Chapter 66 SHOPPING TRIP
The mall was busy, crowded with all kinds of people going about their day. A typical Saturday. Marcus led the way through the crowds like a man on a mission, Noah trailing between them with a bag of pretzels Rebecca had given him on their way out.
"So what are we looking for exactly?" Vivienne asked as they passed a window display of mannequins in evening wear.
"Something that says 'Sophisticated and talented and you'd be an idiot not to invest in this project.'" Marcus steered them toward a boutique with elegant dresses in the window. "Also something that makes Alexander Hunt's jaw hit the floor, but that's just a bonus."
"Marcus."
"What?" He pushed open the boutique door. "I'm only saying, you're the face of his company's biggest project. You should look the part."
A saleswoman approached immediately with a welcoming smile. "Good afternoon. Can I help you find something?"
"Evening gown," Marcus said. "For a fancy corporate gala. Think elegant, sophisticated, show-stopping."
"I have some ideas." The woman turned to Vivienne. "What's your usual size?"
"Um. Six? Sometimes an eight depending on the cut?"
"Perfect. Let me pull some options for you." She disappeared into the back of the store.
Noah wandered over to a display of sparkly purses. "Mom, look at these. They're so shiny."
"Very shiny," Vivienne agreed.
"Do you get to carry one to your party?"
"Maybe."
The saleswoman returned with an armload of dresses. "Let's start with these. The fitting room is right through there."
For the next hour, Vivienne tried on dress after dress.
The first one was too tight. The second made her look like she was going to prom in 1987. The third was beautiful but completely wrong for her body type.
"How's it going in there?" Marcus called from outside the fitting room.
"I look like a cupcake."
"Come out and let me see."
Vivienne stepped out in a poufy pink dress that made Noah giggle.
"Okay, no." Marcus shook his head. "Next."
The fourth dress was black and sleek but too formal. The fifth was gorgeous but way over her budget, even with Marcus offering to help pay.
"I don't know," Vivienne said, staring at herself in the mirror. "Maybe this was a bad idea."
"Don't give up yet." Marcus thumbed through the remaining options. "There's still a few more to try."
The sixth dress was different.
Deep emerald green. Long sleeves. A neckline that was elegant without being revealing. It fit like it was made for her.
Vivienne stepped out of the fitting room slowly.
Marcus didn't say anything at first. He just stared.
"Well?" Vivienne prompted.
"That's the one," he said quietly. "That's definitely the one."
Noah looked up from the toy cars he'd found in a display basket. "Wow. Mom, you look like a princess."
"You think so?"
"Yeah! Like the pretty one from that movie. With the castle. What's it called again?"
The saleswoman appeared with matching heels. "These would be perfect with that dress. Want to try them on?"
Vivienne slipped on the heels and looked at herself in the full length mirror.
She barely recognized the woman looking back at her. She was poised and elegant. Like someone who did belong at that fancy gala with those billionaires and investors.
"We're getting this one," Marcus told the saleswoman. "And those shoes."
"Marcus, I can't afford—"
"Early Christmas present," he said firmly. "Or late birthday present. Or just a 'thank you for saving our business' present. Pick one."
Vivienne just stared, moved by her business partner's gesture. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me until you see the credit card statement." But Marcus was smiling. "Now go change so we can get out of here. I promised Noah ice cream if he behaved, and he's been very patient."
"Ice cream!" Noah jumped up. "Can I get chocolate?"
"You can get whatever you want," Marcus said.
After Vivienne changed back into her regular clothes, they paid for the dress and left the boutique. Noah skipped ahead toward the ice cream shop.
"I expect that you call Alexander today and tell him you're going," Marcus said as they walked.
"I'll tell him on Monday. And Marcus... thank you. For this. And everything else."
"That's what friends do. Just don't bail last minute, or you'll really hear it from me." He bumped her shoulder with his. "I have a feeling this gala is going to change things for us. And I want you to walk in there and make that happen."
If only he knew how complicated making it happen really was.
They got ice cream. Noah chose chocolate chip with gummy bears on top. Marcus got vanilla with caramel sauce. Vivienne got nothing. She was too anxious to eat ice cream.
By the time they got back to Vivienne's apartment, the sun was setting. Noah ran ahead with the garment bag containing the dress.
Marcus helped carry the shoebox with the heels. "You going to be okay?"
"I hope so." She smiled faintly.
"I know so. Make sure you call me once you talk to Alexander. I want to make sure."
"I will."
After Marcus left, Vivienne brought the dress inside and hung it in her closet. Noah was with her, talking a mile a minute about princesses and parties.
Later that evening, Vivienne finally allowed herself to sit down and think about what came next.
The gala was fast approaching. She had six days to prepare and to figure out what she was going to say when she came face to face with Victoria Hunt.
Six days until her entire world potentially fell apart.
She stood up to turn off the lights and remembered the small package Rebecca had helped her receive on Friday. She had kept it on the floor near her closet. Although she didn't remember ordering anything, she assumed she had and had forgotten about it.
The package was small and brown cardboard. Something kind of threw her off about it because the label had no markings.
She picked up the box and brought it to the kitchen table.
It was light. Almost empty feeling.
She opened it slowly.
Inside, nestled in white tissue paper, was a photograph.
Old. Faded at the edges. Slightly bent.
It showed two people on a beach. A girl with dark hair and a bright smile, leaning against a boy who had his arms wrapped around her from behind. They looked happy.
Vivienne recognized it almost immediately. It was a picture of her and Alexander from ten years ago.
She'd thought all the photos from then were gone. Lost in the aftermath.
But how was it here? She swallowed and reached deeper.
Beneath the photo, carefully folded, was a small piece of fabric.
Vivienne pulled it out. It was a baby blanket. Soft yellow with little ducks embroidered on it.
The same as the blanket she'd wrapped Noah in when he was first born.
The blanket that should have been in the box of keepsakes in her closet.
Except now, spread across the yellow fabric, were dark stains.
They looked like blood.
Vivienne dropped the blanket on the table and stepped back, her hand flying to her mouth.
Someone had been in her apartment.
Someone had gone through her things.
Someone had taken Noah's baby blanket, done whatever they did to it, and left it here.
Was this a threat?
Vivienne slid down to the floor, her back against the kitchen cabinets, and stared at the box on her table.
They knew everything.
They'd been in her home.
They could get to Noah anytime they wanted.
And soon, they were going to destroy everything she'd fought so hard to build.