Chapter 58

Judy’s POV

“He didn’t invite me to the Gala, Irene,” I told her, my brows furrowed.

She grinned even wider.

“Oh, but he will,” she told me. “Trust me. He just asked my father for an invitation for you.”

My chest tightened at her words.

“He asked Gavin?” I asked, but then remembering who was present, I cleared my throat and tried again. “He asked your father?”

She nodded.

“Yeah, and he’s getting you both a ticket,” she confirmed. “We’ll be going together as a double date. You and Walter, me and Ethan.”

Ethan. Of course, I would be stuck being around Ethan for the entire night. It didn’t seem like there was a way for me to get out of this and my stomach started to twist and turn uncomfortably. This also meant that Gavin would most likely be there too, so on top of being around Ethan and Walter all night, I would also have to be around Gavin. Could things get any more awkward?

“I don’t really do Galas, Irene,” I told her, biting my lower lip. “I’ve never done this kind of thing before.”

“It’s so fun. You are going to love it. Plus, it’s not like you are going alone. I’m going to be there!” she assured me.

Despite her excited and positive attitude, I wasn’t so sure. I leaned back in the seat and let her drive us the rest of the way into the city. She parked outside of a high-class boutique and instead of waiting in the car, Gamma Derek and Beta Taylor walked into the store with us while the Gammas from the other car took positions outside.

Gavin was not messing around this time; not that I could blame him. His daughter almost gets killed by rogues. I was honestly glad to have the extra protection even though I knew they were only here for Irene and not because of me.

“Miss Landry, lovely to see you again,” the store clerk said as we entered the store. She was a young woman with curly red hair and dazzling green eyes. “Are you shopping for the Gala this weekend?”

“Hello, Stacy,” Irene greeted. “Yes, I am. This is my friend, Judy. She’ll be going to the Gala as well as my cousin’s date.”

Her eyes lit up at her words.

“Walter is in town?”

“Yes,” Irene said simply. “Would be able to help her find the perfect ball gown?”

“Of course!” Stacy said excitedly. “We just got a couple of new dresses this morning. One of which, I think you will truly like.”

She walked over to a rack of dresses that were behind the cashier’s counter and pulled out the most beautiful silver dress I had ever seen.

“Are those real diamonds?” Irene asked, admiring the dress fondly.

“Of course they are,” Stacy said with a bright smile. “This is an original Ella Venuti. There’s only one in the world like this. When I say it’s new, it’s brand spanking new.”

Irene’s eyes lit up as she stepped closer to examine the stitching on the gown.

“Ella Venuti is always flawless with her designs. This is impressive. The diamonds make for a beautiful touch and the fabric is lightweight. It would be perfect for the Gala,” she breathed.

“It’s also the most expensive in the store,” Stacy warned.

“Price has never been an issue,” she said thoughtfully.

She glanced at the price without flinching and then she looked at the size with a frown.

“It’s a little big for me though,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to adjust the size unless Ella would be able to do it herself.”

“I hear that Ella Venuti will be at the Gala this weekend. But she won’t be flying in until Friday evening,” Stacy said with a frown. “She’s booked up for the week, so I don’t think she’ll be able to make any adjustments on it. But we have great designers here as you know. They could—”

“I wouldn’t want anyone else to touch an Ella Venuti dress besides Ella herself,” Irene said, holding up her hand.

She stepped back and then turned to look at me.

“It looks like it could fit you though. How about you try it on and see?” She suggested.

I gawked at her in shock. She wanted me to try on this expensive one-of-a-kind dress? Was she out of her mind??

“I… uh… I don’t think so,” I stammered.

“This dress needs to be seen at the Gala, Judy,” Irene told me. “Please, try it on.”

I sighed and I eventually relented.

Stacy went with me to the dressing room and helped me get the dress on without ruining it. The moment the zipper in the back went up and she released the seams of the dress, I felt like an entirely new woman. The dress fit perfectly and hugged my curves with so much gentleness and ease. Stacy gasped when I turned to face her, and her face immediately lit up.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, her eyes shining as she took me in.

I glanced down at the dress shyly.

“You don’t think it’s too much?” I asked her.

“Oh, goddess no!” she said, waving off my concern. “Not for the Gala. Come on, you must show Irene.”

She opened the dressing room door, and I stepped out into the light. Irene stood by a rack of new dresses but when she heard me step out of the changing room, she turned to look at me. Her eyes grew large, and her mouth fell open at the sight of me.

“Wow!” She breathed. “You look amazing.”

There was a flash of something in her eyes that I couldn’t quite understand but it was gone in a heartbeat. It almost looked like jealousy. I quickly brushed that thought out of my head; Irene was drop-dead gorgeous; there was no way she was jealous of me.

“We definitely have to get you that dress. Walter is going to lose his mind,” Irene breathed. “Now, I’m going to find my own dress. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”

She took off a moment later. I turned to the standing mirror beside me, and I was taken aback by how beautiful the dress looked on me. I was honestly stunning, which was something I never thought I would say about myself.

Nan would completely lose her mind if she saw me.

I turned away and started to walk towards the dressing room when I walked straight into somebody.

“Ew, watch where you are going,” I heard a familiar voice saying in a scowl.

I looked up only to see Daisy glaring down at me with her arms folded across her chest. She lip curled in disgust as she took me in and her eyes narrowed. I’ve only encountered Daisy once and it wasn’t pleasant. It was when I went to dinner with Gavin to discuss my contract while working for him.

Her gaze shifted to the dress I was wearing, and she took a step back to examine it, and then a smile spread across her lips.

“That dress is perfect. I’ll take it,” she said, motioning for Stacy.

Stacy raised her brows and then looked at me before looking back at her.

“Sorry Miss Baldwin, but I’m afraid this dress has already been taken,” Stacy said, a bit awkwardly.

Daisy lifted her lip up into a curl as she glared at Stacy.

“I’m Daisy Baldin, the heiress of the Baldwin Estate. I get everything that I want and what I want is that dress,” she snarled. “I could literally ruin you.”

Stacy looked nervous as she bit her lower lip. She wasn’t sure what to say, so I decided to intervene instead.

“As you can see, I’m wearing the dress, Miss Baldwin,” I told her. “I’m going to get it.”

She glared at me and the corner of her lips tipped upward into a condescending smirk.

“Like you could afford a dress like this,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “Don’t make me laugh. I’ll pay you to take it off,” she continued as she reached into her pocket to grab her checkbook. She grabbed a pen as well and glanced back at me. “How much? A thousand dollars?”

When I didn’t say anything, and just kept staring blankly at her, trying to figure out where she got this type of audacity, she scoffed. “Fine, how about 5 thousand dollars?”

“I’m not going to give you this dress,” I told her through my teeth.

Her eyes turned into slits.

“This dress deserves to be worn by someone with class. You certainly have none,” she hissed. Her eyes pinched together as she scanned my face. “Do I know you from somewhere? Why do you look so familiar?”

I opened my mouth to reply, but then realization flashed through her eyes.

“Oh right; you’re the whore that won’t leave Gavin alone,” she laughed, shaking her head. ‘I hope you aren’t going to this Gala in hopes of winning him over. Newsflash, you are just a one-night stand. You meant nothing to him. He hasn’t had a serious relationship with my sister, but I’m planning on changing that at the Gala.”

My heart sank from her words. I shouldn’t have let that bother me, but I couldn’t help it.

“Get out of that dress, now,” Daisy demanded.

“Aunt Daisy?” Irene said, stepping beside me.

Daisy’s eyes flickered to Irene and her face paled.

“I…Irene…?” Daisy stammered. “What are you doing here?”

Irene narrowed her eyes.

“I’m helping my friend Judy pick out a dress for the Gala. Did I hear correctly? Are you trying to seduce my father?”