The Faded Rose

Chapter 3

"What?" I asked appalled.

"Be my date for The Gala."

 I stared at him with unblinking eyes. He moved away from me giving me space to reorganize my thoughts.

"Look my date can't make it here on time and The Gala starts in another two hours, you will have to do," He ran his hand through his silky black hair. His hair was messy unlike the last time I saw him. Messy suits him better.

I thought about it. It was a win-win situation. He was in need of a date and I could get out of this mess. It was my responsibility and I had messed it. It was actually turning out better than I thought. 

He took out his phone and after typing something on it, he placed it next to his ear. I waited unsure of what to do.

"Paul, I need you to come to my office and take Ms. Preston to get her ready for The Gala," he ordered and hung up. 

"Wait! When did I agree to this?" I asked dumbfounded. I surely was thinking about it but I hadn't said anything. The nerve of this man.

"You will if you want to save your restaurant, you must have read clause number 30 of the contract. You won't have to pay if you be my date." He reminded me.

I sighed, he was right. I was already thinking about agreeing, it's just being his date to The Gala. If I didn't, I would have to pay the hefty sum of $50,000 mentioned in clause number 30 of the contract. The clause said that if anything went wrong with the dishes, the taste,  the staff, anything at all, I would have to pay for failing to deliver the promised service. I had been confident about my abilities so I hadn't thought much about this clause while signing it. I sighed, thinking about Lucy, Mrs. Matilda and all the others who depended on the restaurant. I have to do this for the people who depend on me. It's just one night, how bad can it be, I asked myself. 

"Okay" I gave in. 

There was a knock on the door. "Come in" A man with blonde hair walked in. He was in his late 20s. He was wearing a black suit. He was about 5'10".  His eyes were dark brown, framed by graceful brows. His skin was tanned. He had prominent cheekbones and a well-defined chin and nose.

"Be ready by 8:00P.M." With that Nicholas walked away and sat down on his chair.

"You may leave." Nicholas dismissed him. 

"This way Ms Preston," Paul guided me. I called up Lucy and asked her to manage everything as I wouldn't be able to make it there before The Gala started.

He took me to a large suite. The room was huge. The bed was king-sized with pure white, Egyptian cotton sheets. There was a thirty-six-inch TV, a sprawling leather sofa and on the other side was a floor-to-ceiling windows.

"Good evening Ms Preston," two females, one blonde and the other brunette greeted me when I entered the room.

"They will help you get ready," I nodded and thanked Paul, with that he left.

"Here is your dress Ms Preston." The dress was breathtaking. It was a baby pink, Herve Leder dress.

I took a quick shower and changed into the dress. I sat down in front of the dresser letting them do their magic. They didn't allow me to look into the mirror until they were done. I waited patiently with my eyes closed as they did my make up and hair. 

"It's done" After an hour of tugging and twisting, I opened my eyes and looked at the mirror. I gasped awestricken. They had done a marvellous job. They had chosen rose gold eyeshadow and gave it a smokey effect pairing it with black eyeliner and mascara enhancing my ocean blue eyes. They kept the makeup to minimal which made it look classy and not overdone. They gave a slight pink tinge to my cheeks and a nude pink shade to my lips. They had tied my hair into a messy bun leaving out a few strands on the sides. I wore nude shade heels which were about four inches high.

"Thank you so much." I twirled in front of the mirror. 

"Mr Lorde will be here any moment," Emily said. I had gotten to know that the blonde female was Emily and brunette one was Skylar. 

Just as she said that, there was a knock on the door. Skylar opened the door to reveal Nicholas. He strolled towards me.  

 "You look beautiful." He looked at me, his eyes trailing down and then back up taking me in. An emotion flashed in his eyes. It was gone before I could know what it was. He concealed it bringing back the emotionless look in them.

"Thank you." I blushed. 

"You don't look so bad yourself." I remarked. Nicholas was dressed in a black tuxedo. His hair styled. He looked suave and refined. No wonder he was one of the most sought after bachelors in New York.  

"Are you ready?"

"Just one minute." I grabbed my chanel purse and shoved all the necessary things in it. "Let's go."

He linked his arms with mine guiding me outside. 

"Have an amazing evening Hayley," Skylar shouted behind me. 

I could see the entrance to the ballroom. I was really nervous and jittery. I clasped Nicholas' hand tightly. Nicholas noticed this and swept a glance at me. He unlinked our arms and wrapped his hand around my waist. He leaned in and whispered, "Relax, just stay with me and you will be fine." I hadn't expected Nicholas Lorde to be so considerate and understanding. I looked at him in a new light. I didn't have the time to ponder at his words because what I saw in front of me stopped me dead in my tracks.

In front of me stood a very dangerous man. He was cruel and could destroy anyone that crossed his path without a second thought, without any hesitation. There stood the most heartless man that I had the misfortune of knowing, the man that I don't want to have any relations with. There stood my father. 

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SGnGigi