Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
We land and the wind lashes me as I step down from the chopper. From here I can see buildings rising all around me, packed in without any space in between. It’s like a forest of bricks and chrome.
“I’ve made an appointment for us at Saks.
You’ll love it. It was Laura’s favorite store.
” Jack takes my hand as we leave the building.
“We can walk from here. I would have had a car waiting for us, but with the traffic being as it is, it’s faster to walk, and it’s not like we need to carry anything.
I’ll have everything delivered by courier. ”
I look at him and wonder if he realizes what he is doing.
The constant comparing of me to Laura is jarring—no, it’s downright unpleasant.
It is as if I’m a replacement or he wants to create me in her image.
“I hope to discover the stores I like. I don’t feel comfortable walking in Laura’s footsteps. ”
“You’re nothing at all like Laura.” Jack frowns at me as if confused.
“You’ve seen her photographs and the portrait.
That was Laura, dressed in the height of fashion, and she never put a foot outside the door without having her hair and makeup perfect.
We employed a stylist. They lived in the staff building and attended her whenever she needed them.
” He smiles at me. “It’s how she was raised.
Old money and a family that goes back generations. ”
Does he even realize his comment is a putdown? I swallow the distaste crawling up the back of my throat and feel like Orphan Annie. “Well, everyone’s family goes back generations, Jack, or we wouldn’t be here. I guess it’s been difficult for you to make the switch from old money to a lowly actor.”
“They say love is blind.” Jack chuckles as if it’s funny. “When I met you, I didn’t care where you came from or your profession. It was love at first sight.”
I consider my answer as we walk. “I’ve met quite a few people from old money, as you call it, and most of them didn’t have a brain in their heads.”
“You can be so delightfully naive sometimes, Willow.” Jack stares straight ahead. “It’s never about brains—it’s about money.”
I stop walking, and he turns to look at me.
I raise my chin. “It wasn’t for me. I didn’t marry you for money—far from it.
You told me you were in real estate. I figured you sold houses, and I know that job can be lucrative, but most people just scrape through on the few sales they make.
The cream of the real estate sales usually goes to the owner of the company.
” I clear my throat. “You didn’t look like this then, did you?
I mean, wearing a thirty- or forty-thousand-dollar suit, and I had no idea you owned the company who wanted the commercial.
I was just auditioning. You could have been one of the crew for all I knew. ”
“Hey, don’t get yourself tied in knots over who we were when we met.” Jack cups my cheek and shakes his head ruefully. “It’s who we are now that matters. My friends love you. You made a good impression, so now you’ll have the confidence to move into my business circle.”
I want to say, I don’t need confidence. I’m an actor. I can play the part he wants me to play, but it won’t really be me—will it?
We come to the end of the block, and I see the Fifth Avenue street sign.
It’s like stepping into another world. High-end fashion stores line the sidewalk.
I feel so tiny as I stare up at the skyscrapers that seem to lean in toward the street.
They dominate the entire landscape. As we walk along Fifth Avenue, tall light-gray buildings line each side of the street.
The aroma of fresh coffee leaks from the cafés mixed with hot dogs from the vendors’ carts.
It’s noisy, with vehicles moving up and down packed together, snake-like, as they crawl along the blacktop.
Horns honk and street vendors raise their voices to sell their wares.
Bright-yellow cabs, buses, and riders on bicycles weave in and out of the traffic.
There are so many people rushing in every direction.
I cling to Jack’s arm as he strides along in absolute confidence, head held high.
I believe his attitude was one of the things that attracted me to him in the first place.
We arrive at Saks. It has an impressive facade that appears as if it’s draped in long, wide purple ribbons.
A doorman greets us, and we step into Aladdin’s cave.
Jack leads me through the store and the scent of perfume envelops me in a miasma of fragrances, not one stronger than another.
I’m mesmerized by the lavish interior and wish I had the time to explore.
It’s as if Jack is on a mission as he leads me through the different departments.
He knows where he’s going, and soon we arrive at a women’s designer fashion area.
A woman wearing a neat, tailored cream suit glides out to greet us with another close behind.
They speak to Jack, not me, about what I require and then guide us to a private shopping area.
Jack sits in a gold velvet chair as, shellshocked, I stare at the chandeliers spreading a soft light over the cream carpet.
Racks of clothes are set in alcoves under the designer names.
The magnificence of the place is daunting.
I’m a fish out of water, and as the assistant stands looking at me, hands folded in front of her and with an expectant expression, my nerve almost deserts me.
I glance at Jack, who is staring at me, supremely confident as usual.
I can’t let him down. He’s known here and has a good reputation.
I inhale and decide to play my best role ever.
I lift my chin and act as if I own the place.
I indicate to a designer I admire, and we head in that direction.
“I need everything. My wardrobe hasn’t arrived from LA, and I’m stuck here without a thing. ”
Both women exchange glances, and I smile at them. “New York fashion is so different from LA. I’m sure you’ll be able to guide me.”
“Of course.” The oldest of the two removes dresses from a rack and holds them up for me.
I touch the fabric, and it runs through my fingers like silk.
There is no price tag. I assume if you need to ask the price, you shouldn’t be in the store.
I nod and give them my size. “Yes, I like that one, but I have many dinner parties both day and evening to attend. I’ll need everything, as I said, from gowns to shoes and accessories.
Bring me anything you consider suitable.
” I can almost see the commission dollar signs flash in their eyes.
I play the performance of my life and try on outfits and display them to Jack as if I do this all the time.
I see his eyes light up as he nods his approval.
I can’t believe it; acting the part of the rich and famous is even fooling him.
Maybe he’s seeing his beloved Laura in me, and the thought chills me to the bone.
“I like this one.” Jack stands and points out a black dress, with a low backline. “Try this on next.”
In the changing room, I stare at my reflection and my blood runs cold. I press both hands on the mirror, trying to breathe. I’ve seen this dress before in the pictures taken on the yacht. The dress is exactly the same as the one Laura wore the night she died.