Played By Riggs

29

It was time to start thinking about what I was going to wear on the opening night. It was going to be filmed, there was going to be a great deal of the public there, and bloggers and fashion critics were definitely going to attack my name if what I wore wasn't something great.

It was also time to get started on the list of other things, like inviting family and friends to the event, actually booking the help and the photographers, like making sure there would be security. I also had to pass my driving test, buy a car, and make sure James' birthday surprise was still on the go.

I then had to find some time to actually fit all of those jobs in.

"Tina!" I grumbled. "I got a bad feeling about this."

"Yeah. The bloggers would rip you to shreds if you wore that."

"No, not about the dress," I said. "But, whilst we're on it, what's wrong with it?"

"It's awful," Tina snorted, leaning back in her chair and kicking her feet up on the desk as if I wasn't going to tell her to take them straight back down. "First of all, the colour. I mean, you're pale... and that colour is just going to wash you out. Secondly, it's going to do nothing for you, figure wise. You need to wear something that's going to actually show that you have a waist, you know?"

I didn't, but at least now I had some sort of idea. "If I ever fire you Tina, perhaps you could become one of these fashion bloggers."

She smiled. "I'm gonna ignore the threat, cause there was compliment in there somewhere."

I grumbled and swallowed down some more hot coffee. "My bad feeling is about the driving test."

Her smile softened with that good old sympathy. "Well, tell it to piss off. You're almost there now."

"That's why I'm so nervous. Nothing bad has happened yet," I said, tapping my wooden desk. "And, I just know that the paps are going to get more pictures of Tyler and I don't think James is going to be so understanding again."

Tina chewed on the side of her lip, searching for the right answer. "Then you'll have to tell him what you're doing. I get it will ruin his surprise but it's either that, or have him think that you can't trust him and tell him things."

I really, really didn't want to accept it, but she was right. His birthday was in five days, my driving test in two, and if things riled up in-between then, I'd have to come clean and tell him what I was doing. I could only pray that it wouldn't come to that.

"How about this?" Tina asked, turning her laptop in my direction. On the screen was a blue dress that looked like one someone would wear to prom. "By the look on your face, I take it that's a no?"

"This is a business event, not a ball."

"Well," Tina huffed. "Do you even know what James is wearing?"

"A suit, I suppose. I haven't really asked."

She mumbled some things under her breath and although I couldn't make out every word, I heard a few. A smile spread across her face. "Oh, I'm such a genius. Here, how about this?"

I glanced at the picture and raised my eyebrows. "It's a bit... extreme?"

"If by extreme you mean incredibly powerful and sexy, then yes."

I pursed my lips. "I'll think about it later. For now, I've got a driving lesson to attend."

*

It was the day of my driving test, and I couldn't find my gut. It was for sure hiding somewhere, inside a cupboard with padlocks. So I rang my Mother.