Hot Property by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9780061127663
Publisher: Harper
Published: 2011-09-13T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Isabel

High Drama over Park

CPW/70s. 10-room penthouse duplex in the fabled San Remo. 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, sunroom, and wood-paneled library. Central Park views throughout. $10.5 million.

The bridal salon on the seventh floor of Bergdorf’s is an enchanted little paradise. Isabel delights in the dove-gray carpeting, the armchairs upholstered in cream silk, the three-tiered tray offering petit fours and chocolates, the rods of sumptuous bridal gowns in every subtle shade of white, ivory, cream, and champagne. As she moves around the small space, she flicks the hangers—first an exquisite, simple silk slip, then an elaborately beaded and lace-trimmed gown, a full, bell-like tulle skirt that is straight out of Cinderella. This extravagant dress would have danced its way through the lavish court of Versailles a few centuries back, she thinks.

Isabel didn’t plan on coming here; she never goes shopping—especially for a wedding dress!—on her own. The Chase girls barely commit to buying an umbrella without their mother’s opinion. But the client Kate’s taking to a luxury high-rise on Third Avenue is running late, and the potential seller whose 72nd Street apartment she’s scheduled to see needs a bit longer to get the apartment in shape, so Isabel finds herself with a little time to play. Since she needs a new lipstick, she pops into Bergdorf’s, and once she’s bought the lipstick and a box of Santa Maria Novella bath salts, on impulse, she gets on the escalator up to the bridal salon.

“May I help you?”

Isabel turns to see a pretty woman with shoulder-length dark hair advancing toward her. She’s wearing a flame-colored sheath dress and four-inch black patent leather pumps. Isabel recognizes Christian Louboutin’s trademark poppy red on the soles when the woman takes another step.

“I’m just looking,” Isabel says. She doesn’t want to do this without her mother and Kate, but she can’t resist a little peek.

“Okay, I’m here,” the woman says. Her voice is low and melodic; Isabel is instantly drawn to it. “Just let me know if I can help in any way.”

Isabel nods politely and continues her study of the room. She glances up at the Venetian glass chandelier and looks longingly at the chocolates on the stand.

The lovely saleswoman reappears, and hands her a card. “When you’re ready, you can schedule an appointment,” she says.

Isabel looks down at what is printed on the card. “Beth,” she reads. “Thank you.” She permits herself a last look around the bridal salon.

“You’re welcome,” Beth says.

“Isabel!” She hears a familiar, European-accented voice. It’s the countess, who, when she says her name, places the emphasis on the last syllable, so it sounds like “IsaBELLE.”

“Delphine, what are you doing here?”

“I’ve been shopping!” Delphine says with sweet delight, and holds aloft the orchid-colored Bergdorf’s bag, “and I was just going to stop for a cappuccino.” The countess waves her arm, indicating the restaurant that is also on Bergdorf’s seventh floor. “Why don’t you join me?”

Isabel hesitates for only a second and then thinks, Why not? Since her appointments have been pushed back until three, she has some time.

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