Nearby, Elise and Ally had noticed the tension between her and Brayan–and also the way Catalina’s mood had clearly dipped. They exchanged looks, clearly ready to throw a few more cheap insults Jennifer’s way to cheer Catalina up.
But before they could approach, a hotel staff member in uniform came rushing over.
“Excuse me, are you Ms. Griffin?”
Jennifer nodded.
The staff member held something out to her.
“Hi there, I’m from Z&M. Our store manager asked me to deliver this to you.”
Only then did Jennifer realize–Joanna had sent someone over with a dress for her.
Joanna, the manager of Z&M, was an old acquaintance.
“Pretty impressive that you figured out who I was without even knowing me,” Jennifer said casually, offering a light compliment.
The staffer smiled. “The manager told me, ‘Don’t worry if you don’t know what she looks like–just look for the most beautiful woman in the hotel. That’ll be Ms. Griffin for sure.”
The flattery made Jennifer a little embarrassed. Off to the side, Catalina and her entourage stood fuming, their expressions turning darker by the second.
23.550
Your
Jennifer paid them no mind. Cradling the dress in her arms, she turned to look for a changing room. Just then, a cleaning lady came hurrying over, apologizing as she led the way.
“Sony again for messing up your outfit earlier,” she said. “The
manager asked me to take you upstairs–there’s a dressing room on the second floor.”
And just like that. Jennifer disappeared, leaving Catalina, Ronan, Elise, and Ally standing around, completely thrown.
By the time Jennifer returned, the opulent lobby of Royalpine Hotel was lit with stunned admiration.
She descended the sweeping spiral staircase from the second floor, drawing every eye in the room.
Gone was the janitor’s uniform. In its place, she wore a breathtaking evening gown.
Her long, softly curled hair shimmered under the light of the crystal chandelier–every strand catching the glow like fine silk.
The dress was dramatic and elegant: a voluminous black gown with intricate dark red rose embroidery across the bodice, delicately adorned with Swarovski crystals. Under the lights, it sparkled with quiet opulence and modern edge..
With each step down, she looked like a queen descending to meet her court. Everyone in the lobby stopped to watch.
She walked straight to the double keyboard at the center of the room, sat gracefully, and began to play.
Catalina could no longer make sense of anything.
‘How has Jennifer gone from janitor… to pianist?” she thought.
22 48%
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Ex-Husband's Apology (by Sebastian Grey)