Chapter Thirteen
Two days later
“I’m leaving,” she stated. “I have to do my hair and makeup.” If people were going to be staring at her because she was human, she wanted to look her best.
He looked like he was about to object but wisely refrained. Instead, he nodded. “Seven thirty.”
“I’ll be ready.”
Aaia had assured her a suitable outfit would be hanging in her closet when she got off work. She would have preferred to shop herself, but there wasn’t time. She had no idea what would be appropriate or where to find a dress.
Upon arriving home, she went straight to the closet.
Oh…my…goodness. It’s gorgeous! She crossed her fingers the dress looked half as good on her as it did on the hanger.
The ankle-skimming, satiny blue-green gown had one long sleeve, while the other side left the shoulder and arm bare.
A gold mesh overlay added sparkle. In the back, a blue-green bow formed a slight bustle and fell to a modest train.
“Please, fit me!” She would be so disappointed if she couldn’t wear it. She had one dress she’d brought from Earth, a basic black number, which she could fancy up with jewelry if necessary, but she really, really wanted to wear this dress.
“It will fit perfectly,” Aaia said. “I took your measurements.”
“When did you do that?”
“When you asked me to get you a dress—I scanned you.”
Well, that seemed a little…intrusive, but she couldn’t get too mad because she loved the dress. And there were matching blue-green shoes, too! “Next time, ask before you do that. But the dress is beautiful. I love it.” She paused. “It looks very expensive. You didn’t blow my savings, did you?”
“No. I stayed within your budget.”
The dress was almost worth breaking the bank, but she’d never get ahead if she didn’t apply the brakes to discretionary spending. From her first paycheck, she’d paid the rent for the next month, set aside funds for other expenses, and put the rest in her “freedom fund.”
Savannah showered then did her hair, releasing it from the workaday French knot and leaving it loose, curling the ends and front.
Satisfied with the effect, she got started on her makeup.
She rarely wore cosmetics, but tonight, she went full warpaint—smoothing out her complexion with foundation, contouring her cheeks with blusher, highlighting her eyes with shadow and liner, and thickening and lengthening her lashes.
Lastly, she applied a deep-rose gloss to her lips.
Then she donned the dress. With the gold overlay, the gown was blingy enough, so she merely attached dangle earrings that had belonged to her mother.
Studying the results, she almost didn’t recognize herself.
She felt like a princess, but was it good enough?
“I hope this will suffice,” she murmured.
“Stratos will be smitten,” Aaia said.
“What?”
“Stratos will find you quite acceptable.”
“This isn’t a date.”
“I understand,” Aaia said.
With nothing more to do, she returned to the living room to wait. Her stomach fluttered with nerves, partly from attending a big gala on an alien planet where she wouldn’t know anybody, and partly because of the extracurricular aspect of the activity.
This was kind of how the affair had started with Gavin.
A drink after work. An outside lunch. In hindsight, she realized Gavin had set his sights on her at the start and had bided his time.
He’d targeted her. Stratos wasn’t like that, and the gala was clearly related to work, but it would occur outside the workplace.
It felt…awkward. She’d dressed up in a way that felt date-like.
He said she dealt with people well. She didn’t. She faked it well. An introvert, she hid her shyness behind a forthright manner. He was so bad at dealing with people, she looked good by comparison.
She hoped she didn’t screw up and say something she shouldn’t.
“Aaia, what can you tell me about the gala tonight?”
“It is a trade show planned by OberTech Marketing and approved by the CEO with the goal of recruiting new business in the Northwest Province. Its governor, fifteen mayors, and the CEOs and buyers from twelve of the largest corporations headquartered in the province will be in attendance.
“OberTech sales rank second in this province and thus show the most potential for growth; however, they are far below sales in the successful Central Province. The intention is to increase market share.”
So, super important. No pressure.
“The executive board will be attending, but Stratos’ presence is considered critical because nobody is more familiar with the company’s products than him.”
* * * *
Stratos arrived home with just enough time to change clothes and zip over to his assistant’s apartment. “I would suggest you wear your deep-purple formal suit,” Aaia said as he shed his work attire.
“I intend to,” he said, noticing the suit already hanging on the valet. The AI functioned as he’d envisioned, anticipating needs rather than merely reacting to commands.
“Were you able to get Savannah suitable attire for the credits I provided?” he asked. Aaia had informed him he should ensure his assistant had the right tools for the job since the gala was a work event.
“Yes, she will represent you well.”
He emerged from the shower, dressed, and left his penthouse, dreading the evening; he hated tedious, meaningless conversation and braggadocious posturing.
Invariably he got cornered by somebody who talked way too long about nothing.
Why did people fill silence with drivel?
Yet, somehow drivel was the grease that moved deals along.
If suffering through meaningless chitchat would increase market share, he’d grit his teeth and power through it.
Thankfully, Savannah had agreed to help him out.
He was relying on her to carry the conversation.
His vehicle deposited him outside her apartment, a modest, multi-level domicile within walking distance of the office. “Wait for me,” he ordered his personal transport and bounded into the building.
He found her unit and announced his arrival.
The door opened.
His breath left his lungs, rendering him speechless.
It was Savannah, but it wasn’t. Her green eyes—had they always been that big?
— reminded him of the nature park he used to go to, her hair gleamed like burnished silk—when had it gotten so long?
—her face glowed, and her lips looked like they’d been kissed rosy.
Wearing his favorite color, the blue-green gown was indecently modest, hinting at lustful pleasures without advertising, tracing without clinging to a slender figure curving in all the seductive places to undermine his concentration.
One shoulder and arm had been left bare except for a mesh overlay.
“Right on time.” Her smile, so innocent and oblivious to the riot occurring in his body, delivered a spike of lust.
“I’m nothing if not prompt,” he managed. I’m flekked. How would he survive the evening with her looking so alien and exotically beautiful? Every flekking male with a pulse would be drawn to her like protons to electrons. He flexed his fingers. Over my dead body.
“Should I bring a wrap?”
“A wrap?”
“Like a jacket or shawl to cover up?”
“Yes!” Gods, yes. Cover up.
“The venue isn’t outside, is it?”
“No, it’s in a convention center, but maybe there’s a balcony.” He had no idea if there was a balcony, but he hoped so. He needed some air. The colder, the better. His collar felt tight and hot around his neck.
“Come inside while I get one.”
He paced in the living room while she retrieved a wrap. When she emerged, to his dismay, she’d merely draped the “wrap” over her arm. “Ready,” she announced.
Her appearance rattled him, and he couldn’t fathom why. He encountered plenty of beautiful women. Some of them even worked for him. Elara, for instance, had the facial symmetry his culture considered attractive. So had Verilla.
Furthermore, nothing about Savannah had changed in any qualitative way. She was the same snippy assistant who worked for him. Only her clothing was different. Come Monday, she’d be back in one of her sensible pantsuits with her hair piled on her head, wearing a scowl of irritation.
But he had the horrible notion he was seeing her as she really was.
“Let’s go,” he said.
“Have a good time,” Aaia said.
It had to be his imagination, but as the door closed behind them, he could have sworn he heard the AI giggle.