Heels, Dreams & Blueprint

Chapter 1 - Pink Imperfections

PINK

   That was his first thought when he saw her. She was dressed in a pink running gear with pink headphones on her head, her afro bopped as she hopped and danced to whatever music she was listening to along the driveway.

He walked down the staircase, leading to the driveway, his assistant behind him. He saw her, saw she wasn’t paying attention, knew they would crash, yet still he continued on that path. When they crashed, he was ready. His arms found their way around her waist, preventing her from hitting the ground.

“Oh,” she gasped.

He righted her. “Are you alright?”

She blinked. Several times, and when her eyes finally focused on him, a cheshire grin appeared on her face.

“Well, hello there.” Her voice was laced with flirtiness.

“Are you alright?” he asked again, quite sternly.

“Yes.” she purred. She stretched out her hands. “I’m…Pixie no!!”

The next thing he knew, a ball of fluff jumped onto him, hissing and scratching whatever skin it could get. Pain radiated through him. When he could finally get hold of the fluff, he pulled it off and looked down into a pair of blue eyes. It was a cat. A white Turkish Angora, to be exact. With a pink bow attached to its fur.

“Oh my goodness, Pixie. I’m so sorry.”

All signs of flirtiness had evaporated from eyes, and only concern remained, “Are you okay?” she asked.

He nodded, “Fine.” as he gave the cat back to her. He presumed she was the owner. Once Pixie was back in her owner’s arms, she purred, all the while still glaring at him.

“I’m so sorry. She’s very protective,” she apologised again.

“It’s alright, ma’am.” and with a clipped nod, he stiffly manoeuvred around her and continued to his car.

The driver rushed out, opened the door, and he settled in, grimacing from the pain. Once the car was put into drive, his assistant and one of his best friends snickered.

“Are you alright?”

He turned his head and glared at his lifelong best friend. “Not another word.”

                               *****

Stephanie raised her pet and stared at her, “My Pixie, are you always going to drive every man away from your mama?” Pixie just meowed and licked her whiskers.

“Oh alright, you silly girl, let’s get in. I wonder who he was,” she muttered to herself as she started up the stairs to the front door.

“Mama.” No response.

“Ma.” Still no response, Steph looked down at Pixie, who was content in her arms, “I wonder where your grandmother is. Mother!!”

“Stephanie, please, inside voice.” her mother winced when she finally came into view.

“Sorry.”

“It’s alright. How may I help you?” her mother brushed by her, sat on the sofa, and rang for tea.

“Who was that?” she rushed to sit by her mother as the maid came in, pushing the tea cart.

“Who?” her mother asked absentmindedly.

“That man.”

“Stephanie, please be coherent. Which man?”

“I bumped into a man as I came back from my jog on the estate. He was with another man.”

Her mother frowned as she took in a sip of tea. “Oh, him. He’s a business associate of your father and grandfather.”

“Really?” intrigue evident in her voice, “What was he doing here?”

Her mother placed the cup down and glanced at her daughter in exasperation. “How would I know? You know I don’t concern myself with the business of your father and grandfather.”

After saying that, Fiona, Stephanie’s mother, went back to her tea. Steph lounged back on the sofa and snuck one biscuit from her mother’s tray.

“Really, Steph darling? You’ve gained more weight from last week’s party and you’re still eating snacks. Do consider your weight, my dear.”

Stephanie slowly lowered the biscuit and placed it back on the tray, “Sorry, Mama.”

“Oh, do go get changed, Stephanie, we have shopping to do.”

She nodded, snuck another biscuit from the tray, and rushed upstairs with her cat in her arms before her mother could say anything.

    

                                *****
Stephanie browsed through the collection that had been laid out in front of them as soon as they had entered the shop. She loved shopping, she really did but she dreaded shopping with her mother.

“No, darling. That isn’t the dress. It will make you look fumpy.” Fiona snatched the dress from her daughter’s hand, set it down.

“Here take this.”

Stephanie looked at the dress and winced. As much as it was pretty, it wasn’t going to do much for her body.

“Mama, I don’t think this dress is for me.”

“Nonsense, it is one of the latest designs in town. I believe you’ll look fabulous in it.”

“I’ll be a laughing stock.” she muttered underneath her breath.

Pushing the clothes down, Stephanie pushed closer to her mother, “Ma, I saw some designs on Papa’s table. Do you know what they’re about?”

Sighing, Fiona placed the dress she had been looking at down and glanced at her daughter.

“Why do you want to be a career woman so bad, Steph? Why can’t you find a nice man and settle down? You’re not getting any younger, darling.”

Stephanie slumped down on the seat. As much as she loved her mother, she could never understand her. Could never understand why Stephanie could never loose weight, why she wanted to get her masters, why she didn’t want to get married early, why she wanted to be a career woman and not a housewife.

“Look at your sisters, Steph.” Fiona continued, “Lynette is married and has two kids, Natalie is also happily planning her wedding. They are happy and content.”

Are they, though? Stephanie wanted to ask her mother.

“That was what they wanted, Mama. They are beautiful and could have a pick of any man that they want.” Not to mention, they were skinny.

Not that Stephanie was fat or plump. She had a normal body weight, but standing beside her older sisters, she was always the fat Denver sister.

“You’re beautiful too, my baby. You just need to lay off the cakes and other snacks, and you’ll be good.”

Stephanie rolled her eyes and went back to browsing the articles of clothing in front of her. If only it was as simple as her mother said.

Stephanie knew finding someone who would love her for herself would be a huge issue. Not to talk about her family's money.