Mandy knew she should be relieved that Ethan had given her the clean break she’d begged him for. But she’d be lying if she said it didn’t hurt like hell that he had let her go without a fight.
“You know he’s going to be at this dinner, don’t you?” Marcus asked when the song ended.
Mandy nodded, looking out of the car window. The Strum was performing that evening for charity and it had been all over the news. So it wasn’t like she didn’t know. But she’d steeled herself against backing out of the dinner, which she’d gotten an invite for months in advance. A few of her clients whom she’d styled for the evening would be present and it was important Mandy appeared, not just for professional reasons due to the chance to network but because it was also one of her favorite charities as well.
“It doesn’t matter anyway,” she said, glancing Marcus’s way and seeing his quizzical look. “Soon, it’s not going to matter at all. I’m resigning from Jessica Charles.”
Marcus’s surprise caused his driving to slow down as he looked her way with arched brows. “Why on earth would you do that?”
Mandy shrugged. “I used to think I wanted to style movie stars, singers, dance performers, and the like. But becoming a celebrity stylist isn’t really what I’m cut out for. I want to make my services more accessible to the women on the street or the guy self-starting his business. You know, ordinary people. I’ve done some research on it and I’m sure I’ll have a healthy enough client base when I branch out on my own,” Mandy explained quietly.
“You’ve been doing a great job so far,” was Marcus’s encouraging response. “I’m sure this too, will work out for the best.”
Mandy wasn’t sure she shared his total conviction, but at least she was ready to give it a try. She found herself smiling at him for a moment. “Thank you, Marcus. For agreeing to come out with me tonight.”
He smiled back with warmth even as he shrugged. “Friends help each other out, don’t they? And I do like the chance to dress up and escort a gorgeous young lady for a night of glamor.”
Mandy shook her head at him and laughed, looking away again with an inner sigh. It was great that Marcus was happy to settle for them being just friends.
When she’d broken up with Ethan, he’d shown up ready to help her through it. Once he found out she was the one who’d walked away and the reasons behind it, he told her it was the right decision. And that when she was ready, he’d happily take her back.
Mandy felt touched that he still cared. But she knew she’d never start up with him again. She’d changed; love meant a different thing to her now. And she might never feel it again for anyone else, so why rush into another relationship so soon?
Marcus had been supportive in the way he gallantly stepped back and was seemingly contented to just be friends. He’d only just started dating again himself; a woman he’d met through friends who was a few years older and shared many of his interests. Mandy was happy for him.
They arrived at the black-tie event and Mandy felt her confidence rise knowing she looked more than appropriately dressed. Her outfit was a flatteringly cut red dress with matching pointed heels. Her red lipstick added to the bold ensemble and she’d done little with her eyes, only dabbing on a hint of kohl. Her thick brown hair was done in a simple plait at the base of her head, leaving her face free of wisps or strands. Marcus had already told her she looked stunning, and she’d thanked him with a pleased laugh. One could never go wrong with red, she said. And the bright color gave her a feeling of poise she didn’t really have deep down.
She was going to see Ethan again. And even if it was from a distance, it was going to rip her apart. What she dreaded was that Zuriel might be there, too. Mandy wasn’t sure she could handle seeing them as a couple, posing for the cameras and acting like they were in love for the world to see.
The benefit dinner was a success, the high point of the night being The Strum’s performance. Mandy had watched them from her table and thought they all looked amazing, especially Ethan. Their presence had drawn a big crowd and this in turn had translated to more funds being raised that night, particularly when the time came for the auction.
Watching Ethan had its bittersweet moments. She did not take her eyes off him the whole performance, and part of her had wished he would look her way just once. But she was sure he didn’t even know she was there.
It had been tough these past several weeks without him. There had been no backlash from the public; at least not as much as she’d expected. Just a few words about “Ethan now back to being single – female fans ecstatic.”