Chapter 37 #2
Will caught my eye before leaving, his voice low. “I’ll pick you up at 5:30.”
“I was just going to Uber with Meredith,” I said, keeping my tone cool.
“Natalie,” he said, his eyes steady, “Evan and I will pick you ladies up. See you then.”
I nodded reluctantly, turning back to my notebook as they walked out.
Lori glanced at me with a raised eyebrow. “You two good?”
“We’re fine,” I said quickly. “I’m a hundred and ten percent focused on tonight.”
Lucas flipped through his notes, then looked up. “Shall we take one more pass through the space?”
“Good idea,” I said, following them toward the host stand, my eye catching on the entryway lighting and the alignment of the floral arrangements. Everything had to feel intentional the moment the first guest walked in.
By mid-afternoon, the restaurant was finally coming together.
Each light glowed at just the right warmth, every table was set with precision, and the space carried the hum of anticipation.
Lori, clipboard in hand, walked beside me through the dining room one last time, ticking off each element on her list.
“You’ve nailed it,” she said as we paused near the front doors. “This place is going to blow people away tonight.”
“Thanks, Lori,” I said, exhaling a small sigh of relief.
“But” she added, turning to me with a critical eye, “you look like you’ve been running a marathon. Go do something about that hair.”
“Will do,” I said without hesitation.
“And I mean it—get out of here,” she said, waving her clipboard at me. “You’re done for the day. Go get fabulous.”
“Alright,” I said, smiling as I grabbed my bag. “See you tonight.”
As I walked out of the restaurant, I felt a mix of exhaustion and excitement. Everything was perfect, and for the first time all day, I let myself relax. Now I just needed to make myself presentable.
When I got home, I dropped my bag by the door and headed upstairs. As soon as I stepped into my room, I spotted something unexpected, a stunning Galven London red dress hanging on the closet door. Next to it was a small note written in Meredith’s bold handwriting:
This is exactly what you need tonight. Trust me.
Mere xoxo.
I smiled, running my fingers over the fabric. Leave it to Meredith to find the perfect dress when I didn’t even realize I needed one.
After a quick shower, I started blow-drying my hair, letting the noise of the day fade into the background. Halfway through, I noticed music growing louder, the unmistakable beat of Madonna’s “Vogue” drifting closer and closer.
A moment later, Meredith appeared in the bathroom doorway, a Bluetooth speaker in hand and a wide grin on her face. She was in her silk Oscar de la Renta robe, her hair and makeup flawless.
“Okay,” she said, setting the speaker down. “Let me do your makeup. You’re not leaving this house until you look as perfect as that restaurant.”
“I was doing fine on my own,” I protested, but she rolled her eyes and motioned for me to sit.
“You were doing fine,” she said, pulling out her makeup bag, “but you could do better. Now hold still.”
I laughed as she started working, carefully brushing eyeshadow onto my lids and adding a pair of false lashes she somehow always seemed to have on hand. The whole time, she hummed along to the music, occasionally breaking into full-on lyrics whenever the mood struck her.
“Project complete,” she said triumphantly when she was finished.
I turned to the mirror and blinked at my reflection. My eyes looked bigger, brighter, and my skin glowed like I’d just walked out of a professional studio.
“You’re a magician,” I said, standing to give her a hug.
“You look flawless,” she said with a wink. “Now put that gorgeous dress on and meet me downstairs. We’re having a glass of wine before the men show up.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, laughing as she swished out of the room, her robe trailing dramatically behind her.
I slipped into my red gown, smoothing the fabric down over my hips, and glanced at my reflection one last time.
The woman staring back at me looked confident and in control—a far cry from the whirlwind of nerves I’d felt earlier.
The dress was a knock out, but I also had to acknowledge how far I’d come in the last year: I’d found my footing after the end of my marriage, taken huge strides in my career, and was no longer living in the shadows of an affair. Was I finally stepping into my future?
When I headed downstairs, Meredith was waiting with two glasses of wine and a satisfied grin. “You look fabulous.”
“Thanks to you,” I said, taking the glass she offered. “You look stunning, as always.”
She wore a black halter-neck jumpsuit with a plunging V-neck that revealed a tempting line of cleavage, making her look six feet tall, her toned shoulders on full display.
“Cheers,” she said, holding up her glass.
“Cheers,” I echoed, clinking mine against hers.
As we sipped, the house filled with easy warmth, the kind that only comes from being with someone who knows you better than anyone else. For the first time all day, I felt like I could let go.
As we sipped, the doorbell rang. Meredith smirked, setting her glass down. “I’ll get it,” she said, sashaying toward the door.
I heard the low rumble of male voices as I made my way toward the foyer.
When I turned the corner, Will and Evan stood there, both looking ridiculously handsome.
Will had a tailored navy suit with an open collar, his blonde hair gelled back just enough to look sinfully put together.
Evan’s hair had that intentional messiness that came with great genes.
His dark gray suit and V-neck looked custom-fit, his grin already aimed at Meredith.
“Hello, boys,” Meredith said, her voice laced with playful charm. “Don’t you two clean up nicely.”
Evan chuckled, his gaze lingering on her. “Not half as nice as you, darlin.”
Meredith blushed and smiled.
Will’s eyes locked on me, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow down. “Wow,” he said softly, taking a step forward. “You look incredible.”
“Thanks,” I said, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks.
Will leaned in, his voice low enough for only me to hear. “Red is your color.”
Meredith grabbed her phone and snapped a photo of the four of us. It was the first time Will and I were in a photo. No secrets. The real deal.
Even looped his arm through Meredith’s, “Shall we?”
I nodded, slipping my hand into Will’s as we headed out the door.
I felt like everything was exactly where it was supposed to be.
When we pulled up to the restaurant, the glow of the lights from the windows spilled out onto the street, illuminating the gathering crowd of well-dressed guests.
Lori had done a fantastic job organizing the evening, and the sight of people waiting to step inside filled me with pride and nerves all at once.
Will got out first, moving quickly to my side of the car. He opened the door for me, offering his hand.
“Ready for this?” he asked as I stepped out, his voice low and steady.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I said, taking a deep breath.
Will’s hand rested lightly on the small of my back as he led me toward the entrance. His touch was reassuring, grounding me in the moment. Behind us, Evan offered his arm to Meredith, and she took it with a playful roll of her eyes.
When we stepped inside, the transformation of Pier and Table took my breath away.
The soft glow of the chandeliers bathed the room in warm light, and the tables sparkled with crystal glasses and polished silverware.
Servers moved gracefully between the guests, offering trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
The space was alive with energy, the buzz of conversation and laughter filling the air.
“Looks incredible,” Will said, leaning closer to me.
“Thanks,” I said, my voice in awe of the space around us.
Lori appeared like a whirlwind, clipboard still in hand, her sharp eyes scanning the room. “Natalie!” she called, stopping in front of us. “Everything’s running smoothly so far. The first seating is almost ready, and Jasper says the kitchen is on schedule.”
“Perfect,” I said, feeling a wave of relief.
“Now,” she said with a sly smile, “I have someone I want you to meet.”
Without hesitation, I nodded and followed her as she led me toward a tall, distinguished man in his early fifties, wearing a perfectly tailored suit. His salt-and-pepper hair and confident demeanor immediately gave him an air of importance.
“Alan,” Lori said, her voice warm but professional, “this is Natalie Bradford, the creative genius behind Pier and Table’s design.”
Alan turned toward me with an easy smile, extending his hand. “Natalie, it’s a pleasure. This space is stunning, one of the most impressive restaurant designs I’ve seen in years.
“Thank you,” I said, shaking his hand. “That means a lot.”
“I’ve been in the design industry for over two decades,” Alan said, his tone genuinely complimentary, “and I can tell when someone has a gift for creating not just a space, but an experience. You’ve nailed it here.”
“That’s very kind of you to say,” I replied, feeling both flattered and slightly overwhelmed.
“Kind, but true,” Lori interjected. “I told you Natalie was someone to watch.”
Alan laughed. “You weren’t exaggerating.” He turned back to me. “If you’re open to it, I’d love to talk more sometime. I have a few projects in the pipeline that could benefit from your touch.”
My heart skipped at his words, but I kept my tone measured. “I’d love that. Thank you.”
Alan handed me a sleek business card. “Let’s connect soon. And enjoy your night—you’ve earned it.”
As Alan and Lori moved on, Will reappeared at my side. “Is that who I think it is?”
“Alan Moore,” I said, holding up the card. “Apparently, he’s a big deal in the design world.”
Will raised an eyebrow. “Yes, he is. And he’s someone who knows talent when he sees it.”
I smiled, tucking the card into my clutch. “We’ll see.”