Page 26 of The Marriage Pact
“Oh, don’t worry about that. Have a look in the closet in the bedroom. I asked Hilary to sort that, too,” he said.
Kaitlyn was astonished. Going into the bedroom, she opened the closet to find a whole wardrobe-worth of outfits, all in plastic wrapping, just waiting to be tried on. There were dresses, trouser suits, pretty tops and leggings, and shoes… so many shoes. Alex had followed her into the bedroom, and Kaitlyn turned to him, shaking her head in disbelief.
“You did all this for me?” she said, and he smiled at her.
“I wanted you to feel comfortable, at home. I hope you like them,” he said.
Kaitlyn put her arms around him and kissed him. “You’re so sweet,” she said.
She looked up at him, those beautiful eyes, so big and green. It was just like prom night, the way he’d looked at her then…
“And I still can’t believe you saidyes. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
Kaitlyn blushed. Right now, she felt like the luckiest woman, too. “Why don’t I try on a few things, then we can go to the restaurant,” she said.
He nodded, kissing her on the lips, before retreating from the bedroom and closing the door behind him. Kaitlyn began trying on the dresses, deciding on a mauve-colored one with a matching shawl. It was designer, and had surely cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Looking at herself in the mirrored closet doors, Kaitlyn could hardly believe what she saw. It was a transformation. She’d never worn clothes like this or had so many to choose from.
“You look beautiful,” Alex said when she emerged from the bedroom a short while later.
Hilary had thought of makeup, too, and Kaitlyn had found everything she needed in a large vanity case on the dressing table. She’d showered, and after had found a dozen scent bottles to choose from — a palette of different perfumes, all of which smelled divine.
“I hope I’ll do,” she said as Alex slipped his arm around her.
“Don’t say that. You were perfect before, but seeing you now…wow,” he said, shaking his head.
Kaitlyn was caught up in the whirlwind of it all. Her whole life had changed in the course of a week, of a day. This time yesterday, she and Alex had been eating takeout on the porch of her mom’s house, and now they were about to take a car to Gill’s,and she was wearing a designer dress with matching shoes and handbag.
“I still can’t believe it,” Kaitlyn said.
“But there’s one more thing,” Alex said, producing a small, red-plush-covered box from his pocket.
Kaitlyn’s heart skipped a beat as he opened it, revealing a diamond necklace, sparkling in the evening sun pouring through the windows.
“It’s beautiful,” she exclaimed as he took it from the box and placed it around her neck.
The cut of the dress suited it perfectly, and Kaitlyn glanced into a mirror on the wall as Alex stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders.
“And it looks perfect on you,” he whispered, kissing her on the neck.
It felt to Kaitlyn as though she was dreaming. This was another world, a world filled with glitz and glamor, where magical things were happening.
“It’s a bit different from prom night, isn’t it?” she said, turning to him with a smile.
“But that’s where it began,” he replied.
They went down in the elevator, and a car was waiting at the front of the building for them. Alex introduced Kaitlyn to Stephen, his driver, a tall man, wearing a blue uniform and a peaked cap, who helped Kaitlyn into the car before driving them through the New York traffic to the restaurant. Gill’swas marked out by its red carpet at the entrance and a collection of paparazzi waiting for a scoop. As Stephen opened the car door, shutters clicked, and Kaitlyn found herself the object of attention, with photographers vying for a glimpse of “Mr. Lancaster’s date.”But Alex didn’t pause, leading Kaitlyn along the red carpet and through the doors into a dimly lit lobby, where soft music was playing, and an enormous fish tank, filled with exotic species, served as a wall, with stairs going up to the dining space above. There was no question of a reservation, no being asked to wait for the table. A black-suited waiter was told by a steward to lead them upstairs immediately. Kaitlyn could hardly take it in.
“Is that Joel Hardman?” she whispered, glancing across the restaurant to where the star of the latest Hollywood blockbuster,Life of Gold,was drinking champagne with his co-star.
Alex smiled.
“They don’t like people looking in here. Everyone’s someone,” he whispered.
Kaitlyn nodded. She’d already recognized news anchors, politicians, reality-TV stars… It was extraordinary.
“Our best table, Mr. Lancaster, sir,” the waiter said as he showed them to a spot that looked out of the restaurant’s upper windows across Central Park.
“Pol Roger, I think, to start. Whatever vintage the sommelier thinks best,” Alex said.
