Chapter 5 - Emily

EMILY

Emily sat in front of the large mirror, the warm lights of the beauty salon gently illuminating her face. It was a strange feeling to get so much attention - just for a single appointment. She hadn't expected this day, which had almost ended in a disastrous visit to the gym, to suddenly turn into a real pampering session. Although the rush in between had stressed her out quite a bit. But now that the basic program was over and only one woman was taking care of her, she could finally relax.

As the makeup artist finished putting the finishing touches on Emily's makeup, she leaned back and breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at herself in the mirror. Was this really her? Her skin looked flawless, the subtle glow on her cheekbones made her face positively radiant, as if she were glowing from within. Her gray-blue eyes seemed larger and brighter, framed by long, curved lashes that fluttered like butterfly wings when she blinked. She felt... different. Beautiful. And it was a feeling she wasn't used to. As an accountant, she had to be familiar with numbers, and looking pretty was not important. Of course, she dressed neatly, even chic, and applied lipgloss when needed – never more and never make-up. But what had happened to her here was far beyond anything she had tried before.

"Ready for your hair?" The stylist's friendly voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

Emily nodded and smiled slightly embarrassed. Her blonde hair, which she usually wore in a tight ponytail so as not to be disturbed during training, now hung loosely over her shoulders. The stylist took one strand at a time, running her fingers through Emily's hair and beginning to shape it with the precision of an artist.

"We're going to do something elegant but not too severe to go with your look," she explained, her fingers moving quickly. "You want to look natural, but stylish."

Emily nodded again. Natural and stylish? That sounded good. Especially if you were still in a tracksuit. The stylist conjured up a loose updo that somehow looked both effortless and sophisticated. A few strands were deliberately left loose to soften the frame of her face, while the rest were artfully pulled back - as if Emily had just decided on the spur of the moment to look irresistible.

"Perfect," the stylist said with satisfaction as she placed the last pin in place. Emily couldn't help but look at herself again in the mirror. Her hair had a lightness it had never had before, and the style gave her a touch of elegance without making her look overdone.

"One last touch..." The stylist picked up a small bottle of perfume. "Something fresh and light. Nothing overpowering, but enough to add a touch of luxury."

She sprayed the scent discreetly into the air, and the fine droplets enveloped Emily like an invisible veil. The scent was like a promise - lightly floral, with a hint of citrus and something she couldn't quite define, but which immediately brought to mind endless summer evenings and stylish cocktails.

Emily took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. For that one special moment, she forgot the sweat suit, the humiliation of working out, the commotion of the busy mall, and the nervousness of meeting a man who had more money than she could ever imagine - and who happened to be her boss.

"Done," the stylist said in a satisfied sounding voice, stepping back to take in the full effect. "You look stunning."

Emily opened her eyes and looked back at herself. Stunning? She wasn't sure if she lived up to that word, but she definitely felt... special. As if this moment had changed her. And somehow - even though she didn't consider herself glamorous - she actually felt ready to meet a billionaire, a very special billionaire who was her boss and who had all the women casting covetous glances his way.

She smiled, this time with a self-confidence that seemed strange and yet intoxicating. Maybe it was the soft scent that enveloped her, or the elegant hairstyle, or the perfect makeup - or maybe it was the quiet realization that she could allow herself to feel beautiful. She took a deep breath, stood up and let her eyes glide across the room, looking for Oliver, who she owed this complete makeover to. But was she really grateful? It was still too new, too unfamiliar to really say.

"Emily Saron as hostess," she murmured softly and looked at her reflection, which smiled playfully at her. A tingle ran through her stomach, a mixture of anticipation and excitement that quickened her pulse. It all felt like a little adventure, exciting and yet uncertain. But she couldn't let her nervousness get the better of her. The meeting with Alexander Fitzpatrick was approaching and she had to be mentally prepared. After all, the billionaire was known for his luxurious lifestyle, while projecting a distant arrogance. If you had enough money, you could afford the luxury of arrogance.

She turned and scanned the room for Oliver. At six feet tall, he was certainly not easy to miss. But... where was he? An uncomfortable feeling crept slowly into her stomach and the smile disappeared from her face. He had just been here. Why couldn't she see him anywhere?

A shadow of insecurity gripped her and she crossed her fingers nervously. Had he really just left her there? Or - even worse - had her first impression of him been right? Had this all been a cruel prank, concocted by her colleagues, who probably meant it as a joke and had no idea what they were causing? Her heart began to beat faster, her fingers grew cold. This couldn't be true!

But then she remembered the phone call. No way! She had really been on the phone with the billionaire. It hadn't been a hallucination. She couldn't think of anyone who could imitate Alexander Fitzpatrick's voice so perfectly. This had gone a little too far for a little joke among colleagues.

But if this wasn't an act, then where the hell was Oliver?

Her eyes flicked to the stylist, who was smiling at her as if nothing had happened. Emily felt a cold knot form in her stomach. How on earth was she going to explain that she didn't have any money to pay for all this?