Bless him.
“So this is okay?” he asked while waltzing into the bathroom. “What are you wearing?”
“Red!” Hence the bold lipstick and crimson eyeshadow. Monica’s dark hair would offset both nicely.
“But your underwear is black, right?”
“Why does it matter?”
He poked his head back out of the bathroom. “Making sure I know what you look like with your dress off.”
What a silly man! Monica was even wearing a dress she had worn a dozen times before, particularly at house parties and even at evening soirees in the city. While the red was a bit ostentatious for work, where she preferred to stay in the shadows, it was perfectly appropriate for most nighttime get-togethers. The fact that it was sleeveless was a non-issue when she often paired it with a chic red jacket in the same hue.
But if she wanted to get a bitintense?The jacket came off. Then she was the center of attention.
Her makeup was done and her dress was on when her husband reemerged, eyes locked on her. “How about we skip the party?” He swept her up in his embrace, eliciting laughter that Monica didn’t know she harbored. “We’ll stay in here and make love all night.”
“Henry!” Monica saved her hair’s integrity by expertly turning in her arms and flinging both of hers around his neck. “Behave, Mr. Warren! The madam of the establishment has guests toentertain.” She bit her lip, tasting the smear-proof makeup she had just applied. “I don’t even know half of who is coming.”
He gently swayed her where they stood, lowering his nose close to hers. “I threw in a few surprises to keep the night interesting.” Before she exited his hold, he goosed her ass. Monica could hardly believe it!What’s gotten into him?Was he that hard-up for a night of relaxation with his wife? “Was surprised at how many people RSVP’d.”
I can only imagine what that means.
Not having to worry about who was staying in her separate room while she was in other parts of the building was the icing on the cake as she and Henry locked up and headed toward the big parlor on the second floor, where most of the guests were ushered for cocktails and hors d’Oeuvres. Monica attempted to slip in undetected so she could do her headcount and see who had come, but between her loud red dress and Henry’s height, it was impossible for the hosts to not be heralded the moment they appeared.
“Aren’t you twogorgeous?” That was mostly reserved for Monica when Judith approached, a drink in her hand as she got a load of her boss’s outfit. “Monica! Where did you get this? Have I seen you wearing this before?” She smacked her glass against the chest of the large man standing behind her. “Have you seen Monica wearing this before, Miguel?”
Her boyfriend wasn’t shy about staring down Monica.Literally. Down.He was as tall as Henry but with far wider shoulders and a chest that could barrel through a door. Yet in his immaculately tailored French suit, he was every bit the gentleman as he grinned and said, “That is truly your color, madam.” His slight European – a bit of the French he usually spoke with his native Spanish – accent was likewise a touch of culture to a man who could easily intimidate the most petite woman. “I swear, you only get more beautiful as you age.”
“Watch it.” Judith turned toward him, her darkening blond hair swishing against her curving back. “Or I’ll think you want my boss instead of me.”
“Not a chance,mon cherie.”
While those two entangled themselves in whatever game they played to keep the spark alive, Monica mingled. Henry was soon lost to getting them drinks at the bar, but Monica was nothing but cordial as she welcomed people she recognized and some she didn’t. To those people, she enthusiastically introduced herself and caught their attention because they knew her husband and were on his guest list. For every guest who was excited to meet her due to her stellar reputation, there was another who kept a respectful distance, as if she were a mythological figure who should be reserved in a hall of shrouded mystery.
“I didn’t know if you’d make it.” She bent down to kiss both Ethan and Jasmine on their cheeks. Jasmine, as usual, was already tipsy on her favorite cocktail as she cozied up to her husband of nearly ten years.Time really must stop passing so quickly.Jasmine didn’t look a day over thirty, but Ethan sported gray on his temples as if he hadanyright to show his age.At least he has his hairline.Or maybe he didn’t. Ethan had the same kind of fuck-you money as Henry and could get the best treatment cash could buy. Hell, so did Henry, although Monica would have been told. Probably.Maybe…
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Jasmine said.
“As long as we were in town, anyway,” Ethan added.
“Hope you enjoy tonight’s entertainment.” Monica wanted to sit with two of her closest friends but had more people to greet and catch up with. “Once we get some liquor in people, anyway. They know where we are.”
“Ooh,tell me it’s ladies!” Jasmine nailed her elbow right into Ethan’s thigh when she excitedly lurched upward. He did nothide his discomfort well. “I could go for some lady-on-lady action tonight.”
“There are two shows. The first is, in fact, ladies. Professionals on my roster.”
Jasmine pumped her fist – her elbow discovering her husband’s rib cage this time. “Yes!”
Monica exchanged an exasperated look with Ethan, who gave her a reassuring thumbs up. “Looking forward to it,” he gasped.
Before going anywhere else, Monica asked one of her employees to get Ethan his favorite drink. He needed it.
“Monica.”
She soon came face-to-face with someone she had not invited and certainly didn’t expect to see.Henry… why in the world…While they were personally as friendly as they could be, all things considered, Monica could have never anticipated her biggest business rival standing in front of her, right here in her cozy party in the mountains.
“Mr. Monroe.”
