Page 2 of Three Irish Kings

“Don’t tease me, sweetheart,” she croons, and I laugh.

I haven’t been on a real date in three years. I blanch at the idea of that. But this date right here, I have no problem with.

“Seriously. We have to go."

“Good thing I dressed to impress.”

She’s wearing a peach-colored sparkly dress that leaves little to the imagination, dragging along the floor behind her. The fabric looks like silk.

I wince. “I haven’t been shopping in a while. I’m really going to have to dig deep for an outfit.”

“Surely, your closet isn’t all that terrible.” She walks into my room without asking and I shake my head, smiling.

This is so Colleen.

She looks at me when I follow her in and holds out two options: a red, fiery dress with a plunging necklineandbackline, and a simple black number with some low heels.

Lifting them both alternately, she smirks. “So, what mood are you in?”

I bite my bottom lip, looking at each in turn.

The black one is safe, the little black dress that can save me any time. You can never go wrong with that one.

But this gala, is this really how I want to do it? Do I want to play it safe?

Do I ever?

I grab the red dress and put it on, getting it zipped up.

Colleen proceeds to do my hair and makeup, and I let her do whatever she wants. She has been around these people. Rubbed elbows with the greats.

If tonight is to be successful, I have to listen to her, follow her lead.

When I look in the mirror, I barely recognize myself.

I look like a movie star. Or... a debutante, I suppose, like I’m going to be pretending to be. An heiress, even, to some paper company. Or a box company. Or an investment boutique. I don’t know. I’m going to wing it.

Wing it withresearch, obviously.

“Have you seen the guest list? Everyone’s coming.”

Colleen finishes curling the ends of my chestnut hair.

“The guest list isn’t always accurate. Gotta remember plus ones.” She smirks.

I nod. “The more, the better. I want to mingle, get all the juice.”

“It’s the perfect scoop. Not just good.”

“What makes it perfect?” On top of being snarky, Colleen is also sometimes cryptic, but I’m hoping that she tells me what’s going on.

“Just trust me. You’ll get more than you bargained for. Now, let’s go, our ride is here.”

She’s gotten us a limo, and I sip champagne on the way there, feeling almost like a Disney princess. Or maybe some evil villain, after all, my intentions are not of the charitable type.

Besides, every princess needs a prince, and well, I have none.

And the way things are going in my life, if I don’t land this, villain is the way to go for me.