14. Dancing Queens

The past two weeks have flown by quickly. Elizabeth has seen more of Emily lately. The latter let it slip that August would be working out of town for the next month, so Elizabeth decided to take advantage of the situation and get to know Emily better.

Sitting in her office at 5 pm, Elizabeth closes her laptop just as her phone starts ringing. She glances at the caller ID and smiles.

"Lizzy, save me!" Emily exclaims on the other line, "The Dereon's kidnapped me today. I have been at their mercy for 9 hours, jumping to boutiques along with the wedding planner. I am drowning in frills and lace!" She finishes off dramatically.

Elizabeth chuckles before she says, "Want to go out tonight? It will help you forget a bit. I promise not to tell August!" She jokes and can already see Emily making a face. "Yes! I would love that!" Emily responds. "Great! I'll bring Liza along. You two haven't met yet, and I know you'll love her." Elizabeth was starting to get excited as well. She had not seen Liza out of work for a long time, and truth be told, she missed her best friend.

"Thank you, Lizzy. This will really take my mind off things." Emily says, and they end the call.

Elizabeth knew she was pushing her luck getting to know Emily because she was a client, but she knew Emily needed it. The girl was so lonely amongst the Dereons. She will get her out of her shell, one day at a time.

She calls Liza into her office after the phone call.

"Yes, boss?" Liza walks in and closes the door behind her. She looks up at Elizabeth and frowns. "Oh no, what did I do now?" She asks Elizabeth, who chuckles at her question. "Nothing, Liza. I just wanted to speak to you a bit." She gestures to Liza to sit down.

"I know we haven't seen much of one another since I've moved into the new villa, and I miss you. Do you want to go out tonight?" Elizabeth says to Liza, who immediately perks up, getting excited.

"Oh my gosh, yes! And I have missed you too, but I didn't want to push it. You've been under a lot of pressure lately, so I understand." Liza responds and walks over to Elizabeth and hugs her. "So, where are we going?"

Elizabeth smiles warmly at her best friend. She did not realize how badly she needed that hug from her.

"Oh, the usual spot, what do you think? I want to introduce you to Emily as well. We're designing her wedding dress and, well..."

Elizabeth retells the whole Emily story to Liza that she's picked up the past two weeks.

"Phew... Poor thing. And she's marrying into that family?" Liza responds after she hears everything.

"Yeah, that's why I've been trying to get to know her, she seems incredibly lonely and miserable, and I was right. She has not revealed why she's miserable, though. So, you won't mind her coming along?" Elizabeth queries, and Liza shakes her head, "Not at all, Lizzy. It sounds like that girl needs all the friends she can get." Liza responds.

Elizabeth looks at her friend and smiles again, "Thank you, Liza. I appreciate it. Now, just for this day to finish so we can let our hair down!" Elizabeth exclaims Liza giggles. "Luckily, it's Friday, so our slave-driver of a boss lets us off early," Liza responds, and Elizabeth smacks her arm. "Hey!" Liza laughs and starts to walk out of her office; she stops at the door and turns to face Elizabeth again.

"You've become a different woman since you've moved out of your parents' place. I love it; you look relieved and happier. I hope this You sticks around for a long time." She finishes and walks out, closing the door behind her. Elizabeth chokes back tears at her friend's words. Liza was the only one who knew how badly her parents treated her and hearing her say that meant a lot to her.

Wiping away her tears, she finishes off her last report for the day and closes her laptop.

Later that evening, Liza and Elizabeth have pre-drinks, waiting for Emily to arrive at Elizabeth's villa. Liza was dressed in a Libellule original that Elizabeth designed for her, deep red and black lace that ended just above her knees. Elizabeth was dressed in a figure-hugging baby blue Alexander McQueen, both of them wearing their signature red bottom heels.

Just then, Elizabeth's front door opens and in walks Emily, gorgeous as usual in her black Libellule dress, also wearing Louboutin platforms. Elizabeth looks over at Liza and notices her gawking at Emily and laughs. "I guess you like Emily then," she jokes, and Liza smacks her arm.

"I'm so sorry I'm late. Madam Dereon called me and would not stop talking. Frankly, I can't wait for this wedding to be over..." Emily trails off and sees Liza. Elizabeth watches the two making eye contact and frowns. "Okay, if you two are done staring at one another, let me introduce you two. Liza, this is Emily, Emily, this is Liza. Okay, done, let's go." Elizabeth finishes off. The three of them walk out of Elizabeth's villa, not knowing that this night would change their lives.