Chapter 8: Chapter 8

LEXI

“He said what?” Reece’s eyes opened so wide that Lexi was sure they would pop out and roll across the marble-tiled kitchen floor.

With only a few hours before the asshole from the café called, Lexi told her best friend all that had happened. She needed help to make a decision.

Reece ran two hands through her blonde hair. “Say ‘yes’ when he calls you.”

Lexi was definitely not prepared for that reply.

“Did I hear you correctly? You heard me say he’s an asshole, right? He said he’s not attracted to me. He basically called me plain and boring. How can you possibly be on board with this?”

Reece was always adamant about her staying away from all men, even some women. She was so serious about this that she often discouraged Lexi’s crushes. As a result, it took a full year for Lexi to muster the courage to tell Reece about her first kiss.

Now here her best friend was telling her to go out with a total stranger. One who had no respect for her or any other woman. ~What’s the catch?~

Reece had a fiery look in her eyes, the kind of look she only got when she was out for blood. “I know his type, trust me. You’re going. And I’m gonna make sure he eats every word that he said to you today.”

Lexi didn’t understand her reasoning at all. She was more confused now than she was when she stood in front of that guy.

“I don’t get it.”

Reece let out an evil laugh. “I know you don’t.”

Her best friend dragged her into her room and opened her walk-in closet. Luxury items and dresses were everywhere, some with price tags still attached.

“What are you doing?” Lexi asked, though she had a guess.

Instead of answering, Reece began sliding dress racks to and fro. The sound of expensive fabric being moved so angrily made Lexi uneasy.

Sitting on her friend’s bed, she hung her head. “You don’t have to do this, Reece. I already told him that if I went, I’d wear my own clothes. I don’t want him to think I fixed up for him.”

But it was clear that Reece was no longer listening.

A minute later, Lexi raised her head to find a pile of elegant dresses lying across her best friend’s ottoman. Different types of heels were taken off the closet shelves, and Reece returned from her bathroom with a basket of hair and makeup products.

“I’m really fucking pissed right now, so I don’t have time to go into details, but know this… Men like him make me sick. If I ever had a little brother like him, I’d beat him with a stick.”

Reece continued to seethe. “After I’m done transforming you, that little bitch will never say a bad thing in your presence again. I will make you so attractive that no man at the party will be able to resist you, and believe me, by the time the night is over, he will beg for you like the dog he is. He will beg you to be his…and you will reject him much harsher than he did today.”

By the time Reece finished ranting, Lexi was overwhelmed. When her best friend wanted to prove someone wrong, she went above and beyond to make her point. This was one of those times, and trying to change her mind would be futile.

As Reece had her strip down and try on all the dresses she had picked out, she thought, ~What did I get myself into?~

Reece then pulled out her hair dryer, blow dryer, curling iron, hair pins, makeup kit, and other items Lexi didn’t know the names or purposes of. ~Who knew this much effort went into preparing for a pretend date?~

Apparently, Reece needed noise drumming in her ears to transform Lexi because soon the apartment was filled not with curse words but with music. Lexi knew her best friend was determined to make the man who made her feel inadequate eat his words. More determined than she’d ever been.

Reece dragged Lexi to the bathroom and put Nair on her legs, arms, underarms, bikini area, even her ass crack. Reece then picked, scrubbed, massaged, washed, peeled at, and moisturized her face. By the time she was done, Lexi’s skin was as smooth as a baby’s.

“How is a facial two hours?” Lexi asked, annoyed. “Do you do this much to your face before you apply makeup every day?”

Reece looked up at her with a devilish smirk. “It wouldn’t take me two hours to get a facial. I get a nice protein-filled load every other week.”

It took Lexi almost a full minute to grasp the meaning behind her best friend’s words.

After getting dressed in her first thong and strapless bra, Lexi stood speechless in the mirror, watching herself. It was five minutes before the asshole billionaire would call—she still didn’t even know his name—and doubt was creeping in.

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this. I have no idea how to act at a fundraiser.”

Reece wrapped her best friend in a white robe. “You know exactly how to act, Dray.”

Lexi frowned. When had she ever been in a situation like this? How would she survive this upscale event?

“What in heaven’s name are you talking about?”

Reece laughed and reached for Lexi’s hand. She pulled her to Lexi’s bedroom and pointed at the shelf of Disney DVDs.

“You were raised a princess, thanks to me and all those books and movies. You might not have spent your days in fine clothing and jewelry, but I’ve never met anyone as gentle and graceful as you.

“The gown we picked is the most elegant one in my closet, and I’ve never worn it. You know why? Because it’s not my style…but it fits you perfectly.” Reece looked on the verge of crying. “You’re not allowed to back out, and you’re not allowed to doubt yourself either. You go and show that bastard who Lexi Draya Fox really is.”

Just then, Lexi’s phone rang.

~It’s him.~

She held her breath, swiped the screen to answer the call, and then tapped the speaker icon.

“Hello.” ~Why do I sound like a mouse?~

“This is Daniel Jackson. Let’s make this short. What is your answer?”

Of course, his first words would be laced with the usual assholery. Lexi rolled her eyes at Reece.

She almost said, “~I’m not going~,” but took a second to think of a new reply. Since he was so impolite, she decided to return the courtesy. “If I wasn’t going, you’d know.”

It was probably the sassiest reply Lexi had ever given over the phone. Reece looked shocked.

“Good to know,” he eventually replied. “My driver will pick you up at 8. Women tend to be late—don’t be.”

Daniel Jackson hung up before Lexi had a chance to say, ~“Fuck you.”~

Lexi always tried to keep a pleasant smile on her face, but now she couldn’t help the deep V she felt on her forehead. Reece stared at her as if seeing her for the first time.

“Forget what I said about being a princess all night. Be elegant to everyone else but him.” Reece rubbed her hands together like a troublemaker with a master plan. “I heard him pause when you were being sassy to him. Do that later as well. It might just be enough to get under his skin.

“He asked me to go to the fundraiser, and now he’s not even making the simple effort of picking me up. He’s sending his driver instead… What does he take me for? And when did I give him my address? He’s just proving ~again~ that my life is nothing compared to his. He can find out whatever he wants and have whatever he wants, his way. I should just stay home.”

“Okay, killer,” Reece said, “take a breath and calm down. I just did your makeup, don’t mess it up by getting mad now.”

She took a breath. “Rich guys never do things in person. They hire people to do everything: pick up their laundry, order shit, ship stuff, pick up dates. That’s the point of having money—so you don’t have to do things yourself.”

Lexi wasn’t impressed or motivated by her best friend’s words. “You know you just compared me to objects, right?”

“Well, you already know what type of guy he is. He dissed you this morning without blinking. If you back out now, what will he have learned? That he can say whatever he wants to women for the rest of his life and nothing will change. Make him treat you differently.”

Those words made Lexi smile.

“Now, let’s get you dressed. It’s almost 8.”

A few minutes later, Lexi speechlessly admired her reflection in Reece’s mirror. Her hair was curled and pinned strategically, and she was wearing a stunning, blood-red Vera Wang gown with thin, off-the-shoulder straps.

The corset bodice sucked in her upper body, making her B-cup breasts look like C cups. If she sneezed just a little, they would surely pop out. The gown also gave her the illusion of wider hips, and the high slit was daring but classy. Overall, it looked like something Marilyn Monroe would pull off with no issue.

~Wow.~

In the back left corner of her closet, Reece unlocked her safe. It was big enough to hold one million dollars, but she only kept half that, some high-priced jewelry, and the deeds to the houses she bought and rented in other states.

Lexi knew that Reece grew up so poor she had to share the food on her plate with several people. When she left the group home she was last tossed into and ventured out on her own, she made a promise to herself: ~Build yourself up so high so that you won’t give a shit about the people who made you feel small.~ And she kept that promise all these years.

Reece pulled out a Swarovski necklace that only wore to events with rich people would be attending. The necklace could only be appreciated by the people who could afford it, or people who were just meant to wear it, and she wouldn’t chance wearing it around just anyone.

Lexi could see how proud her best friend was as she placed it around her neck.

“You look gorgeous, Dray,” Reece complimented her, clearly trying not to cry.

Lexi turned around. She wanted to sum up her gratitude in a sentence but could only summon the three words she used so often. “I love you.”

***

At eight p.m., there was a knock on the door.

Reece placed a small clutch in Lexi’s freshly manicured hand. When Lexi opened it, she saw that it was big enough for one credit card, an ID, and a small phone—and that there was a hundred dollars in cash.

“This is for cab fare if you need it to get home,” Reece said. “Don’t ask anyone for a ride. Especially not men.” Her seriousness showed in her beautiful eyes.

When Lexi didn’t respond, Reece squeezed her fingers. Lexi giggled. “Yes, okay, I understand. No accepting rides from strangers. I got it. You’re like a mother hen.”

The doorbell rang, and Reece placed a pair of three-inch, silver Christian Louboutin heels at Lexi’s feet. “Put these on and come out. I’ll go open the door.”

With that said, she left her alone in the closet.

From down the hall, Lexi heard a man say, “My name is Johnson. I’m Mr. Jackson’s personal driver. He asked me to pick up Ms. Fox tonight.”

Well, at least ~he~ had manners.

“I’m Reece,” her best friend responded. “Ms. Fox is ready. I am trusting you to protect her—don’t make me regret that.”

It didn’t matter if the person was a millionaire, a priest, or a driver; everyone who came close to Lexi would receive her best friend’s words of warning.

“Mr. Jackson’s never asked me to pick someone up before,” Johnson said. “I am curious about the kind of person Ms. Fox is. My boss usually acts”—the man seemed to search for a suitable word—”different.”

At that moment, Lexi strode quietly into the living room. She saw a man with a fit frame and smiled as his mouth dropped open.

“Hello,” she said brightly. “I’m ready.”

Johnson didn’t blink.

Reece frowned and poked him in the chest. “That’ll be your eyes if you don’t stop looking at her like that.”

Johnson finally blinked and mouthed a low apology. He kept his eyes down as he led Lexi to the waiting car.

When they reached the sleek black SUV, Lexi said, “Thank you for picking me up.” She had never seen a vehicle quite like this anywhere in Miami—or even in the movies. It looked like something straight out of the future.

~Of course, that ass would buy something exclusive.~

She almost cursed out loud but managed to keep it in.

Johnson opened a door, and Lexi carefully slid into the backseat, ensuring the slit in her dress didn’t ride up higher than it was supposed to. He lifted the dress’s train and placed it at her feet.

“Thank you,” she said again.

~I feel like royalty.~ The thought made her smile.

When the engine came to life and the car pulled away from the sidewalk, Lexi’s heart began to drum. ~This is really happening; I’m really doing this.~

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing nerves. The adrenaline-pumping electricity throughout her body was unlike anything she had ever felt before.

Lexi’s thoughts turned to Daniel Jackson, her billionaire date. ~By now, the asshole must be at the fundraiser, flirting with girls who don’t look like me.~

She felt inexplicably annoyed at the thought.