A Case in Red

Chapter 06

I woke up the next day with my feet aching. With some difficulty, I tried to open my eyes while fighting against the shafts of light invading my room through the small gap in the curtains. When I finally succeeded, the first sight I had was the dress I wore the previous night, delicately draped over the armchair across from my bed, and that incredible pair of Louboutins scattered on the floor. The Miu Miu bag, for its part, didn't share space with the dress or the shoes; it was right beside me on the nightstand, giving me a "good morning" with all its luxury and sophistication.

I stood up and held the bag, admiring the feel of the leather against my palm. I wanted to say a proper goodbye to it before returning it to Raquel, but a certain streak of mischief inside me tried to convince me to tell an innocent little lie just so I could keep the item in my closet. I could say I forgot it in the Uber on the way home, or that I left it on the hotel bar for a few seconds and when I returned, it was gone. Too bad my inner goodness ended up speaking louder: I would never cause that kind of loss to my only friend.

I positioned myself in front of the large mirror in my room, almost completely naked if not for the panties I was wearing. I admired my perfectly slender body, which made an impressive pair with the bag. I struck a few poses, alternating between "sensual" and "chic." I thought about calling my photographer and summoning him for a photoshoot. I was perfect at that moment—hair slightly messy but still wavy from the previous night's styling; clean skin, with eyes and lips slightly swollen, which could make me look relaxed or lazy, but instead made me look naive. I would hang a portrait right in the entrance hall of my house, and everyone who entered would admire the beauty of my body, from my slightly hardened n*****s to the panties that delicately traced the curves of my backside. How narcissistic would I seem for doing that?

I smiled at my reflection in the mirror and went back to bed, setting the bag aside. Picking up my phone, I found messages from Raquel.

"Hey, good morning! So, are you up yet? I want to know everything!"

I could tell the Frenchwoman about my completely unplanned encounter with Conrad van Dorn and about his breathtaking beauty, about his deep, sensual voice, and about the scent of money he exuded. However, she would surely think I had been seduced by the tycoon, and that would be terrible. I am not the person who is seduced; I am the person who seduces. I am the person who enchants and makes it impossible for anyone to resist a request of mine. I confess that van Dorn was the first man who made me feel something I had never felt before—a mix of butterflies in my stomach and an otherworldly interest. Remembering that man at the bar, with the dim light partially illuminating his handsome face and his body outlined by the fabric of the navy-blue tuxedo, made me anxious. I wanted to see him again; I couldn't deny it. And I wanted this feeling to stop taking over me.

My phone began to ring on the table. At first, I thought about ignoring it. It was probably Raquel, wanting me to answer her messages, anxious to find out every detail of the party. But when I picked up the device, I saw an unknown number.

— Hello — I answered, curious.

— Hello, good morning, Ms. Beltrão. This is Caroline, assistant to Mr. Conrad van Dorn.

I adjusted my posture in bed, as if she could see through the phone how relaxed I looked at that moment. My heart beat faster; I knew exactly what that call was about, I just didn't know it would come so fast.

— I managed to schedule your meeting with Mr. van Dorn for today at one o'clock, here at the hotel. Are you available at that time? — I recognized the voice speaking to me; it was the blonde who had disrespected me the night before. I couldn't see her, but I knew she was rolling her eyes.

— Let me check my schedule — I knew I was available, however, people must not know how free a businesswoman can be. — Well, I had a conference to attend, but I will certainly prioritize my meeting with Mr. Conrad.

— Perfect. We’ll see you later, Ms. Beltrão. Thank you.

Caroline hung up, giving me no chance to say thanks. That was fine; in her place, I’d be angry with me too. I let out a small squeal of excitement. In a few hours, I would be face-to-face with Conrad, presenting my spectacular work to him. It would be hard for him to deny my offer, not just because I am an excellent professional, but also because I noticed the way he looked at me yesterday. He was interested in knowing more about me; he had scanned my face multiple times, looked me up and down. I don't know what goes through men's heads, but I had the impression he was just as curious about me as his eyes seemed to be. That small meeting was the chance to impress him, and there was only one person who could help me.

I called Raquel.

— Hi, friend! — The Frenchwoman’s voice chirped on the line, animated as always. — Oh, I was so anxious! You finally woke up. I want to know everything. How was it? Were there a lot of rich people? Did anyone ask about your dress? Did you meet the tycoon? Was any woman more stunning than you? Ah, never mind, I already know the answer to that one. Of course not, right?

— Raquel, I swear I want to tell you everything, but I need you to come here as fast as possible.

— Oh, I’m swamped with things to do here at the atelier, why do you want me to go there?

— It’s an emergency; I wouldn't take you away from work if it wasn't something very serious. Please!

Raquel took a deep breath on the other end of the line, as if facing the greatest dilemma of her life: continuing to work or going to help her friend. I knew her perfectly well enough to know she wouldn't put any dress in production above me, so I already knew her answer before she even spoke.

— Fine, I’m on my way.

I smiled and hung up, running to the intercom. I called the doorman of my condo, told him Raquel was coming and that he could let her in, as always, and ran to the bathroom. I filled the tub with hot water, bath herbs, and everything I was entitled to, because I needed to ensure my skin would exude fragrance. I got completely naked and stepped into the tub, feeling the water caress my skin. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, a strange sensation running through my chest. A mix of nervousness and joy that I didn't usually feel, even when signing major contracts. I didn't know if I was feeling this way because I was about to make a deal capable of changing my career, because I would see Mr. van Dorn, or both.

I was completely immersed in my thoughts and didn't notice when Raquel arrived at my house.

— Vivi? — She knocked on the bathroom door and walked in, without worrying about my privacy. Those eyes had seen my body too many times to be bothered by anything. — Oh, don't tell me you called me over just to help you bathe.

— Raquel, today I’m meeting with the owner of the Maison Rubra to convince him to hire me.

Raquel stared at me in surprise, flashed a smile too large for her face, and let out a high-pitched, loud scream that hurt my ears. She jumped a few times, clapped her hands, and approached the tub, kneeling down and giving me an awkward hug, wrapping her arms around my neck without worrying if she’d get wet or not. This is the feeling of having a true friendship—a friendship that celebrates your victories, even the ones that haven't happened yet. Too bad all of this still felt strange to me.

— I get it now, you want me to help you choose an outfit to impress Conrad.

— I want an outfit where he can't think of anything else but signing a contract with me, Raquel.

— Don't even worry, Vivi. He won't be able to take his eyes off you.