Page 35 of Love is Fake

“Holy shit, Iz you look fucking amazing!”

When Kiara uses that many curse words in one sentence, it’s usually either a very good or a very bad sign. This time, I know for sure it’s the former.

I turn in front of the mirror, my hands skimming over the silky material which fits me as if it were made for me.

“How the hell did he find a shade that matches your eyes in less than a day?” Kiara turns her head to one side and then the other on my phone screen. “Whoever his personal shopper is, they’re my guru.”

Mine too, I think to myself as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. The floor-length dress is held up by two thin spaghetti straps that plunge down to a seriously low neckline, making it impossible to hide my substantial boobs, something I’ve been used to doing since high school when I developed early.

“Don’t you think it’s a little…revealing?” I gesture towards my cleavage. It’s not indecent, but it’s definitely more than I’m used to showing.

“I’m not even gonna answer that, Iz. We both know you look elegant as fuck and sexy as all shit! Own it!” The swearing is definitely a good sign, I decide.

I let out a deep breath, imagining I’m pushing out all my nerves with that sigh. It works for at least 30 seconds and then I take a step in the gold high-heeled sandals. Saying I’m unsteady on my feet is an understatement.

“Are you sure about this, Iz?” The nervousness in Kiara’s voice is so foreign it almost doesn’t sound like her.

“The heels?” I frown down at my feet. “I’ll be fine once I get used to them.”

Kiara waves her hand in front of the camera, dismissively.

“I’m not talking about the shoes, Iz. I’m talking aboutthe guy.”

And there’s only one guy she could be talking about. There’s only one guy who’s been on my mind all day.

“It’s just business, Ki.” I shrug, repeating the words Lennox had said to me. “I thought you’d be pleased, there’ll be a lot of agents and managers there to talk to and get the word out about the clinic. It’s a good marketing opportunity for us, right?”

It makes a lot of sense, I reason as I talk. It’s a shame it’s only half the reason I’m going, or maybe not even half, I admit to myself.

“You been practicing that long?” Kiara asks with a smile and an arched eyebrow.

“A little while,” I shrug in her direction.

“Well, you’re not wrong, it’s PR we couldn’tbuy, so I’m not going to tell you not to go. I’m just going to repeat what I said before.Be careful, okay?” Kiara has her big sister voice on and – growing up an only child – it sorta makes me love her even more.

“I will,” I promise her, although a voice in the back of my head tells me it might already be a little late for that.

“Then, knock ‘em dead, babe.” Kiara blows me a kiss, which I return and then I’m just staring at a black screen.

I give myself one final once-over in the mirror, making sure I don’t have lipstick on my teeth, before grabbing the gold purse that arrived with the rest of my outfit.

I’m grateful for the short walk to the main house. Not only does it give me a chance to practice walking in my vertiginous heels, but it gives me time to at least try to settle some of the butterflies in my stomach. I’d like to pretend it’s just the idea of being at a big-deal event like tonight’s which is causing the nerves, and that I’m good enough at lying to myself to buy it. But the truth is that the person I’m going with is just as responsible for the queasiness I’m experiencing.

“Fake it ‘til you make it,” I repeat my mantra to myself, pulling my shoulders back and shaking my hair out before walking into the house.

I follow the sounds of conversation through to the main entrance which itself is bigger than my whole apartment.

“Have you pulled the plug on that crap yet?” Kai asks, in an unfamiliarly serious tone.

“Trying to, but Dec’s asked me to think it over.” Lennox rubs the back of his neck in frustration. “He thinks they’ll come back at us with some breach of contract bullshit, if we pull out now.”

“And what doyouthink?” Kai asks.

“I think I’d rather stick a fucking fork in my eye than go through with it, but it’s not just about me, Kai. If she decides to sue, and knowing her, she damn well could, that’s gonna affect everyone who works for me. People will lose their jobs because ofmeand I don’t want that shit on my conscience.”

Kai shakes his head in annoyance. “You’re not responsible for everyone, Nox. I know you think a lot of yourself but you’re not the freakin’ Almighty! You don’t have to protect everyone all the damn time.”

I feel a little awkward walking in on what seems like a private conversation and I’m about to try to retreat when Kai looks around Lennox’s broad form. His eyes widen at me for a moment before he breaks out into a toothy smile as if I haven’t caught them in the middle of an argument.

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