Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 116231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
I rush into the closet to grab a pair of black sky-high patent leather shoes, bending to place one shoe on and then the other. My feet immediately pinch and ask me why I hate them. I walk back to the bathroom and spray some hairspray on my hair, making sure the soft beach waves last as long as they can. I move my hair to the side before I grab gold hoop earrings, fixing them to my ears. After I’ve done that, I spray my perfume on me and then turn to see the back of the dress. I turn back to face the mirror, putting my hand on my stomach that has been in knots all day long. Fuck, all week long, as we put the final touches on tonight.
I take a deep breath before the phone rings, and I look down to see it’s the driver I hired for the night. “Hey,” I say into the phone, “I’m coming down.”
“Perfect,” he replies, hanging up. I grab my black purse, taking one more look at the dress I chose for tonight. It hits me mid-thigh, going down to a V in the front and tightens around my waist and flows loosely around my hips, making it classy. It has embroidered flowers in shiny black stitching. The sleeves are tight just under my elbow and it looks like they are puffed out and folded. I knew the minute I tried it on, this would be the dress I would wear. It’s elegant but sexy at the same time. I turn off the lights in my bathroom, heading to the door.
I see my reflection in the elevator doors once I step in and they close as I take a deep breath. Walking into the lobby, the only thing that is to be heard is the clicking of my heels. I see the black town car waiting for me. Kirby also has a driver for himself, since he wants to make sure if he has a drink, he’ll be okay. The driver stands by the car, wearing a black suit with a white shirt.
He spots me walking toward him before he opens the back door of the car. “Good evening, Ms. Burry.” He smiles at me, and I return it.
“Hi.” I get into the back seat. “Thank you so much,” I say right before he closes the door and he walks around the front of the car.
I look out the window as he gets into the car. “Do you have any preferences for music?” he asks over his shoulder, and I just shake my head.
“Whatever is fine,” I tell him.
“Would you like me to adjust the temperature for you?” He looks in his rearview mirror at me.
“I’m fine,” I assure him. I can barely even breathe right now, much less make any sort of decision. He nods and pulls away from my apartment building. As we get closer and closer to the venue, I feel more and more like I’m going to throw up. The nerves hitting my stomach right away, hoping that this doesn’t tank. Hoping that all of our hard work is going to pay off and the event will be a success. The last thing that I want is for this to crash and burn and then let Lexi and Kirby down.
He pulls up to the building where the event is taking place. The red carpet is rolled out in the front, and there are transparent balloons that light up lining each side. The two black doors close and when the car comes to a stop, the valet opens my door, and I slide out. “Thank you,” I say to the driver and the valet as I walk down the red carpet and pull open the door.
We were here yesterday while they were setting up and I still couldn’t picture it in my mind, but now when I step in, I stop in my tracks. It’s more than I could have ever imagined. There are ten tables all around the dance floor, with black tablecloths and gold place settings with a matching black linen folded on top of it. Even the cutlery is gold. The chairs are gold also, with black satin cushions. In the middle of the tables are small arrangements of roses in four cylinders filled with water and floating candles. It’s rich and elegant.
Facing the door is the stage we set up with the “Make the Choice Foundation” sign hanging. I step farther into the room and see that against the back wall is a long table with the same black cloths covering it. Black frames are lined up, one next to the other, with the prizes in them. Paper and pen are in front of each one.
There are four other round tables scattered in front of the long table with sports memorabilia displayed. Each table has four frames on it. I’m about to walk over when the door opens behind me and Kirby and Lexi step in. A gasp leaves her mouth as she takes it all in. “Holy shit.”