Archer stopped making any noise and watched me.
I glanced at my guard. “Did you hear that? He thinks I can’t make him eat it.”
The guard smiled.
“O-okay.” Archer shook his head. “I have names, but just first ones—”
“Get a fork for Archer.”
“No! No! I can. . .I can probably think of the last names.”
“You will, after you eat.” I pointed at the guard by the grill. “Let’s serve him the appetizer.”
“No! No!”
7
Nervous
Layla
I
wore a simple outfit—jeans, sandals, and a white shirt.
During the contract signing, Ali explained that I would be dressed by my maids at Reo’s residence.
This experience represented nothing I’d ever remotely participated in.
Yet, I trusted Reo. He’d romanced me yesterday. When my sister did her best to ruin my day, his men stepped in to save everything. Last night, my purse, keys, and car were back at my apartment before I lay my head down to sleep.
And even more, I counted two thousand dollars in my wallet. I’d only had a hundred dollars in cash.
I’d called Reo, attempting to give it back. He wouldn’t hear of it. Then, he talked to me, telling me more riddles and making me laugh. We ended the call an hour later.
I barely slept. Nervousness hit me.
When I woke up, I was stressed. I read a book to calm me down and then I ran at Whimsy World. I returned to shower and grab a small bite.
Reo’s driver picked me up next.
And now twenty minutes later, we pulled up to a magnificent mansion. All stone and tall glass windows, it was nestled among a huge garden. A massive fountain of marbled angels stood in the front and spilled out crystal blue water from vases.
My two servants—Sara and Yui—waited by the fountain with warm smiles.
The driver parked, left the car, and opened my door.
I stepped out.
Sara and Yui said hello and then rushed me into the mansion.
A butler held the door open. “Are you hungry, Ms. Brown?”
“I’m not. Thank you.” So nervous, I doubted I could keep any food in my stomach.
The butler half-bowed and left.
The maids and I climbed a winding staircase. When we arrived on the third level, they guided me down a long hallway. Then, we entered a big spacious bedroom, full of shoes, gowns, and jewelry.
Yui spoke, “Mr. Bando spent a lot of time in here last night, searching for the perfect items to dress you in.”
I scanned the place. “And what did he settle on?”
Sara pointed to the other side of the room.
I gasped. “This looks like something a woman would go to a ball in.”
They went to the huge black and silver garment and carried it over together. It resembled a kimono, but was more extravagant.
Sara stroked the silk. “This is a junihitoe.”
Walking to it, I drank in the elegant detail of the bird stitched on the side.
“This was the formal court dress noble women wore at the Japanese Imperial Court.” Yui opened the front and displayed several layers of silk robes. The outer robes were cut larger and thinner to reveal the garments underneath. A silver belt was tied around it and made of cordlike fabric.
“Gorgeous.” I walked around it and noticed several feet of long train behind it. I could tell that the sides of the junihitoe would hug my hips and waist. While the rest would fan out behind me.
“We will have to hold the back for you as you walk forward.” Sara got to my side. “We’ve also been instructed not to have you wear anything underneath. No bra or panties.”
Tension filled my shoulders.
Yui pointed to the bathroom. “We are ready to begin.”
Minutes later, they had me in a large porcelain tub that was sunken into the ground. The water smelled of lavender. While they bathed me, they filled me with champagne and chocolate. Sara poured the floral-scented water over my body. Yui massaged my shoulders.
I could get used to this.
When the bath was over, they both dried me. Sara massaged oil into my skin, making the brown color shiny and bright. Yui brushed my hair into a neat bun and placed two long sticks in my hair. She told me they were kanzashi. At the tip of the sticks were silver birds perched on top with tiny emeralds eyes.
Next, Sara put emerald earrings in my ear. They dangled down to my shoulders.
Finally, they both placed the junihitoe on me.
Yui lowered to the ground. “And now your shoes.”
I lifted one leg as she put these special wooden sandals on my feet. They resembled thick flip-flops and had a flat wooden base elevated with two long prongs under it. I would be raised high above the ground. A fabric thong went between my toes to keep the sandal on.
I gazed down at my feet.
Will I be able to walk in these?
I proved that I could seconds later as I adjusted my balance and took a few steps.