Art of Seduction Page 5

  “Come in.”

  “Hello, Ms. Fallon. I’m Bridgette. We’re here to get you ready for tonight. I hope this isn’t a bad time?”

  “Not at all. Please come in.”

  Bridgette walks in with two other women. They roll in two suitcases, and one of them is carrying a long garment bag, which I presume is my dress.

  Bridgette asks, “Ms. Fallon, we will set up in your bathroom if that is okay with you?”

  “Yes, please. Feel free to do what you need. I am happy you all are here. I could use all the help I can get.”

  “I don’t see how you can think that. You’re already a very beautiful woman, if I may say so.”

  “Thank you, Bridgette.”

  For hours, I am dolled up. My hair is freshly glazed, and my body goes through the pain of waxing, which I may never get used to. Then my makeup is flawlessly applied.

  After all the torturing, I’m able to look at myself in the mirror. My hair has grown longer over the years since meeting Catherine. It’s almost to my waist in full bouncy waves. The makeup has been applied in a manner that allows my natural glow to shine through. My eyes are done in a way that draws you into the pale green coloring. I look beautiful.

  Bridgette tells me it’s now time to dress. She assists me with my lingerie, which has been laid out. It’s a lace one-piece strapless, high hip thong corset, but without all the ties. Once it is on, I look in the full-length mirror, seeing it makes my body look like an hourglass. It pushes my full breast up to accentuate my cleavage. The garment bag is then opened, and a beautiful deep peacock blue color is revealed. Bridgette helps me into it. It’s strapless, with a heart-shaped top that has rouging on the bodice to make my body look taut and tight. It also shows a perfect amount of round cleavage. At my hips, the dress flows into many thin layers. They’re cut into wavy length strips that go all the way down my legs. The slits allow for the entirety of my legs to be exposed as I walk. I pair the dress with silver four-inch strap stilettos.

  Once Bridgette and her team are finished packing, she tells me she enjoyed our time and hopes I have a wonderful evening. She also gives me her card and tells me to call her anytime.

  I’m left alone now and can’t help staring at myself; there is no recognition of the girl I once was. The woman who looks back at me is exactly how Catherine said I would be. Beautiful and confident, and now I feel it. My eyes veer off to the side, and I see Catherine watching me. She starts to walk towards me. She is stunning, with a full black skirt going all the way to the floor, paired with a white sheer-like top. The top has long sleeves that billow out and end at her wrist with diamond cufflinks. Her blonde hair is up in a twist. She is simply stunning.

  “Fallon, you look remarkable! I have something for you.”

  She proceeds to open a velvet jewelry bag. She brings out a stunning diamond choker and matching earrings.

  “You will wear these tonight. My husband gave me this set years ago. I think they will be the perfect accessories for your dress.”

  Oh my God! “I can’t! Catherine, it’s too much. I couldn’t possibly wear this.”

  “You can, and you will, my dear. You will be like the daughter I never had. One day, all my beautiful things will be passed down to all my daughters-in-law.” She lays them in my hand and says, “Please, allow me to enjoy this.”

  “I’m sorry, Catherine. I just never wore anything so beautiful. I never meant to come off ungrateful. I love them. Thank you!”

  “Don’t worry, child. They are yours. Enjoy them.” She then changes the subject. “You will wait for a while, then make a grand appearance. I’ll send Jeffery to fetch you when it’s time.”

  “Thank you again, Catherine, for everything. I’m not sure how this will play out, but I want you to know I appreciate all you have done for me. I mean that. I just want you to be proud of me.”

  “I am, dear, don’t worry. I already know things will work out in our favor. Remember your lessons, and you’ll be fine. I will see you in a bit. I have to greet our guests.”

  I wave for her to stop. “Oh, Catherine, one question: do your sons live here with you?”

  “No, dear, they don’t. My sons are grown men, but they do come to stay when it’s needed, and they’re always welcomed. Now, I must go. I don’t want to be an ungracious host.”

  8

  Fallon

  I begin pacing as I wait. Every time I look in the mirror and see the way I look, it gives me the confidence I have longed for. I pray I can portray it as well. About an hour and a half go by, then I hear a knocking at the door. I open it to find Jeffery, who lets me know it’s time. With a deep breath in and out, I follow him down the hall to the staircase. He tells me to go on. I hear all the music and noise of people talking. It sounds like a successful party. Once I put my foot on the stair to descend, I take another needed deep breath, realizing this is it: the first night I meet my future husband.

  I head slowly down the curved staircase, trying not to falter. Presenting myself as graceful and elegant, all the while I’m a bundle of nerves. I look up and see people have now taken notice of me. I’m greeted at the bottom of the staircase by a smiling Catherine.

  “My dear, I have people for you to meet. Are you ready?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then let’s not keep the wolves waiting! Shall we?”

  I answer by saying, “Lead the way.”

  Catherine walks me through the room. All eyes are now on me. She introduces me to people as we make our way to the great room.

  Once there, we stop and she says, “Let’s stand here for a minute. Let them come to us.”

  I’m introduced to so many people, I will never be able to remember all their names.

  “Fallon, I would like to introduce you to Senator Rodney Rollins and his son, Miles.”

  “Hello, Senator. It is a pleasure to meet you and your son.”

  Senator Rollins asks, “Fallon, is it? It’s a pleasure to meet you as well. Do I know your family?”

  “No!” Catherine interrupts. “She’s a friend of my side of the family. She has never been to this part of our world. I am taking it upon myself to introduce her to society, as a favor for her mother.”

  “Oh, well in that case, I hope you enjoy our little part of the world,” Senator Rollins says. “My son Miles, I’m sure would enjoy showing you around. If you’re interested.”

  Miles looks at me with want in his eyes and says, “I would love to show you more of our world, Ms. Fallon. I’ll call you if you don’t mind, and we can set something up, at your convenience of course.”

  “Yes, thank you. I will need to see how my schedule looks. Catherine has me already engaged in so many different events.”

  Senator Rollins looks at Catherine and says, “I am sure, Catherine, you could allow the girl some time to explore with my son.”

  “Well, we will see, Rodney!”

  As they stare at each other like as if they are at a standoff, another person walks up to us.

  “Mother.”

  I turn to look, and all of a sudden, I’m trembling. My mystery man from the poker game is here, standing in front of me.

  “You!” I say.

  He gives me a devilish smile and says, “Mine!”

  Catherine comes to my side and says, “Fallon, I would like to introduce my eldest son, Gabriel.”

  I whisper, “Gabriel.”

  “Yes, my dear. This is one of my sons I so frequently speak of. Gabriel, this is Fallon, the daughter of an old friend.”

  “Mother, I believe we have already met.”

  “Really? Where?”

  “At the casino. We played a game of poker, and your Ms. Fallon here won a hefty amount from me.”

  “Oh, yes, I remember that night. Fallon told me all about the game. I’m afraid to tell you, I was her benefactor.”

  “Well, Mother, you placed your money in very capable hands.”

  I’m so entranced by the shock, I don’t realize there is a tall
blonde woman standing next to him.

  But she breaks my trance by clearing her throat, “Hello, I’m Angelle. I’m Gabriel’s girlfriend. I see you have already met my father and brother.”

  She turns and gives Senator Rollins a kiss on the cheek, then says, “Father, it’s good to see you tonight.” She then nods her head towards her brother and says, “Miles.”

  Catherine says, “Angelle, how good of you to come and celebrate Fallon’s birthday with us.”

  “Well, thank you, Catherine. I wouldn’t miss a night out with Gabriel, and you know when you call, we show. So how old are you today, Fallon?”

  Catherine answers for me. “She turned twenty-one today.”

  Angelle remarks, “So young?”

  Gabriel jumps in the conversation with, “Angelle, you are only twenty-four.”

  “Yes, but Gabriel, I’m a mature twenty-four-year-old, and Fallon here seems so innocent. Like a child, don’t you think?”

  “No!” Catherine says. “Innocent, yes, but certainly not childlike. Fallon’s already a gorgeous woman who has seen so much.”

  As they interact, I am still there standing in complete shock of him. He has grown a beard. Not a full one, but one shaved close to his face. I feel so small next to Gabriel’s massive frame. I am a modest height of 5’6”, but he is extremely tall, around 6’3”. As I’m sizing him up, I can hear people talking, but all I can see are his eyes staring back at me.

  My concentration is broken by Miles asking me if I would like to dance.

  “I…I...yes, Miles, I would love to dance. If you will excuse us.”

  Miles leads me to the dance floor. He starts to speak of his family, but I can’t think of anything else other than Gabriel. How could she not tell me he was her son? I’m so attracted to him, but I’m so scared of him, too. I thought about how I had believed this man was beyond my level of skills. I know he can destroy me if I let him. I never expected to be in this predicament. I never allowed myself to believe one man would be able to evoke so much emotion from me all at once.

  My thoughts are interrupted by Miles stopping our dance. I look up to see Gabriel standing next to us. He tapped Miles on the shoulder and asked for the rest of my dance. Miles reluctantly gives up his hold on me and passes my hand off to Gabriel.

  When he touches my hand with his, electric currents pass through my body. He smiles and stares down at me with intensity. He pulls my body closer to him and wraps his arm around my waist. I feel instant heat from him. I wonder if he can feel it, too. We meld so well together, I hope the song never ends. I find myself not wanting him ever to let me go.

  “So,” he says, “you turned twenty-one today?” Instantly breaking my train of thought. “So, that made you twenty when we played poker?”

  “Yes, I guess I was. I hope you don’t mind. I would hate to be reported for underage gambling.”

  “Well, lucky for you, I happen to be the boss.”

  “What?”

  “My family owns the casino. Didn’t Mother tell you?”

  “No, she didn’t.”

  He chuckles. ‘’Don’t worry, Fallon. I won’t report you, and with the skill level you played at, I hope to see you again for another game.”

  “How old are you, Gabriel?” I find myself asking.

  “Twenty-nine. By the way, Fallon is a beautiful name, but I think I like ‘Mine’ maybe a little more.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Will you be staying here with my mother?”

  “Yes. Do you mind?”

  “No, I don’t think I mind at all.”

  Knowing it’s time to snap out of my shock and start working my charms, I tell him, “Well, I think your girlfriend might mind.” I tilt my head to the side to show him she has been staring at us with hate in her eyes.

  With another chuckle, he says, “Ah, yes, Angelle minds everything. She’s not my girlfriend, but she will never allow anyone to see her as just a date.”

  “I don’t think I would ever want to be one of your dates.”

  A confused look crosses his face as he asks, “Why?”

  “On both occasions we’ve met, you have had two different dates, and neither one of them has had your undivided attention. You don’t seem too interested once you get them to go out with you, do you?”

  He laughs. “I guess you’re right. I never thought about it, but I promise if you ever were my date, I don’t think you would have a problem holding my attention.”

  He leans down into my neck and I let out a giggle. He looks at me with a questioning look.

  “Sorry, it’s your beard. It tickled my neck.”

  “Oh.” He touches his face, rubbing his hand around his beard. “I’m sorry if you don’t like it. I can shave it.”

  “No, no, don’t on my account. I like it. It just took me by surprise, that’s all. You were handsome before when we first met, but now...I like it this way even more.”

  As I reach up to touch his beard, we’re pushed by another couple on the dance floor. I stumble over, but Gabriel catches me with an even tighter hold around my waist, sending a sudden surge of intensity through my body.

  With our eyes locked on each other, the song ends and we stay just as we are for a few more seconds until he breaks away and leads me back to Catherine.

  I see Frederick and Carlos, the men we met in Spain, talking to Catherine. They greet me like we are old friends.

  “Happy Birthday, Fallon,” Frederick says. “It’s so good to see your lovely face again.”

  “Frederick, you too, And Carlos, how have you been? I hope you are enjoying your new island.”

  Carlos, looking devious, says, “Yes, and remember you are more than welcome to come with me anytime you’d like. I would love to show you the island, and so many other things.”

  Gabriel makes a noise like a growl and says, “I am sure you would, but it seems Fallon will be too busy with my mother for any adventures with you, old friend.”

  I find his response to Carlos’ invitation to me odd, especially since he has no clue what Catherine might or might not have planned for me.

  Catherine tells him, “I don’t know, Gabriel. We might have time in our schedule to allow for a short trip with Carlos. That is, if I am invited to tag along?”

  Carlos quickly answers, “Always, Catherine. I wouldn’t think of not having you come with Fallon. Please, anytime. I can always adjust my schedule for Fallon and you.”

  “Lovely, Carlos. See, Fallon, there are still true gentlemen out in the world.”

  “I think I would enjoy that, if Catherine can seem to fit it in. I have the perfect bikini that needs a beach,” I tease.

  Kissing my hand, Carlos leans in and says, “I would buy all the beaches in the world just to see you in nothing more than a bikini.”

  “Okay, Carlos, don’t get carried away,” Fredrick tells him while Gabriel looks at the floor.

  Catherine laughs out and says, “That’s enough, gentlemen. I believe Frederick and I were talking about him investing in our newest casino project.”

  “Catherine, please, I don’t think right now is the perfect time for business. It’s a birthday party, after all,” Frederick tells her.

  I notice how Catherine isn’t happy with Frederick not wanting to discuss business, so I ask, “Oh, please. Tell me all about it. I don’t mind a little business talk.”

  Frederick proceeds to tell me Catherine would like for him to invest a small amount of money to purchase some land for a new casino in England.

  “That sounds marvelous! I do so hope you invest. What a great idea for you to be put in on the project from the ground up. It’s so exciting. The casino they have here is so grand. I’m sure to love the new one just as much.”

  “Do you like casinos, Fallon?” Frederick asks.

  “Yes, I love Catherine’s. The detail she put into the one here attracts so many women. You can tell a woman’s hand was involved in it. Do you know most casinos put women off? Most think it’s all
about the men, but when I played poker in her casino, I felt like I belonged, too. Women should flock in droves to a casino like that in England, don’t you think, Frederick?”

  Frederick ponders what I said, then says, “Well, now I think I just might. I never thought about it quite like you put it, but you’re right. Now, if you agree to come with me as my escort to the horse race this week, I am sure to sign on the dotted line.”

  Acting coy, I ask, “Frederick, are you trying to blackmail me?”

  “I play just a little dirty. How about it, Catherine? Does Ms. Fallon have time to come with me this week, then later we can put the finishing touches on our deal?”

  I look over to Catherine, and I can see she is very pleased.

  “Yes, Frederick, I think we can manage that, since we were already going to the races. I warn you, Frederick, Fallon is on my watch, and you will act like a gentleman.”

  “Of course, Catherine.”

  Catherine’s attention has turned from Frederick, and she yells out, “Boys!”

  Two very handsome and striking men walk up. One is built like a beast and the other is not quite as large, but they are both equally impressive.

  “Hello, Mother.”

  They both kiss her cheek, then turn to me to be introduced.

  “Fallon, these are the rest of my sons, Zander and my youngest, Liam. Boys, this is my ward, Fallon.”

  They begin to roam me with their eyes from head to toe; I feel like I’m on display just for their pleasure.

  “Mother, you didn’t tell us about your new house guest,” Zander says. “Odd, don’t you think?”

  “Nonsense, boys. I recently decided to invite Fallon here. She’ll be staying with me. After all, I do get lonely in this large house, and I enjoy her company; she’s becoming like a daughter to me.”

  “Well, if you’re lonely, Mother, I will be glad to stay with you, too, for a while,” Liam says.

  “Me, too,” Zander counters.

  Laughing out loud, Catherine tells them, “If I knew all it took was a beautiful girl to get you all home with me, I’d have every room filled with them.”