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“I think that I’m going to be headline news tomorrow for all the right reasons.” Alex smiled. “You look phenomenal. Not that I doubted you would, because you are already a beautiful woman.”

Morgan blushed at the compliment. Her day job was scrubs, filth, blood. Hair scraped out of the way, no make-up unless you counted her pigmented lip balm. She hadn’t dressed up to go out for months, but even then, it was nothing like this. She felt like a princess.

“I need to do your hair,” Gert said firmly, breaking up the adoration. “We have just under half of an hour.” She shook her head, not impressed with the time limitations. “And this is a lot to work with,” she said, eyeing up the curls.

Spell broken, Morgan bowed her head. “Thank you, Nancy.”

“You’re welcome.” She turned to Alex. “Now, shall we touch you up?”

Alex’s eyes followed Morgan out of the room. “If we must,” she finally answered, sitting down on the chair.

Nancy went to work.

Twenty minutes later and Alex was sitting on the couch, eyes closed as she went through a calming routine she’d started years ago. It consisted of breathing techniques, mantras and thoughts that allowed her mind to calm and clear. She heard the sound of the door opening, but by the time she opened her eyes to see, all she caught of Morgan was a blur of blue robe as she slipped into her room.

Nancy and Gert finished packing up their things and waved a quick goodbye and a “good luck” shouted over their shoulders as they left the suite, and Alex enjoyed the silence.

Opening her eyes at the “click” sound of the door moments later, Alex had to remind herself to breathe. The vision that stood in the doorway was just spectacular. She pushed herself up from her seat and took a step forward, stopping herself in order to stare at Morgan again.

She’d seen the dress earlier, even seen Morgan in it, but this, this was different. Her hair piled high up on her head, the long neck, bare shoulders.

Stunning.

Add to that the make-up, the shoes, and it all became like a fairytale, but mostly there was a confidence. Morgan looked taller; chin up, eyes sparkling as she smiled and laughed nervously.

“You look like you’ve never seen me before.”

“I haven’t, not this version anyway,” Alex answered. “And I’m a little annoyed, if I’m honest.” She smiled when Morgan looked confused. “Because I have to attend a concert when I’d much rather be taking you somewhere deserving of the effort.”

Morgan blushed. “Oh…Well, I think I’m quite happy to be attending the concert on the arm of a world-famous pianist who’s about to perform.”

“Turn around, let me see all of you.”

Morgan laughed. “Really?”

Alex just twirled her fingers. So, Morgan did as she was asked, stopping when she had her back to Alex and glanced over her shoulder at her. “Do I pass?”

“You’re incredible,” Alex said, stepping forward, a finger trailing the line of the shoulder blade.

“If you keep touching me like that, I won’t be in any fit state to attend anything with you tonight.”

The apartment door opened, and in came the whirlwind that was Francine. Which, Alex considered, was probably a good thing, because she was sorely tempted to just ignore the show. She stepped back and away from the temptation.

“Come on, let’s go—” Francine clapped her hands excitedly before she stopped in her tracks and stared at Morgan. “Okay, that’s more than…wow.” She shook herself and checked her watch. “I need you both downstairs in the car in one minute, and then I need to prepare for the headlines this...” she waved her hand around to acknowledge Morgan, “is going to cause.”

“Headlines?” Morgan asked. That was the second time it had been mentioned.

“Honey, if you think you’re turning up to an event on the arm of Sasha looking like that and the pap ain’t gonna print your picture and want to know everything about you, well, I don’t know what to say to you.”

She hadn’t considered that the press would be interested in her. Naïve of course, but she’d assumed they’d write about Alex.

“It’ll be fine. I’ll deal with it.” Francine turned to Alex before Morgan could get a word in. “Ready?”

“Just give me a minute,” Alex said.

Francine stood there a moment before realising she was supposed to leave.

“Of course, pep talk time, right!”