9. Mia
Chapter 9
Mia
I almost, almost , made a home run during our kickball game this morning against the Palm Beach Pirates. It was down to mere inches, but the catcher tagged me, and the umpire called me out. That’s okay, though. I almost got a run and my entire team cheered for me. It was epic.
Tonight, two of my teammates, Riley and Grace, want to take me out to Hooplas for a mini celebration. I couldn’t refuse because that was one of my goals in moving to Hibiscus Harbor; to make friends and build connections.
Just as I’m walking into my apartment and looking forward to getting a shower and all this red clay off of me, I hear my phone ring in my purse.
“Hello?” I answer out of breath after climbing the three flights of stairs to my apartment.
“Hello Mia. It’s Mrs. Wilcox.”
For a second, I panic, thinking I’ve missed work or am about to be fired, but remember that it’s Saturday and I’ve been kicking ass at work this week. “Hi Mrs. Wilcox. Is everything okay?”
“Mr. Gallo is in a pickle and can really use your help. Of course, we will pay you generously for your time at quadruple your daily rate. Would you happen to be available this evening and all day tomorrow?”
Quadruple my daily rate? That’s a lot of money that can go towards my business plan. But, then again, I’ve already made plans with my new friends to go to Hooplas tonight.
“What does Mr. Gallo need, Mrs. Wilcox?” Suddenly, I’m getting visions of the movie Pretty Woman and I’m thinking that this isn’t for me. I’m not a hooker. He can call one-eight-hundred hookers, if that’s what she’s proposing.
“Mr. Gallo has a charity gala this evening, but his date was in an accident and cannot attend. He’s really in a bind and asked if you’d be able to go in her place. He needs someone with knowledge of his businesses and, with all the help you’ve given me this week, I know you can do this, Mia.”
Wow, the guilt trip she’s putting me on is quite the ride.
“He asked for me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” What a stupid question, Mia.
“He’s seen all that you’ve accomplished in the short time you’ve been with the club. He’s really in quite the bind, Mia. Will you help him?”
I sigh and calculate the amount of money that I can put towards my bridal shop. My priorities need to be aligned. My bridal shop takes precedence over going out with friends. “I’m willing to do it, but I have nothing to wear for a charity gala.”
“Don’t worry about a thing. I’ve got that all handled. Pack your bags for the weekend. A car will be by shortly to pick you up and bring you to the airport.”
“Airport? Where I’m going?”
“The jet will be waiting for you. There will be a car to take you from D.C, to the Waldorf Astoria. If you’ll give your dress and shoe size to the concierge, the staff will ensure you have the proper clothing for the event. Mr. Gallo will meet you in the hotel lobby at seven tonight. Don’t be late. Do you have any questions?”
It didn’t sound as if his secretary expected or would appreciate questions. “Um… no, I don’t think so. You’ve been very clear.”
“Great. Thank you for doing this, Mia. You can tell me all about it on Monday at the office. Have fun. Bye-bye.”
“Bye.” I say, but Mrs. Wilcox has already hung up.
I’ve never been to Washington, D.C. Never been on a plane, jet, whatever. I’ve never been to a charity gala. What the hell have I gotten myself into?
Remember the money, Mia. The dresses you’ll be able to buy and the smiles that you’ll be able to put on the bride’s faces.
There’s a knock on my front door exactly fifteen minutes later and a man in a black suit wearing a chauffer’s hat is standing there when I answer. He’s not out of breath after climbing three flights of stairs. Even more reason I need to be on this kickball team.
“Miss McIntosh?”
“Yes.”
“I’m your driver. Are you ready to go?”
I look behind me to make sure I’ve grabbed everything and notice my crochet bag and my business plan notebook sitting on my bed. Grabbing them both and stuffing them in my bag, I turn to the driver, “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Very good, ma’am. Allow me.” He takes my bag and starts down towards the black Lincoln Town Car in the parking lot.
He opens the back door for me to climb in and when I sit on the tan leather bench seat; I realize I’m in over my head. But by the time I find my voice to put a stop to it, my driver has already pulled us away from my apartment.
I’m definitely getting Pretty Woman vibes here.
The plane, jet, whatever was amazing. My ears popped on the way up and on the way back down, but I just held my nose and blew. I stared out the window until all I could see were clouds. Then, I pulled out my crochet, but the stewardess handed me a file and told me that Mrs. Wilcox asked that I read and study the material to prepare for my evening.
When I looked it over, I learned all about Gallo Enterprise and the charities that Mr. Gallo supports. Tonight’s charity is for an international children’s foundation. When I realized that he’s supporting children around the world, my heart melted.
Once we landed, there was another black Lincoln Town Car waiting for me and now we’re pulling up to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. I’ve never been to Washington, and I really wish I had time to explore our nation’s capital. We passed the Washington Monument and The White House on the way over here. But my mouth drops as we approach the hotel. It looks like a castle.
“Here you are, Miss McIntosh,” the driver says to me.
“Welcome to the Waldorf Astoria, Miss McIntosh. I’ll get your things brought up to your room.” The doorman says as he opens my door.
“Thank you.” I whisper out in a strained voice as I step out of the car and look all around me.
“Right this way, Miss McIntosh. I trust your flight was pleasant.” The doorman asks me as we enter the hotel.
“Yes.” I mumble as I take in my surroundings while trying to keep up with the doorman.
He leads me over to a desk. “This is Miss McIntosh,” he says to the desk clerk.
“Hello, Miss McIntosh. Welcome. Let me get you checked in.” A pleasant older lady with coiffed hair says to me.
“Your bags will be in your room when you arrive. Have a pleasant stay, Miss McIntosh,” the doorman says.
“Thank you.” I tell him as I keep looking around the lobby at the tray ceilings and columns; the plush carpet and the man playing the piano in the lobby's corner.
“Can you please show Miss McIntosh to room 1801?” The lady behind the desk asks a uniformed man standing by the front desk.
“Of course. Right this way, Miss McIntosh.”
I follow him to the elevator and then to my room. “Here we are. Is there anything I can get for you, Miss McIntosh?” I wish they’d stop calling me that.
The room is enormous, bigger than my entire apartment. I turn to him. “No, thank you. I’m fine.”
“Very well, ma’am. Just dial zero if we can be of any service and I’ll leave your room keycard on the table.” He leaves and quietly closes the door behind him.
I take in the room and the giant bed facing the Smithsonian Museum across the street. “You are so out of your league, girl.” I mumble to myself as I watch the people walk by eighteen stories down below.
There’s a knock on my door. “Concierge service for Miss McIntosh.” A female voice calls from the other side of the door.
I open it and she’s holding a garment bag and a shopping bag from a boutique I’ve never heard of. “These are for you, ma’am. Can I assist you with anything else?” She asks as she hangs the garment bag in the closet.
“No, thank you.”
“Very well. Have a wonderful stay, Miss McIntosh.”
I close the door behind her as the clock on the wall catches my eyes. It’s quarter after six and I’ve got to get myself ready for this party, event, gala… whatever it’s called. Where has this day gone?
Just this morning, I was wearing cleats and covered in red clay. Only last week, I was driving to Hibiscus Harbor with Knoxville in my rearview mirror.
Now, I’m about to go to some party in our nation’s capital. I’ve been on a private jet, two Town Cars, and I’m going to get ready in the fanciest hotel room I’ve ever been inside of. What is happening? This is just crazy.
In under an hour, I’ve showered, done my hair in an updo, and plastered on a bit of makeup to make myself presentable. The dress is a beautiful royal blue sequined, figure-hugging gown with matching sparkly shoes, and they both fit perfectly. I feel like a princess. If all my foster parents could see me now. Hell, if James could see me now and what he lost. I’d love to see the look on his face. It would be priceless.
Standing in the elevator, I look at myself in the mirrored doors. “You’ve got this, girl. You can do this.” I give myself a little pep talk.
The doors open to the lobby, and I step out gingerly until I make sure that I’ve got good footing in these stiletto heels on this marble floor. I make my way to the front desk and to the same lady that checked me in. “Miss McIntosh. What can I help you with this evening?”
“Can you tell me if you’ve seen Mr. Gallo?”
She gives me a large smile, and for some reason, my jealousy peaks. “Yes. Mr. Gallo is at the bar on the other side of the piano. Just over that way.” She points across the room.
“Thank you.”
Making my way towards the bar, I see him. He’s standing with a glass of something amber while reading on his phone. Taking my time to walk across the room unobserved, I take in his impressive looks and his Armani tuxedo. His strong, clean- shaven jaw and muscular form is no match for that tuxedo, but I don’t think any suit could do him justice. He’s gorgeous. Every girl’s dream and I’ve got little butterflies fluttering around in my stomach.
Mr. Gallo must feel me staring at him because he looks around the room. He spots me and does a double take. “Mia.” His eyes widen briefly.
“Mr. Gallo.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m your date for the charity tonight. Just like you asked.” Now, I’m wondering if this has been a colossal misunderstanding. “You did ask for me, right? That’s what Mrs. Wilcox told me when she called me this morning. Your date was in an accident, and you needed someone that knew Gallo Enterprises. I’ve been studying up on your companies all afternoon.”
He seems shocked to see me, but just as fast, his expression changes to pleasure. “Of course, I just had never seen you so dressed up. You look beautiful, Mia. Absolutely beautiful. Royal blue is your color.” He kisses me on my cheek.
I can feel myself blush. “Thank you, Mr. Gallo.”
“Mia, you’re going to have to start calling me Ian.”
I take a deep breath. “Okay. Thank you, Ian.”