Hazel and Her Billionaire Tower by Catelyn Meadows

Author:Catelyn Meadows
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cortney Pearson

17

Aaliyah reached the door first and stopped. Gaping, with a hand to her chest, the same sight that had caught Hazel’s breath had a similar effect on her, as Hazel suspected it had on every person who entered.

“This is spectacular,” Aaliyah said, plunging in and stroking hat after hat. She removed a fancy hat and placed it on her head as Agnes approached. Today, Agnes wore a flamboyant headpiece that was a cocktail of color. The hat reminded Hazel of the rainbow beams refracting through the prisms Agnes hung at her windows upstairs.

“Well, hello there,” Agnes said in her French accent. “Hazel, is this the friend you told us about?”

Hazel took her cue. “Yes, this is Aaliyah Elir. Aaliyah, this is Agnes Bassett. She owns the shop.”

Aaliyah darted out a hand, not the least chagrined at having a hat on her head. “Agnes, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I adore your shop. And this hat? I can’t get over it.”

“It is good on you,” Agnes agreed with a cordial smile.

Hazel was pleased. Agnes was being as kind and generous as usual. The fact that Aaliyah had nosed her way in despite Hazel’s recommendation otherwise didn’t seem to bother her.

Agnes wove her arm through Aaliyah’s. “You, however, are a woman of exotic tastes. You have a flame, a blaze about you, as though you are just waiting for the right moment to shine.”

Aaliyah’s eyes widened at the compliment. Hazel was struck. She’d always loved people’s eyes, and Aaliyah’s were exquisite, gleaming like obsidian. She caught Wesley smiling kindly at a new customer who seemed to be having trouble making her selection. He spoke in hushed tones.

“Tomorrow, actually. The derby will be at Opal Heart Ranch’s racetrack,” Wesley explained. “Any purchases you make here go to support the elementary school…”

Agnes guided Aaliyah to another headpiece, this one a black organza fascinator that reminded Hazel of mermaid fins beneath water. A brilliant orange blossom made of feathers flourished on the hat’s side and drew the eye immediately to it. It was adventurous and loud, ostentatious but beautiful. Aaliyah practically drooled.

“I adore it,” she said.

Carefully, Agnes removed the hat currently on Aaliyah’s head and helped her attach the fascinator there instead. Aaliyah spent a handful of minutes admiring herself in the mirror. “It’s exquisite. You have the most impeccable taste.”

Carefully, she removed the black fascinator and held it in her hands. Her tone and expression altered to a more serious level. “Hazel tells me you know why I’m here?”

“I do,” Agnes said.

“But you’re not interested in setting up a location off base.”

Agnes smiled. “I’m not.”

“That’s a shame,” Aaliyah said, admiring the piece she held, “because if you were able to select hats for our tourists and vacationers, you’d sell out. These hats are incredible.”

“That they are, but I’m afraid it would not work. I have a small number of employees, and as I manufacture most of the headwear myself, I am not expendable. But Hazel has said you have other options.”

“I do,” Aaliyah said.

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