liked or disliked, ready to roll with any changes.
I thought about my body and the changes it was about to go through. She had her work cut out for her.
“I’m still working on your formal dress for the Silver Jubilee,” she said. “I’ve got plans for the whole family,” she told Fern. “I welcome any input. But here’s along the lines of what I’m thinking.”
She called out the next model, who walked out in an elegant royal purple dress with a black lace overlay. It had a sweetheart neckline and an empire waist, both of which I could now identify thanks to my unexpected Fashion 101 class. I knew very shortly that empire waists would become my new best friends when I bid my old waistline adieu, making this dress unintentionally perfect.
“The color is beautiful,” I said, marveling at the deep aubergine.
She nodded. “He wanted you in purple.”
“He did?” I echoed, wondering why he’d even care about such a banal detail. She nodded in response.
It dawned on me that he was likely paying for all of this, in addition to what he had already generously provided. So, I supposed he should have a say in it. I wondered if she had shown him the styles for final approval, which would mean he’d be selecting what kind of clothes I would wear.
Even ex-boyfriends hadn’t done that.
But none of my ex-boyfriends were royalty, which I was quickly learning changed just about everything, even buying clothes. This was so much more intense than a shopping spree at the local mall, even without PING snapping pictures everywhere.
It made me think of the empire waist on the formal dress again. Had Auggie had input into that, as well? The mind boggled.
By the time I headed upstairs, I really needed that nap. I cursed myself for resisting the bed on the plane. That was a mistake I wouldn’t make twice.
Once I reached the top floor, however, thoughts of a nap went right out the window. Black lace and veils now covered the room and disco music played in the background, while patchouli swirled from an inverted incense holder. I was in Jorge’s world now. Thanks to the disco music, however, I felt right at home.
I sat down at the vanity and let him do his work.
By the time he was done, I had a new hairstyle, full of tousled, bouncy curls, and my makeup was so on point it made me look I was using a photo filter. Everything was perfect, from the precision-sharp cat eye to the shimmery eyeshadow and a kissable pucker with dark matte lipstick. I looked every inch a heavy metal princess. I had never felt so beautiful. I said as much to him.
He laughed. “That’s what fairy godfathers are for,” he said before he kissed my cheek and gave me a big hug.
He did Fern next. She was already beautiful, but he made her look even more stunning than usual, with a rock-n-roll edge. Given that tonight kicked off the Duke of Mayhem’s World Tour, we knew we would totally fit in with new glam rock makeovers. She wore a leather skirt and thigh-high boots, and I wore a white jumpsuit with a plunging neckline its own lace batwing cape. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea Auggie might have picked this for me.
“I feel like a superhero,” I said, looking myself over in the mirror.
Fern threw her arms around me. “That’s because you are one,” she said before landing a resounding kiss on my cheek. “You ready for tonight?”
I nodded. “No.” She laughed.
“Let’s go,” she said, linking her arm in mine and leading me towards the stairs.
Chapter Fourteen
After a brief snack courtesy of room service, we headed back downstairs where the limo waited to take us to the show at Madison Square Garden. The second we stepped out of the building, the NYC branch of PING was ready for us, calling our names as we rushed into the back of the car.
“How did they find us so fast?” Fern wondered aloud.
“They’re PING,” I shrugged. “We’re lucky they didn’t pounce us at the Empire State Building.”
We were met with more paparazzi as we got to the Garden, but both Audra and Sean herded us into the building away from prying eyes. Standing at over six feet, Sean could loom large and imposing when he wanted to. He might have been an older man, but his body was lithe and spry. I had no doubt he would keep Fern and me