He Brought Her A Bag And Me A Keychain Chapter 04

He Brought Her A Bag And Me A Keychain Chapter 04

He skimmed the first few lines, saw it was about properties, and flipped straight to the last page.

He signed it without missing a beat.

“You’re not even going to read it?” I reminded him.

Declan capped his pen without looking up.

“It’s just a few properties. They’re yours.”

“When should I come by for the jewelry?”

I placed the documents on the vanity.

“Tomorrow. I’ll have a set ready for you.”

“I need to talk to you about something.”

Apparently, that was all he’d wanted to deal with.

He’d lost any interest in talking to me.

He picked up his phone and waved me off.

“Whatever it is, we’ll talk later.”

Before dawn, the living room downstairs was already noisy.

Piper was picking out clothes.

When she looked up and saw me, a provocative smile spread across her face.

“The apartment Declan rented for me is too small. The stylist couldn’t work there, so he said we should come here instead.”

“Sorry—did I interrupt your beauty sleep, Colette?”

“I heard women your age don’t sleep well. It really shows.”

I didn’t respond.

When she didn’t get the reaction she wanted, Piper rolled her eyes and went back to the racks.

The first time I’d met her, she’d been in a cheap, ill-fitting business suit.

Now she’d become impossibly picky. She’d gone through eight racks of outfits.

Then, upstairs, mid-complaint about how nothing was good enough, she spotted the custom couture gown in the glass display.

Her eyes lit up.

“I want this one.”

The stylist’s expression stiffened.

“Ms. Keene, why don’t you look at some of the others?”

“You still have plenty of dresses to choose from.”

Piper raised an eyebrow and looked at Declan.

“But I really like hers.”

Declan turned toward me.

“Colette, give the dress to Piper. You’re already lending her the jewelry. What’s one dress?”

“No.” I said.

Declan frowned at my answer.

“Colette, don’t be like this.”

“I’m only going as Piper’s date tonight. And since you no longer work at the company, showing up would just embarrass you.”

“If Piper wears your dress, it’s like you’re there in spirit. Everyone wins.”

Before I could respond, he ordered the staff to take the dress and start getting Piper ready.

The stylist we’d originally booked came upstairs and approached me cautiously.

“Ms. Vance, are you sure about this dress?”

“Take it.”

I didn’t care. Anyway, I wouldn’t be the one embarrassed in the end.

When the car pulled up to the venue, the valet took one look at Piper all dressed up and his expression flickered.

Declan assumed the man recognized me.

“Not a word.”

The valet swallowed his words.

At the entrance to the ballroom, Declan adjusted Piper’s hair.

“Don’t worry. I’m right here. Just be yourself tonight.”

Piper nodded, looking deeply moved.

She linked her arm through his and walked in with her head high.

She looked uneasy at first. But with Declan coaching her, she quickly found her footing and began working the room.

One of them remarked, “Mr. and Mrs. Ashford must have a wonderful marriage. How many years has it been now?”

The person next to him nudged him and whispered.

“She’s Mr. Ashford’s secretary. Mrs. Ashford isn’t here tonight.”

The man looked stunned.

“I’ve seen that dress in the papers. Didn’t Mrs. Ashford’s grandmother have it custom-made for her before she passed away?”

He caught himself and shut his mouth.

The knowing looks exchanged around them made both Declan and Piper uncomfortable.

Declan forced a smile and an explanation.

“My wife couldn’t make it tonight. She insisted Piper wear the dress.”

Everyone gave an awkward laugh and quickly changed the subject.

Piper could feel the room cooling.

She felt hurt and humiliated, but forced herself to smile and find something to say.

“I heard the Lotus Corporation rep’s coming tonight. They’ve worked with Ashford Group for years, but I’ve never met her.”

“Declan, you’ve never met her either, right? Do you know what she’s like?”

Declan’s eyes flicked to the dress.

For once, a flicker of guilt crossed his mind, followed by a hint of irritation toward her.

Of all the dresses there, why this one?

He’d have to smooth things over with Colette later. She loved him too much to stay mad.

Just then, a stir ran through the crowd near the entrance.

Someone announced the Lotus Corporation rep had arrived.

Every eye in the ballroom turned toward the entrance.

I walked in wearing a black suit and red-bottom heels.