Chapter 46
CHAPTER 46
ABIGAIL
S oft silk glided over my skin as I stepped into my blood-red gown, the cool fabric whispering against my legs and hips. I slid my arms through the delicate cap sleeves before I gathered the material at my side, pulling it taut.
A soft zip whooshed through the air as I zipped myself into the dress, the bodice cinching and molding to my frame more with each notch of closure. I inhaled once the final tug had sealed me in, smoothing my hands over the fabric to help the dress settle into place.
As I looked at myself in the full-length mirror in my bedroom, relief spiraled through me. I don’t look like a girl who’s been devastated by her ex.
My hair hung in perfect, wavy curls down my back, my eyelids were done up with dark, smoky colors, and deep red, matte lipstick accentuated my mouth. If anything, I looked strong, graceful, and ready to kick the other team’s ass.
Ten years ago, a day like I’d just had would’ve destroyed me. Sadly, I knew now what it looked and felt like to lose Simon Astor and I’d promised myself I’d never be that vulnerable again.
I stepped into my inky, skyscraper heels, the slight pressure of them on my feet helping me ground myself in the moment. I was ready to go put on the best damn ball New York had ever seen and no drama with my ex was going to stop me.
Shoulders squaring and chin rising higher, I grabbed my purse from my bed and strode out of my house to the car I had arranged for the evening. The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “We’re going to the Blockman, correct, ma’am?”
“That’s correct.” I turned to face the window as he drove away from my house. “The faster, the better. I’d like to be there as early as I can.”
I felt that slight press into my seat as he accelerated without saying a word, simply focusing on doing his job to the best of his ability. I appreciated that.
As I watched the city whir by outside, I kept my mind off of Simon by mentally preparing for the evening ahead. Jeffrey and I had about a dozen spreadsheets to make sure every aspect of the ball went off without a hitch. In my mind’s eye, I reviewed our lists one item at a time, rolling my lips into my mouth and hoping like hell that we had everything covered.
Simon’s event had been amazing. Mine needed to be flawless.
In what felt like no time at all, we were arriving in front of the grand hotel and I stepped out of the car when the driver opened the door for me. Nerves skittered across my skin as I made my way inside. Heading across the expansive lobby to the ballroom, my heels clicked across the tiles. My gaze zeroed in on the doors, beyond which Jeffrey and I had tried to create magic.
A huge sigh of relief escaped me when I walked into the venue to find it set up and ready. Dozens of round tables had been elegantly set with white flowers and lit candles as the centerpieces. Waiters dressed in classic black suits with white shirts and white masks already on their faces were flitting about the room, giving the silverware one last polish and inspecting the glasses, holding them up to the light in white gloved hands.
Everything is perfect. I can breathe.
Crystal chandeliers hung down from a ceiling at least three stories above, a sweeping staircase at one end of the room our official entrance for the guests. A deep sense of satisfaction settled in my chest as I walked further into the room and I smiled.
We had a pretty good chance at beating Simon and Karen. Their event had been a smashing success, but ours was shaping up to be spectacular in its own right.
“Abigail,” Dad said behind me and I spun to find him and my mom walking in through the doors I’d entered myself only a few moments ago. “We wanted to be here early in case you needed anything, but it looks like you’re all set.”
Dad grinned, chest all swollen with pride under the white shirt he had on with his tuxedo. He’d even put on the cummerbund for the occasion. Mom held onto his arm, a vision of elegance and grace in a shimmering, champagne-colored dress.
She let go of him to open her arms after her gaze had swept around the room. “Darling, you’ve outdone yourself. This looks wonderful.”
I stepped into her hug and held her tight. “Thanks, Mom.”
“We’re so proud of you, sweetheart,” Dad said as he wrapped his arms around both of us for a group hug. “Win or lose, what you’ve managed to pull together in such a short amount of time is incredible.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” I whispered, trying to choke back the emotion suddenly tightening my throat.
When I released them and took a step back, Mom’s gaze focused on me and she frowned. “What’s wrong, honey?”
“Nothing.” I schooled my features, blinking a couple times to rid myself of the tears and smiling. “We can talk later, but I’m mostly just nervous.”
“Alright, darling. We’ll talk later.” The way her eyes narrowed another fraction before Dad led her away to the bar area told me she hadn’t bought my excuse about being nervous, but I shook my hands out at my sides and cleared my throat.
This was not the time to go crying to Mommy about how mean Simon was. My big-girl panties were staying on tonight and that started by not following them to the bar to cry on their shoulders before the event began.
Once again pulling back my shoulders, I kept my head held high as I moved around the room, double-checking everything and even heading into the bustling kitchen to make sure things were ready in there. The chefs assured me they had it well in hand, and when I walked back out into the ballroom, Blake and Ashley were at the top of the staircase leading inside.
I glanced at the doors my parents and I had entered through, seeing that they’d been shut, and another stab of nerves shot through me. This is it. If they’ve closed the doors, we’re almost ready to start.
For the moment, I turned my attention back to our actual hosts and folded my hands in front of me as I waited for them at the bottom of the stairs. Ashley blinked rapidly before she started descending them, a surprised smile on her lips as she moved toward me.
“The venue looks incredible.” She put her arms out to her sides and grinned when she reached me. “I cannot believe you pulled this off in forty-eight hours. I’m shocked, Abigail. Shocked and impressed. You are full of surprises.”
“Thank you.” I returned her grin, a little surprised that she was being so candid with her initial impressions when Jeffrey and I were up against Simon. “I appreciate that. We worked hard and we’re hoping that the evening will prove to be a success for the foundation.”
“I’m sure it will be.” Ashley smiled again, then swept into the room and Blake paused in front of me.
Wearing a black tuxedo and a bowtie, he looked just as dapper as my father, his blond hair gleaming in the warm light. He ran his gaze over me unashamedly, even openly shifting back on his heels to get a better view.
“You look absolutely beautiful.” He brought his eyes to mine, gazing intently into them. “I’m sure you’re going to be busy tonight, but if you find any spare time in your evening, I’d be happy to offer you a dance.”
“Thank you, Blake.” I smiled politely. “If I find the time, you’ll be the first I reach out to.”
Not that I had any intention of taking him up on his offer, but I was trying to be nice. The truth was that even without Simon being around, I wouldn’t have encouraged Blake’s attention. While Olivia had managed to make it work with a client, she’d said from the beginning that she’d felt a connection to him.
Blake and I didn’t have the same thing at all, and getting involved with him would only ever end badly. More so if they became a client. Even if they didn’t, I didn’t feel anything for the guy and I didn’t want to lead him on.
As he walked away, I felt my phone vibrate in my purse and I flicked open the clip, my hand sliding into the narrow interior to find the smooth rectangular device. I pulled it out, finding a text from Jeffrey letting me know that he was waiting in the back.
I reached for the smooth wood of the banister and gripped it, letting it guide me up the stairs. When I reached the richly carpeted landing, I hooked a left and hurried to the tiny office the venue had made available to us for the night.
Jeffrey was sitting at the desk with his laptop open in front of him. He looked up at me from behind his thick glasses when I walked in. Unlike Dad and Blake, he wasn’t wearing a tuxedo, but yet another one of his brown suits.
I smiled at him, though. “Looking snazzy, Jeff. I like the white shirt.”
He glanced down at it, nose wrinkling. “Are you sure? My mom said it would work better for tonight than the patterned ones, but it’s so boring.”
“Your mom was right,” I assured him. “Plain is just a little bit more formal. Where are we at with the plans? I’ve checked everything on the floor and in the kitchen, and we’re all set down there.”
Jeffrey moved his gaze back to his computer screen. “It’s clockwork up here too. The doors from the lobby will open to the guests in three minutes and the welcome drinks are being poured as we speak. The waiters are ready to start circling with appetizers and the emcee is backstage, prepping to welcome everyone.”
“Great work, partner.” I grinned at him, feeling a genuine sense of affection for the guy. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to do our speech?”
“No, I’m fine.” He tugged at the front of his collar like the mere thought had made the thing tighten around his neck. I knew the feeling, but one of us had to do it and I was the not-so-lucky winner. He refocused on me. “Are you going to be okay doing most of the talking?”
I nodded. “I’m ready. Let’s do one last run-through of the itinerary. Then we can get out there.”
Jeffrey nodded and read through our plan for the evening, but when I turned to leave the little office, he stood up and cleared his throat. “Before we get started, I’d just like you to know that working with you has been truly wonderful, Abigail.”
I turned to face him, surprised by the depth of emotion in his eyes. As I opened my mouth to return the sentiment, he went on. “You’re an incredibly talented woman, and if you need anything in the future, you know where to find me. I’ll always help with anything you need.”
“Thank you, Jeffrey.” An unexpected wave of fondness and gratitude washed over me. “It was pretty awesome working with you too. Now come on, let’s go greet our guests so we can get this party started. We have a competition to win.”
He chuckled, even offering me his arm as we walked out of the office. As we descended the huge staircase into the event, hundreds of people were taking their seats and settling down, and my heart rate spiked at the sight of the crowd I would be addressing soon.
Jeffrey kept his head down, leading me directly to the stage where we waited behind a curtain until it was time for me to do our introduction to the event. The emcee was already up there, doing her thing with the welcoming.
I heard the buzz of people behind the curtain, listening to them chuckle at her jokes as they settled in. The icy fingers of panic started wrapping around my throat. In just a few moments, I was going to have to go up on that stage just like I had at graduation, and there was once again a really good chance that I’d wind up barfing or falling flat on my face.
I should peek around the curtain to see if I can find Simon. He helped me then and seeing him now might do the same thing.
It was then that I realized I didn’t need him. I’d been having a moment, but I didn’t need a man to ground me right then. I had myself.
I dragged in a deep breath, remembering how far I’d come. As I closed my eyes and replayed some of my triumphs of the last years through my mind, that same sense of peace rushed over me.
The emcee said our names and I reopened my eyes, grabbing Jeffrey’s arm and walking out onto the stage with sure, confident strides. As a teenager, I’d needed Simon’s confidence because my own had been lacking. That wasn’t true anymore. I could do this. I’d just needed a minute to remind myself of it.