Chapter 22

It had been two days since I had called Barbados and left my number with my mother's brother daughter for her to have my grandparents call back but up until now, I haven't heard from them. I couldn’t help wondering if she hadn't remembered to give them the message and my number or what? Or maybe they weren't back from wherever they went as yet. I didn't know which, but I decided to hang on for a little while longer.

Mom had undergone her percutaneous coronary intervention or angioplasty and was recovering fine based on what she told me. I was really curious to know how exactly this procedure was done. Mom told me that she was mildly sedated and something called a catheter was inserted through the unbroken skin of her arm and into an artery and that's how they used it to open the narrow or blocked arteries that supplies the heart muscle with blood. Even though she made it sound less scary than an actual heart surgery, I still found it scary. In fact, I thought that any medical procedure -which wasn't limited to pills or medicine- was scary.

The procedure took just 45 minutes to be completed. Mom told me that she felt fine and was taking her medications. She was advised to just rest for a couple days and not to do any heavy lifting. She said that after a couple days, she is supposed to start exercising and follow the healthy lifestyle tips. Within a couple weeks of doing so, she would be good as new. I was overjoyed to hear all of this. And even though mom said that her Doctor told her that the narrowing may reoccur after years in some patients, I was still glad to know that she now had a better chance to a healthy life.

I didn't tell her about the call I made to her family in Barbados or rather to her niece as yet. I decided to wait until she has recovered and I was able to get in touch with them properly, before dropping the surprise on her.

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It was Saturday, and the day of the business event that Lucas wanted me to accompany him to. I was extremely nervous about this whole thing; I mean I was going to be surrounded by rich people. People who didn't have a clue about being in my shoes and who would definitely judge me if they know the truth about me and my past. I was really scared of having to go associate with snobs. Lucas had given me his card to buy the best gown, shoes and purse I could find. He probably wanted me to look like them and fit in but I would never fit in with those people. I figured that I wasn’t going to be needed to socialize or talk much with any of those elites. The party would only be for a couple hours anyway, so I figured that I will be able to cope with them for a little while.

Lucas still wasn't back yet from wherever he had gone for the past couple days. However, Greta had informed me that he said he would be picking me up at exactly 6:30pm, so I should be ready and out front by that time.

I was really nervous about the night I couldn’t help feeling as if someone there would figure out what I used to do. Or that the entire crowd of people was going to start judging me right there and making me feel small. All this nervousness caused me to eat a lot until I was so full, I was sure I may become sick throughout the night. I had my fair share of garlic chicken salad, black cherry ice cream, a bowl of ramen noodles, a large glass of pineapple juice, a bag of chips and some left over fried rice that I had in the fridge from the previous night.

I was cut off from eating anything else by Greta who came to inform me that a Missy Costello arrived to help me get ready. Like what the hell? Lucas really didn't even trust me to get ready by myself. He obviously didn't think that I was capable of doing that on my own.

"Hello, you must be Amy. I'm Missy, I'm here to help you get ready for the event tonight." A middle age redhead lady with an accent said as she stretched out her hand for me to shake.

"Yes I’m Amy." I said shaking her hand. "Not to sound rude or anything but I think I can get ready by myself."

"That's what they all say." The lady laughed before shaking her head.

"Huh?" I said confused.

"Never mind dear." She waved me off. “ Mr. Ackles hired me to do your hair and makeup and he isn't going to be please if I don't do my job. So first things first, have you showered already?"

"Uh, no." I responded awkwardly.

"Well don’t just stand there. Go ahead and do that, then come back here and let me work my magic." The lady said to me.

Seriously? I wasn't that bad that I needed someone to help me get ready to look good. I was capable of doing my own hair and makeup and I think I was pretty decent at it. Did Lucas really need to hire a professional to do it for me?

After getting out of the shower and drying myself with the towel, I went back to my room to put on deodorant and the underwear I would be wearing under the dress. It was a strapless dress so I settled for a strapless bra and panty set. I then wrapped myself in a dark bathrobe. After I was done, I went back out, only to find a new addition to the company— a younger Asian girl.

"Hi, sorry I'm late. I'm Miné Liu. I'm a nail Technician." She said as she greeted me.

"Hi, nice to meet you." I smiled at her. "But a nail tech? Is that really necessary? I mean I take care of my hands, feet and my nails. They aren’t dirty, I’m not wearing chipped nail polish and I don’t bite them. I think they're already perfect the way they are."

"Yeah, I believe you, but it is part of the package that Mr. Ackles paid for. So we just have to do our jobs and you’re going to have to let us." The first lady informed.

"He practically paid for an entire make over." I frowned as I look at a surprised Greta. "Okay, then. I guess we should go start this make over thing. If it’ll make him sleep better at nights."

We were using the bathroom as a makeshift salon. Missy had applied some sort of black tea facial mask on my face while she did whatever magic she was doing with my hair. Miné was doing 'God knows what' with my nails since my eyes were covered and I couldn't see anything that was going on. She had asked me about the color of my dress and shoes earlier, so I could only guess that the makeup was something near to those.

After Missy was finished washing my hair and entire head- including the facial mask from my face, she had blow dried my hair and started curling it. I finally got a chance to look at my nails now which were being done in some chrome style I had never seen in real life before more over worn. They were in a reddish shade color which was almost close to my dress's color. To be honest, I was never a fan of fake nails but I had to admit that these did look good. Miné sure knew how to work her hands fast because pretty soon she was working on my feet. Missy finished curling my hair, then I felt her twisting some up and pinning it with hairpins. I hated those things in my head. They tend to get uncomfortable and a bit itchy after a while.

When she was finished with my hair, she then washed her hands and proceeded to start on doing my makeup. Though my face was already clean, Missy wiped it with an antibacterial facial wipes. She proceeded to rub some cream on my face and then putting a primer first before she applied the foundation. Concealer was then applied to the area under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, the center of my forehead, between my eyes and above my lip at the philtrum. After which she used a beauty blender sponge to blend that out. She added a transparent setting powder over those areas and left it on while she worked out to fill out my eyebrows in a perfect arch. She then worked on my eyelids. I wasn't sure what colors she was doing on them but afterwards she drew a winged eyeliner then added some mascara to my lashes before proceeding to add some fake lashes.

I had started protesting by then, telling her that I didn't want to wear some fake lashes and look like those fake Barbie or something. She succeeded in persuading me that my face would to look sort of bare or empty without the longer lashes. She assured me that the lashes she was adding were the natural looking types. Although that didn't relax me much. After she was done with my eyes, she proceeded to do some contour on my face and after she was finished, she brushed off any excess powder, sprayed the setting spray over my face then added some highlight to my cheekbones. I really didn't have much say in what was done to my face except for the lipstick color- I had chosen a form of nude matte lipstick.

After my hair, makeup and nails were finished, I had only a few minutes to get dress and meet Lucas. And just like the ladies had said, would you believe they actually helped me put on my dress and shoes? The only thing I did completely on my own was to put my earrings on. Not even putting on my own perfume, I didn't do on my own.

When I was completely ready, I did a double take on my appearance in the full length mirror. I didn't want to seem vain or conceited but damn, I actually looked good. If this outfit and makeover didn't let me fit in with the other upscale people, then nothing would. I was busy admiring my reflection in the mirror that I didn't even hear the slight knock as Greta peeped her head in.

"Wow, honey you look great. Absolutely stunning and beautiful." Greta gushed.

"You really think so? Thank you." I smiled at her before looking at myself in the mirror once again.

"You really do. Lucas is going to be very please." Greta smiled. "Speaking of which, are you ready now? Your drive is here."

"Oh, yeah I'm ready. I guess I better hurry before Lucas gets impatient and upset with me for being late." I said as grabbed the clutch purse and hurried out.

"Be careful dear." Greta said to me as she followed me out. "I'll see you tomorrow. Have fun Amy."

"Thanks Greta, tomorrow." I smiled at her as u hurried out.

The minute I was outside, I was ushered inside the back seat of the car where I found Lucas seated. When I came outside and was greeted by the chauffeur, I had thought he hadn't bothered to show up and instead just sent someone to fetch me. So I was surprised to see him being seated in the car and already well dressed in his suit.

"Oh hi," I said biting my lip nervously as Lucas looked me over with an expression I couldn't read well.

"Hello, Amy." Lucas responded as he lifted his eyes to my face "You look..."

Oh no, how did I look? Cheap? Underdressed? Too overdressed? What? My mind kept racing.

"...stunning." Lucas finished causing me to be surprised at his compliment. "I see Missy and Miné did an awesome job."

Okay...

"Uh, thank you." I said to him. I was unsure if I should return a compliment to him so instead I just didn't. "Is my attire suitable? I tried to be a bit modest yet ..."

"Yes Amy. I approve of the outfit. Though you could have chosen something that was a bit more concealing." Lucas said looking at my exposed thigh.

"Oh," I said trying to pull the material of my dress to cover up my right leg and thigh. "Sorry, I didn't think about that. For the most part the dress seemed classy yet fancy. I didn’t know that the slit would be an issue."

"That's alright. I got you something to wear with your outfit.” Lucas said to me as he dug into his pocket.

"Huh?" I asked confused, not quite sure if I had heard him correctly.

"Here, this is yours." Lucas said handing me a small black box. "I figured you hadn't bought any accessories to go with your dress."

"What's this?" I asked pulling the lid off the box hesitantly. "Uh...wow."

I was shocked. Lucas had bought me a beautiful gold diamond bracelet. I didn't know what to say. It was just so much of a surprise. Like seriously? Lucas bought me a gift? Jewelry at that?

"Lucas? Thank it’s beautiful but why..."

"Don't question my motives. I wanted you to look like you fit in." Lucas said to me.

"Oh...well then. Thank you." I said taking the bracelet from the box and trying to fit it on my wrist.

I was practically speechless as I didn't really expect this. I was struggling to secure the bracelet on my wrist when Lucas took it from me and clasped it around my wrist for me.

"Uh, thanks." I said to him.

"Yeah." Lucas responded before focusing ahead.

We drove in relative silence for a while until Lucas began talking on his phone. I managed to steal a few glances his way as he talked to whoever was on the other end. It was obvious that were discussing some business. I was starting to notice how handsome Lucas looked tonight. Not that I hadn't noticed it before but stealing glances at him sideways just showed it up more. And his suit also looked really good on him. I hadn't even realized that the car had stopped and I was staring at Lucas until he cleared his throat and asked me what.

"Nothing." I answered quickly as I looked away.

"We're here now." Lucas said to me. "Now before we go inside, here is how it’s going to go..."