Close, but it still didn't look right to me. Then again, I wasn't sure if my expectations of how I would look in a dress were very realistic. I was thinking of magazine photo shoots airbrushed all to hell. No matter what I wore, I was still going to have all the lumps and bumps of a real human woman.
Emma was tugging at the hem. It fell at an odd place, just below my knee, which threw off the whole look of the dress.
"We can take this in a little bit, if you end up liking it," she said. "But let's try something else. I think Mr. Thorne wants you to have something off the rack. He made it sound like time was a factor, and I've got a few clients ahead of you in line for alterations."
I nodded, and she dug through her selections for a moment, finally pulling out something in the deepest shade of midnight blue I'd ever seen. Instantly, the color transported me back to a fond childhood memory of walking through the mall, hand-in-hand with my mom, before things went sour between us. I'd look up at the massive skylights that lined the main concourses, just after dusk, seeing the sky just as it turned this particular shade of blue. I couldn't explain why, but something about that color always made my young heart swell with the beauty of it.
Emma was smiling. "Here," she said. "I can tell you're in love with it already. Try it on."
It was light and silky, fitting over me like a second skin, but not clinging too tight. My breath caught in my throat as I looked at my reflection. Almost instinctively, I reached up and undid my ponytail, letting my hair fall loose around my shoulders. I tossed my head. Now I looked like someone who belonged on Daniel's arm.
Emma's smile had broken into a grin, lighting her whole face up with the satisfaction of a job well done. I felt a scratch against my armpit, and I remembered for the first time that these dresses had price tags. But as I lifted my arm and tried to grab onto the tag with my other hand, Emma stepped forward and gently pulled my hand away.
"I'm sorry, but I'm under very particular instructions not to let you look at the price."
I stared at her. "Are you serious?"
She smiled. "Come on. Let's find you some accessories."
Emma showed me a necklace and a pair of earrings, elegant silver pieces with alternating light blue and white pearls and crystal pendants, far more delicate and beautiful than anything I'd ever worn. She put me in front of a mirror and fastened the necklace while I slipped the earrings in.
It was perfect. The lighter blue of the jewelry was beautifully complemented by the midnight blue of the fabric, and when Emma pulled my hair into a quick bun on the top of my head, I hardly even recognized myself. A pair of matching shoes, and I looked ready for the red carpet.
Walking out of the shop, I tried not to even think about how much money I'd just spent. Daniel wanted me to have these things. That was the important part. A few hundred - or, God forbid, a few thousand dollars were nothing to him in exchange for me having a nice outfit.
My phone went off just as I walked through the door of my apartment. Sighing, I dropped my purchases on the couch and dug it out of my purse. Unknown Name, Unknown Number. I almost let it go to voicemail, but changed by mind at the last minute.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Maddy. How are you?"
"Daniel." I stopped in the middle of my living room, my heart thudding at the sound of his voice. I'd really been looking forward to a whole weekend of being away from him, avoiding his knowing smiles and deep green eyes and all the things that reminded me of that damn dream. "I just got back from the boutique, actually."
"Oh, did Emma treat you well?"
"Yeah, once I dropped your name." I switched the phone to my other ear and picked up the bag, pulling the necklace and earrings out. "She set me up pretty well."
"Glad to hear it. I'm sorry if she was cold to you at first. They've had issues with 'customers' who come in without the intention of buying anything, just putting on a little fashion show for themselves and making a mess in their wake."
"And I looked like one of those people. Yeah, I get it."
Daniel was silent for a moment, as if he wasn't quite sure if I was being snarky or not.
"I wanted to ask you if you were free for dinner tonight," he said, finally.
"Already?" I set the jewelry down. "I thought you meant, like…next week, or something."
"I've been thinking about it since, and I feel it would be best to get things off the ground soon. If you're free, of course."
It was on the tip of my tongue to say something bitingly sarcastic, but instead, I just said "of course."
"I'll send a car to pick you up at seven o'clock."
"Sure," I said, hanging up before he had a chance to say goodbye.
I couldn't explain why I was so irritated. Something about Emma's demeanor, and his explanation for it, was more than I could stomach. I didn't want to spend the next year pretending to be something I wasn't, just to fit in. But I'd already signed the contract.
I sat down heavily on the couch, picking up the sparkling necklace and toying with it gently. Could I get used to this lifestyle? Did I even want to?
I busied myself around the apartment for the rest of the day, vacuuming and dusting and wiping down corners I hadn't touched since I moved in. My eyes kept drifting over to the bag from the boutique, and I couldn't stop myself from thinking about everything that it symbolized. Years of financial freedom. More money than I had ever dreamed of. A new lifestyle. A new life.
When the car pulled up, I was waiting outside, clutching my new black leather purse and trying not to look awkward.
"Forgive me, ma'am, but you look lovely," said the driver as I climbed in. I had to smile.
"Thank you," I replied. "Let's hope Daniel agrees."
The driver cleared his throat, and I could tell he wanted to say something.
"What?" I prompted, finally.
"Well, I shouldn't say anything, but…" He met my eyes in the rear view. "I've been suspecting there was something going on between you two."
Been suspecting? How long had the driver even been aware of my existence? I felt a chill run up my spine, but I was afraid to ask the question.
"Well, you've got solid instincts," I said. "Where are we going, by the way?"
"The Inn at Grenarnia," he replied, in a tone of voice that suggested he'd never set foot in that restaurant himself. I felt like I wanted to scream. I knew the place - they'd been written up in the paper before, with words of high praise for their $250-a-plate tasting menus. How on earth was I supposed to behave naturally in a place like that?
"Wow," I managed, after a silence. "Fancy."
"Well, that's how Daniel is when he really likes someone. No expense spared. He must really want to impress you."
Or intimidate me. "I guess so," I said.
He'd pulled up to the curb in front of the restaurant. I took a deep breath, smoothed my dress over my thighs, and stepped out onto the sidewalk.
Chapter Four
I had to admit, the restaurant was enchanting. And I hadn't even set foot inside the door yet. They had a large veranda where couples sat on swings and Adirondack chairs, talking, laughing and sipping wine. Strings of lights twinkled like fireflies all around the eaves. Off to the side, there was a lush garden, and as I stepped closer to get a better look, Daniel walked out from under the ivy-covered trellis.
"Maddy," he said, warmly, coming towards me and taking my hand. He held it for a moment, and I had the strange thought that he was going to lift it to his lips. Instead, he simply squeezed it a little before letting go. "That's a stunning dress, by the way."
"Hi," I said. "This, uh, this place is really nice."
"It's cute, isn't it?"
That wasn't exactly the word I would have chosen for a place that cost this much, but I just nodded and smiled.
There was a table waiting for us inside, surrounded by glowing candles and plants that seemed to be growing out of the floor. On closer inspection, they proved to be thriving in planter boxes that were built in to be at the same level. In the center of the dining room, there was a massive tree trunk; the restaurant appeared to have been built around it.
"You look surprised," Daniel said, smiling.
"I wasn't really expecting it to be like this," I said. "I don't know what I was expecting."
"I can't stand a stuffy restaurant," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, it's not 'nice' if you can't be comfortable while you're there."
We had a reservation for the tasting menu - of course - which was actually somewhat of a relief. At least I didn't have to try and choose the entrée that would make me stand out the least as someone who didn't belong there.
But as time went on, I was plagued less and less with the feeling of sticking out like a sore thumb. By the time the server cleared away our third set of plates, each with a tiny Angus rib eye fillet on a bed of roasted potatoes and red wine-marinated onions, I was talking and laughing like anything. I was just finishing up my second glass of wine, and I was beginning to feel the pleasant, heady buzz. Slowly but surely, I was becoming less aware of everyone in the room except for me and Daniel.
"You didn't have to bring me here, you know," I heard myself blurting out in the middle of an unrelated conversation. Oh, God. Why on earth had I let those words slip out? That wasn't what I meant to say at all.
But Daniel just laughed. He was beginning to feel it a little himself, I could tell; his eyes were brighter, the skin of his cheeks rosier, than I'd ever seen. Even in the low light, his transformation from businessman to just man was very noticeable.
"Yes I did," he replied, easily.
"No, I mean…" I leaned over the table, consciously lowering my voice a little. "We could have just said we went."
"Trust me," Daniel countered, his face growing serious again. "In the circles I run, it's best to back up your claims with as many facts as possible. The staff here all knows the same people I do; they bring all their first dates here. By being seen here with you tonight, I'm establishing my backstory." He smiled, suddenly. "And having a pretty good time, wouldn't you agree?"
I nodded, crashing back to earth with the sudden reminder of why we were really here.
"I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't mean to…bring that up right now. I just, I didn't want to get too carried away."
If he wondered what I meant by that, he didn't ask, thank God. I wasn't even sure what I meant by that. I hadn't intended to let on that I was already starting to lose perspective on our "relationship." I was sure the last thing he wanted was for me to actually fall for him. It would make everything so complicated. Why did my brain always have to do things like this? Why did it have to be so stupid?
"I understand," he said. "Don't worry. If you ever have any questions or concerns about how I'm choosing to handle all of…this," he made a vague gesture, "please don't hesitate to ask."
"Sure," I said, reaching for my refilled wine glass and taking a substantial swallow.
Daniel sat back in his chair, rearranging his face into the mask of a man who was having a great time on a first date. I cursed silently. Even I'd been taken in for a while there. Of course he was just pretending.