A seraphic novel - Book 2
After the devastating loss of their friend Christoph, life for Cecelia, Evie, and the rest of the Elite Wing has been anything but normal. Struggling to find balance between the mundane and the supernatural, they navigate a...
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Evie stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the delicate gold necklace that draped elegantly over her deep blue gown, the color chosen to match Erik's eyes. The dress hugged her figure perfectly, its rich fabric shimmering softly under the light. She turned to Cecelia, who was just finishing the last touches on her makeup. Cecelia looked radiant in a stunning red dress with silver accents, her golden blonde hair braided elegantly.
"Can you believe it, Cece? Tonight's the grand opening of the new Max Lounge. Erik's really outdone himself," Evie said, her voice filled with excitement and a touch of nostalgia. "He's grown so much over the past nine months, hasn't he?"
Cecelia nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. "He has. And you too, Evie. Working at the recording studio has been great for you."
Evie laughed, adjusting a bracelet on her wrist. "It has been. Erik's been amazing, setting me up with that job. It's a dream come true and I've been learning so much but tonight's about him. He really has been preparing so hard for this. You wouldn't believe how many new recipes he's tested out on me. The man is a culinary genius."
"Oh, I cannot wait to see what that menu looks like. I ran an extra 4 miles today to make room!" Cecelia replied, a wistful far off look in her eyes. If there was one thing these two shared in common, it was most definitely their passion for food.
Their conversation continued as they finished getting ready, sharing stories of Erik, Darius, and Sam's hard work to make the grand opening perfect. The Elite's as their group was known as, were dedicating tonight to someone very special to them all, very special to Cecelia in particular, the late Christoph Maximus, Cecelia's boyfriend.
Just then, Evie received a notification on her phone letting them know their Uber Black arrived, sent by Erik himself. They gathered their things and headed downstairs, stepping into the sleek black car with anticipation.
*****
As they pulled up to the new Max Lounge, the sight that greeted them was breathtaking. A red carpet stretched out before them, flanked by a throng of press and elites from all over New York City. Flashbulbs popped as photographers captured the glamorous arrivals.
Evie and Cecelia stepped out of the car, their dresses catching the light beautifully. Erik was there to greet them, looking dashing in a tailored suit. He smiled warmly, his eyes reflecting pride and excitement. "You both look stunning," he said, offering his arm to Evie. "You, darling, look particularly ravishing, I must say." Erik said, looking her up and down. "Welcome to the new Max Lounge."
The trio made their way inside, where the true splendor of the new establishment unfolded. The hotel stood tall with 18 floors, the top three dedicated to the Max Lounge. The first floor, Hips and Hearts, was a restaurant inspired by Alice in Wonderland. The main dining room resembled a giant chessboard, with tables whose chairs were shaped like chess pieces. There was a garden maze set in the middle of the room, with a tea party table at its center for exclusive guests, and many other whimsical, magical elements scattered throughout.
