"We'll hug once you've washed those faces," Vanessa teased, pointing an index finger at us with a broad, triumphant smile.
We didn't take long to clear the room, and even though I was wrapped in the safety of Kelsey’s embrace and the familiar chaos of my friends, a cold knot of anxiety sat in my stomach. This attempt to bend Peter’s will felt like a high-stakes gamble that could go very wrong, very quickly.
After hours of debating, we finally settled on our choices. We spent the remaining time catching up on their Caribbean trip.
“So, is it official? Are you actually moving to D.C.?” I asked, while Lisa pinned the final adjustments on my dress.
“It was supposed to be a surprise,” Sarki admitted. “We were going to announce the move at a dinner party.”
“Wait... is Vanessa moving in with you two?” I asked, laughing.
“No!” they shouted in unison.
“We’re still in the 'getting to know each other' phase,” Lisa added, winking at both of them.
“Well, it’s really your fault, isn't it, Baby?” Vanessa noted as Sarki zipped her into her gown. “And besides, I’m going to love seeing Donald as your boyfriend. You'll look like the perfect prom couple.”
“Except for the fact that neither of us is straight,” I countered. We burst into laughter.
My phone rang, cutting through the noise. “Don is asking if I’d rather arrive with him through the front door. What do you think?” I asked the room.
“Only if I can sit and watch Peter’s face melt,” Sarki chimed in.
“I think Don is being surprisingly pragmatic,” Vanessa added.
“You should go,” Lisa agreed. “Have him meet you a block away and make the entrance together.”
I nodded, standing up from Kelsey’s lap.
“You two are such frauds,” Vanessa noted. “You used to beat your chests about how open and free you were, and now you’ve turned into possessive addicts.”
“Damn... you caught me,” Kelsey smiled, catching me in a hug. “See you downstairs. You look perfect, Kitty.”
She whispered the words into my ear, her hand lingering on the door handle as she held it open for me. But before taking my first step out, I paused to adjust her bow tie, closing the distance between us one last time.
"I hope you’ve found a date for tonight," I whispered. "Otherwise, it’s going to be much harder to pretend I’m actually with Don."
"Vanessa has already handled that. I believe my 'date' will be arriving shortly." Kelsey pressed her lips against my earlobe, sending a sharp shiver down my spine. "Who knows? Maybe the three of us can find some... private fun later."
I bit my lower lip, nodding in agreement with a wicked smile. The thought of a threesome was strangely comforting amidst so much professional chaos.
I took the service stairs, guided by Rita, to the back of the property. The black Volvo was idling, and Donald was already there. He greeted me with a kiss on the back of my hand.
“Your wife told me I had to wear this for you,” he mocked, pointing to a lavender flower on his lapel. “And apparently, no one told you that you aren't supposed to smell like the entire French countryside.”
“You look gorgeous, Don. Do you really think they’ll believe we’re together?” I asked.
“We’ll exchange a few strategically placed kisses. People will believe whatever satisfies their appetite for gossip,” he replied. “Just look at me like I’m your sugar boy. We need realism in our eyes, Megs.”
“Don, you’d need a lot more than a nice suit to be my sugar boy,” I laughed.
“Ready?” he asked as the chauffeur opened the door.
“I was born ready.”
We swept into the room like a couple in the throes of a new romance. Peter’s gaze was a searing laser, but I met it with a cold stare of my own. Our silent confrontation was interrupted by Kelsey making her descent.
She wasn't alone. Accompanied by a woman who looked as though she’d just stepped off a runway, Kelsey looked every bit the powerhouse.
