Natasha
I look nervously at myself in the wardrobe door mirror. I look like Frankenstein’s version of a medic: half hooker, half nurse. We are going with Adrian to a fancy dress ball for Nicholas Anastas’s charity tonight. Joshua hates fancy dress with a passion but I have promised to wear a naughty nurse outfit to sweeten the deal. I have a skintight white short nurse’s tunic on that has a zipper down the length of the front of it with a little pointy collar. The girls are standing to attention in the boostiest bra I could find, I have high sheer-white stockings that come above my knee with a little red satin bow at the top and I am wearing white patent sky-high stiletto shoes that are without a doubt the most uncomfortable shoes known to man. I need to bring Mr Stanton out of his shell at all costs. All this softly, softly quiet business at my mother’s house this week is about to drive me insane. I love the gentle love making but now I just need to be taken hard. My hair is out and teased in a Bridget Bardot do and I have the full cat makeup on. Let’s do this. I walk into the lounge room and the girls both turn to look at me. Bridget is taking a large scull of her drink and chokes as her eyes find me.
“Holy shit,” she snaps. “Are you trying to give him a heart attack?”
I smile and nod as Abbie hands me my wine. Abbie’s eyes scan up and down as she nods. “Now that’s what I’m talking about, she coos.
She points her wine glass at Bridget. “Why didn’t you get us outfits like that. We look like shit.”
Bridget looks down at herself. “I think we look ok.” She shrugs her shoulders.
“We look like men,” Abbie snaps. “This outfit is totally sexless.”
I giggle as I look at the two of them dressed in their doctor’s coats and pants. It’s a government services fancy dress, you have to dress in something from a service.
“I didn’t see you at the fancy dress shop, you ungrateful witch. I got the best that was there,” Bridget frowns.
I laugh out loud. “I like the outfits Didge, they are very …” I smirk as I try and think of the right analogy. “Medicinal.”
“Medicinal,” Abbie snaps. “That will do me. I don’t want to look medicinal. I want to look hot.”
Bridget rolls her eyes. “Blah, blah. Abbie, you would look hot in a garbage bag. Who are you kidding?” I smile, thank frigging god I picked my own outfit.
We arrive at the function hall an hour later, and our driver pulls into the round circular drop off area. This is a Government Services Fancy Dress Ball, a fundraiser for mental health. It was organized by Nicholas Anastas for his combined charities and this is the fifth year he has held this event. In front of the function centre is a wide sandstone staircase that winds up to the huge double doors into the venue. There are four people lined up on each side of the door on the landing at the top of the stairs welcoming the guests as they walk into the ballroom. Nicholas is the last on the right. He is wearing a full white navy uniform and hat.
“Holy shit, he’s hot,” Abbie purrs as her eyes find him.
“I know—that’s him.”
“Who?” she questions as she frowns.
“He’s the guy who Adrian has been seeing, Nicholas Anastas,” I whisper as we walk up the steps towards the welcoming group.
“You’re joking, that’s him?” she snaps. “He’s totally straight, no way he’s batting for the other team,” she whispers angrily.
“Would you think that Adrian was gay if you didn’t know him?” Bridget whispers.
Abbie frowns. “Maybe.”
“I wouldn’t,” Bridget smirks.
We get to the top of the stairs and Nicholas’s dark eyes find me, he smiles warmly and immediately walks over to us. “Natasha, my dear, thank you for coming.” He kisses my cheek, oh dear he really is quite…
“Hello.” I smile nervously and am suddenly painfully aware that I look like something from the Rocky Horror Picture show. “These are my two friends, Bridget and Abbie.” I hold my hand up to them awkwardly.
He smiles and shakes their hands, and the girls exchange looks.
“Are the boys here yet?” I ask.
He smiles. “Not yet.” He gives me a wink and then moves on to greet the next person in the line behind us.
‘He’s divine,” Bridget murmurs in amazement.
“I know,” I reply as we enter the opulent ballroom. Our eyes immediately look around the space.
“I could turn him,” Abbie smiles.
“Wow,” Bridget whispers as she rolls her eyes at Abbie. “Yeah into a pumpkin.” She giggles.