The Boss Crush - Penny Wylder Page 0,19

I—”

“Can't,” Kira answers for me, her tone dry and wary. “Dalia really should get going. Right, Dalia? You wanted to get to the job fair early, isn't that what you said?” she asks me, tugging on my arm, and trying to pull me toward the double doors.

Sandy cocks her head and grabs my other arm to pull me back. “I think she has time. The job fair isn't going anywhere, and I have my portfolio right here.” Tugging a black folder from her bag, she pushes it in my direction.

Kira's eyes sharpen, filling with agitation. She's standing beside me, her gaze fixed on Sandy. I can feel the tension coming off her, and I just want to keep things calm.

“It's fine, really. I've got a few minutes.” Kira rolls her eyes, dropping her arms to her side and twisting away. I just want to keep the peace. “Here, let me see.” Taking her portfolio, I flip through the pictures.

They're not bad, they're really not. I can see a few areas where she should clean up some lines. The detailing is good, but sometimes she goes overboard and creates a puddle of mess.

But I'm not sure how to criticize them without hurting her feelings, or how to give her pointers without insulting her.

What do I tell her? How do I say it without making her mad, or upsetting her?

So, I do my best to point out all the stuff I love about her pictures, then softly suggest a few things. Sandy's listening, she looks like she's taking mental notes as she nods and agrees with what I'm saying.

Closing her folder, I hand it back. Kira forces a fake smile and takes my arm again. “All right, time to go.” She starts to pull me again, but Sandy stops her.

“Wait, Dalia, let me pay you back for your advice. I can give you a hand with your hair and makeup?”

Style has always been an area I lack. My makeup is subpar, and my hair is either down or in a ponytail, nothing fancy.

Running my fingers through my hair, my eyes dart to Kira who is shaking her head no lightly. I know she hates Sandy, and she has good reason. We all have a good reason for hating Sandy Vox.

Except, this is a side of Sandy I've never seen before. She's actually being. . . nice. My walls are down, she isn't giving me a reason to throw them up. Maybe things will be different between us now that we share this thing, this love of art.

“I'll meet you inside,” I say to Kira and give her a smile.

She doesn't like my answer, flaring her nostrils and grinding her jaw. “I think—”

“I think you should let her make her own decision. Besides, I'm just going to freshen her up some, that's all.” Sandy pulls me back into the bathroom.

Looking back over my shoulder, the last thing I see before the door closes is Kira with a frown on her face. I don't want her to feel bad about this. She doesn't need to.

People can change, even her.

Sandy catches me looking back, and giggles. “Don't worry, she'll be fine without you for a few minutes.” Pulling the portfolio out from under my arm, she sets both of ours down on the sink. “Stand here.” Moving me by the shoulders, she looks me up and down.

“Well?” I ask, running my fingers through my hair again. “What do you think?”

“I think we're going to make you drop jaws to the floor out there.”

“Really?”

“Fuck yeah, are you kidding me?” Slipping her sweater off, she lays it over a stall door, and sets her bag on one of the sinks. “I mean look at you. You really should show off some more skin.”

“You think so? It wouldn't be too much?”

“Just let me do my thing, I promise, everyone will remember you once I'm done.”

Sandy braids my hair and pulls a few pieces out so they frame my face. She digs around in her bag, taking out foundation, blush, lip stick, and mascara.

Spinning me so I can't see in the mirror, she does my makeup, and starts to adjust my dress. “You really need to work your assets here. If you want the guys at those tables to notice you, you need to give them a reason to look.”

Pulling the straps on my bra, she ties them together with a small elastic. My tits are now up near my neck, and she uses a clip to pull the