley and I were both in silver, all the guys were matching, which was sweet. Riley got in.
“Grace.” Wes’ jaw went slack. He kissed my hand.
“We need to go.” Brennan’s head appeared.
“Will all this dress fit?” I tried to gather it up.
“You can always sit on my lap.” Wes helped me and the voluminous dress into the limo. There was a lot of dress.
“My good doctor,” Spencer breathed. “You look exquisite. As do you, Riley.”
“We’re hot and we know it,” Riley agreed as we drove off.
“You look great,” Evan agreed. “But Grace, how am I supposed to undo all those laces on the back of your dress?”
I grinned. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
“Scissors,” Jett grinned.
“Noooo,” I laughed. “No scissors.”
Brennan stared at me.
I looked down. “Too much boobage? I needed something that wasn’t backless, and that seemed to be the tradeoff.”
Brennan gave Spencer a look. “Really?”
“She looks ravishing–and it’s perfectly acceptable for the gala.” There was a bite in Spencer’s tone.
My cheeks warmed. Spencer thought I looked ravishing? That went straight to my pussy.
“Is there something wrong with my dress?” I squirmed.
“Um, no.” Riley rolled her eyes. “I showed you all those pictures. If anything, your dress is a little plain.”
Brennan shook his head. “There’s nothing wrong with it. My mother doesn’t like family wearing dresses with trains.”
“Hopefully, this means that we won’t get invited to the next one. We talked about this, Bren. It’s not your mom’s pack,” Jett said. “United front. Let’s take a stand against tyranny.”
“Maybe Spencer should walk you up the stairs so I can watch you from behind.” Wes grinned, eyeing me.
Brennan shot him an annoyed look. “Wes, we’ve gone over the entry plan.
Though now I’m thinking that you and Grace should be last so no one steps on the train.
Yes. Evan, Jett, and I are first, followed by Spencer and Riley, and Wes and Grace taking up the rear.
We stop and pose on the landing as a pack, then go to the top.
Don’t stop or answer questions going up the stairs other than the landing and the top–we’re family, not guests.
Once we’re at the top, we wait for our group, take one picture together, then go into the Gladiola, where we’ll take more photos.
Again, no questions. Best manners because someone is always watching.
Mingle, but keep talk light, no politics or anything controversial, Ri, do you understan d? ”
“Fine.” Riley made a face.
“Also, as tempting as it is to get drunk at these things, please resist. I’m saying this mostly for my own benefit,” he added, raking a hand through his dark hair.
“It’ll be fine, Grace,” Wes told me. “It’s a party for charity. Aside from being bored to death, what can go wrong?”
The limo pulled up in front of an elegant building with columns and a large staircase in front that felt more like a museum than a hotel. A red carpet lined the stairs, as did reporters with cameras and microphones. Spectators watched from behind red ropes.
I looked out the window of the limo as Katie got out, offering Rami her arm. Lexi followed along with the rest of their pack. They went up the staircase in pairs and trios, and our limo moved to the front position.
Brennan took a deep breath. “Here we go.”
He got out first and offered a hand to both Jett and Evan. Spencer got out next, and people called his name from the crowd. He helped Riley out. Brennan took Jett and Evan’s arms and went to the foot of the staircase, waiting for Katie’s pack to finish their ascent.
Wes helped me out of the limo, and I froze at all the people watching as Riley helped maneuver my dress out of the limo and onto the sidewalk.
“Breathe.” Wes’ breath was warm on my cheek as he whispered in my ear. I pulled my wrap closer since it was a little chilly.
Spencer squeezed my hand, then took Riley’s arm, whispering something in her ear, as he led her to the foot of the staircase where Jett, Evan, and Brennan had started to walk up.
Arm in arm, Wes and I walked down the red carpet to the foot of the stairs as I tried to ignore the people taking pictures.
“You’ve got this,” Wes whispered. “You’re the most beautiful woman here–and I think this dress will look even better on my floor than the red one.”
I laughed as we made our way up the stairs. “It will definitely take up more space.”
We joined the others on the landing, took a photo, and then started back up in the same order.
When we got to the top, we took a picture in front of a sign advertising the foundation.
We all went inside the hotel, where we went up another staircase, and took another photo.
Then we were ushered over to another sign, this one accented with flowers and greenery.
Siobhan and Frank Morris were waiting for us, along with a guy who looked like Brennan.
“You made it.” Siobhan’s smile didn’t reach her eyes as she surveyed our attire. She nodded at Riley’s but frowned a little at mine.
“We wouldn’t miss it, Mother, Father.” Brennan’s teeth were gritted. “Troy, another great party as usual.”
“Yes, well, a lot of work went into it. Not that you’d understand, little brother.” Troy’s look was politely scathing.
Right. Brennan’s brother, who ran the foundation.
“Grace. Riley. Oh, you two really do class up the pack,” Frank told us.
Riley struck a pose. “I aim to please.”
“Why don’t you go mingle,” Siobhan told us, in a clear dismissal, as more people arrived.
We checked in at a table and entered an open area where there was a bar, servers with canapes, Katie’s pack, and some other people. Soft music played. The mood wasn’t as festive as at the science dinner.
“Grace.” Rami, in a black tux with silver accents, rushed over to me. He looked me up and down. “Girl.”
“Careful, she’s mine.” Evan laughed, putting an arm around me.
“You’re coming to the meeting on Wednesday, right?” Rami asked, pulling me over to the side as Brennan dragged Jett and Evan off to the bar and Lexi cornered Wes.
“I can’t wait.” I was going to try out a meeting of the Daedalus Society. Hopefully, it was a nice group of people. I’d like to make some friends.
“That dress,” Rami added, looking me up and down appreciatively.
“I know. I took a video. It’s incredible,” Riley said, joining us.
“No one’s wearing anything like it.” I bit my lower lip. The women here were wearing things more like what I’d worn to the science dinner.
“That’s because this is all family right now. Troy’s family, Liam’s pack, the cousins who either work for Siobhan or are on the foundation board. The guests will be dressed more like you,” Rami told me. “Have you met Troy and Liam?”
“I think I just met Troy. He’s Brennan’s brother and runs the foundation with Brennan’s dad?” I’d seen him at the science dinner.
“Yes, and Liam is the eldest brother. He helps Siobhan with the company. Katie, of course, is legal counsel for both,” Rami replied.
“Which means Brennan’s the only one that doesn’t work for the family,” I finished. He had two brothers?