Chapter Four

Miracle

I stared at Leo Hamilton's black card, wondering why he didn't write a check or deposit the money into my account instead. 

Maybe he was putting me to the test. My finger traced the card's gold numbers and I fantasized about the extra perks that come with wealth.

When he commented on my hair, I felt insulted, but I kept my feelings to myself. He was used to glamorous girls who'd never tasted poverty. My hair had natural volume and was prone to curling and frizzing.

Plus I wasn't expecting to see him in the kitchen. 

Calvin's explanation last night did nothing to calm my fears. I needed someone to explain in simple terms why Leonel Hamilton hired me despite having a psychotic girlfriend. I called Dani to vent my frustration.

"Hey, celebrity girlfriend! How are things going in your paradise? I still can't believe Leonel Hamilton is hot, sexy-as-sin….”

"Keep your voice down, banshee," I groaned, sitting on the gray ottoman at the foot of my bed. There's a problem."

She choked out, "Fuck me running. He rejected you?"

My feet carried me to the bathroom to empty my bladder. "Not yet. I'm not sure what I'm doing here. He's not interested in the contract, but that's not why I'm calling. I think he has a girlfriend. A lunatic who would have dragged me by my hair if Calvin hadn't stopped her.”

Dani shrieked, and I became concerned for my eardrum, knowing that I was on the verge of losing my hearing, just like my aunt Suzanne's husband.

"Tell me everything!" 

"The chick walked into his house last night, acting very possessive. That aside, why did Leonel hire me if he already has someone? I don't want to get in trouble with these rich people."

"Did you ask his PA?" 

I scoffed and answered the phone on loudspeaker. "I got no satisfactory response. I don't want to risk my life, Dani."

Silence followed my statement. I imagined Dani chewing her lower lip and pondering. 

"That's odd."

"Indeed. Imagine my aunt seeing my name all over the news for scandalous reasons.

Dani groaned, "Here we go again. Stop being overly paranoid. Leonel must have some complicated business or personal issues that require him to have a fake girlfriend. Be patient with him."

"Your wacky attempt at reassuring me isn't working.”

Her loud snort irritated my nerves. "Don't tell me you're jealous, Mimi?"

"Of that insane woman? Yeah, right?” I said, rolling my eyes.

"Then look on the bright side and mind your damn business."

"What about my safety? What if the paparazzi find out or Leonel humiliates me in front of everyone? Should I not be concerned?"

"You're overreacting. Leonel isn't stupid. He knows how to deal with the media. Also, your relationship with him is as fake as my Chanel bag. Just do your job and smile for the camera."

Dani promised to go shopping with me later that afternoon. After our conversation, I became even more frustrated and couldn't wait to see her. 

"I don't think this contract relationship will end well. I couldn't sleep last night," I complained, whispering to her as we got into a waiting Uber. 

Dani smiled, amused. "How can you not sleep in such a big house? If I were in your shoes, I'd be snoring away like a dog in an alley."

I rolled my eyes, not finding it amusing.

"You're too hard on yourself. Relax, and let us make good use of Leonel's card. Unlike you, I lack the luxury of time."

"You should resign from that crappy waitressing job and let Leonel help you out."

Dani burst into laughter. "Oh, look at you trying to use your boyfriend for your benefit."

I tossed her the middle finger. We went to a store on the streets of Los Angeles. My mouth dropped open when I saw the dresses displayed at ridiculous prices; even Victoria's Secret's fashion line couldn't compete with this collection. 

A lady led us to an area where the dresses were divided into categories and paired with matching accessories. I looked at the dresses as if they had a life of their own, and Dani advised me on which color scheme would best suit me.

"Six thousand bucks on a dress?" I pointed to a fire brick off-the-shoulder dress.

Dani shrugged as if it were no more than common sense. "If your boss wants to buy you nice things, why not? After all, the money doesn't belong to you."

I watched her head to the other side of the clothing store as I browsed dress after dress, but I stopped when a suspicious-looking stocker approached me with a judgmental look.

I ignored her and resumed my search. After all, I didn't fit the stereotype of a wealthy shopper.

"Excuse me, Miss? Can I help you?" she asked, and I smiled politely.

"I'm looking for a dress."

"Shopping for your boss?" she asked, offending me.

"I'm shopping for myself, as you can see," I said with a sugary tone.

She didn't look convinced. "I haven't seen you here before."

"Why not admit that I don't look like I belong here?" I challenged her. 

She raised her free hand in mock surrender. "I didn't mean to come across as rude. I'm simply doing my job."

"Let me show you how to do your job," I snapped. "I don't have to be the Queen of England or one of the Beverly Hills aristocrats to be respected."

To prove my point, I showed her Leonel's black card. She blinked, surprised, and cleared her throat after an awkward silence. 

"Forgive my manners. I'm only doing my job and don't want to be on the losing end because we have dealt with fraudsters before.

I chose a body-con, off-the-shoulder maxi dress. "Whatever. Keep slandering people like this, and you may lose more potential customers because I'm never shopping here again."

Dani was scanning the other side of the aisle and had already chosen two leather pants. I sighed with relief that she hadn't witnessed all of that chaos. She'd have caused a scene.

"My stomach is rumbling," she said after we finished shopping. "I want to eat every available food: Chinese Peking Duck with thin pancakes, Thai Massaman curry, Lobster Thermidor, or even Osso Bucco."

I stared at her, confused because I had no idea what any of those words meant. 

"Just because I have Leonel's card doesn't mean we can overspend."

"He's a billionaire, silly! He won't even notice."

We settled on Chinese, and while we waited for our meal, I couldn't stop thinking about the upcoming party. I didn't fit into Leonel's circle.

"It isn't difficult, Mimi," Dani said. She leaned closer, smacking her lips. "That aside, that dude is smoking hot. I'm wondering how you're going to manage."

Dani winked at me, and I turned away, gulping down my watermelon juice. Someone walked past our table, and as he turned to stare at us, he looked like he'd just seen a ghost.

Dani and I exchanged looks. The dark-haired, good-looking guy continued to stare until Dani, being the unfiltered person she was, confronted him.

"Mister, it's rude to stare. Can you fuck off?"

"Danielle Jones? Miracle Holmes? Eldridge Middle School?"

"Oh my God!" I screamed, leaping to my feet. "Dani, it’s Travis Andrews!"

Travis was my first crush. We lost contact after he left Alaska without notice. My heart raced with joy, but Dani interrupted the moment by grabbing my hand and pushing me behind her.

"What are you doing?" I demanded.

"It was nice seeing you, Travis, but we had to leave," Dani said.

Travis quickly snapped out of his confusion and dashed after us, squeezing his card into my hand.

"Please give me a call."