Emily's POV
"I don't think that makes sense to me." Tammy quipped. "That's why it's MASKED! You can wear whatever and be comfortable in it. I literally made so much research, so much detail that went into this dress. I wanted you to stand out!" Her voice was already breaking, so Freda put a hand on her shoulder and patted her back.
"I'll take it from here." Freda said softly to her. I hated to be a killjoy, the dress was magnificent. I'd given it just one glance, and I had to tear my gaze away and stare at the floor in front of me. I didn't want to consider it.
I didn't want to feel like a princess, or a Luna, or a dignitary. I wanted to be me, Emily, ordinary me.
"Can we talk?" Freda asked me.
"No." I replied. I didn't want to talk.
I haven't talked about it, I don't talk about it, I wouldn't talk about it.
"Sometimes, I hear you sniff in your office. I act like I don't see that your eyes are swollen and red sometimes. Last Tuesday, I ignored the paper cut on your thighs while I helped you with your heels. I ignored this. Because I knew I wanted to be there for you, without embarrassing you. You're my boss, first and foremost, but you treat me more than just an employee. You treat me like I'm your younger sister, please let me take you as my elder sister." Freda's voice was soft, but steady.
I kept mute.
I didn't have anything to say. She was right, everything she said.
"Why?" I asked. "Why did you ignore it? Is that what you people laugh so loud about when you are together?" I asked. If she's noticed, I don't know how many more people have.
"No. No, we would never do that. Everyone cares about you. I hate to say this, but Frank from HR is the one who always makes sure you have tissues, so you never have to worry about how to wipe your face when you're done. Grace, the intern, puts her ears to your door every single time before we send a client up." She said,
Freda just added embarrassment to my list of emotions.
"You're a very great person, and we enjoy working with you. But you're sad, Emily, you're undeniably sad. And everyone wants for that to change." She said,
I let the tears stream out freely. There's nothing to hide anymore.
The hole in my heart which I'd struggled to fill with two college degrees, one night stands, a booming business, cars and a house, three dogs, and occasional charity, apparently hasn't healed. And might never.
"I'm sorry." I said to Freda.
"That's not what we want. No one wants that. We just want you to be happy. And I'm not supposed to say this either, but the team planned your ride to the hall, and it's extravagant." She chuckled while talking, making me laugh through my sobs too.
I looked over at Tamara, who had the sullen look of a drenched cat.
"I'll take the dress." I said.
Her eyes shifted from melancholically looking at the dress to me.
"I said I'd take it." I repeated myself.
Tears started streaking down her face again. This time, happy tears.
I hugged Freda, and only tore away when her phone buzzed.
While she went outside to receive the call, an overly excited Tamara and I did fittings.
"Can I see the mask?" I asked her, after she got me into the gown. It's the silkiest, sweetest shade of red I ever saw. As smooth as sin. It flowed like it had no end, and sat a little too well on me.
It had a corset, which accentuated my hips a lot. I couldn't believe that I was staring at myself.
I ran my hands over the dress, like an excited little girl. They kept sliding down and left the dress without a crease.
The dress left my shoulder bare, but had some stones in the neckline, stones that dazzled brightly.
"You look amazing." Freda said, dumbstruck as she walked to meet me.
"Thank you." I blushed.
"You look like a bride, a bride from hell." She added.
I could take that. I'd rather be a bride from hell, than anyone's bride, ever again.
"Where's Tammy?" She asked.
"She went to get my masks and gloves." I replied to Freda.
"Tada!" Tammy's voice cut into our admiration of the dress, and she held the gloves in her hand. A sweet looking young man held the mask.
"What?!" I gasped when I saw it.
The mask was scary. Like something worn by the Goddess of Seduction, or something.
It was a lot, intimidating.
"I doubt anyone would walk up to me in this." I said, apprehensive of the whole fit.
"It's a masked ball, it's not about you, it's about what you're wearing." Tammy answered, taking the mask of his hands.
"Or are you just trying to sell you?" I looked at her with the corner of my eye.
"Both of us." She beamed exposing her multicolour brace rubbers
She put the mask on my face, and wore the hand gloves. I could confidently say that I looked like a she-devil, and really, I loved it.
"This is amazing." Freda said. She's the only one who still has words. Everyone else starred on, unashamedly as I admired myself. I felt like the star of a show.
Since Tammy let my hair flow under the mask, I gave it a good flip, like I was in front of a glambot. Everyone, literally everyone clapped. I turned back to realise that they'd been watching me from. Almost all four floors.
"Don't be shy now." Freda giggled. "It's good to see you happy."
"What are you going to wear?" I asked her, suddenly realising that we hadn't planned that out yet.
"I'm your PA. I can go like this." She said, clutching her purse.
"No way in hell!" I said, putting my foot down. "Can you whip something up for her." I asked Tammy, pleading with my eyes.
"Of course. How would you want it to be?" She faced Freda. "And how long do you have till the ball?"
"It starts by eight." She replied. "Red carpet is seven."
"We'll get you done before six then. It's quite a distance from here, about thirty minutes." Tammy said.
"Make it an hour. We're using an elaborate vehicle." Freda replied hushedly.
I turned back immediately to look at her. What the hell were they planning?
She gave me a guilty smile. "Your shoes and the make-up artist will arrive soon. You don't have to change out of your dress. Tammy has a room you could chill in."