Tangled In The Deal

Chapter 2

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Lily

“Sarah! It's so lovely to see you! Oh my gosh is that the Rosa Alfermenté necklace I saw on the Chicago Fashion Week runway last Friday?! How did you get it?!”

Sarah Frayer let out a musical laugh that sounded like she regularly had one of those money-stinking, expensive-looking, I’m-so-in-love-with-my-body jacuzzi bath time where they sipped limited edition Pink Chardonnay, ate chocolates, and read poems like Maya Angelou’s Phenomenal Woman—which of course, she did.

“Oh, it's easy, dear. Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!” She let out a schoolgirl laugh this time and I saw my mother for a second. They had been high school besties and stayed in each other’s lives until my parents passed.

I wasn't close enough with the Frayers to call them my godparents or anything, but I was family enough to visit whenever and most importantly, participate actively in their upcoming annual charity event.

It was in the upcoming charity event that I had hoped to network with the big guns in the third-most populous city in the United States—Chicago. I had my proposal ready. I was ready.

“So, how's prep for the event coming along? Everything set?”

“Like the blind date my parents arranged to set me up with Samuel.” Another heartfelt laughter.

Oh to be carefree just like Sarah. I wish I didn't have to deal with a single worry in the world. I'd look so much better.

“So, how's prep going for you, Munchkin? Do you have your proposal ready? You know, not everyone will buy into the idea of investing in a century-old library in the middle of a small village like Oak Park…”

She's not wrong.

“...You're going to need to do a dang good job at convincing them to put in their resources. The rich are even more stingy with their money than you'd imagine. I told you to let me help you offset at least some part of the bill. You don't trust me enough?”

I saw the look of concern and slight disappointment in Sarah's eyes but I wasn't going to cave in. My debt was my cross to bear. If I had someone else save my family's heritage, what would that make me as their only living descendant? I simply couldn't.

Call me dumb, call me proud, but I simply couldn't.

“Sarah, you know that's far from it. You're literally my second mom. I just want to fix it myself and I'd appreciate it more if you simply trust me to handle it myself. Besides, you're already helping me plenty by allowing me to organize this year's gala.”

Sarah's perfectly defined rose lips puckered up like a five-year-old and I wondered if one needed money to have their lips look that good. She was already in her late forties but she looked no day older than I did.

I looked at myself in her bedside mirror and grimaced at the fine lines that were already appearing on my tired twenty-three-year-old face. I caught a couple of worry lines etched across my forehead and let out a quiet sigh.

As soon as I get rid of this debt, I'm investing in skincare. I don't care if it wrecks me!

Sarah pulled me to sit in front of her vanity and started brushing my hair the way my mother always did while she was alive.

I stifled a tear and cleared my throat before speaking.

“I did my research and I must say, all of our guests in this year's event are heavily loaded. I'm talking obese net worth loaded.” I giggled triumphantly at my achievement in managing to invite some of the most influential people in the entire state, including the third richest man in the country and bearer of the “most eligible bachelor” title, Damian Blackwood.

I smiled to myself again and caught Sarah smiling fondly at me from the corner of my eyes. I felt a pang of guilt bite into my chest immediately.

I knew Sarah adored me the way she would her daughter, but that was it. I didn't want to open up completely to her because I felt like I'd be betraying my mom.

I feared that I'd grow so fond of her that I'd forget my mom and I didn't want that. I loved Sarah but I'd have to keep a bit of distance between us. It's the least I could do in honor of my mom.

“Obese net worth. That's a good one, Lily.” Sarah laughed as she continued her firm but delicate brush strokes on my hair.

“So what's the plan? Will you be approaching them before, during, or after the event?”

I pouted with my index finger on my cheek and squinted deep in thought.

“After. By then it would be easier to convince them that I wouldn't mismanage their resources because they'd have found out that I had organized the entire charity event all by myself.”

I vetted my line of thought again and mentally nodded. It was a good plan.

“I also intend to wow them with my opening address. I literally stayed up for three nights so I could draft the perfect speech. I can't wait to read it out to you next week. Thank you so much for the opportunity again, Sarah. You didn't have to.”

Sarah hit me with a knowing smile. She knew what I was trying to do, but decided to play along with me by replying with a warm, “You're welcome, hon.”

She knew I was mentally trying to keep things a bit distant between us and respected my choice. It only made me love her more.

I miss you, mommy. I don't want to forget you.

“So… have you picked out your dress for the event?”

Shit! I'd been so preoccupied with organizing the event that I forgot to go pick out a dress. Well, not like I could have afforded one with the mountain of debts currently crushing me.

“Umm… I haven't. Although I plan to g-”

“Come look at this dress! Immediately I saw it, I knew it would look perfect on you. Let's have you put it on.”

I let out a soft gasp when Sarah brought out the dress. It was an emerald evening dress with a low-cut cleavage and thigh-high slit. The entire fabric had a faint shimmer and seemed to get caught in the light with each turn and curve.

I loved it.

With child-like excitement, I jumped into the dress and waited for Sarah to zip me up. By the time she was done, we both let out a soft moan.

“It's…perfect.”

“It's…perfect.”

We looked at each other and giggled like two high school besties preparing for prom night.

“I was a little worried it may have been a size or two too small but it fits you completely. It’s like the dress was literally sewn on your body. Oh-my-gosh-I-can't-wait-to-show-Samuel-this-looook!!” Sarah's excitement completely overwhelmed mine and all I could do was smile in gratitude.

I truly was grateful.

“Alright, so we've got the dress, now all that's left are hair, shoes, and jewelry. How about Wednesday next week? There's this jewelry shop I've been wanting to visit but Samuel's such a bore to check out these places with. I'd absolutely love you to come, Lily.”

I had my part-time job to get to on that Wednesday, but at that moment, looking elegant in that gorgeous emerald dress, I felt like a human again.

I felt like a woman.

Well, it's not like the world is going to come to an end if I skip one day…

“I'd absolutely love to, Sarah.”

“Great! I'll see you… maybe 11 am? We could have brunch at the Motif Cafe before heading out. What do you think about having a mini spa day afterward?” She mouthed through widened lips.

“Sounds like a plan.” I grinned in return.

“It's a date!”