Making Moves: A Why Choose Romance by Mei Dansen

Author:Mei Dansen [Dansen, Mei]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

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The hotel had exclusive use of a terrace on the building's rooftop for private events. My mother's agency booked it for a gathering of their own that night, to celebrate the end of their Emmy promotions week. Janetta had sent me the invite—a QR code would be needed to get in—and called me immediately after to make sure I'd received it.

"I'm sorry, hon. Your mother was very clear that she wants you to make an appearance. If you could just let me know a half hour block that works for you, I'll put it in her calendar."

"Are you sure she has a half hour to spare?"

"It's not a big guest list." Which meant, potentially, a lot of face time with Liam and Ash. And Wyatt.

"Eight to eight-thirty," I relented. "And please don't apologize to me. I'm sorry for making your job harder this week. Has she been shitty about it?"

"Not...directly."

I sighed. Janetta was far too human to work for my mother.

I'd bought a new dress during one of my shopping excursions, a curve-clinging sheath with straps at the very edges of the tightly-fitted bodice, so thin they begged someone to snap them. The color transitioned from blush rose at the top to rich red wine at the bottom in an ombré effect, with a metallic sheen to the material that caught the light as I turned. Even Hilary would have approved.

I coiled my hair up to expose my shoulders and dangling gold earrings. For makeup, I glossed my lips a shade in between the top and bottom of the dress, and dusted on a light gold eyeshadow over winged eyeliner. My mother once told me that my face could carry any look, so I never needed to do much. It was one of the few pieces of life advice I allowed myself to take from her.

A hotel employee waiting outside the private elevator for the rooftop terrace scanned my QR code and pressed the call button for me. "Have a lovely time, Ms. Silviana." He pronounced it Silvi-ay-na.

"It's Silvi-ah-na," my mother said behind me. I whipped around, heartbeat already leaping over hills.

She strode toward me on deadly stilettos. Her dress was navy blue linen, the bodice draped over one shoulder with a cutout at her waist. She'd pinned her hair up as well, and her makeup was subtle, enhancing the lift of her cheekbones and the dramatic sweep of her eyebrows. When she came to a stop next to me, the warped reflection of us in the elevator's metal doors made us look not like a mother and daughter, but like the older and younger versions of the same woman.

I waited until we were alone in the elevator to speak. "I thought you'd be at the party already. Aren't you hosting?"

"Technically the New York partners are. And we're actually on the early side. But you chose the time perfectly. We'll be able to sit down and chat."

"Thank Janetta for having the persistence of ten women. You should give her a week off to make up for this week.

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