The music played from the speaker, filling the room with the girls' singing voices. They walked around in their robes and took a seat at the different stations that had been arranged for the pre-party preparations. One woman did their makeup, another did their hair, and the final one was laying out their clothes and picking out matching jewelry and shoes to go with the outfits.
"How are you feeling?" Melissa asked.
Her hair was being braided in two thin braids that would wrap around her head like a crown. They curled her hair and made it wavy as it fell down her back.
"Nervous, but I'm glad you're here," Lola said. She reached out her hand and grabbed Melissa's to gain some comfort.
Lola's hair was straight and fell down her back. The woman grabbed her hair and spun it before putting several pins with crystal beading underneath to lift it. Her hair now looked half the length. Two small locks fell in front of her face, framing it nicely.
The event was in a few hours. Everyone was getting ready, and the house was filled with chatter as people gathered.
"Why do you think Ash told you all of that last night?" Melissa asked. Her hand was reached out over the table, and a manicurist was filing down her nails.
Lola shrugged her shoulders and tilted her head to the side so the woman could continue on her hair.
"I'm not sure. I feel like it could be either an honest warning or he's up to something. But I did feel like he was being sincere," Lola exclaimed.
Lola had told Jax that he wasn't allowed inside the room while the girls got ready. She wanted her dress to be a surprise and see the look on his face when she was all dolled up.
"It could be a good thing to have in mind, especially if she's as bad as he said," Melissa said.
She looked down at her nails and smiled at the crimson gel with black tips. Lola's nails were white chrome that shone as brightly as her dress. They sipped on champagne that one of the waiters brought up earlier and felt the slight twinge of a buzz coming on.
"This is all so crazy," Melissa said under her breath and gawked at Lola. "One day, you're working in the café, and now you're here, married to Jax, and we're attending a fundraiser hosted by one of the most powerful families in America."
Lola laughed. "You've been to these things before," Lola said.
"Not like this. My parents rarely brought me with them because they thought I was too young, and when we moved to Wild Cliff, they didn't attend anything either. They just put everything aside for a quiet life. It didn't last very long, but they tried," she laughed.
Lola sipped on the champagne. The bubbles tickled her throat, and she looked at the wall as the guilt started brushing up against her.
There was still one thing she hadn't shared with Melissa- the fact that Mrs. Blackwood was stringing the Cliftons in debt bigger than they could manage. However, as long as Lola did what the Blackwoods wanted, Melissa's parents would be fine.
The red-haired woman on the other side of the table smiled and asked Melissa if the nails were good. Melissa gleamed and nodded frantically.
"Perfect!" she squealed and shifted in the chair.
"They're gorgeous," Lola chimed and grabbed Melissa's hand. She scanned the nails and looked up with her blue eyes twinkling like the light on the surface of a lake.
"So are yours," Melissa said.
They jumped in their seats as the joy became uncontainable. Whatever happened at the fundraiser, they had each other and would try to see it as a girls' night out.
The ladies who had come to help fix them were now packing their things.
"You girls look lovely. Mrs. Blackwood, you and your friend can join the others downstairs when you feel ready," the red-haired woman said through a loving smile.
Lola tensed and quickly spun around to see her.
"Please... um, please call me Lola," she said after the terrifying feeling that spread through her when she was referred to as Mrs. Blackwood.
"Sorry, Lola." She smiled and bowed her head.
As soon as they opened the door, it was clear that the house was full of people. The chatter was loud, and the clinking of glasses meant they were celebrating. Everyone was eager to leave, but Lola hurried to close the door and shut the noise out.
"Everything will be fine," Melissa said calmly and walked over to the door. She grabbed Lola's hands and gazed lovingly into her eyes.
"I'm right here, and Jax will be too. Just you wait until he sees you," she purred and lingered her eyes down the dress.
Lola released a breath and smiled. She closed her eyes and drew a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. She opened them and saw Melissa watching her intently with her warm brown eyes.
"I appreciate you," Lola said and squeezed Melissa's hands.
"I know you do," she winked, "Now, are you ready?" she asked.
Lolla nodded but then realized that something was missing from Melissa.
"Your jewelry," she said.
Melissa's hand came up to touch her chest. The absence of a necklace was clear, so she looked around for where the coordinator had put it.
"There," Lola said and pointed to the table.
Melissa scurried over the floor and picked up the earrings. She put them in and then looked down at the necklace.
"Lola," Melissa said without turning.
"Yes?" Lola walked slowly over the floor and stopped in the middle of the room.
Melissa turned around and held the necklace by its chain. It was the pendant that Elwina had gifted her. The stone was shimmering in the middle, matching the earrings that Melissa was wearing.
The look on her face as she held the necklace was one of fear. Her eyes rounded, and her fingers slowly graced the steel.
"I guess that's the one she wants you to wear," Lola said and shrugged her shoulder.
Melissa gulped and nodded, but the fear in her eyes grew. Her lips parted.
"I guess, but it's just that- I left the necklace in the car. I never brought it inside."
Lola's brows pinched together, and her eyes narrowed on the pendant that had burnt her.
"Maybe Jax bought it in," Lola said. It was the only logical answer.
"Maybe," Melissa said.
She unhooked the clip and put it behind her neck. Lola helped her with the clasp. The chain was fine- it was the pendant that somehow injured her.
"Thank you," Melissa said.
Lola looked at the pendant sitting on Melissa's chest, and it really did suit her and the outfit.
"You look incredible."
The girls pushed aside any ill thoughts about the pendant and left the room, they were ready to join the others. They walked to the stairs and saw everyone turning their heads. Melissa started walking down, but Lola froze at the top of the stairs. All eyes were now watching her, scanning the dress and gawking at her appearance.
She looked around. He had to be there. Finally, her eyes met Jax's, and she grabbed the railing as she descended the stairs.
Jax smiled. His lips tugged up, and his eyes were glistening as he looked from Melissa to Lola.
They now walked side by side, and Lola made sure never to break eye contact with Jax.
The closer she got and the more his eyes took in the dress, the more Jax's gaze hardened. An ominous darkness grew around him, and his eyes took on a stern glare.
Lola slowed down on the steps when she had only three more to go. Jax's shoulders rose, and he slowly turned his head, catching the gawking admiration of those around him. A loud growl rumbled from his chest, his eyes glowed yellow, and everyone quickly adverted their gazes. Ash stepped up next to Jax and reached out his hand to Melissa.
"I will be escorting you tonight."
Melissa's cheeks flushed, and she pressed back a giggle.
"Okay," she squeaked and grabbed his hand.
Ash hooked his arm with hers and held her hand.
"Lola," Ash said and bowed his head in a greeting.
Lola was so preoccupied with the unsuspected change in Jax that she snapped back all too quickly when Ash greeted her. She turned her head, stepped her foot out an inch too far, and fell down the remaining stairs.
Melissa gasped as Lola fell forward, but two strong arms reached under her, and she fell onto Jax.
He reached back one hand and slid it down her naked back. It reached far before he felt the silk fabric of the dress covering the inches above her bottom.
Their eyes met in a swirl of motion, and a dark aura radiated from him.
Lola leaned back, but Jax's grip tightened around her. She looked to the side and locked her confused gaze with Melissa.
The last moments of haze from the champagne were creeping up in her vision and she looked at Ash, his eyes narrowed on her back. They circled her body, lingering on her bare chest before rising to meet her worried gaze.
"No," Ash said sternly, as though he was demandingly answering a question that hadn't been asked.
She looked back at Jax, who gripped her hand and pulled her down the hallway away from the others. Melissa pulled away from Ash to run after them, but she was yanked back.
"Leave them. They'll be back," Ash said and held her put.