THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 72: PRE-DINNER PREP

Chapter 72: PRE-DINNER PREP

Fay sat on her dressing chair, staring at her reflection in the mirror as Marilyn brushed her hair.

After her encounter with Ace, she hadn’t seen him all day. Only for him to text her about an hour ago that they were still on for his grandmother’s dinner, so she should get ready.

Her fingers played with her knuckles as she thought of the day she had. Taking away the start of the day, it had been pretty fruitful..

From the corner of her eyes, she saw the bag she needed for the night laying on the bed, and a smile formed on her face.

"Are you nervous for tonight, Mrs Fay?" Marilyn asked.

"Nervous?" She muttered between her breaths. "I don’t think so. Maybe just a little," she confessed.

"I think it’s going to turn out great. You’re going to look really pretty when I’m done. Even prettier than you already are," she added for good measure.

She had noticed Fay didn’t like being complimented. At first, she thought she was just being modest. But as time went by, she realized she really didn’t believe in herself enough to believe the good things people say about her.

"Thanks Mar," she said.

"Do you want to let your hair flow like a mermaid, or pinned up?" She asked, running her fingers through the thick, luscious hair.

"I really don’t have a choice. Whichever is going to last through the night."

Her hair had always been difficult to maintain. As a teenager, she broke a lot of brushes. In fact, it was one of the things that drove her Aunt to the edge, and made her push her into finding a job.

Some people might have considered it harsh, but in hindsight, it was the reason she was so independent now.

"With the gown you’re wearing, I can see your hair free flowing being the best option. But, we don’t want you in discomfort when you’re eating. So, I think we need something for that."

"Really?" Fay half turned her head. "Like what?"

"Wait for me," Marilyn said conspiratorially, and immediately exited the room.

Fay’s brow furrowed for a second, but then she shrugged as she returned her face to the mirror in front of her.

"You’re pretty," she whispered. "At least that’s what they say. But am I really?"

She just did not understand why she couldn’t see it.

"Is it my eyes?" They were so catlike it wasn’t even funny.

Her freckles didn’t help matters either. To add to it, she had dimples. Everyone thought they were so great but wasn’t it kinda some sort of deformity?

Yeah, that was the perfect word to describe her features. She looked deformed. Like she would fit in more on the terrestrial than on earth.

Her chest rose, as a sigh escaped her lips.

"Maybe someday, I’ll see what they all see."

The door opened, and Marilyn walked in with one hand behind. The other hand shut the door, as she drew closer to Fay.

From the mirror, Fay spotted the excitement in her eyes.

"What made you so excited?" It was so infectious, she couldn’t help but smile.

"Guess what’s behind me?" Marilyn asked, standing behind her.

"I don’t know, Mar," she chuckled. "Could you please tell me?" She pouted childishly.

"Only because you asked nicely. But first, you need to close your eyes."

"Okay!" She laughed, and closed her eyes.

"Stay still," Marilyn said, as she pulled out the jewelry box.

She opened it carefully, and brought out a pearl beaded hair chain. Carefully, she pushed Fay’s curly hair into the pearls, and dragged it to the front, so it served like a band, holding the hair behind.

"Now, open your eyes."

Fay gasped when she opened her eyes and saw the pearls. They sparkled, and looked beautiful.

"Marilyn, this is stunning!" She said breathlessly.

It really was. She felt like a fraud wearing something so pretty.

"Are you su–"

"Before you say anything, Mrs Fay, I really want you to wear this. It’s my most prized possession, and I wouldn’t want anyone other than you to wear it. Please do me the honors?" She pleaded genuinely.

"It’s pretty Marilyn. So pretty. I just don’t know if I deserve to wear it, considering how much it means to you."

"But I want you to wear it. It suits you. You’re deserving of it. You look gorgeous. Don’t sell yourself short, Mrs Fay. Can’t you see how breathtaking you are?"

"Oh she really is."

They both turned at the same time to see Alice walk into the room.

"I’m sorry, I knocked but no one answered. I really needed to give you some juice to calm your nerves."

Fay giggled. "It’s fine, Alice. Come over please."

She dragged her feet forward, staring at Fay in awe as she did.

"How’s she so stunning and not a drop of makeup has touched her face yet?" She asked, dropping a saucer on the table, and then placing the covered glass on it.

"I know right? She’s going to be the star of the dinner tonight. Oh I so wish it was not just a family dinner, but one of those exclusive glitz and glamor parties Sir Ace attends. Every other person would look like dust in your presence, Mrs Fay. Especially those ladies—"

"And gentlemen," Alice chipped in an instigating tone.

"And gentlemen indeed," Marilyn chuckled. "At these parties."

Fay’s face scrunched in confusion. She wasn’t exactly sure what they were talking about, and the puzzlement in her face projected her confusion.

"Poor thing looks confused. Don’t worry Mrs Fay," Marilyn continued, gesticulating theatrically. "Soon, you’d be invited to these big events. You’d blow them away when you arrive. Fashion houses would be begging you to model for them!"

"Oh oh," Alice snapped her fingers, joining in the hype. "She could even get acting roles!"

"That’s right!" Marilyn stamped her feet.

Fay couldn’t help but laugh. They really believed every word that came out of their lips, and it was perplexing to witness.

There was absolutely nothing special about her. The only thing she could make an argument for were the pearls. As she looked in the mirror again, it grew even more stunning.

However, she couldn’t deny that the duo had lifted her spirits. She looked down and discovered she wasn’t fiddling with her fingers anymore.

"Thank you," she said.

"For what?" They both asked in unison.

"Everything."

"Don’t thank us. You’ve not even seen the dress Sir Ace bought for you."

"He bought me a dress?" Her eyes widened as it darted between both of them.

"Uh-huh." Marilyn bobbed her head.

"That’s right." Alice nodded.

"He bought me a dress?" She whispered in her mind. But why would he?

Wasn’t she the one that owed him an apology for not being his ideal woman?

They couldn’t see eye to eye because she was kind and he was more an eye for an eye guy.

"But who cares if you’re his ideal woman? Remember Fay, this is just a game. A deal. A contract. You can’t get in over your head." Her mind warned.

She needed that. Because it seemed like as the days went by, she forgets even more.

"I’m ready," she said.

"That’s right!"

An hour later, she was fully done. Her favorite duo had pulled her away from the mirror so she could be surprised when she saw the results.

Her anticipation level shot through the roofs when she was asked to push her legs forward.

With her eyes closed, she did as she was told. Shoes that felt really smooth pushed into her legs.

The same process was repeated for her other leg.

"I think we’re done now," Marilyn said.

"Yeah Mrs Fay. You can rise."

Excitedly, she rose to her feet. It took her a few seconds to adjust her legs into the heels. She was thankful for the restaurant she worked in before. For some weird reason, they insisted every female staff member be trained to wear heels. Because of that, she wasn’t going to be falling face down.

They pulled her to the mirror, and she could already feel the euphoria emanating from their hands.

"Are you ready?"

"I am." She almost hopped from foot to foot, the anticipation killing her.

"Open your eyes!"

She did, and for a few seconds, her heart stopped beating.

"Am I pretty?" Her head went into a riot.

The reflection she was seeing just couldn’t be what she saw daily. It had to be the dress, it sparkled, and was stunning. Maybe the makeup? Anything but her.

"Do you like what you see?" Alice asked.

She didn’t trust herself enough to speak without betraying her emotions, so she didn’t.

"I think she needs a moment," Marilyn smiled proudly. "We outdid ourselves, and she looked stunning. She needs to take it all in."

"I agree."

They watched her briefly, but were stunned when she turned around and pulled them into a hug.

"You’re the best thing that has happened to me in a while. Thank you so much," her throat, and lips vibrated as she showed her gratitude.

"We want you to win so badly. You know why?" Marilyn asked.

"Because you’re the best, and most genuine thing that has happened to the Atticus’ in a very long time," Alice said.

"And you’re the only one who can bring peace. Only you Mrs Fay."