CHAPTER 11: FUN

REVA

I had just stepped out of the shower, towel wrapped around me, when a knock came at the door. Frowning, I glanced at the clock, wondering who it was. Levi should still be getting ready; he shouldn’t be here yet.

Tightening my towel, I answered the door to find a woman smiling brightly, holding two bags.

“Hi!” she chirped. “You must be Reva?”

I nodded, confused. “Uh, yes. That’s me.”

“Great!” she said, her smile widening. “I’m Lena, a makeup artist. Mr. Price sent me to get you ready for dinner--hair and makeup, the works!” My lips parted, but no words came out, needing a moment to process what she just said before I eventually managed a polite smile and let her in. To say I was surprised was an understatement.

I’d told Levi my hair would take time, adding that I’d had it done earlier, and I couldn’t believe he went and did this. How did he even manage when I couldn’t set it up for myself earlier?

“Oh my God, this man,” I muttered to myself, turning to Lena as she set down her bags and looked at me expectantly.

“Where would you like me to set up?”

“Over here,” I gestured toward the mirror before pulling out a chair and sitting down, all the while still feeling surreal. “So, what are we starting with?”

“Let’s do your hair first,” she said enthusiastically. “You have such gorgeous, full hair!” I thanked her, and she offered to start with a wash, saying it would help the style hold. “If that’s okay with you, of course.”

“Sure,” I agreed, and she pulled out a set of expensive-smelling products. My body instantly relaxed as the shampoo's fragrance wafted through the suite, and Lena began massaging my scalp with her skilled hands. I couldn’t help but sigh as a wave of contentment washed over me. “You’re good at this.”

“Thank you,” she laughed. “I’d been doing it for eight years. I recently opened my beauty spa in Pacific Heights.” My eyes snapped open at that. “In San Francisco?” I asked, and she confirmed, giving me the address, which wasn’t far from my place. I told her I wasn't far from her before congratulating her on her new endeavor, and she said she hoped I would stop by.

“Thank you! It’s been a journey getting it off the ground,” she added, and just like that, we were chatting away like old friends. I learned that it was common for men like Levi to send stylists and makeup artists to their girlfriends to prepare for special occasions. And I blinked, realizing she believed Levi and I were dating.

“Oh, we’re not dating.” Quickly correcting that, Lena’s eyebrows rose. “You’re not?”

“No,” I assured her, feeling my cheeks heat up as the memories of everything that happened came rushing back like a torrent.

“Well, forgive me, but he definitely likes you.”

Laughing awkwardly, I tried to brush it off. “No, no, it's not like that. Trust me.” She didn’t seem convinced, but she let it go and moved on to discussing hairstyle ideas.

Meanwhile, I told myself she was probably unaware of Levi’s reputation. Otherwise, she would have understood that this situation had nothing to do with feelings. He wouldn’t be interested in someone as plain as me anyway. He was simply having fun.

She asked if I had a style in mind, and again, I had no idea, so I described my dress. She decided on a style sweeping my hair up, exposing my neck and shoulders. It was elegant and complemented the dress’s low back, making my neck appear longer.

“Your neck is stunning,” she remarked, stepping back to admire her work. “This style was made for you.”

Smiling, I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. “Thank you.” She started with my makeup. I was skeptical--the colors looked bolder than usual. But I gasped when she finished and handed me a mirror.

My eyes looked larger and alive, my skin radiant. The colors blended beautifully, and I’d never looked or felt this good. Lena was incredible, and if I ever afforded a personal makeup artist, I’d pick her.

“Wow."

She grinned as I whispered. “Told you.”

I thanked her and offered a tip, despite Levi having already paid her. But she smiled and declined.

“Well, thank you again.”

She glanced at my garment bag. “Do you need help with your dress?” I nodded, grateful, and I pulled out the lingerie I’d bought for this trip. It felt bittersweet to wear it now, knowing who I’d bought it for. But it felt more liberating than sad. Lena unzipped the bag and exclaimed when she saw the dress.

“This is stunning,” she said. “You’re going to look like a goddess.” Carefully stepping into the dress, she guided it up over my hips, fastened the straps, and smoothed the fabric.

The fabric hugged me perfectly, and I paused when I turned to the mirror. “The slit,” I blurted, panicking. “It’s so high. What if-” Lena laughed softly.

“It’s perfect. Trust me. You look like you stepped off a runway.”

Her confidence was contagious, and I managed a nervous laugh. “Okay. If you say so.”

I thanked Lena again, and she grabbed her bags to leave. “Enjoy your evening,” she said warmly, walking to the door. “You, too,” I replied, watching her disappear into the hallway before returning to the mirror, suddenly overwhelmed.

The woman staring back at me looked like she belonged to a different world, one that knew no pain, no disappointments, and I blinked back the unwanted tears that would ruin Lena’s masterpiece. Carefully grabbing my heels, I slipped them on before heading to the vanity to select a pair of earrings.

None of my earrings seemed right; all were too small or basic for this dress. So I decided to skip them. My nude clutch matched perfectly, and I was grateful that I had brought it as I picked it up.

There was a knock at the door, right at that moment, and my heart skipped as I glanced at the time. Levi and I were already an hour late.

Grabbing my perfume from the vanity, I gave myself a quick spritz before taking one last look in the mirror. My heart was already racing, but I took a deep breath and walked toward the door. My breath caught when I opened it. Levi looked more devastatingly handsome than ever in his dark grey tuxedo, which complemented my dress perfectly.

In his hands were my favorite flowers, and again, I had no idea how he knew. His gaze swept over me, intense and unwavering, and I was powerless to turn away. My pulse hammered in my ears as he opened his mouth as if to speak, then paused, his lips twitching into a faint smile, and the moment stretched on until I forced myself to break the spell by clearing my throat.

His eyes flicked back to mine, and he blinked as if waking from a trance. “You look… beautiful,” he said softly, taking my hand in his and brushing his lips against it in a soft kiss. Flushing deeply, my voice came out like a stranger’s as I mumbled, “Thank you. You… you look amazing too.”

He handed me the bouquet, and I clutched it to my chest. “These are gorgeous. Thank you.”

“Of course,” he replied with a warm gaze, and I stepped aside, inviting him in while I figured out where to set the flowers. I decided to put them on the vanity with the rest for now, promising to put them in water when I returned.

But froze when I turned to see that Levi had followed me, his steps unhurried. His gaze didn’t waver from mine, and my voice came out faster than my thoughts.

“Thank you for… the dress, the flowers, the chocolates, and, um, the makeup,” I said as he stopped just a breath away from me, his presence almost overwhelming. I’d thank him back at his suite for the gifts, but I needed to say something.

“You’re welcome,” he said softly.

“Would you… like a drink before we go?” Desperate for another distraction, for anything to calm my racing heart, I asked, but he declined.

“Maybe when we return,” he murmured before reaching into the inside of his jacket as he added, “I have something for you.”

“Again?” I was barely holding it together as I breathed, and his smile widened. “Yes. Please, turn around for me.”

Obeying the request, I felt a cool sensation on the back of my neck, and my eyes widened as I looked in the mirror to see him clasp a necklace around my neck. It was exquisite, the kind of piece that made a statement without overdoing it, and I stopped breathing entirely as his fingers grazed my skin, warm and featherlight.

My body shuddered involuntarily before it moved of its own accord as my thighs clamped shut.

“Perfect,” he whispered huskily, his breath brushing against my ear, and this time I pooled in my panties. Only after a moment did I exhale, my lungs burning from holding everything in.

“Levi… I-” My mind raced for words as I turned to face him, my fingers lightly brushing against the necklace. “It’s beautiful. I don’t… know what to say. This is all too much. Thank you.” His eyes held mine, impossibly soft yet intense, as he said the words that turned my knees to jelly.

“Nothing is too much for you.”

A shiver ran through my body, and I fell for my boss right there. I fell hard and completely, and for a moment we just stood there, both of us seemingly drowning in the moment, before I grabbed the last shred of my sanity just as it slipped away. I forced the words out, shaky but firm, knowing that one of us had to act before we ended up canceling the dinner plans.

“We… should go.”

“Of course,” he replied, stepping back with a graceful nod as if he hadn’t just thrown my entire world off balance, and I grabbed my clutch. He offered his arm, which I took as I scrambled for what was left of my brain as we exited the suite, suddenly terrified of this night.