Once Upon A Time(55)

“I’m sorry.” The words were barely a whisper from my lips. “I’m completely out of my depth when it comes to him.”

“I noticed.” She smirked. “It’s okay to be vulnerable, sweetie.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

“The last time I did that, you had to pick up the pieces, remember?” She nodded her head slightly as I pushed back the memory of Cam and my heart being shattered. “He could break my heart, Kylie.”

She sighed, standing from the chair, looking me right in the eyes.

“And the sky could fall or I could be hit by a bus tomorrow. Pay, life carries risks, everything is a risk. For once, please, just stop worrying about the risks and grab your once upon a time.”

“I thought it was happily ever after?”

“Happily ever afters are when a story is complete. Honey, your story’s just beginning.”

I sighed deeply. She had a point, there was no denying that. I sat back in my chair for a moment, wondering if this really could be the start of my own fairy tale. I cringed slightly. This wasn't a fairy tale, this was my life. Could I really get my once upon a time and happily ever after? I’d be risking my job, my home. I’d be risking everything in the hopes that Gabriel wouldn't break my heart. Even if I took the risk, would he still want me? I’d pushed him away so much since we met, I was surprised he hadn't run a mile.

Was my once upon a time worth the risk?

“Love is always worth the risk,” Kylie whispered. “So, on Friday, you’re going to strut into Alpha looking a million dollars, and you’re going to grab your man by the lapels of his suit and never let go.”

I looked at my best friend confused for a moment. I wasn't confused about grabbing my man. Instead, I was confused because Alpha was strictly invitation only. I knew because I sent the invitations and as far as I knew, I didn't have one.

“Kylie, I haven't been invited.”

She smiled brightly, any brighter and I swear her smile would've blinded me.

“What are you smiling at?” I asked, utterly confused and slightly worried.

“The entire company has been invited to Alpha.” She smirked, pulling out a gold envelope that housed the black invitations I had designed. “We all got one this morning.”

I furrowed my brows, wondering what she was talking about. I hadn’t received anything about Alpha.

“Where did you get that?” I asked, perplexed.

“We all got one. They arrived in the mail today,” she said, looking a little confused. “You didn't get one?”

I shook my head, then it came to me. Turning in my chair, I pulled out my purse and fished out the package I received over the weekend.

“What’s that?” Kylie asked, pointing to the package.

It was a simple envelope that looked and felt nothing like the one Kylie had in her hands. Shrugging, I ripped open the envelope and tipped out the contents. Falling against my desk was my black and gold invitation to the opening of Alpha, followed by something I really wasn't expecting.

A black and gold Am-Ex credit card.

“What the hell?” I whispered, placing the packaging on the desk and holding up the card.

If the colors of the card didn't give away who it belonged to, the name on the front did.

“Mr. Gabriel W. Black,” I read, running my finger over the embossed letters.

“Holy shit!” Kylie squealed. “Even I don’t have an Am-Ex! Damn.” She sighed. “Is there a note or anything?”

I looked at the contents of the package, not seeing a note. Kylie grabbed the packaging it all came in and had a look through it, making an "a ha!"and fished something out. It was a note.

“Whoa. That’s some expensive stationary and damn, that calligraphy is amazing!” she said in awe.

“Will you just read the damn note, please?” I rolled my eyes.

“Pull your panties out of your ass and listen.” Her eyes were wide as she scanned the note before handing it to me.

“What?” I asked, taking the note from her hands and reading it out loud.

Payton, you shall go to the ball. Have Kylie take you to Vera Wang… again. Yes, she told me about the incident. Vera has hand-picked you a dress. She owes me a considerable favor, and so she has designed something exclusively for you. I trust Kylie will help you in the shoe department. A princess deserves the world and you ARE a princess. Love, Prince G.

With my eyes wide and my heart thundering against my chest, I placed the note on the table, unable to control my mouth to speak. I was, in fact, speechless.

“Oh. My. God!!” Kylie bounced and jumped around my office like a woman on a mission. “He’s given you his credit card, he called you a princess! Wait, he called you a princess… Are you okay?”