“We found out minutes before you two arrived tonight and there just wasn’t the right time to forewarn you. I think Seb and I both hoped that in the hundreds of guests mingling at the Ball our paths wouldn’t cross?”
“Really? You were going to go with that plan? How did you two get so successful?” Abs swats Nathan playfully across his chest.
“Must be all this hotness!” his devilish wink, makes me smile openly at Abby but she’s still not impressed.
“Well it didn’t work this time, Mr. Sizzle - your plan sucked.”
“Point taken, lovely lady. You do look so sexy when you’re cross.” He draws my best-friend into his body and plants a kiss on her already upturned lips before remembering my presence. “Does Seb know, Lu?”
“Not yet and neither should he. Toni will not ruin another party. Besides Abs & I spent hours getting ready for this do.” I shrug my shoulder nonchalantly and smile to lighten the mood. “Honestly, Nathan, I’m fine. Let’s enjoy the night and forget Toni with a bloody ‘third eye’.
Abs giggles relax us further as we head further into the mix of dancers and drinkers. “Come on let me introduce you to some people who may have need of your fabulous design services. They are ten a penny here.”
“That would be great, Na - not sure I’d be able to work on a job in Dubai with my commitments to Finn, but it would be fantastic to make some new contacts.”
Twenty minutes later I’m all talked out. My cheeks ache from smiling brightly and talking in all the right places. But Nathan had been right - this was the venue to make connections. I’d discussed possible design opportunities with at least three new clients for work back home in the UK and their budgets were open-ended - these could be lucrative for Elysium. Maybe enough to get rid of that bank loan?
I smooth down my dress and excuse myself, taking a quick glimpse around the immense ballroom; it was heaving and Sebastian was no longer in sight.
“Abs, I’m just going to nip to the Ladies again, won’t be long.”
“OK, hun - you want me to come with - fight off any potential bitchy attacks?” her brown eyes crinkle but I can see concern in them.
“No don’t be daft - I’m fine. If you see Seb, just let him know I’ll be back soon for a dance.”
I blow her a kiss and head off weaving my way between the crowds; through the huge elaborate doors, across the marble floor of the foyer, my heels clicking noisily, and straight past the sign for the ladies. In the main foyer, there is an array of small shops that include three clothing boutiques, a newsagents, a jewellers, and a cosmetics drugstore. I head for the latter. Maybe they’d have what I needed.
Back in the Ladies, I tear open the packaging and extract the first of two boxes. The back of which is laced with foreign gobbledegoop. But inside I find English instructions and after a quick scan, I decide to just go with gut instinct. I’d done this before right? It’d been a while now - over four years ago to be exact and I remember the day vividly. It had been snowing outside and I’d been just as nervous and the timing had been just as bad. My timing had never been great. That was then and I might be worrying about something that wasn’t even an issue.
“Come on, girl, let’s do this.”
I hoist my long gold dress up and out the way. Would have been much easier if I weren’t wearing a ball gown and 5 inch heels; then perch, whilst holding the stick. You’d think in this day and age they would have invented an easier way of home testing by now. I complete the task, seamlessly, clip the lid back on firmly and place it on the toilet roll dispenser whilst I adjust my clothing. A quick flush and I head out to wash my hands to ascertain the results. As I place my clutch down carefully on the counter top, and pump the soap jet, a door shuts at my back and my eyes grow wide in alarm as realisation kicks in, and frozen I stare back at myself into the large oval ornate mirror, my hand now gripping the edge of the sink tightly.
Someone has just entered the toilet I’d just used and that someone was about to see the test I’d just left inside.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
I want to scream out loud into the room in annoyance at my own stupidity and forgetfulness but instead can do nothing but wait it out and not alert any further attention to myself. I lick my lips and swallow deeply, my mouth drying up in anxiety, then wash my hands as calmly as possible before heading to the dryer to blast them. All I have to do is wait it out, then pray that they hadn’t seen it, and if they had, they’d ignore it and be out of here in the next few minutes. There’s no reason for them to think its mine…