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The Audrey Taylor Series part 3
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...
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...
