Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evans

Author:Richard Paul Evans [Evans, Richard Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Published: 2011-08-09T06:00:00+00:00

The drive from Pasadena to the palm-tree-lined streets of Beverly Hills was only twenty-five minutes. It was a bright day, and the sidewalks were crowded with both the glamorous and those seeking it.

Griffin parked the Rolls in a reserved spot on South Santa Monica Boulevard, then followed a few yards behind the girls as they shopped.

“Why is he following us?” Taylor asked.

“Duh,” Tara said. “Someone’s got to carry our bags.”

Rodeo Drive started at the Beverly Hills Hotel and stretched on for nearly a mile. Tara explained that the district took up three city blocks and had over a hundred boutiques, hotels, and salons. Every fashion designer worth visiting had a shop in the neighborhood. In the first block they passed stores Taylor had only heard of: Lacoste, Juicy Couture, Chanel, Hugo Boss, and Giorgio Armani.

Tara pulled Taylor toward Juicy Couture, a tall glass store with a window display of mannequins in jewel-studded tracksuits with purses patterned with Couture’s trademark crowns slung over their shoulders. Tara wanted to look at the swimsuits and pulled a floral print tankini from the rack.

“What do you think of this?”

Taylor looked at the price tag. “Two hundred and thirty dollars for a bathing suit?”

Tara shrugged. “I know. A bargain, right?”

They crossed Brighton Way and continued down Rodeo Drive. Tara pulled Taylor into Salvatore Ferragamo. At Tara’s insistence, Taylor selected a pair of sunglasses in red and Tara got the same ones in purple.

Outside a store called Dolce & Gabbana, Tara squealed, “They have their new collection in! Come on!”

A woman standing near the front of the store smiled as the girls entered. “There are two of you! Which one of you lovely ladies is Tara?”

“I’m Tara,” Tara said, curtseying. “This is my twin, Taylor.”

“Twice the charm. It’s such a pleasure meeting you, Taylor. How may we serve you ladies?”

“We’re here to dress Taylor up,” Tara said.

“Our pleasure.” The woman snapped her fingers in the air. “Marc, bring Tara and Taylor some sparkling water.” She turned back to the girls, smiling unctuously. “This way, please.”

Taylor whispered to Tara, “She knows you?”

“Of course. I’m one of her best customers.”

The woman led them to dressing rooms, where her staff delivered outfit after outfit of gorgeous fabrics and light dresses. They spent more than five thousand dollars and the salesladies waved happily to them as they walked out, the girls’ arms heavy with shopping bags, which they surrendered to Griffin.

Taylor trailed behind Tara all morning as they walked through Tara’s favorite stores: Bebe, Gucci, Chanel. Even though they were the identical age, Taylor thought Tara acted more like a twenty-one-year-old than a fifteen-year-old. She knew her way around the stores, and if they didn’t already know her, all she had to do was say that she was with the Elgen Academy and the employees tripped over each other to help them.

At Tara’s urging, Taylor purchased nine pairs of jeans, six skirts, four pairs of shoes, eight shirts, two leather jackets, and three bags of accessories. Just for fun, Tara picked out three identical outfits.

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