Layers(29)

DS

Why am I doing this to myself? Why am I excited about “perhaps meeting him”? Why do I smile like an idiot each time I get a new message from him? Can’t you see how wrong he is for you, Hales?

~~~

“So, let’s start getting ready.” Tasha, lying next to me in my bed, playfully smacks my butt. “Will you be wearing your new dress?” she asks, a frisky expression on her beautiful face.

“I think I am. It would be a waste not to. After all, this’ll probably be the only time I get to wear a dress like this.” I beam back at her, excited. “Do you think I should just return it?”

She stares at me for a minute. “Nah …”

“In three, two, one … ready?” she asks, and then adds, joyful as a little kid, “I’m first in the shower.”

“All yours, Missy. Would you do my make up?”

“Yep,” she calls, on her way to the bathroom. Just like freshman year all over again.

Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I admire the overall look. I’m especially pleased with the dress: it fits me perfectly. It’s a simple yet very elegantly-cut knee-length dress. Its sweetheart neckline enhances my breasts and I absolutely love it.

“Tash, would you do my makeup now?”

“Wow, look at you! Love the dress, Hales,” she says, her expression displaying high admiration.

“I like it too,” I sing, pleased.

“Great job, Missy.” I thank Tasha for her work on my face; she went with dramatic eyeshadow in glittering silver and a shiny reddish lip gloss.

“Turn around,” she commands, and I comply. My wavy hair dances around my back.

“Hales, seriously, you look stunning. I think a certain Mr. Stark will be knocked out when he sees you.”

I can’t stop smirking. Deep in my heart I hope he will be.





Chapter 12: A Night at the Ball


The event is being held at the Hilton’s Grand Ballroom. The main hall is decorated with an enchanted forest theme. As soon as we enter the ballroom it feels as though we’ve stepped into a scene from a Disney movie. There are rows with dense, tall artificial trees, and the ceiling is a soft, pale blue blanket decorated with countless glittering tiny lights. Waiters are dressed up in tuxedos with eye-masks in the shape of animal faces, holding trays with flutes filled with pink champagne. The floor is a soft green grass rug with pebble-framed trails by its borders. I am overwhelmed, taken with the atmosphere and the beauty of the place.

“Let’s get a drink,” Tasha proposes, looking as impressed as I am by the surroundings. “Cheers.” We clink our glasses of sweet bubbly. Tasha next directs me to a group standing on a corner by a blue brick wishing-well engraved with flowers.

Wearing her sociable persona, Tasha introduces me to the people in the group. I seem to already know at least basic details about each and every one of them given the thorough executive briefing she made sure to prepare me with. I find myself idly in conversation with Tasha’s manager, who is a good distraction from my restless thoughts; I talk to him and gaze around.

There’s an instant pang in the center of my chest when I spot him, standing by the bar, all the way across the ballroom from where we are. He’s wearing a black suit with a crisp white button-down shirt, looking poised yet roughened with his no-fuss hair tousled in golden waves and his faint but permanently sinful look. He’s talking to a group of people. It appears as though he’s annoyed with them. How come that doesn’t surprise me? I spot Miss Bally, Daniel’s PA, among the group looking stressed, bobbing her head in sharp nods of consent to whatever he’s telling her. She could easily double for those dogs on taxi dashboards …

When Daniel turns around I quickly look away and my heart accelerates slightly at the possibility that he noticed me staring.

I smile at Tasha’s boss, Rob, as though I’ve been listening to whatever he was telling me in the last few minutes, relieved he doesn’t look like he’ll expect me to respond.

“Hi Rob.” Tasha gives him one of her captivating smiles. He returns her smile, too lavishly in my opinion, and without a doubt I know he has a thing for her. I’ve seen these types of stares on too many faces when Tasha is concerned. They casually engage in conversation about something to do with the children’s hospital that the fund raising is for. Lost to thoughts of all-things-Daniel, even though I really shouldn’t be, I hardly make any effort to participate in the conversation.

“Hello, Hayley.” I feel a firm, warm hand on my shoulder; I recognize the familiar voice before turning to face him, quivering slightly inside.

“Hi Daniel.” Seeing him from this close sends my heart up toward my throat. He looks even better than the last time we’d met. He is tanner. The bronze honey tone compliments his handsome face especially with the contrast of the white of his shirt. His eyes traveling slowly over me cause my stomach to knot.

“You look absolutely breathtaking,” he whispers in my ear.

I tremble slightly from his airy touch, his words, and his proximity. Oh I got it bad.

“I like the dress on you,” he adds next.

“Thank you, I like it too,” I say, and try hard to appear composed.

“I’m glad.” He smiles at me, but this time his overconfident grin is replaced by a small, sweet, sincere smile. I notice that some of the people around us are staring curiously.