Chapter 7: A Night to Remember
1572 Words
Stephanie’s POV
I left the opening ceremony and arrived home around 6:00 p.m.
Although I hadn’t stayed until the very end, I had remained long enough to hear some of the CEO’s speech.
Christopher Clarke was an extremely attractive man.
Attractive almost felt like an understatement.
He looked like the perfect combination of a Greek god and a high fashion model. He was effortlessly handsome. To be honest, his entire executive team looked like they belonged on magazine covers.
I laughed at the thought.
Maybe he only hired beautiful people.
No, that was ridiculous.
What struck me most was how young they all were. The Group HR Manager appeared to be the oldest among them, and she couldn’t have been much older than mid-forty. It felt unusual because most senior executives in Jamaica were considerably older.
Picking up my phone, I called my best friend, Tiffany.
She answered on the second ring.
“Hey, girl! It feels like I haven’t heard from you in forever.”
“I know,” I said with a laugh. “I’ve been trying to focus on my new job.”
“Well, that’s understandable.”
“But I miss you. And I need your help.”
“Now that’s more like it. What do you need?”
“I have a staff party tomorrow evening. Want to come over and help me get ready?”
“Of course! I’ll be there.”
“Great.”
“Anyway, I’m meeting a friend later, so I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you!”
Before I could ask which friend she was talking about, the call disconnected.
I shook my head and smiled.
Tiffany was a free spirit. She lived life entirely on her own terms.
If she wasn’t spending time with me, there was a ninety percent chance she was with either a new love interest or an old flame.
It wasn’t my style, but I never judged her.
She had been my best friend since primary school, and despite our differences, our friendship had remained strong throughout the years.
Even my mother, who was notoriously strict, considered Tiffany family.
*****
Saturday morning arrived bright and sunny.
I completed my usual weekend routine of laundry, cleaning, and organizing the house. By early afternoon, I was finished and began searching for hairstyle inspiration online.
I selected two possible dresses for the evening and laid them across my bed.
I was standing in the shower when I heard the front door open.
“Stef! I’m here!”
“Okay! Give me a minute!”
I had decided to wear my natural curls and was letting my twist-out dry while I showered.
When I emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, Tiffany was standing in my bedroom, studying my dress options.
Her expression told me everything before she spoke.
“Is this really all you’re considering?”
I laughed.
“Why? You don’t like them?”
“No.”
Her answer came far too quickly.
“They’re boring.”
“Tiffany...”
“They don’t say sexy, confident, single, and ready to mingle.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I’m not looking to date anyone at work.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s a terrible idea.”
She flopped dramatically onto my bed.
“You spend most of your time at work. That’s the perfect place to meet someone.”
“I disagree.”
“What about that executive team from Canada? Any handsome men?”
I laughed.
“You are impossible.”
“So that’s a yes?”
“They are all ridiculously attractive.”
Tiffany sat up immediately.
“Details.”
“No.”
“Come on.”
“No.”
She pointed a finger at me.
“If you’re not interested, at least introduce me.”
I burst out laughing.
“Tiffany, I just got out of a relationship. The last thing I need is another one.”
“That’s exactly why you need one.”
“That’s not how that works.”
She shrugged.
“Rules are meant to be broken.”
“As attractive as they are, I’m good. Maybe next time I’ll invite you to an event and let you flirt with whoever you want.”
Her eyes lit up.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Then she turned back toward the bed.
“Now, let’s discuss your outfit situation.”
A mischievous smile spread across her face.
“What about the red dress?”
My eyes widened.
“The red dress?”
“Yes.”
“The one I bought for my birthday?”
“The exact one.”
For one ridiculous second, Christopher Clarke crossed my mind.
I dismissed the thought just as quickly.
I wasn’t dressing for him.
The dress was beautiful.
But it was definitely more daring than anything I normally wore.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“It’s a little risqué.”
“It’s elegant,” Tiffany corrected. “And you’ve never had the chance to wear it.”
I finally sighed.
“Fine.”
“Excellent choice.”
While I steamed the dress, Tiffany took over my closet.
Within minutes, she had selected gold sandals, matching jewellery, and a clutch purse.
Her fashion talent was honestly impressive.
Even more impressive were her makeup skills.
Over the years, students regularly paid her to do their makeup for parties, graduations, and special events.
She understood exactly how I liked mine done: simple, elegant, and natural.
By the time she finished, I was genuinely impressed.
After styling my hair and putting on the dress, I took one last look in the mirror.
The outfit looked incredible.
Even I had to admit it.
Tiffany nodded approvingly.
“You look stunning.”
I smiled.
“I have to agree.”
“You’ll definitely be turning heads tonight.”
Laughing, I grabbed my purse.
“It’s time for me to go.”
“I’ll drop you at the hotel on my way home.”
As we headed toward the door, she added, “And don’t forget, I’m coming over for dinner tomorrow.”
“I remember.”
“Just making sure.”
We both laughed.
“Mom, I’m leaving!” I called as we headed outside. “I’ll be home late. Don’t wait up.”
The drive to the hotel passed in comfortable silence.
When we arrived, Tiffany pulled to the curb.
“We’re here.”
“Thanks.”
“Call me if you have any trouble getting home.”
“I will.”
After checking my reflection one final time, I stepped out of the car and waved goodbye.
The Colonial Oasis looked breathtaking.
The main balcony had been transformed into a beautiful celebration space.
Twinkling string lights hung overhead, casting a warm golden glow across the venue. Elegant white linens covered the tables, accented with rich red and gold runners. Tropical floral arrangements served as centerpieces, adding vibrant bursts of color throughout the space.
Lanterns and candles flickered softly, creating an atmosphere that felt both luxurious and welcoming.
Near the center stood a large dance floor. Next to it, a stage had been set up for the evening’s performers.
The entire venue perfectly blended elegance with Caribbean charm.
I scanned the crowd and immediately spotted Vanessa seated near the stage.
Making my way over, I smiled.
“Hi, everyone. You all look amazing tonight.”
“Thank you! You too!” several voices replied.
Vanessa gestured toward the empty seat beside her.
The party was already filling up.
Music played softly in the background while guests mingled and visited the bar.
A waiter passed carrying wine glasses, and I quickly accepted one.
“I love your dress,” Vanessa said. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Thank you. You look beautiful yourself.”
The evening quickly gained momentum.
Dinner was served early, allowing everyone plenty of time to eat, socialize, and enjoy themselves.
Once the dance floor opened, Vanessa and I wasted no time joining the crowd.
I’d always loved dancing.
Whether it was dancehall, reggae, soca, or even classical music, dancing had always been one of my favourite ways to relax.
The DJ transitioned into a set of classic Jamaican hits.
When Lady Saw’s Sycamore Tree began playing, everyone around us immediately started singing along.
After several songs, Vanessa and I returned to our table to catch our breath.
The announcer had stepped onto the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to turn up the vibes tonight!”
The crowd erupted with cheers.
“We have a true legend in the building. A Grammy Award-winning superstar. Make some noise for the one and only... SHAGGY!”
I practically jumped out of my chair.
Vanessa burst out laughing.
“I knew you’d react like that.”
“He’s one of my favourites!”
Grabbing my arm, she stood.
“Come on. Let’s freshen up first. I want to touch up my makeup before going back on the dance floor.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
We headed toward the ladies’ room, which included an elegant powder room and sitting area.
As we settled onto one of the sofas, I smiled.
“You guys really outdid yourselves with this event.”
Vanessa grinned.
“I’ll definitely pass that feedback along during the post-event review.”
She pulled out her makeup pouch.
“Now sit still and let me fix your face so we can catch Shaggy’s performance.”
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