Annihilate Me (21 page)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

After
arriving by limo at Wenn, I went to Blackwell’s offices on the fifty-first
floor, and found her sitting at her desk crunching a mouthful of ice.

“Sorry,”
she said after she swallowed.
 
“Dinner.”

“So
healthy of you.”

“So
smart of me.
 
You should learn.”

I
shook my head at her as she sprang out of her seat and came over to me.
 

“Turn
around,” she said.

I
turned around.

“You
look good.
 
I went through two
sleepless nights thinking that you were in Maine eating deep-fried
everything.
 
All the dresses I
ordered for you were custom made to your previous measurements.
 
Not your post-Maine measurements.
 
I thought for sure you’d come back
fat.
 
I’m telling you, I couldn’t
sleep thinking what you were doing to your body.”

“I
also had a few sleepless nights,” I said.
 
“If we were girlfriends, I’d tell you exactly what was done to my body.”

She
pointed her finger at me.
 
“You’re a
wicked girl, Jennifer Kent.
 
And
wipe that smile off your face—that’s just too much information.
 
I can deal with a lot, but I can’t deal
with that.
 
I told you he’s like a
nephew to me.”
 
She lifted her eyes
to meet mine.
 
“And he also happens
to be ecstatic that you agreed to go with him tonight.”

“Why
wouldn’t I go?
 
With Lisa’s book
finished, I’m essentially free.
 
He’s my employer.
 
Of course
I’d go with him.”

She
sat on the edge of her desk.
 
“What’s upsetting you?”

“You
know what’s upsetting me.”

“Some
things Alex just needs to deal with on his own.”

“I
understand that.”

“No.
 
I don’t think you do.”

“There
were guards there.
 
Naturally, I’m
worried about him.”

“I
understand that.
 
But Alex is an
adult, and he’ll take care of what’s preoccupying him.
 
Look.
 
If you’re going to be in a relationship
with him, you’re going to need to give him time to acclimate and be patient
with him along the way, just as he is being patient with you.
 
In a way, this also is new to him.
 
It’s been four years since Diana’s
death.
 
If you think you’re the only
one taking a risk with your heart, I’m here to tell you that’s not the
case.
 
He also is.
 
You’re not alone in this, so stop
behaving as if you are.
 
Don’t
forget that.”

“Sometimes,
I wish I had your perspective on life.”

“That
will never happen.”

I
rolled my eyes.
 

“But
if I’m being completely honest?
 
Sometimes, I wish I had your looks.
 
But we can’t have it all, now can we?”

“Probably
not.”

“That’s
the wisest thing that’s come out of your trap since you got here.”

“Can
we go and look at the dresses?” I asked, wanting to change the subject.
 
“I’m dying to see what you’ve been up
to.”

“You
are
going to die.
 
The sheer art of couture doesn’t even
come close to describing what I’ve had tailored for you.
 
Come this way.
 
Into your changing room.
 
It’s all there, including the shoes.”

I
followed her into the conference room we used as a makeshift dressing and
makeup room.
 

“Is
this birthday party a high-end affair?”

“High
end?
 
You have no idea how high
end.
 
Everyone will be there, and by
that, I mean anyone who matters in New York at this very moment.
 
To Henri, that number comes down to just
one hundred people, which means he has snubbed and pissed off thousands of
others.
 
Not that he cares.
 
His guests were invited to bring one guest
each.
 
So, expect a crowd of two
hundred, half of which you’ll know on sight because of that business mind of
yours.
 
To date, this will be, by
far, the most influential crowd you’ll interact with.
 
You’ll need to be quick.
 
Potential deals will be everywhere
tonight, particularly the one he wants to make with Dufort.
 
Alex is really going to be leaning on
you.
 
Not only to help him with
Dufort, but also to think fast on your feet if you see a potential relationship
for Wenn with someone else on that rooftop.”

“Rooftop?”

“The
party is being thrown on the top of Dufort’s building on Fifth.
 
He has the full-floor penthouse, and,
since he owns the building, he also owns the rooftop.
 
And just wait until you see that
rooftop.
 
It’s been turned into one
of the most glorious gardens in the city.
 
There will be flowers and foliage everywhere.
 
Dramatic lighting.
 
Enviable views of the city.
 
Intoxicating.”

“Now
I’m excited.”

“The
dresses and the shoes should excite you.”

“They
do.
 
And so does the idea of that
rooftop.
 
But none of it excites me
as much as making deals on the fly.
 
That’s the life I’ve always wanted.
 
I want to leave now.”

“Obviously,
you’ll have to wait.”
 
She plucked a
dress from the rack beside her and held it up to me.
 
“Here.
 
I think it’s this one.”

It
was a simple yet elegant black dress with beautiful lines but no frills.
 
It was nothing like the
Gatsby
dress.
 
No sparkle.
 
Very little
glamour.
 
Nothing about it drew
attention to itself, with the possible exception of the sexy, plunging neckline.

“Why
so plain?” I asked.

She
looked affronted.
 
“Plain?
 
It’s not plain.
 
It’s understated.”

“Then
why so understated?”

“Because
tonight, you’re a businesswoman.
 
A
successful one.
 
Your hair with be
done up in a loose chignon, and your makeup with be subtle, save for the lip,
which will be bright red because you do, after all, want to receive some
attention.
 
The only jewelry you’ll
wear are these.”
 

She
opened two boxes for me from Tiffany.
 
In one was a pair of large diamond studs.
 
In the other was a lovely tennis
bracelet.
 
Both had the sort of
brilliant stones that would suggest I’d achieved a large measure of
success.
 
But with nothing at my
neck or on my fingers, I’d look less like someone festooned for Alex, and more
like the savvy businesswoman I’d always wanted to become.

“You’re
a genius,” I said.

“You
think I don’t know that?
 
Here, try
it on.
 
Bernie
sera
ici dans un instant
.
”

“How
was that?”

“Bernie
will be here in a moment.
 
Didn’t
you learn French in school?
 
Jesus.
 
Get undressed.
 
Come on.
 
I’ve got to shovel you into a pair of
Spanx.
 
I can only hope the ice I
had for dinner will give me the necessary strength to do that job.”

*
 
*
 
*
 

Later,
when Bernie was finished, he stepped away from me.
 
I looked in the mirror and smiled at
what I saw, and then I saw him and Blackwell standing behind me.
 
Blackwell nodded, and I stood.
 

“What
do you think?” I asked.

“Perfection,”
Bernie said.
 
“I love it, Jennifer.”

“Turn
to me,” Blackwell said.
 
“That’s
right.
 
Now, let me see your back.
 
Good.
 
Turn to the side.
 
Now turn back to me.”
 
She brought a hand to her chest.
 
“Well,” she said.
 
“That
is
perfect.
 
She looks lovely.
 
Look what we created, Bernie.
 
Just enough of her tits are bared to
capture the attention of any straight man in the group, but everything else is
concealed so she can work her business magic.
 
Or whatever it is that she does.
 
This is the best yet.
 
Even the gays will love it.
 
What’s most important is that this says
she is serious about her work.
 
This
says she came to play ball without being threatening or emasculating.”

“I
am
here in the room,” I said.
 

“Stop
being so sensitive while we admire you.
 
And look,” Blackwell said to me as she turned to a table behind
her.
 
“I didn’t forget it this time.
 
I have a small army of clutches to match
every dress on that rack.
 
Here you
are.
 
Small and black and made in
the same fabric as your dress.
 
And
don’t think I didn’t have to hustle for that to happen, because I did.
 
But it’s all worth it.
 
You’re chic in your couture.
 
I have to say, doing this is one of the
best parts of my day when it happens.
 
I love it.”

“You’re
a fashionista,” Bernie said to her.

“I
can feel the tug of that calling—it’s been there since I was a child when
I eschewed that awful Sears department store my mother favored for the
Bloomingdales that was just down the street.”

“How
did you ever cope?” asked Bernie.

“It
was terrible, but I try not to analyze it.
 
It’ll only make me hate my mother more.”

“You
have an eye that few can match.”

“It’s
been said before, but who am I to judge my own work?”

“A
true artist would.”

“Do
you think?”

“I
know.
 
I’ve witnessed you in
action.
 
I’ve seen what you can do.”

“
Mon
dieu.
 
C'est
mon destin
.”

“Say
moan what?” I asked.

“It’s
my destiny, Jennifer.
 
You really need
to study French.
 
That’s twice
tonight that you didn’t understand the simplest of words.
 
And you’re wearing Dior, for God’s sake,
who happens to have been French.
 
God!”

I
flashed my eyes at Bernie.
 
“
J'aime
mes cheveux
,” I said,
patting my hair.
 
“
Vous
êtes un artiste.
 
Un génie.
 
Merci pour tout ce que vous avez fait
.
”
 

I
turned to Blackwell, whose mouth was agape.
 
“It’s nearly eight,” I said
lightly.
 
“I should go.
 
Alex will be waiting.
 
Are we ready?”

“You’re
a trickster, Jennifer Kent.”

“First
I’m wicked.
 
Now I’m a trickster.”

“I
mean it.”

“
Très
bien.
 
Allons
.”

*
 
*
 
*
 

At
the elevator, Blackwell gave me her usual advice before sending me off.
 
It was something I’d grown accustomed
to, and I appreciated it because she always tended to leave me with something
to think about.