“Oh my goodness, Lola! That is incredible!” Arabel sang.
“What? That is amazing!” Faith added.
Corey gave a proud smile, as if he’d known this news for a while now.
“I’m so happy for you, Lola!” I exclaimed. No, really, I was. Lola was mentioning the gala to me more and more every time I saw her, and I knew about her getting the Green Garden Hall. I saw an email pop up on her phone from the events coordinator there when we were baking vegan raisin and walnut cookies last week.
“Thank you, ladies. Of course the event will still be in September. If you know about the Green Garden Hall, you’ll know it’s a beautiful venue, which will make for a lovely night. I’ve been talking to the event planner about the vision I have as far as decorations. Expect lots of fairy lights and drapery and candles. With the greenery the venue has on the walls, it will all come together. So, right now I am officially inviting you three to the event.”
I almost choked on my water.
“Oh wow!” Faith said a little too loudly.
“Wait, Lola, are you serious?” I gasped.
Lola gave me a sure nod. “Of course I am, Ivy. I want you there. You’ve been so good to me, and I know you’d have a great time. Plus, you’ll be working for me soon, so you’re pretty much obligated to go now.”
Pretending to be surprised was easy, but I knew Lola would eventually invite me to the gala. I didn’t think the official invite would happen until after I started working for her, but knowing now was just as good. I was in. Really in. No more doubts about it.
“You should be so honored, Ivy,” Arabel said to me as dessert was brought out. “I mean, getting an invite to this gala requires a lot of leg-pulling and money, and yet you get invited by the queen herself. That’s a huge honor. Lola sees something in you.”
I gave her a sweet smile. “Thanks, Arabel.”
One of the men gave me another refill of wine. This was my fourth drink, including the champagne. Everyone else was downing theirs drinks like water, cheery and jubilant. I couldn’t keep up . . . but I knew I could use not keeping up to my advantage tonight.
Things carried on with lots of excitement as we transitioned from the dining room to one of the sitting rooms with dim lighting. Lola discussed her big ideas and plans for the gala, and even started talking about the dress she was going to have custom-made for herself. As she did, the drinks continued, glasses filled to the rim, and Arabel and Faith became giggly, while Lola became downright sloppy.
She hugged Corey around the neck too tightly, clung to him like a baby monkey. She kissed him too much on the face and neck, and through it all, he seemed to be made uncomfortable by her actions. He was a man who loved his affection in private. Even I could see that.
“Well, tonight was amazing, but if I don’t get my ass home and to my bed soon, I might just pass out on this chair,” Arabel broadcasted.
Arabel’s remark wasn’t the least bit funny, but I broke out in a laugh, and everyone looked my way. Faith and Arabel decided to ignore my outburst, but Lola and Corey seemed surprised by it. I was pretending to be drunk. I had to let it be known.
The couple bid their friends farewell and Arabel gave me a hug and told me goodbye. Faith didn’t even come near me. I noticed she hadn’t said another word to me after what happened in the kitchen. Lola must have set her straight, but I knew Faith would never apologize to me. Not to someone she thought was beneath her.
When the chatty duo was gone, Lola and Corey turned to me in the corridor.
“You okay to drive, Ivy?” Corey asked, concern etched on his forehead.
“Oh—yes, I’m great. Well, actually, I’m a little fuzzy, but I’m fine. I can catch an Uber and come back for my car in the morning.”
“What? Hell no! Are you kidding?” Lola’s voice was too loud, and it made my head throb. “You can stay the night here or stick around until you sober up. I’m not letting you go out alone with drinks in you. Not in Miami. No ma’am.”
I bit back a grin, pretending I didn’t know what to say, or how to react.
“If you aren’t comfortable staying, I can have Felix drop you off,” Corey offered quickly. “He drives for us on call when we need him.”
“No, absolutely not.” Lola took me by the hand. “Ivy, please stay here until you’re okay. I would hate for something to happen to you. We drank a lot tonight. Best thing you can do is sleep it off. Besides, we have plenty of space. You wouldn’t be in anybody’s way.”