Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
She chuckled. “Okay, Maya.”
I settled in and spotted my two friends and their spouses.
Elegant masks obscured their faces and almost made me feel like I was surrounded by strangers.
Holding a glass of champagne, my bestie Claire sat on the other side of the limo, right next to her husband, Bernard. She wore a green gown that I knew was a design by Coco Chanel because Claire never wore any other designer. A mask made of shiny emeralds covered the upper half of her face. The green went perfectly with her dark brown skin. Tonight, her black hair was pulled up into a bun.
One would have thought that her husband Bernard would be matching with her this evening. Claire was usually very serious about how they looked together as a couple. Instead, Bernard wore a black suit with a bright orange tie and an orange mask that also covered the upper half of his face.
Chuckling, Claire watched me get in. “You look breathtaking, Maya.”
“Thank you.”
“Bubbles.” Claire elbowed her husband’s protruding belly. “Tell her how amazing she looks.”
“Oh.” Bernard bobbed his head. “Yes. Yes. Maya, you look good enough to eat.”
Claire parted her lips. “What?”
“Well.” His pale white face tinted red. “I mean beautiful.”
I took no offense. Bernard was the top food critic in the city and loved to call non-food related things yummy, tasty, and delicious. Anyone opening a restaurant and wanting notoriety always invited Bernard to come. When he blogged about a restaurant or put it on his food show, the spot ended up needing a waiting list by the next month due to being so crowded.
Claire let out a long breath. “What will I do with you, Bubbles?”
Bernard blinked. “I’m sorry, Maya.”
“No. No.” I sat in my seat. “That’s fine. By the way, you both look great.”
Further down the polished leather seat, Horace poured a glass of champagne. “You want some liquid courage, Maya?”
I crossed my legs. “No, I’m good.”
It was no shock that Horace wore a money-green suit with a gold and green mask.
Meanwhile, his husband Ryan had on a gray designer suit and black shoes that matched his black purse. A beaded black mask covered his entire face. His long blond hair was pulled up into a tight bun, and his black nails were long and perfectly manicured.
As usual, Ryan didn’t speak to me or gaze in my direction. I never knew when or how I had offended him, but I must have done something. It just seemed like the man never liked me. And that was crazy being that the fifteen percent that Horace earned for all of my deals had kept them living the good life and allowed Ryan to eventually stop styling.
The driver closed the door.
Horace handed the glass of champagne to his husband. “Remember, honey. Take your time with the drinks this evening.”
Ryan rolled his eyes, pulled the mask up enough for his lips to touch the glass, and took a long gulp.
Horace cleared his throat and gazed at me. “You do look amazing, Maya. I hope you dazzle Ethan Vanderbilt.”
“What? Hold on, Maya. Am I missing something? I know you didn’t leave anything out.” Claire pouted. “What’s this? Dazzle Ethan Vanderbilt?”
I waved Horace’s comment away. “He’s making a big thing out of nothing.”
The limo began to move.
Horace poured another glass of champagne. “Maya didn’t tell you, Claire?”
“Tell me what?”
“That Vanderbilt went to great lengths to invite her.”
I held up one hand. “Hold up. It was just an invitation inside of a heart puzzle.”
“What?” Claire frowned. “You never told me any of that. You just said that he sent an invitation—”
“Delivered by two men and in this elaborate wooden 3D heart with a puzzle on top.” Horace winked. “I’m just wondering what Ethan was trying to say to you, Maya.”
“I don’t think we should make a big deal out of this.”
Claire’s frown deepened. “Why would Ethan Vanderbilt send Maya a heart?”
Bernard shrugged. “I think the gesture was quite smashing.”
Claire gazed at Horace. “Does Ethan even know Maya?”
“I have no idea.” Horace poured another glass of champagne and set the bottle in a silver ice bucket placed within the door. “All I know is that I am going to make sure Ethan and Maya are very close this evening.”
Claire turned and scowled at me. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that part.”
“Because it wasn’t a big deal.”
Claire touched her chest. “Vanderbilt just delivered our invitation in the mail.”
“It really isn’t a big deal.” I shrugged. “Horace is just blowing it all out of proportion.”
“Damn right I am.” Horace took a sip of his champagne. “My top and most important client has caught the interest of the city’s mega billionaire. All I can hear is cha-ching, cha-ching.”
“There is more to life than money.” Ryan took his mask fully off and finished the rest of his champagne in one long gulp.