My stomach twisted into a knot as I studied my nails. I hadn’t worn them long since my high school prom. I kept them short. How would I do my job on Monday with long pretty nails?
Focus on the positive. The money will improve your life.
It would also better the lives of my sister and my parents.
But I feared what the ultimate cost would be when it was all over.
“Do you think Fabio would pay for us to go back to that salon one more time before Christmas?” My sister’s question jerked me out of my thoughts.
“What?” Had I heard her right? After the arrangement was over and he paid me, we could pay for ourselves.
I sensed Ross’s attention on me, although I still couldn’t see his eyes behind his dark shades.
“I would love to get the works treatment, again, before we go home.” She exhaled a satiated breath.
Ross cleared his throat and worked his jaw. Celine annoyed him as she did most people.
“That’s too soon. Maybe after the New Year when we can pay for it ourselves,” I replied. “But I think once a year or maybe twice a year would be sufficient for all the things they did to us.”
Seriously, it was like we’d gone through a makeover from head-to-toe. When the receptionist told me we were getting “the works” done, I had no idea what that entailed. But seeing how excited Celine was had helped me be open to anything.
And I didn’t feel as though I could decline anything because Fabio had set up the appointment.
Each station had a different purpose. At one, my bikini area was buffed, waxed, and moisturized. Why that was important, I couldn’t imagine. Fabio wouldn’t see anything under my clothes, but whatever.
I had the most relaxing massage of my life before my mani and pedi. The nail tech had told me the instructions were no bold colors or crazy long nails. I told her to do what she thought would be best for an elegant holiday season. Since I had no idea what the clothes Fabio had selected or color scheme, the tech and I had agreed on pink nudes with understated snowflake design.
I loved my nails.
And my makeup.
And my hair which was long and straight, parted down the middle. The hairstylist had said one of the Kardashians had worn their hair the same way at an awards show.
In one afternoon, I’d been transformed. I literally felt like a different woman. Maybe someone hidden away inside me was finally revealed.
“We’re here!” Celine chirped. “About time. I swear this driver took the long way home.”
“Celine,” I said in a scolding tone and elbowed her. Could she be anymore rude?
Ross stayed silent as he exited the car to open our door. But before he could do his job, Celine had burst from the backseat of the vehicle and hurried toward the entrance. She was probably going straight for the first bag of clothes.
“Thank you, Ross,” I told him as I got out of the car. “Sorry about my sister.”
He shut the door and removed his sunglasses. His bright blue eyes studied my face. “You’re very different.”
“Um, yes.” I gave him a little wave on my way to my apartment building. Did he mean I was different from when he first saw me or that my sister and I were different? Well, I wasn’t about to ask him to clarify.
“See you this evening,” he said.
I didn’t respond as I went inside. What was there to say when I wasn’t thrilled to be seeing him so soon? Or the reason why I would be seeing him.
My spine stiffened I remembered the Nutcracker and my arrangement with Fabio. In a couple of hours, I would officially become Fabio Ferrari’s fake girlfriend.
I didn’t feel at all good about it.
Entering my apartment, Celine stood in our small living room holding the garment bag labeled: Event 1.
“Why are you going so slow? Aren’t you excited to see what’s inside?” She shook the bag with a wild almost insane look in her eyes.
