Paris studied her reflection in the bedroom's full-length mirror. Only an hour before, a full glam squad swarmed this exact room, and now she saw the fruits of their labor. Her hair parted to the side, fell in full-bodied waves, and flowed generously down her back.
She chose a custom Tom Ford dress, a long, black, and backless number crafted from lace with delicate straps. And a very high split. The nude fabric underneath it matched her honey-brown skin tone to perfection. Adorning her feet were black Tom Ford stilettos, and her ears sparkled with a set of 1895 Cartier platinum diamond earrings, valued at nearly $200k. Gracing her collarbone were 133 diamonds worth over $30k, but the most prized accessory was, of course, her wedding ring.
Every year, for their anniversary Shane would have it upgraded. She had lost count of the price, yet she was certain it was valued in the millions.''
"Paris!" Shane called out again, his deep voice resonating upstairs for the third time. She had promised to be down fifteen minutes prior, yet she still hadn't made an appearance.
"I'm coming!" she called out, snatching her black Tom Ford clutch from the bed. Paris hurried from her bedroom and down the stairs. The children were gathered in the living room, engrossed in a movie with their grandmother Celeste. In the foyer, Shane waited, his gaze following her every step as she made her way down. Rushing her with his eyes.
"I'm coming!" she assured, once more as she walked over to the children.
After kissing each of the four, she expressed her love and bid them goodnight, knowing well that they would likely be asleep by the time she returned home.
"Call me if there's any problem, or call Solo if you or they need anything. I'm not sure when we'll be back." Paris told her mom as she headed to the foyer.
"We'll be fine, and I'll keep you updated," her mom responded.
Shane was already in the elevator when she entered. Adorned in black, he wore a Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo coat and slacks. He pressed the button, the doors shut, and their descent commenced. Paris stood across from him, her eyes fixed on the digital numbers above the door, as Shane observed her closely.
"You look gorgeous," he said.
Paris glanced at him briefly before returning her attention to the numbers. "Thank you," she replied, her tone blunt. She was unaware of his thoughts, but her mind was engulfed in utter chaos. She would prefer to avoid the event altogether, but given the current tension with Shane, she was aware that attempting to skip it would likely lead to yet another argument. So she said nothing instead.
He remained silent for the rest of the ride down to the lobby. Taking her hand as the elevator doors opened, and they stepped out together. And so, the charade, filled with forced smiles and insincere laughter began. She didn't know when it even began. Paris and Shane may have had their ups and downs but they always had fun with each other. He had the key to her laughter and the secret to her smile. He understood her inside out. He was her pillar of strength and, at the same time, the weight that brought her down.
"Well, well, well Mrs. Carter, you do look splendid tonight!" Reggie Baldwin, the doorman, an elderly black gentleman, always made a point to compliment her appearance whenever he had the chance. He was among the select few who could pull that off. Having worked at their building for as long as she could recall, he contributed greatly to making their New York visits exceptionally welcoming.
He was one of the rare individuals who could bring a laugh to Shane's face, and her husband held Reggie in high esteem as an elder. They trusted him. Mr. Baldwin was a regular at their holiday gatherings, and Paris always ensured he received a substantial holiday bonus.
