PRETTY CANDY

Chapter 2

Candy dialed the number of her apartment, it rang for a while and finally someone picked up...

- I've been calling you all night! Where were you?

Sandra was half asleep, said:

- Mom?

- It's me, Candy!

- Oh Candy! You scared me half to death!

- Where were you last night?

- I had a gang bang... what about you?

- Are you sitting down? They guy from last night was the jackpot! I'm in his hotel room at the Beverly Wilshire and the bathroom is bigger than the Blue Banana!

- Do I really need to hear this?

- He asked me to stay with him for the whole week and guess how much he's going to give me? 3000$ on top of the money to buy clothes!

- WHAT? I leave a guy to you and he's loaded? He's not a little sneaky?

- He's very handsome!

- He gave you the money?

- No, he's going to pay me at the end of the week...

- Ah... you see, there's the catch...

- No, he already gave me the 300$ for last night. I'm going to leave an envelope with money at the reception. Now I have to buy a dress for tonight... where do I go?

- In Beverly Hills? Rodeo Drive honey!

- Thank you Sandra! Don't forget to come and get the money. I don't want you to have problems with the landlord...

- All right mom. Goodbye mom!

- Good bye Sandra.

Candy, put back the clothes she had on the night before to go shopping in those luxury boutiques on Rodeo Drive. She took the elevator, she got to the reception and she left the envelope for Sandra. She gave it to the receptionist.

- I'm leaving this for my friend Sandra DeLuca, she's going to come and pick it up...

- All right Miss.

- Don't open it!

- No, Miss... I

Candy continued her way walking to the doors. The hotel manager, William Andrew, saw the young woman from last night who was with Mr. Grandchester, again. She was probably there just for the night. He shouldn't be seeing her again, but he was going to keep an eye open...

Candy was walking on Rodeo Drive smiling and looking at the windows of elegant stores. She didn't know what to choose. She ended up entering in one of them. The rich customers looked outraged seeing her entering the boutique. The employees were outraged. How did that creature dared to put her paws in such a boutique. One of them approached Candy who was looking at the beautiful and elegant clothes.

- Can I help you? She asked her.

- No, I'm just looking..., said Candy; you have very pretty things...

- Thank you.

Candy stopped in front of a mannequin dressed with a nice beige laced suit... that could work for a dinner with Terry.

- How much is this? She asked the employee.

- I don't think that will fit you, said the employee, how much is this Louise?

- It's very expensive, said Louise.

- It's very expensive, repeated the employee.

- Look, I've got money to spend here! Said Candy.

- I don't think we have anything for you here. You're obviously in the wrong place. Please, leave!

Candy looked at them surprised. She had no other choice but to leave. All her enthusiasm was gone. Shopping wasn't as fun as she thought it would be. She put on her jacket on top of her dress and went back to the hotel. She was walking towards the elevators.

William Andrew was keeping an eye at the reception; he saw her and walked towards her.

- Miss, excuse-me, Miss! He called.

- What?! Said Candy irritated.

- Where are you going?

- In my suite...

- You have a suite here?

- I'm with someone... Terrence Grandchester...

- Do you have your key?

- Oh yeah, I forgot that credit card thingy

- Would you follow me, please.

- Now what? Why? What? What's wrong with all of you today?

William Andrew didn't want to make a scene, took her by the hand softly and dragged her to his office. Candy discouraged by her little escapade to Rodeo Drive, just followed him, compliantly.

- I'm William Andrew, the manager of this hotel. What is your name? He asked

- What you want it to be...

- Don't play with me Miss.

- Candy...

- Candy... This hotel is not like other hotels. We don't allow our guests to have company without being told, unless it's a family member. Since Mr. Grandchester is very important customer, we consider important customer s as friends. As a customer we expect M. Grandchester to sign in any special guest, but as a friend, we're willing to overlook it. Since Mr. Grandchester is a friend, then I supposed that you're one of his relative?

- Yes...

- I thought so...

- Then you must be his...

- Niece? Said Candy with a little voice.

- Of course. I'm assuming when Mr. Grandchester leaves, I won't see you here anymore. Do you have any other uncles in this hotel?

- No...

- Good. I would like you to wear more appropriate clothes, is that all right?

- No! It's not all right!

Candy took the money from her purse and gave it to William.

- That's what I was trying to do, I was trying to get a dress on Rodeo Drive today and the women wouldn't help me. Not that I expect you to help me, but I have all this money and I have to buy a dress for dinner tonight and nobody wanted to help me!

William looked at her. She was pretty. She had the same look as his mother... He took a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to Candy, who was crying. She took the handkerchief which smelled good... Then he turned to the phone and picked it up...

- Great you're calling the cops?! Tell them I say hi!

William looked at her. He wished he could save her from that kind of life. Someone picked up at the end of the line.

- Hello Rosemary? I have special customer. Miss Candy, she the niece of a very important customer. Can you help her out? Thank you Rose. I owe you one. I'm sending her right away.

Then he turned to Candy and he said.

- My sister takes care of the hotel boutique. She's going to help you out.

Candy's eyes lit up. She jumped to William's neck.

- Oh thank you so much William! Thank you! You just saved my life!!!

William loved the enthusiasm of this young woman. He smiled and hugged her back. She suddenly let go of him.

- Oh, she said, I'm sorry... I didn't want to...

- It's ok...

- I'm going to go...

- All right...

Candy got out of the office and she walked towards the hotel boutiques. Maybe she should've started there... If she hadn't listened to Sandra... Oh well. She arrived at the boutique and she waited for a bit. She took advantage to look around while she was waiting.

- You must be Candy...

She turned around. She saw a young blond woman who looked a lot like William.

- I'm Rosemary...

- Pleased to meet you, I'm Candy.

- What kind of dress do you need?

- A dress for a diner in a nice restaurant...

- A cocktail dress, then... You're a size 6, aren't you?

- Yes, how do you know?

- It's my job to know... so when is your uncle coming to pick you up?

- Rosemary, he's not really my uncle.

- They never are... come with me, you're going to need some shoes too and you will need to go to
the hairdresser...

Candy was walking towards the elevator, but she stopped to talk to William.

- Hey William...

- Yes?

- I have the dress...

- I thought you would be wearing it...

- Oh no, I don't want to wrinkle it... I also got some shoes, you want to see them?

- No, it's fine. I trust you...

- I just wanted to say thank you for your help, said Candy smiling

- You're welcome...

Candy went to take the elevator and went back to the suite...