“I think you’re a fool if you love this holiday. Speaking of, please tell me you got me that new diamond ring I wanted.”
“Uh,” I stuttered, not having thought of a gift for her.
Was Elsa my girlfriend?
No.
She was a model who was sometimes my plus one for events. She sometimes was a dinner date when I was lonely. She sometimes was a lover when I needed a release. But that’s all she was.
So, by my calculations, that did not deserve a gift. And certainly not one that was an easy two million plus.
“Come on, Joshy, you said you would get it.”
“I did not, Elsa. Don’t lie.”
And that nickname, how I hated it.
I looked around, needing something to drink, or a distraction to get me away from this woman. Or find a way to get rid of her. Why in the world did I ask Tessy to confirm if Elsa was going? It would have been far safer for me if I had just come alone.
“Who is that?”
“Why, she’s stunning.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen her before.”
My head swiveled around as I tried to pick up on all the new conversations. The room seemed to have frozen, and all heads were glancing at the entrance.
“Was there some king coming?” Elsa asked, but her guess was as good as mine.
I looked at the entrance, trying to figure it out myself, but only got a vision in a peach dress. Her hair was down, flowing along her back, her make up highlighted her natural beauty, and her legs were long with sky high heels. But it was her smile and her eyes that captured my attention.
Because I knew them.
I saw them all the time.
But I had never seen them like this before.
I made my way through the crowd, my hand reaching out for her.
“Tessy.”
“Hi,” she said, taking my hand. “I didn’t think I’d cause quite this stir. I know I’m amongst the elite here.”
“Trust me, that is not why everyone is staring at you. You look absolutely stunning. You have made this crowd awestruck.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s a good thing. I think occasionally, the upper class needs to be knocked down by something new and beautiful. So,” I tucked her hand in my arm, forgetting about my date. It wasn’t that I wanted to be mean and ignore Elsa, but Tessy hadn’t been around this side of Hollywood, the rich, and the fame. These wolves could eat her up.
“What?”
“Why did you come tonight?”
“I was asked. When I replied for you, the woman I was talking to was so nice and said that even though I was your PA, I needed to come. That, yes, the elite did come, but it wasn’t that us lowly class couldn’t get it.”
“You plan on bidding, don’t you?”
She laughed, and I couldn’t help but grin. Tessy had always been a breath of fresh air for me. She understood me like no one else did. Which was why she made a great PA for me. She worked endlessly to make sure I was on track for everything, but also that I didn’t get burned out. Or that I didn’t get roped into things I really didn’t like or didn’t care for.
