“I don't know, maybe there's a Christmas caper on the loose, or you could have people watching you…”
She trailed off, peering into the distance. Then she snatched the bag out of my hands and pushed me to the car.
“The party's starting in a few hours. I have to do my hair and shower.”
63
Holly
Icouldn't believe Amber! She was there in the doorway of a nearby shop, dressed as an elf with a camera. She was totally stalking Owen or maybe me or maybe both of us.
I stewed as Owen drove us back to his tower in silence. This was my entire life—whenever anything good happened to me, Amber always found some way to ruin it. She was constantly in competition with me for every little thing. Now Owen was caught in her craziness.
“I'm sure they would take it back if you really don't want it,” he said when he pulled into the garage.
“What? Oh, the clothes and jewelry and shoes. No, thank you.” I leaned over and kissed him. “It was very generous of you.”
He studied me carefully.
I grinned. “We just need to find you a red tux with a Christmas-themed bow tie so you can look half as awesome as me!”
*
When I dressed—aftera few hours of answering fan messages on social media—I looked way better than I ever had before. I did a sexy, smoky eye, and my hair was even cooperating. Instead of frizz, I'd been able to tame it into loose ringlets and pin it into a messy bun with little tendrils framing my face.
The black dress looked amazing. It was mermaid shaped and accentuated my curves in a good way. My mother had always told me I needed to stick to A-lines and leave the more fitted dresses to girls with Amber’s shape, but dammit if I didn't look good. The ruffles at the hem of the dress weren’t too over the top, and they ended in an ever-so-slight train. The off-the-shoulder straps gave the dress a retro vibe. I slipped the red shoes on, fastening the ruby-and-diamond clasps, then I put on the necklace and the earrings. I glittered like a Christmas tree, but a nice, high-end tree.
Owen was waiting downstairs for me. His bespoke tux accented his broad shoulders and chest, which tapered to a narrow waist and very firm behind. He slipped the fur cape around my shoulders.
“Do I look good enough to rub elbows with billionaires?” I asked him.
“None of them better rub anything of yours,” he snarled.
*
Waitingoutside in front of the tower was an SUV limousine. Owen helped me inside then pressed a button. A hidden bar rose up, displaying chilled champagne and crystal flutes.
“Drink?”
“Yes, please!”
He popped the cork and poured us each a glass of bubbling golden champagne.
I took a long sip. “This is delicious. Probably shouldn’t overdo it, though. I don’t want to make any inappropriate comments in front of all your billionaire pals.”
“I think a fair number of the Svenssons will be there,” Owen said with a slight frown. “Archer will definitely be there, so inappropriate comments will be made.”
“Better him than me!”
The black-tie party for theTechBizannouncement was being held in one of Archer Svensson’s hotels. I gaped out the window as the limo pulled up in front of it. The historic limestone building had been decorated for Christmas in Victorian fashion, with candles in the windows.
“Do not trip over this dress,” I ordered myself as Owen and I walked up a grand staircase to the ballroom. It was packed with well-dressed people; the women wore couture, and the men wore tuxes. The whole place was decorated like a Cinderella movie if it had been set during Christmas: a huge tree, chandeliers, miles of garland. A jazz band was playing retro Christmas songs on a low stage.
“You can tell who the tech billionaires are,” Owen whispered in my ear, “because they look like they found their suits in a dumpster.”
I giggled. “You’re a tech billionaire! Did you ever dress like that?”
“Never.”
