Paradise Lost (Private 9)

I felt a thrill go up my spine. If even Noelle didn't know what was going on, it had to be good.

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"I don't know," Amberly said from the backseat. "But I bet it's good."

Noelle rolled her eyes. I had a feeling she was starting to regret both letting Amberly into Billings and inviting her down to St. Barths. The more time we spent around her, the more she seemed like a yapping, eager-to-please puggle. We got out of the car, and Noelle was about to ring the bell when we saw Tiffany and Taylor through the window, scurrying toward us.

Tiffany was all smiles and excitement as she swung the door wide. "You guys, I just talked to my father, and he wants all of us to come to the shoot on Sunday!"

"Omigod! No way!" Amberly squealed.

Noelle winced, as if the pitch hurt her eardrums. "Really? That's a first," she said, laying her clutch purse on a tall glass table near the door and removing her tiny white shrug.

"Tassos is notoriously private about his magazine shoots," Taylor explained to me.

"This is, like, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a genius at work!" Amberly said, spreading her fingers wide.

"What made him change his mind?" I asked, shedding my denim jacket.

"I begged until he said he'd do it as a Christmas present for me," Tiffany said, tilting her head. "How cool am I?"

"Pretty damn cool," Noelle said, inspiring a pleased smile from Tiffany. She looped her arm through Tiffany's and started toward the living room, where Kiran was waiting. "It's too bad Poppy's not

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here," Taylor lamented. "She would have loved this."

"Still hasn't shown up, huh?" Tiffany asked as we stepped down onto the plush tan carpet in the living room. Everything in the living room was beige--beige walls, overstuffed beige arm chairs, and a painted, tea-colored china cabinet that displayed antique porcelain plates. The only color came from the aqua and blue throw pillows on the couch and the island-themed paintings on the wall. All the furniture had been pushed aside to make room for the enormous runway.

"Poppy does have a fla

ir for drama," Noelle said, hugging Kiran hello.

A foreboding lump formed in my throat, but I did my best to ignore it. If none of her friends were worried, why should I be worried? I resolved not to think about Poppy for the rest of the night. Hopefully, she would be back in her posh hotel suite by tomorrow morning.

Half an hour later, after some cheese, crackers, wine, and small talk--mostly revolving around the fabulous shoot we'd all be witnessing and what a bitch Paige was--we settled into huge suede cushions on the floor around the runway. I sat between Noelle and Taylor and across from Tiffany and Amberly, who seemed to be avoiding talking to me as much as I was avoiding talking to her. Kiran walked out from behind a curtain that had been set up at the foot of the runway and smiled down at us.

"Ladies, you are about to be so glad you know me," she began, clasping her hands together. "Inspired by Reed's serious lack of

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couture for Casino Night, I have called in a few favors to the houses over in Paris and Milan, and ... well... let's just say we're all going to have fresh gowns to wear to the party."

Tiffany and Taylor looked at each other, impressed, and Amberly let out a little squeal. I still didn't know exactly what was going on, but I kept my mouth shut, since I seemed to be in the minority.

"Oooh, Paige, Poppy, and Sienna are gonna be so jealous!" Noelle sang, taking a sip of her red wine. ,

"An added bonus," Kiran agreed, closing her eyes and nodding. "And now, I give you my first ever private runway show, courtesy of Chanel, Dior, Versace, and Dolce and Gabbana."

Kiran stepped down off the runway and over to an iPod docking station, where she touched a button and filled the room with a driving techno beat. Instantly, a model roughly the height of Tony Parker came striding out from behind the curtain wearing a gorgeous black lace gown with a straight neckline and tight bodice. The back flared out into a short train that swished as she strode down the runway. I felt like I'd just stepped into some kind of Hollywood dream. Kiran had flown in gowns for us. And models to model them. And if this dress was any indication, I had totally underestimated Casino Night's level of fancy.

So this was what Kiran's wink had meant at the Ryans' house.

Next up was a stunning rose-colored dress, strapless with a full skirt that had a huge cut up one side. The model was showing serious leg, even as the tulle underneath kept the skirt swishing wide.

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Along the slit on either side were huge silk flowers, the same color as the dress, flowing all the way down to the hem and along the edging.