Can't Let You Go

Chapter 28

"How's this?" I twirl in a fuschia mini dress which has accents in silver sequins and beads.

"Tallulah Honey Cohen! I don't think I've ever seen you looking so sexy! I'm shocked, like I may just faint dead away right here."

"Don't you dare die on me now, you've got to be my date. And don't call me by my whole name or I'll kill you anyway!" I hit Zayan with the pillow that's on the small couch in the fitting area.

"Seriously though, sexy and eye catching, exactly what you wanted. Buy it!" Zayan fishes my wallet out of my purse. "Ahh, the joys of having Daddums's credit card again."

I laugh from the dias in front of the mirrors and ask the clerk to bring me a few shoe options with relatively low heels. "For me it's the joy of shopping in upscale stores that do the legwork for you."

"You still really hate shopping, yet your wardrobe is quite stylish. But in Asia, the off-the-rack department store choices seem to be more cutting edge than here. Especially for men."

"I wouldn't know about any of that and most of the Korean men I saw wore regular looking clothes. That's something you'll have to talk about with Carter. He had on interesting suits both times I've seen him. Speaking of which, do you know what you're wearing?"

The only thing Zayan likes talking about more than my wardrobe, is his wardrobe.

"One of the artists who displays work in my store has been commissioned to paint a vintage tux for me. You know the ones that look like classical still lifes, but when you look closely you see that they have macabre details? I told her to surprise me."

We finish our outfit planning and shopping and head home. I have more days shadowing the executives at Savis before it's finally New Year's Eve.

After a brief showing at the Savis Domus NYE party, I take my father's car to pick up Zayan.

"Who's gonna get trashed and thrashed tonight!"

Forcefully clearing my throat, I chastise Zayan with my eye motions.

"Okay, okay, I'll be good. Don't mind me Mr. Driver, I'm all talk and no action."

Whether Dad's driver is loyal to him or to Bethany, he's got little to do with me and will likely be making reports, which I've warned Zayan about, but he can't help from goading me playfully.

Approaching One Oh Eight, the long line of people waiting for admission is obvious. Everyone is young and dressed to the nines.

"Definitely a different feel to this crowd than the one at Dad's hotel."

"That's a good thing, right?"

"We'll see. There's more people being turned away than are getting in."

"That's how all the best clubs work for New Year's though. The V V VIPs have places held no matter what and their rooms are filled with perks. The V VIPs get chased for RSVPs in exchange for their booths being stocked. The VIPs have their spots held up to a certain time and then get priority entrance if there's still space in the occupancy limit. Everyone else... well they can make reservations, but no guarantee they'll get in. The better looking and well dressed they are the more likely they'll get in."

"That last part is kinda gross, I get it, but at the same time, I'm also nervous I won't make the cut."

"Well, I guess what we'll see first is the power of Brandt Ralston."

A group of four walks up to the doors ahead of us and are quickly sent to the waiting line. The barrier of security guards doesn't do anything to calm this weird nervousness I feel. No one likes being rejected for their looks, but until this moment, I thought I'd gotten past it.