Chapter 10 – Kylie
ten
Kylie
I step one foot into the black dress and then the other, before I pull it over my hips.
Sliding one of the sleeves on and then the other, I hold it to my chest. Reaching around to the back and pulling the zipper up until the middle of my back, I hold the bottom of the dress in my hand while I try to zip it up until I can reach over my head to zip it up to my neck.
I twist to one side then the other until it’s high enough for me to reach.
When I finally zip it up, I feel like I’ve just done a full hour on the Stairmaster.
I rush into the closet to grab a pair of black sky-high patent leather shoes, bending to place one shoe on and then the other.
My feet immediately pinch and ask me why I hate them.
I walk back to the bathroom and spray some hairspray on my hair, making sure the soft beach waves last as long as they can.
I move my hair to the side before I grab gold hoop earrings, fixing them to my ears.
After I’ve done that, I spray my perfume on me and then turn to see the back of the dress.
I turn back to face the mirror, putting my hand on my stomach that has been in knots all day long.
Fuck, all week long, as we put the final touches on tonight.
I take a deep breath before the phone rings, and I look down to see it’s the driver I hired for the night. “Hey,” I say into the phone, “I’m coming down.”
“Perfect,” he replies, hanging up. I grab my black purse, taking one more look at the dress I chose for tonight.
It hits me mid-thigh, going down to a V in the front and tightens around my waist and flows loosely around my hips, making it classy.
It has embroidered flowers in shiny black stitching.
The sleeves are tight just under my elbow and it looks like they are puffed out and folded.
I knew the minute I tried it on, this would be the dress I would wear.
It’s elegant but sexy at the same time. I turn off the lights in my bathroom, heading to the door.
I see my reflection in the elevator doors once I step in and they close as I take a deep breath.
Walking into the lobby, the only thing that is to be heard is the clicking of my heels.
I see the black town car waiting for me.
Kirby also has a driver for himself, since he wants to make sure if he has a drink, he’ll be okay.
The driver stands by the car, wearing a black suit with a white shirt.
He spots me walking toward him before he opens the back door of the car. “Good evening, Ms. Burry.” He smiles at me, and I return it.
“Hi.” I get into the back seat. “Thank you so much,” I say right before he closes the door and he walks around the front of the car.
I look out the window as he gets into the car. “Do you have any preferences for music?” he asks over his shoulder, and I just shake my head.
“Whatever is fine,” I tell him.
“Would you like me to adjust the temperature for you?” He looks in his rearview mirror at me.
“I’m fine,” I assure him. I can barely even breathe right now, much less make any sort of decision.
He nods and pulls away from my apartment building.
As we get closer and closer to the venue, I feel more and more like I’m going to throw up.
The nerves hitting my stomach right away, hoping that this doesn’t tank.
Hoping that all of our hard work is going to pay off and the event will be a success.
The last thing that I want is for this to crash and burn and then let Lexi and Kirby down.
He pulls up to the building where the event is taking place.
The red carpet is rolled out in the front, and there are transparent balloons that light up lining each side.
The two black doors close and when the car comes to a stop, the valet opens my door, and I slide out.
“Thank you,” I say to the driver and the valet as I walk down the red carpet and pull open the door.
We were here yesterday while they were setting up and I still couldn’t picture it in my mind, but now when I step in, I stop in my tracks.
It’s more than I could have ever imagined.
There are ten tables all around the dance floor, with black tablecloths and gold place settings with a matching black linen folded on top of it.
Even the cutlery is gold. The chairs are gold also, with black satin cushions.
In the middle of the tables are small arrangements of roses in four cylinders filled with water and floating candles. It’s rich and elegant.
Facing the door is the stage we set up with the “Make the Choice Foundation” sign hanging.
I step farther into the room and see that against the back wall is a long table with the same black cloths covering it.
Black frames are lined up, one next to the other, with the prizes in them. Paper and pen are in front of each one.
There are four other round tables scattered in front of the long table with sports memorabilia displayed. Each table has four frames on it. I’m about to walk over when the door opens behind me and Kirby and Lexi step in. A gasp leaves her mouth as she takes it all in. “Holy shit.”
“That’s what I said,” I say, taking her in in her own black dress. “This is—”
“Do you have your speech ready?” Kirby asks me and I shake my head.
“I’m not doing a speech,” I tell him, and he raises his eyebrows. “Don’t give me that look, Lexi can do it.”
“We are going to do it together,” Lexi informs me. “Now, where do we get some champagne?” she asks. “There is a lot to celebrate tonight.”
As if the server was waiting for her to arrive, he walks out of the swinging door to the side with a tray and three glasses.
I take a glass and then wait for them to take theirs.
“To tonight,” I toast, holding up my glass, “and many more.” I smile at both of them, clinking their glasses before downing my whole glass.
“I don’t know how you did it.” I look at Lexi. “it was one of the most stressful weeks I’ve had in my life..” She laughs at me and the door behind her opens and her parents, Zoe and Viktor, walk in.
I smile at them as they look around and Lexi walks to them. “She’s amazing,” Kirby declares from beside me, and I couldn’t agree more.
“We are sitting at table one?” I ask him and he nods his head. “I’m going to go put my purse down,” I tell him, walking over to the table and placing my purse down in front of one of the plates.
When I look back at the door, it feels like fifty people arrived at the same time.
“Kylie,” I hear my name being called by Lexi, who is standing at the front of the room greeting people, “get over here.” I smile and walk to her but stop along the way to say hello to her parents, who have welcomed me with open arms. Truth be told, they probably like me more than they do Kirby, well, at least Viktor does.
When he went to ask for her hand in marriage, he actually said no, which Kirby didn’t really take seriously.
Even though her father kept reminding him that he never said yes every time someone congratulated them on their engagement.
“You look amazing.” He kisses my cheek. “Are you dating anyone?” He looks around. “If you are, he and I are going to have a few words.”
I smile at him and look down, trying not to blush.
“I am not dating anyone,” I answer him, my head adding, I did fuck someone last week in his SUV though.
“I will say,” I tell him, “after spending two weeks with you guys and seeing how you treat your women, the guy has big shoes to fill. I have high standards now.”
“No one is going to be good enough for you,” he declares, and I don’t think I’ve ever been touched by words before as much as I am right now. “Remember that.”
“Stop talking.” Zoe slaps his stomach. “You are going to make her all teary-eyed and she has to pose for pictures.”
“I’ll stop, but…” He holds up his hand and reaches for mine and squeezes it, “just wanted you to know.”
“Thank you, Viktor,” I tell him and swallow down the lump in my throat. “No one has ever said that to me before.”
His eyes show the shock he must feel, but he doesn’t make me feel like I’ve missed out, he just smiles. “Go pose for your pictures.” He motions toward the front of the venue.
I kiss his cheek before walking away from him and looking down, blinking away the tears. I stand with Lexi as we welcome everyone to the event, and I’m trying my best to remain calm, but the nerves in my stomach are making it hard to even breathe at this point.
“I’ll be right back,” Lexi says, walking to her uncle, Kirby following her, and I am about to tell him to get back here when the door opens and Knox steps in.
His eyes land on mine before I can make a run for it and rush away from the door. “Hey,” he says, looking around, “this is—” He nods.
“Yeah,” I sigh, putting my hand on my stomach. The flutters are for a whole different reason now that I see him standing here, wearing a black suit that looks like it was made for him. Chances are it was, but whatever. “It’s—”
“You okay?” he asks me, and I shake my head. I have no idea why I’m actually telling him the truth. Everyone has asked me how I’m doing tonight, and I’ve lied to each and every one of them. “What’s wrong?”
I look over at him, my voice going lower to make sure no one else but him can hear. “I’m just nervous.” I fight the way my nose stings and my eyes get so dry they burn. “This is a big deal, and I don’t want to let Lexi down.”
“Kylie,” he says my name softly, “this place is packed, and every single seat has been sold. You did this. You should be proud.” I swallow the lump.
“It’s going to be so successful that people will be champing at the bit to buy a ticket for next year.
” I smile at his words, forgetting the fact I don’t really like him.
Well, I liked him for about thirty minutes, then I immediately stopped liking him again.
“You are going to smash it.” His words of support are words I didn’t know I needed, especially from him.
He was the last person I wanted to hear these words from, yet it gave me a push.
I take a big inhale and smile at him. “That’s the first time you haven’t ruined the night by speaking to me,” I tell him, and he chuckles.
“Hey, man,” Kirby says, coming to us, “about time you showed up.”
“Yeah, sorry, the sitter was late,” he explains and looks at me one more time before looking at Kirby. “Sorry.”
“Jaxon and Ariella saved you a seat.” He points to the table off to the side.
“Got it,” he says, nodding and walking away.
“Okay, it’s time,” Kirby says, and I shake my head. “You got this.” He puts his arm around my shoulders and walks with me to the stage at the front. Lexi is there waiting with the microphone. “Here she is.”
“I hate you,” I mumble to both of them as Lexi walks up the steps and then reaches for my hand and pulls me up.
“If I can get everyone’s attention,” she announces and everyone stops talking as her voice fills the room.
I look over at her father, who is filming this whole thing, and I almost burst out laughing.
“On behalf of the Make The Choice Foundation, I want to thank you all for coming to our first ever event,” she says, and the room erupts in cheers.
“It’s a foundation near and dear to my heart, and I’m hoping with the proceeds from tonight, we’ll be able to help even more families start a new chapter.
” She hands me the mic and I shake my head, making everyone laugh.
“You’ll be fine, it’s all my family anyway. ”
I grab it from her, putting it to my mouth.
“I’m really not good at public speaking.
That was supposed to be Lexi’s part.” I motion with my head to her.
“But like Lexi, I want to thank you all for taking time out of your day to come and celebrate with us.” The cheers start again and my heart speeds up.
“Believe it or not, everyone in this room has been around someone who has suffered domestic abuse.” The room goes eerily quiet.
“Whether it was verbal, mental, or physical abuse, the effects can be long lasting,” I tell them.
"Regardless of who inflicts the abuse, a spouse or a parent, no one should be living in terror and walking on eggshells around their family. No one should be living in fear because of the person who is supposed to love and cherish them. Right now, I ask that you look to the person beside you, look at those all around this room. Sadly, you don’t know what people are going through within the four walls of their own home.
The person next to you, the person across the table from you could be fighting to live.
Fighting to survive each day.” I look over at Lexi.
“Some of the best of us have suffered in silence; it’s time to speak up.
” I smile at her as she slips her hand in mine. “It’s time to make the choice.”
I swallow the lump and hand her back the microphone.
As I look down at my feet and then look up again at everyone, who are now on their feet, the roar of clapping fills the room, and Lexi lets go of my hand to clap too.
My eyes somehow find Knox’s in the crowd of people as he smiles big, and I can hear his voice clear as day saying, “Told you, you would smash it.”