Reckless Night in Rio

“Sorry, girls,” he said. “We already have an appointment.”

“Mr. Santos,” an older woman said in English behind them. “Welcome.” She stepped forward with assurance, her red suit a perfect match to her short, sleekly coiffed gray hair. “I am ready to be of assistance.”

“This is Mrs. Tavares,” Gabriel told Laura. His hand tightened around hers as he turned back to the other woman. “And this is the girl I told you about. Laura Parker.”

“Certainly, sir.” Mrs. Tavares came closer. Gabriel stepped back, and Laura found herself standing alone, bereft of his strength, beneath the older woman’s scrutiny. She examined a long tendril of Laura’s mousy brown hair, then nodded. “Very fine material to work with, sir.”

“Dress her for the beach.”

“Which beach?”

“A pool party at a luxurious mansion on the Costa do Sul. It will be attended by famous beauties and rich men. Make her shine above the rest.”

Still staring at Laura, the older woman stroked her chin thoughtfully. “How obvious do you wish her beauty to be?”

“Completely,” he said.

“It will require help from a salon.”

“As you wish.”

The woman pulled the black-rimmed glasses off Laura’s face.

“Hey!” Laura protested.

“And an optometrist.”

Gabriel smiled. “I leave her in your hands.”

Laura’s cheeks were hot. The perfectly coiffed, elegant woman continued to walk around her, looking her up and down in the tight black dress, as if she were a handyman and Laura were a sad, decrepit old house in need of a complete remodel.

“This isn’t going to work,” Laura said, fidgeting uncomfortably. “I think you should go to the pool party without me. I’ll just go to the Fantasy Ball later.”

“You go to the Fantasia tonight?” Mrs. Tavares gasped. “The Baile de Gala?”

“Yes, and she needs a ball gown,” Gabriel said. “Casual clothes as well. But she must be ready for the party in two hours.”

Mrs. Tavares froze. “So little time?”

“Desculpa.”

The woman tilted her head, considering Laura. “It will not be cheap. Or easy.”

“Cost does not matter. Just results. Satisfy my requirements and you’ll be generously rewarded.”

The older woman’s expression didn’t change, but Laura saw her sudden stillness. Looking at Gabriel, she gave a slow, respectful nod. “It will be done, senhor, as you wish.”

“My driver will pick her up in two hours.”

With a clap of her hands, Mrs. Tavares turned and started barking out orders to the young shopgirls in Portuguese. With a second clap of her hands she scattered them.

“Tchau,” Gabriel said to Laura, kissing her on both cheeks before he turned away.

He was abandoning her to face the sharks alone? Laura gasped, “You can’t leave!”

“Missing me already?”

“Hardly!” she retorted witheringly, even as she looked around her nervously.