Chapter 235

“You want us to go to this party,” I said, realizing.

Logan’s eyes held intense focus, even as he smiled at me. “Our love swayed the people who watched our interview. Maybe it could say the minds of the high society members too.”

“It’s not a bad plan,” Mabel said. “There’s no guarantee that it will work, but, yes…” The more she considered, the more she seemed on board with this plan. “We’ve all been on the back foot for too long, acting reactionary more than progressively.”

“Are you sure about this?” Dylan asked, looking from Logan to me. “This will put you straight in the heart of the lion’s den. All of Senior’s yes men will be there.”

“They’ll have surprise on their side,” Mabel said.

“For the first half hour,” Dylan added. “Then the claws will come out.”

Logan had been doing most of the talking this afternoon, so I spoke up, wanting to contribute to this plan, and in defense of my friend who has done so much for me.

“Let them bring their claws,” I said. “We’ll be ready. Heck, they’ve been attacking us non-stop since the news broke to start with. They’ve been training us for this moment of standing against them.”

“Hazel’s right,” Logan said, placing his hand over mine on the table top. “You’ve done so much for us, Dylan. You are my friend. We’re not going to let you hang for this. Especially not, when it’s our relationship that brought you in the crosshairs.”

Dylan lowered his chin. “Then I’m going as well. I can stand up for myself.”

“Absolutely not,” Mabel said. “You need to stay as far away from this as possible until we clear your name. Don’t worry about the lovebirds, I’ll look after them.”

Dylan cursed but nodded. Glancing at Mabel, he added, “I’ll hold you to that.”

“We have a lot to plan for…” Mabel said. “When is the party?”

“Friday,” Logan replied.

Thinking on my limited wardrobe upstairs, I asked, “What am I even going to wear?”

Given our new celebrity status, Logan and I couldn’t go shopping without being recognized. If someone were to see us buying expensive dresses, they might put two and two together and realize Logan and I planned to attend the high society party.

We needed surprise on our side. That meant that we couldn’t risk giving ourselves away.

Mabel and Dylan were connected to us, which placed them under suspicion as well, though they generally had more freedom. Still we couldn’t risk it.

Which was why I video called Rachel, Megan, and Maria later that afternoon and begged, “I need a dress.”

This instantly led to a pseudo-fashion show raiding each of their closets.

None of them were wealthy to buy the designer clothes that most people wore to the high society parties, but they each had a forward-thinking fashion style. Even buying thrifty, they still managed to be on top of the trends and always looked fantastic.

Rachel was even working on her own designs. She hadn’t had much luck selling them yet, but they were enjoyed by everyone she shared them with.

“What about this one?” Megan asked, holding up a chiffon gown with a v-neck and long drooping sleeves.

“It’s beautiful,” I said. “But that long skirt might be constraining.”

“Do you think you’ll have to run?” Megan asked.

“Maybe kick,” Maria cut in. “Some of those clowns are real assholes.”

We all had a good laugh.

“I have one I think you’ll like,” Rachel said, heading into her bedroom. She shouted, “It’s guaranteed one of a kind!”

She returned with a deep purple cocktail dress, with an even deeper v-neck. Sleeveless, the low neckline scooped, like it was draped gently over my shoulders. It was stunning.

“Pair it with a choker necklace and silver bracelets and you’ll blow them away,” Rachel said.

“I have purple pumps that would look great with that!” Megan said and rushed back to her own closet. She returned with the heels in hand and, yeah, they matched perfectly.

“Thank you,” I told them. “This is amazing… I don’t know what to say…”

“We’re your friends, Hazel,” Maria replied. “This is what friends do.”

My heart was full.

Mabel swung by to see my friends, then brought the carefully disguised outfit to me. From the outside, even if Mabel had been photographed with it, no one would have been able to tell what was inside the collection of hefty bags.

She handed it over to me, and after seeing her off again, I immediately went into the bedroom to try it on.

Logan had gone out with Dylan to try to cheer him up over a round of golf. This gave me time I needed to shower and shave, blow dry my hair then slip into the cocktail dress.

It fit me as if it had been made for me. I thanked every potential god in all universes that Rachel and I were the same size.

My friends had even included the dark choker that I tied neatly around my waist and the silver bangles for my wrists. I slipped on the heels next, grateful Megan and I shared shoe sizes, then stood in front of the mirror.

I didn’t do my makeup yet, but even without it, I barely recognized myself. I looked like a fairy godmother had visited me and gifted me with magical satin. I felt something like a princess.

“Holy…” Logan gasped from the doorway.

Turning, I caught the slack-jawed expression on his face, and the way his eyes widened as he looked slowly down the length of my body, appreciating every dip and curve.

“Do you like it?” I asked him.

“You walked straight out of my dreams,” Logan said. Recovering, a smooth smile pulled at his lips as he came closer. “The dress is nice too.”

Laughing, I wrapped my arms around his neck. He leaned in and kissed him.

“You look amazing,” Logan said. “You are going to turn every head in the room.”

“Good,” I said. This time, attention was what we wanted.

Glancing down, he openly stared at the exposed curve of my breasts. “I’m glad I get to appreciate the view privately first.”

“Mmm,” I hummed. “You can do more than look, if you want.”

With a growl, He scooped me up into his arms and carried me toward the bed.

“Don’t wrinkle the dress!” I shouted, laughing.

“Don’t worry,” he said, laying me down. “You won’t be wearing it long enough for it to get wrinkled.”

Soon, he made good on that promise.

I remained confident up until the moment we were parking. Then, my nerves were starting to itch and my stomach twisted unhappily.

Mabel, sitting in the backseat, leaned forward and dropped her hand on my shoulder. “You’re going to do great, Hazel. You know how to act around these characters. Just be yourself, be unabashed, and be in love with Logan.”

Glancing at Logan, looking delectable in his tuxedo, I knew that last part wouldn’t be too hard.

Logan pulled our sedan into a spot in the hotel’s underground parking. Typically, we would have gotten valet, but there was some question about if Senior might tamper with our car. At least if we parked ourselves, we’d stay in charge of the keys.

We got out of the vehicle, and Logan came around to our side.

He held out his arm. “Ready?”

I wasn’t. Not by a longshot.

But for Dylan… For Logan and myself, and our future together…

I’d do what needed to be done.

I laced my arm through Logan’s. “Ready.”