Chapter 12
SUTTON
The car that met us at Teterboro was identical to the one that had picked me up in D.C.
except this time, I had company. Cain settled into the seat beside me, close enough that I caught the scent of his cologne but far enough that we weren’t touching.
Of course this attractive and infuriating man would also smell good too.
When we pulled off, I made sure to either keep my gaze fixed to my phone or to the scenery outside my window to keep from having to interact with him.
Cain broke the silence between us after a few minutes. “You’re quiet.”
“Just tired,” I replied, though that wasn’t entirely true. I was hyperaware of his presence beside me which felt as if it was draining me. Maybe he was a vampire or something.
“The hotel isn’t terribly far away in this traffic,” he said. “Feel free to rest. Plus you’ll have a few hours to yourself once we get to the hotel too before we need to get ready for the gala.”
“Sounds lovely.” I rolled my eyes, which wasn’t the most mature thing I could have done. However, I gave myself some slack because I was still processing the reality of sharing a suite with him, regardless of how many bedrooms it contained.
Cain’s eyes lingered on me for longer than I would have liked. “You’re angry.”
“Whatever could have given you that impression? Plus, I’m adjusting,” I corrected, finally turning to face him. “This is a lot to take in at once.”
“The acquisition? The promotion? Or sharing accommodations with me?”
“All of the above,” I admitted. “A week ago I was planning client strategy. Now I’m traveling to New York City with you.”
All he did was shrug. “Life can sometimes change on a dime.”
“True,” I said just before I let out a long sigh. “But most of those changes don’t involve sharing accommodations with their new boss.”
“Does it make you uncomfortable?”
“Would it matter if it did?” I countered.
“Yes.”
The simplicity of his answer caught me off guard. I’d expected deflection or sarcasm, not straightforward acknowledgment.
“Then yes, it does,” I admitted. “Not because I think you have some nefarious plan, which, let’s be clear, is entirely possible, but because—” I paused, choosing my words carefully. “Because this blurs lines that I prefer to keep clean and clear.”
“Professional and personal,” he said, not a question.
“Exactly.”
“Understandable. I can arrange separate accommodations if you prefer.”
Now I was really thrown. Did he just agree with me again? I paused for a minute to think things through quickly. “No,” I said after considering it. “That would be impractical at this point. But I appreciate the offer.”
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “Practical as always.”
I couldn’t tell if that was a compliment or a criticism, so I let it pass without saying a word.
The rest of the ride was spent mostly in silence and soon we were pulling up to The Pierre.
It came as no surprise that the staff greeted Cain by name as we entered the lobby, and we were brought straight to the presidential suite without the formality of checking in or bringing our bags anywhere.
“I have meetings I need to attend,” Cain said as he held the door leading into the suite open for me. “You’ll have this whole place to yourself for a few hours.”
“Thank you,” I replied, genuinely relieved at the idea of being alone.
“I have work to catch up on as well. What time should I expect the dress and the stylists?” I asked, setting my bag down on one of the plush couches in the living area.
The suite was larger than my entire apartment, with floor-to-ceiling windows.
I tried not to look impressed, but it was difficult.
I thought about how quickly the stylists were going to have to work to make sure the dress fit me.
Then again, how would they have even known my size to begin with?
“Everything will arrive at three,” Cain said, checking his watch. “The gala begins at eight. We should leave by seven-thirty.”
“And what exactly am I walking into tonight? You mentioned your mother’s charity, but I’d appreciate some specifics.”
“The Ashcroft Foundation’s annual gala. It supports arts education in underprivileged schools.” He moved toward the door. “My mother has chaired it for twenty years. You’ll meet her tonight.”
The thought of meeting Cain’s mother made me even more anxious. I didn’t have time to examine why I cared about it. “Any particular expectations I should be aware of?”
He paused at the door before looking at me over his shoulder. “Just be yourself, Sutton. That’s more than sufficient.” With that, he was gone, leaving me alone in the presidential suite of one of New York’s most exclusive hotels.
I exhaled slowly in hopes of relieving the jitteriness that was stationed in my body and took a look around the whole suite.
Thankfully, Cain wasn’t lying when he said there were multiple bedrooms. After choosing one, I ordered room service and I pulled out what I needed to work.
I settled down at one of the desks I found because despite everything, there was still work to be done.
I spent the next few hours answering emails and checking things off my to-do list because I was trying to do everything but focus on the night ahead.
I stopped working at two-thirty to take a bath and at three o’clock on the dot, there was a knock at the door.
When I opened it, I found myself facing not just one person but a small army.
A woman holding a garment bag, another with a suitcase bag and some full of makeup, and a third with what appeared to be hair-styling equipment.
“Ms. Prescott? We’re here to help you prepare for tonight,” the first woman said with a small smile.
I stepped aside to let them in. “Of course. Please come in.”
My glamour team moved into the suite and immediately began to transform the living area into a makeshift styling station. The woman with the garment bag carefully hung it on a door frame, and I felt my curiosity building about what was inside.
“Mr. Ashcroft mentioned you prefer minimal fuss,” the makeup artist said as she unpacked her supplies. “I’m Vanessa, by the way. This is Elise for hair and Mira who’ll help with the dress and any last-minute alterations.”
“Nice to meet you all,” I said, trying to sound casual despite feeling like I was in some surreal movie scene. I needed to update Cassie on all of this. “I appreciate you coming.”
“Would you like to see the dress now, or shall we start with hair and makeup first?” Mira asked, her hand resting on the zipper of the garment bag.
I hesitated, torn between wanting to know what Cain had selected and dreading it. “Let’s see the dress,” I finally decided. “I should know what we’re working toward.”
Mira nodded and unzipped the garment bag. I couldn’t help the small gasp that escaped my lips as I took the gown in.
The dress was absolutely stunning. It was a deep midnight blue that seemed to catch the light in ways that made it shimmer like the late-night sky.
It was floor-length with a subtle slit up one side, and the neckline was elegant without revealing too much.
I knew without touching it that it cost more than any piece of clothing I’d ever owned.
“May I?” I asked, reaching toward it.
“Of course,” Mira said, stepping aside.
I ran my fingers over the fabric, marveling at its texture. It was both substantial and somehow liquid, the kind of material that would move beautifully. There was nothing flashy about it—no excessive beading or embellishments—yet it was unmistakably exquisite.
“It’s… not what I expected,” I admitted.
“Mr. Ashcroft was very specific about what he wanted,” Mira said. “This dress was specifically made for you.”
Given what I was learning about the man, none of that was surprising and it wasn’t worth getting worked up about it anyway. The focus was on tonight and the connections I could make.
“Shall we get started?” Vanessa asked, gesturing to the chair in front of her.
I nodded, still processing what the hell was happening. As I sat, Elise began gently combing through my hair while Vanessa studied my face.
“How do you usually wear your hair for formal events?” Elise asked.
“Up, typically,” I replied. “I like it off my neck.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “I’m thinking a low, elegant chignon that shows off your neck and jawline. Nothing too severe, but we should keep it light, with a few pieces framing your face.”
“That sounds perfect,” I said and closed my eyes as I tried to relax.
For the next few hours, I let them work their magic. The conversation flowed easily between the three women, and I found myself relaxing despite the strangeness of the situation.
When they finally finished and I stood to approach the full-length mirror, I barely recognized myself.
The woman staring back at me looked polished and elegant in ways that went beyond anything I’d ever seen before on me.
My makeup and hair were perfection and the dress fit as if it had been poured onto my body.
“You look stunning,” Mira said, making a minor adjustment to the fall of the fabric. “The dress was made for you.”
Well, we all knew it was, but I kept that to myself.
“Thank you,” I said instead, turning slightly to see the back. “All of you. This is… incredible.”
After a few more minor adjustments and some instructions on how to touch up my makeup if needed, the glamour team packed up their supplies and prepared to leave.
Once they were gone, I checked my watch and saw that it was just after seven.
Cain was due back any time, and we would head to the gala together.
At seven-fifteen, I heard the suite door open, followed by Cain’s footsteps.
I took one last look in the mirror before walking out to see him in the living-room area.