The pitter-patter of raindrops hitting the rickety window is like music to my ears. I love the rain, it gives me a comfortable warm feeling. I roll over to check the clock. 12:45 pm it reads.

I sigh.

I slept so long. I wanted to work the case before having to fake smile and princess wave with the Vanderbilt’s. Everything about them felt wrong; the only exception was Ezra. I know I love him but I wasn’t sure if that would be enough.

I stretch and ruffle my hair. It's a frizzy mess as expected. The curls were barely noticeable anymore. The straps of the satin nightgown hang down on my shoulders, barely covering my breasts.
I stare at the window from the edge of the bed. Cars rushed through the rain and people steadily roamed about.
My happiness was short-lived once I saw a limousine pull up, License plate ‘prince$$’. I rolled my eyes as I watched the driver pull out an umbrella and open the door. Two bright yellow Stiletto heels each wearing a diamond anklet.
I moved from the window and walked over to the front door and unlocked it. I stood there overthinking if I should take something for my headache now or later. Was just preparing for what was to come.
I walk over to the kitchen dragging my feet from the carpet into the tiled floor, and a huge yawn escapes. I open the fridge grab a bottle of water and down it. The loud gulping echoed through the mostly empty apartment.

I hear the door open and then slam shut.

“Audie! Wakey wakey! You’re so close to being late to your own engagement party.”

Emily's stilettos click against the tiles. I turn around to find her glaring at me in disgust.

“What in the world happened to your hair?”

I scratch the back of my head.

“It happens…”

“Well I've never seen it like this”

I shrug.

“Not to worry, I already planned to doll you up.”

“Okay well, I didn’t shower yet or brush my teeth.”

“Or do your hair”

I side-eye Emily.

“Mhm, or that…”

“Grab your slippers and let’s go.”

I stretch and yawn again.

“Go? Like in my pajamas?”

“Yes grab your slippers and keys let’s go.”

“Okay… I’ll get my phone too.”

I rush over to my slippers in the bedroom and grab my keys off the dresser. I look around for my phone.

“You won’t need it, Audie. Ezra asked me to hold onto it for you. So you can focus on the party, not work.”

I couldn’t believe Ezra. First the Simone situation now this.

“Really?”

Emily nods with a big smile. Her pink lip gloss shining on her lips and perfect teeth.

“Fine”

“Great, let's go!”

We both exit my apartment and head over to the stairs. Emily’s stilettos clacking against the stairs overshadowed my steps and her babbling. With all her excitement you would’ve thought it was her engagement party. Once we hit the bottom of the stairs I finally tune back in.

“And I got an ice sculpture of you two kissing, it’s perfect! Oh and the-”

“Wait wait hold up a minute!”

I stop right in front of the limousine. The rain overtakes me.

“Ice sculpture?”

Emily stood in front of the building until the driver got out with an umbrella.

“Yes, what's wrong?”

“I didn’t want an ice sculpture Emily… this party seems overwhelming and extravagant for no reason.”

“Don’t be ridiculous… you’re going to be a Vanderbilt.”

I stood there confused and frustrated as the rain came down harder. It made my gown cling to my body. The driver started to stare intensely and Emily noticed.

“Please get in the limo Audie…”

She looks at the driver.

“And YOU fix your eyes to look elsewhere before I explain to my father and brother why I had to fire you on your third day.”

I got into the limo and the driver took another glance before helping Emily into the car.

“Just fresh. No manners.”

She slammed the door and the driver got into the car. He sped off in a hurry without paying much attention to the car alongside us. Emily’s face turned red.

“Hired help I tell you, just awful.”

I rolled my eyes.

This was my future family, my in-laws… what did I get myself into?

Once inside the estate, I was grabbed up by two burly women with short-cut red hair. They took me upstairs into the bathroom and tried to bathe me. I demanded they leave and let me wash myself. After a few minutes of confusing arguing they stood outside and waited. I was pretty sure they weren’t yelling at me in English.
The entire shower all I could think about was becoming a Vanderbilt. I didn’t want to lose myself. I am Audrey Taylor PI, not Audrey Vanderbilt, Ezra Vanderbilt’s wife. Unless you were born a Vanderbilt it seems the women who marry them become nothing more than an addition with no identity. It’s almost like they are an accessory. I have never been one to live my life according to other people. I do things on my own and earn everything I have. However, if I don’t marry Ezra I could risk losing him. I know he loves me and I love him but was it worth this?
That was the longest, most complex shower I ever took. I assume too long because the burly women came back in and cut the water off. One handed me a towel for my hair and body. The other grunted at me. I stepped out of the shower, my wet feet against the marble floor. One of them handed me a toothbrush and toothpaste. The other one watched as I brushed my teeth like she was making sure I knew how.

They directed me into a nearly empty room. It only had a styling chair, a vanity, and what looked like hundreds of different hair products. Most of them are on the floor pouring from a suitcase. A man was standing there holding a blow dryer in one hand and a wide toothcomb in the other.

“Miss Taylor I presume.”

“Yes.”

“Come in. I’m Felix, a friend of Emily’s.”

“Oh.. okay.”

Felix lifts a lock of my wet hair like it was gross.

“Yes she told me about your split ends…”

“My what?” I look at the ends of my hair.

“Sit down please.”

I sit down still staring at the ends of my hair.

“Staring at them won’t fix it sweetie but me I can.”

I nod.

“Don’t worry Emily said you're a curly beauty so we’ll focus on that, Always a plus men love curly hair.”

Felix got to work on my hair. The detangling, drying, combing, and brushing paid off. When he turned me to look into the mirror I was in awe. My hair never looked so healthy.

“Wow! It looks…”

“Fantastic! I know I’m a miracle worker.”

“Yes, yes are.”

I reached out to feel my hair. It was soft, bouncy and shiny. I couldn’t believe it.

“You welcome sweetie. Also congratulations.”

“Oh, thank you.”

The burly women showed up just in time and demanded I come out with just the gesture of their hands. I held onto the towel tightly. I don’t know why they were just in the bathroom with me trying to bathe me, but I held onto it for dear life.
They pointed to another room where a woman sat. She was talking on the phone in another language. She noticed the two women escorting me in and she quickly hung up the phone.

“Miss Taylor, hi. Congratulations! I’m Isabel.”

“Hello.”

I look around the room and see nothing but dresses hung about and shoes neatly stored.

“Sooo you’re going to help me pick a dress.”

She started laughing. I didn’t understand. I didn’t make a joke.

“I’m sorry dear no… I don’t help you do anything. Emily thought you needed fashion help. So I pick out the dress you will wear.”

I raised both my eyebrows and folded my arms.

“That’s what she’s paying me to do.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Okay, how about this. You pick something you like and I’ll see if I agree.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine.”

I look around all some of the dresses and I start to notice they are all cream colored.

“They are all the same color.”

“Yes, Emily decided cream was best for you considering your beautiful chocolate skin.”

I didn’t believe that.

“And why else?”

Isabel laughed.

“Nothing gets past you… she picked cream because that’s the color she picked for the party.”

“That sounds about right.”

“Pick one.”

I glanced over every dress without giving it much thought. I no longer cared about this engagement party. The ring I wore on my finger felt like handcuffs.

“This one.” I tugged at the bottom of the dress and released it.

Isabel sighed.

“Okay look I brought a few other dresses
With a bit more color, want to look at those?”

My mood slightly changed.

“Yes.”

Isabel walked over to the closed wardrobe and opened it.

“Take your pick.”

I instantly laid eyes on this beautiful silk champagne-colored dress. It was not my style but it was gorgeous. The way it hung on the hanger was like it was there on purpose to outshine the others. It had a slit on the right side and had thin diamond straps.

“That one!”

Isabel smiled.

“I don’t know why Emily said you needed fashion help. You have great taste. That’s my favorite too.”

I smiled.

“You have a smaller frame than Emily but I’m pretty sure you will look stunning in it.”

“These are Emily's dresses?”

“I made these for her but she rejected them all.”

“Well, can I keep it?”

“Of course you can, it's yours.”

Isabel hangs the dress up in the bathroom.

“Try it on.”

I hurry into the bathroom and slide in the dress. I feel beautiful.

I quickly open the door to show Isabel.

“So what do you think?”

Isabel is standing near the door with Emily. They both stare in amazement.

“You look like a princess! Ezra is going to want to marry you tonight!”

I start to blush.

Isabel smiles. She walks over to check the dress. She straightens it and flattens the sides.

“Okay, it fits great.”

“Sorry, I tried to stick you with cream. This way you’ll stand out from the rest of us. I mean you are technically the bride anyway.”

Emily walks over to me and stares directly at my lips. It makes me uncomfortable.

“What are you doing?”

She pulls out some lip gloss from the vanity and applies it to my lips.

“Rub it in.”

I rub my lips together.

“Good. Perfect. Pick some shoes and come down, everyone is waiting for you.”

Emily leaves the room, the scent of her perfume still lingering. I pick the shortest pair of heels in the room and try to keep my balance.

“I’m more of a flats girl myself,” said Isabel. She held my arms out to the side to help me maintain balance. I lean a bit backward before she grabs me holding onto me by my waist keeping me upright.

“I can’t do this”
I take several deep breaths before actually panicking. I don’t think Emily owned any flats.

“You can just remember to walk on your toes.”

“You say it as if it was that simple.”

“Let’s practice. Hold onto my arm like you would Ezra and walk but remember to walk toes first. Be confident, it helps.”

I put my arms down from the wingspan position they were in and locked my right arm in Isabel’s. I take another deep breath then lift my right foot and point my toe down first.

“Good”

My first few steps were a bit weird and shaky. I looked like a newborn giraffe taking its first steps. After about ten minutes I got the hang of it without tripping. At least it looked like I wore heels before. I truly didn’t think it was this difficult.

“You’re ready.”

Isabel fixed a few strands of my hair then walked with me to the grand staircase then stood to the side.
I stood at the top staring down at all the unknown faces and my palms began to sweat. Never had this much attention on me before. Everyone was staring at me people were whispering things and I froze in place. Isabel kept whispering for me to walk down, smile and wave but I couldn’t move. My heart was beating too loud I felt it in my throat.
Ezra must’ve noticed and rushed up the stairs and locked arms with me.

“I’m here.”

I look at him in fear but my heart slows down while looking into his eyes. I nod.
We take our first step and I already feel like I might trip and fall. A few more steps and then I start to lean forward, Ezra gently pulls me back. A smirk escapes his lips.

“Don’t laugh… You know I can’t walk in heels.”

“I’m sorry she told me she picked out things that were your taste, not hers.”
Ezra turns to the crowd and smiles brightly.

I say nothing as I’m too focused on not falling. The stairs felt like they went on forever. I really wanted to be over this. I didn’t even think to look up, afraid of embarrassing myself.

“For what it’s worth you look stunning.”

I nervously smile but don’t break away from staring at the steps. After a few more steps we finally reached the floor but I noticed everyone was staring directly at me. The room remained silent from chatter. All you heard was the classical band in the background.
Awkward…
Ezra grabbed the handkerchief from his suit pocket and patted dry my forehead. He gave it to me to wipe my hands.
Mrs. Vanderbilt glared at me across the room like she had daggers for eyes. Ezra started to shake hands with people and introduce me. Everyone went back to talking so loud the music sounded muffled.

“Mr. And Mrs. Armstrong, thank you for coming, This is my fiancé Audrey Taylor.”

“Yes, I know very well who Miss Taylor is. She saved me from a terrible situation.” Said Mr. Armstrong

“Did she?”

Ezra taps me on the shoulder. I look away from his mother and engage in the conversation.

“Love? Do you remember Mr. Armstrong?”

“Oh yes sorry. Hello Mr. Armstrong, how are you?”

“Very well thank you. I didn’t know you were engaged to a Vanderbilt.”

“Oh no, when I helped you we weren’t engaged we were just dating.”

“I see well if I knew I would’ve never paid you so much” he starts chuckling.

I uncomfortably laugh and Ezra smiles. Mrs. Armstrong however didn’t find it funny. She nudged his arm.

“Don’t be rude Tom.”

She turns to me and reaches out to shake my hand. We shake hands but she doesn’t let go.

“Thank you Miss Taylor for what you did for my husband.”

“It’s my job.” We exchanged smiles.

She looks at Ezra still holding my hands.

“What a lucky man you are. She is truly a gift.”

Ezra takes a sip of champagne.

“Yes, she is.”

He stared at me and I knew the look. It was the look he gave me when we first met. He told me it was love at first sight. I didn’t believe in love at first sight because you never truly can love someone deeply as intimately as I love him through sight. You have to know them, hear them speak, take in their scent, sacrifice for them, and forgive them. I truly felt what my parents meant when they said true love sneaks up on you, you can’t force it.

Mr. Vanderbilt was walking over to us but stopped short once a security guard grabbed his arm and whispered in his ear. He turned around and walked out to the backyard. I tried to see why he would go outside in the pouring rain. Who was out there? What was going on?

Ezra was busy making small talk with another family. I had to get away to see what was going on. I turned to the small group accumulating around me and Ezra as he shared the story of how we met and excused myself. Ezra didn’t budge; he was still into telling the story, I don’t think he noticed I left.

I remembered the heels I was wearing and instantly slid out of them. Leaving them in the middle of the ballroom floor. My bare feet hurrying across the cold marble floor. I make it to the garden and look around at nothing but grass trees and rose bushes.

“Mr. Vanderbilt” I called out but nobody responded.

I really wanted to step outside but the rain would ruin my hair and the dress.

I looked around once more. The rain started to calm and I saw a pair of shoes sticking out behind a rose bush. The shoes started shaking and twitching. I didn’t care about the dress or my hair. I ran out towards the shoes. Once I came close I realized it was Mr. Vanderbilt holding his throat. His eyes closed and he stopped moving.

“Oh my god!”

I didn’t hesitate I started doing chest compressions.

“Come on, please don’t die!”

After a few seconds, he woke up and spit out a chunk of … I don’t know what that was. It was not food the way it was falling apart.

Mr. Vanderbilt was still struggling to breathe, he kept pointing to his throat but I didn’t know what he meant. I panicked and hit him as hard as I could on his back. Something else launched from his throat, it was greenish. I didn’t touch either, I just examined them both as closely as I could.

Mrs. Vanderbilt came charging out.

“George! George, what is going on? Is she hurting you?”

She ran right past me to comfort him and I didn’t break eye contact with the things that launched out of his mouth. If only I had gloves.

Mrs. Vanderbilt's screams brought everyone's attention to the garden. I could feel people’s judgemental stares but I was too interested in the situation. Who did this? What happened to the security guard that came out here with Mr. Vanderbilt? Did he do it?

“Ezra! Get your harlot! She hurt your father!”

Ezra came running out. He picked me up off the ground. He gently grabbed me by my shoulders.

“What happened? Are you hurt?”

I shake my head no.

“Of course, she’s not hurt, she hurt your father! Are you listening to me!”

“Audrey wouldn’t do that.”

Mr. Vanderbilt finally spoke after a few minutes of coughing.

“Thank you”

“No problem”

Mrs. Vanderbilt was confused.

“Why are you thanking her!”

“ Josephine… Audrey did not hurt me. She saved my life.”

“What?”

Mrs. Vanderbilt looked at me still in shock but I could also tell she was upset.

“What happened to you?”

Mr. Vanderbilt gasped a little.

“Somebody tried to kill me. They were wearing a mask. Hit me in the back of my head and shoved a cigar and money down my throat.”

Mrs. Vanderbilt gasped in shock.

“Did they say anything?”

“I don’t remember too much right now just that by the end of the week they want all Vanderbilt’s dead.”

Ezra looked at his mother in fear. Emily walked out right as Mr. Vanderbilt said that and shrieked. She fainted to the ground. I roll my eyes. Edward rushed over to pick her up on the ground.
This case just got bigger. I was marrying a Vanderbilt, would that make me a target too? It was time to put everything on hold to work out this case.


© Kiana Tanae