I step through the door to a cute little French bistro on the Upper East Side and scan the crowd.
“Can I help you?” The hostess asks, but I’ve already spotted my hot date for the morning.
“I’m good, thanks.”
I grin as I sneak up behind the table and whisper, “Hello, sexy.”
Keely jumps, then her face explodes in a huge smile. “Justine!” My best friend leaps up and pulls me into a big hug. “Oh my god, it’s been too long!”
Two months too long. Keely moved to New York from LA in the summer to take over her long-lost father's multi-million dollar company, and it's been hard not seeing her around the office every day. I’ve missed her.
She pulls away and I finally get a good look. She’s gorgeous, put together with a confidence that she never used to possess.
“Don't you look fantastic?” I tease. “All that hot sex agrees with you.”
The old Keely would have blushed, but this new, confident version just winks. “Don't you know it,” she shoots back with a grin.
A waiter rushes over with a menu, and we order enough food to feed an army. “And champagne mimosas too,” I insist. “This is a celebration.”
I turn back to Keely, and clock the glittering diamond on her ring finger for the first time.
“What the fuck?” I gasp. “Why didn’t you say something?”
She giggles. “I wanted to surprise you in person.”
“C’mon,” I order, beckoning. “Let me see that beast of a rock.” She holds out her hand and I whistle my appreciation.
“Vaughn knows what he’s doing,” I grin. “Treating my girl right.”
“I can’t believe I’m this happy,” Keely beams. “I keep expecting to wake up and find it’s all just a dream.”
“You deserve it,” I tell her warmly. “You had a crazy year, and this is the cherry on top. The sixteen carat fuck off cherry,” I add with a laugh.
“You’ll find someone too,” Keely says quickly.
I shrug. “I’m in no rush. After all, with you off the market, someone’s got to keep the men of New York City on their toes.”
“They won’t know what’s hit them,” she laughs, then sneezes.
“You OK?”
“It's just allergies.” Keely waves away my concern. “They’ve been acting up. I’m fine.” She searches through her purse for a tissue, so I dig one out of my massive leather work bag. My hand closes around something smooth and solid instead.
The gift I found waiting back at the apartment when I arrived last night.
Normally, I stay in fancy hotels on business trips. It’s my little indulgence – a way to make days of boring depositions go by quicker with room service and huge soaking tubs. But this trip was so last-minute, Keely offered me the use of one of her corporate rentals, a palatial suite on the Upper East Side of town.
“Did you tell anyone I was staying at the apartment?” I ask, trying to be casual.
“No. I don't think so.” Keely pauses, frowning. “Just Vaughn. And, Cam, too, of course. He dropped the door key off for me. Why? Was there a problem?”
“No problem,” I say quickly. “The place is amazing, thank you so much. I was just wondering…” I pause. “Wait a second. Who's Cam? Don't tell me you have a man on the side already,” I tease.
Keely laughs. “Not even close. Cameron McCullough, he’s my second-in-command at the company. Ooh,” she brightens, “Maybe I could set you up.”
“Is he hot? Rich? Single?” I ask.
“All of the above. But you'd eat him alive,” Keely laughs.
I wink, and reach for my champagne. “Maybe he'd like it.”
The food arrives, and we catch up on all the gossip she’s been missing.
“How's your mom doing?” Keely asks between bites.
“She's great. For her fiftieth birthday, I sent her off on a cruise to Alaska,” I laugh. “She came back with fifty million photos, and a standing Skype date with a certain bachelor in San Diego.”
“Good for her,” Keely grins.
“I’m just happy I get to pay her back, in some way,” I say. “She sacrificed so much to raise us on her own.” One of the best things about my job is getting to treat her like this. My dad took off when my younger sister and I were just kids, and I know how hard my mom worked to keep us all afloat.
“I've been meaning to thank you, by the way,” I change the subject. “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here in New York right now.”
“What do you mean?” Keely looks puzzled.
“Carter is in jail right now because he tried to screw you out of your inheritance,” I explain. “It would have been years before I'd be given lead on a case on my own. But everyone’s so panicked, they put me on the first flight out. This could be my big break,” I add, feeling a surge of excitement. “If I prove I can handle this solo, who knows what else they’ll send my way? I could make partner before I’m thirty.”
“I’m sure you will. You deserve it,” Keely says loyally.
“I just hope I’m prepared.” I pause, feeling a flash of insecurity. “The opposition’s lawyers moved up the schedule. We were expecting them to keep delaying, but suddenly, they want to meet to discuss settlement.”
“What do you think they want?” Keely asks.
“Probably just scare tactics. I bet they heard about Carter, and think they can intimidate me.”
“Then they haven’t met you yet!”
“Amen to that,” I grin, toasting her. “To LA girls taking over the city!”
The morning speeds by, and soon Keely has to get to the office. I insist on picking up the check.
“It’s the least I can do,” I insist, passing the server my credit card before Keely can object.
“Then let me take you for drinks tonight,” Keely offers. “Vaughn is out of town, and it will give us some time to really catch up. We can have a girls’ night out.”
“Perfect,” I grin. “Call me later?”
“Will do.”
Keely heads out, but I have a few minutes to spare, so I order a coffee and linger at the table. I should be going over my case notes one last time, but I can’t resist opening my purse to take out the gift I found at the apartment last night.
The box is about the size of a hardcover book. It’s wrapped in deep purple silk, tied with a gold silk ribbon.
I feel a shiver of excitement.
There’s an envelope tucked inside the ribbon. I slide the card out. Heavy cream paper with swirling calligraphy.
At first, I thought it was a little welcome gift from Keely. Then I opened it, and realized there was no way my best friend sent me this.
I open the card and read the words again.
Welcome to your wildest fantasy.
Are you ready to play?
My heart beats a little faster. I glance around, checking that nobody’s watching me. The people in the restaurant couldn’t care less about my secret invitation, but I still feel an illicit thrill.
I check both sides of the card, but there are no clues about the mysterious sender, so I turn my attention to the gift, nestling inside the paper-thin tissue.
It’s a key. But not like any key I’ve seen before. Old-fashioned, gold, with a delicate chain threaded through the intricate swirls. Inlaid in the gold are hundreds of tiny stones that sparkle in the sunlight.
It can’t be….
I surreptitiously drag the edge against the base of my glass. It leaves a scratch.
No way. These are real diamonds!
My heart races as I carefully place the key back in the box and slide it back into my purse. I can’t believe it. I don’t even want to think how much it’s worth, but it’s got to be more than any jewelry I’ve ever owned.
Who would send me an extravagant gift like that? And what does the invitation mean?
My phone sounds with a beep: the alarm I set earlier to make sure I stay on time. I quickly lay down some bills to cover the coffee and tip, then head back out onto the street. The noise and bustle hits me in a rush, and my excitement over the gift turns into a new surge of anticipation.
New York City, baby!
I can’t help but grin as I join the mass of people walking fast down the crowded sidewalk. Skyscrapers loom over me, and yellow cabs race past. There’s a buzz of energy in the September air that fills me with excitement.
You’re a long way from Chino…
My designer heels tap on the sidewalk as I stride ahead. If only those stuck-up girls from high school could see me now. I spent years busting my ass to get here: juggling two jobs to pay my way through college and law school, and pulling all-nighters to keep up my grades. I worked like a dog, but it’s all worthwhile now. Lead counsel on my first big case, and who knows what might happen if I prove myself and get that win.
I hail a passing cab. Justine Jenkins has arrived, and I’m ready for battle.