Chapter 12 - The Emerald Dress
A week later, Adrian walked into the playroom with a large, flat black box.
The boys were busy building a massive Lego fortress in the corner.
He handed the box to me.
"What's this?" I asked, wiping a smudge of marker off Noah's cheek.
"An invitation," Adrian replied smoothly.
"There is a charity gala tomorrow night."
"I need you to come with me."
I stared at him, my heart doing a strange flip.
"As the nanny?" I asked hesitantly.
Adrian's dark eyes locked onto mine.
"No," he said, his voice low enough that the boys couldn't hear.
"As my date."
I opened the box.
Inside, nestled in black tissue paper, was the most stunning emerald green dress I had ever seen.
It wasn't flashy or overly revealing.
It was elegant, dangerous, and perfectly my size.
The next evening, I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my room.
The dress fit like a glove.
My hair was pinned up, and I wore no jewelry except for a simple gold chain Maya had given me.
When I walked down the grand staircase, the foyer went entirely silent.
The four boys were sitting on the steps, wearing matching miniature suits.
Adrian stood at the bottom.
He was wearing a tailored black tuxedo that made him look like a lethal James Bond.
When he looked up and saw me, he actually stopped breathing for a second.
"Wow," Luke whispered loudly.
"You look like a superhero, Nia."
Adrian stepped forward, offering me his hand.
"He's right," Adrian murmured, his thumb brushing lightly against my knuckles.
May you like
"You look absolutely breathtaking."
For the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged in this world.
