Chapter 14 #3
“Okay.” I tuck my hair behind my ear as I look around the store. “Shall I talk about the lamps?”
“Yep, and go.”
“Hi, I’m Alora from Sorenson Antiques. Just popping on to say good morning to you all. Look what arrived yesterday.” I walk over and run my hand down the lamps. “Two Ming Dynasty lamps, in perfect condition. Sage green with 22-carat hand-painted gold filigree. These lamps are to die for.” I smile.
Helene circles her finger. “Keep going,” she mouths.
“And just a reminder about our market night that’s coming up.
Huge discounts, never-seen-before pieces, beautiful art, and as usual we’ll have three mystery boxes and some lucky person will walk home with some very valuable items. There will be canapés, wine, and great company.
Tickets go on sale this morning at 11 and as there are only a limited number available, they do always sell out within half an hour.
I can’t wait to meet you all.” I smile and wave. “Au revoir.”
“And cut,” Helene says as she begins to play it back.
Jonty is scrolling through the paper on the front counter. “Oh look. What’s his name broke up with that princess.”
Helene’s and my eyes fly up. “Who?”
“That rich dude that bought the internship.”
“Edward?”
“Yeah, that’s him, Prescott.”
“Let me see.” I storm over and snatch the paper and Helene reads over my shoulder.
The love affair is over between the darlings of Monte Carlo’s social set.
Princess Hermione of Switzerland has reportedly broken up with her billionaire beau, casino mogul Edward Prescott.
Sources say Prescott ended it between them last week and she has officially moved back to Switzerland to nurse her broken heart.
No reason for the split has been revealed as yet, stay tuned on this one.
It’s sure to be juicy.
“Oh my god.” My eyes meet Helene’s. “I knew it,” she mouths.
“No way,” I mouth back.
“What?” Jonty looks between us. “What’s going on?”
“Prescott has the hots for Alora,” she announces. “I bet he left the princess for her.”
“He does not.” I roll my eyes. “There’s no way.”
“The way he looks at you, though.”
“He looks at every female like that,” I huff, and I walk around the store pretending to be busy. “That’s just him and his womanizing ways. He’s a raging sexaholic.”
“Uh-uh.” She shakes her head. “He doesn’t look at me like that. Oh how I wish he did.”
Jonty rolls his eyes, unimpressed. “If he was broke you two wouldn’t even care.”
“His big dick energy has nothing to do with money.” Helene smiles dreamily. “He could live under a bridge and I’d still fangirl over him.”
I get the giggles as I imagine Edward Prescott living under a bridge. “Anyway, who cares about him. We have bigger things to worry about.”
“Like what?”
“Getting ready for market night.”
“Oh yeah.” Helene looks around. “So what are we marking down?”
“Everything.”
DARKNESS
I type into Google:
The best place to buy high-quality disguises
facial prosthetics padded bodysuits
I read through the results, take my pen and paper and begin to take notes on websites.
I think for a moment. It’s imperative that I keep my search history on my devices clear….
Tomorrow I’ll buy a burner phone in another name.
ALORA
We walk up the wide sandstone stairs and I glance up at the painted ornate ceiling. “This museum is so beautiful,” I whisper.
“I know, my god, I had no idea, how haven’t we been here before?” Helene stops on the steps and tips her head back to really study it for a moment. “I want to live here.”
I continue up the stairs as I wonder if I will bump into anyone Edward knows tonight. “Do I look okay?”
“You look hot, I love this sixties vibe you’ve got going on.”
I glance down at myself, I’m wearing high-waisted denim jeans, they have a little pocket on each side at the front with a plaited material detail and the legs are bell bottoms. I’ve teamed them up with a black turtleneck and a cream vintage handbag and wedges.
To top off the look my hair is curled and up in a high ponytail.
“These jeans were the find of the century.” I run my hand down over my behind.
“I know, I love how the blue is so blue. Why don’t they make denim in that color anymore?” Her eyes drop down the length of my body and back up to my face. “You look like a hot Twiggy.”
“Mission accomplished.” We continue up the stairs.
“Because I do love a hot Twiggy.” We arrive at the top floor and make our way through the double doors to the ballroom.
The walls are adorned with giant paintings of different landscapes.
People chatter as they wander around looking.
“Oh.” I smile, pleasantly surprised. “Look how beautiful these paintings are.” There are moon and stars and oceans and cliff faces, all so different but following the same nature theme.
“Let’s go to the bar,” Helene whispers. “Things look even better after alcohol.”
I giggle. “Sounds like a plan.” We walk over to the bar. “Can I please have two glasses of white,” I ask.
“Of course.” She passes me the two glasses of wine.
“Yesssss,” Helene whispers as she cranes her neck. “Look who’s here.”
“Who?”
“Prescott.”
“What?” I turn so fast that the wine nearly spills over the sides of the glasses. “Where?”
“In the right corner.”
I sip my wine as I casually glance over and I see him straight away, he’s talking to three other men, and while the others all blend into mediocrity, there’s no hiding when you have that stance.
Legs wide, gray suit, perfect posture and dominance oozing from his every cell.
Edward Prescott is a beast to behold, beautiful and wild… . But a beast just the same.
Instantly my heart begins to hammer in my chest and damn it, why does he affect me so much?
I put my hand on my lower stomach as I try to calm myself down, I can hardly breathe when I’m in his vicinity.
It’s like I’m orbiting his sun and the power he emits instantly sucks mine away, leaving me powerless, and vulnerable.
Completely at his godlike mercy.
Act cool.
I take in a long, shaky breath and turn my back to him.
“Look at you,” Helene whispers with a smile.
“What?” I act oblivious.
“As soon as you see him you get all flustered and red in the face.”
“I do not,” I scoff, but I know I do and it’s becoming embarrassing that I can’t hide it.
“He’s spotted you,” she whispers.
“What?” I gulp my wine and wince as I look at the glass. “What the hell is this?”
“Arsenic, I’m sure.” She fakes a smile. “He’s coming over.”
“What?” I whisper, please don’t come over…I can’t trust my slutty mouth not to say something inappropriate.
Act. Fucking. Cool.
“Alora,” his deep voice purrs from behind me. I turn and act surprised.
“Edward.” I smile calmly. “How nice to see you.” Seeing this man in the flesh brings out juxtaposed emotions. Bitchy but needy, I should get a T-shirt made with the word Nitchy across the chest. It’s my newest superpower.
“Likewise.” His dark eyes hold mine.
“You remember Helene?” I smile.
“I do, hello,” he replies but his eyes stay locked on me.
The air crackles between us, an electric current of epic proportions. From my peripheral vision I see Helene look between us. “Hi, Edward, it’s nice to see you again. Please excuse me, I’m going to the bathroom.”
Edward sips his drink and then licks his lips and I swallow the nervous lump in my throat. He steps forward and grabs the zipper of my jeans and pulls it up with a sharp snap, he puts his mouth to my ear. “Just helping you get dressed.”
His breath tickles my skin, goose bumps scatter at his close vicinity and his cologne dances around me.
“I could smell your pretty white panties from across the room.”