Chapter Eleven

After the meeting with the lawyer and bank, she needed some time alone, so she had them call for a car. James tried vigilantly to keep her with him or go back to Larkin’s, but she refused. She needed to do this to show herself she wasn’t totally inept.

The car pulled up to one of the best hotels in the city. She paid the man. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Miss.”

Courtney walked into the hotel lobby and looked up at the beautiful chandelier.

“May I help you?”

Courtney looked at the counter, where a woman smiled at her.

“Yes. I want a room at least for one night, please,” Courtney said.

“Does it matter what floor?”

Courtney shook her head. “No. The higher up, the better, though.”

The woman laughed. “How about the top floor? The Presidential Suite has opened up.”

“I don’t need anything that expensive,” Courtney told her.

“I’d charge you for a regular room. The people who were supposed to take it called in the last few minutes, and they have already paid the deposit.”

Courtney’s eyes widened. “Oh, wow. You would do that for me?”

The woman smiled. “It looks like you need a little break.”

Courtney grimaced. “Do I look that bad?”

The woman laughed. “No, you just look like you lost your best friend.”

“Nothing that dramatic, but it has been a hellacious day.”

“Well, then, you definitely deserve it. Here’s your key card.”

Courtney took the sign-in sheet and filled it out. “All I have is a check or cash. Would that be okay?”

“Sure. We usually prefer a credit card, but I’m not going to make you. If you need anything, call down to the desk. By the way, my name is Mandy.”

Courtney smiled. “I’m Courtney. It’s nice to meet you.” Courtney looked around. I see a bunch of shops. Are any of them hairstylists?”

“Yes. It’s the second shop down that hallway. Ask for George. He’s wonderful.”

“I’ll do that. Thank you again for everything.”

Mandy smiled. “It was nice meeting you.”

Courtney walked down the hallway and into a small salon.

“Can I help you?” a young woman asked.

“Yes, Mandy at the desk said I’m supposed to ask for George.”

The woman smiled. “You’re in luck. His appointment was canceled at the last minute.”

“Would he help me, do you think?”

The woman grinned. “Absolutely. Have a seat, and I’ll call him.”

“Thank you.”

Courtney sat and exhaled. The day had been full of different emotions, and she was exhausted from it all. The fear of facing her mother, Ronin dismissing her, the party the girls had for her, and then the shock at what she found out at the lawyer’s office.

“Hello, I’m George. Mandy tells me you need my help?”

She stood and smiled. The man was gorgeous and totally gay, and she instantly relaxed. “Yes. As you can see, my roots are showing, and I think it looks awful.”

“Oh, Honey, I’ve seen worse. Follow me.”

She followed the man to a chair and sat. The first look at herself startled her. It did look like she’d had a rough day.

“Which color, Hun?” George asked as he played with her hair.

“I think my original. I don’t like the blonde,” she said.

George tsk’d. “I agree. This blonde washes you out. Why did you choose it in the first place?”

“I didn’t. My mother did.”

“Oh, I think I hear a story?”

For the first time in hours, she smiled. “It’s pretty boring.”

“Hey, boring works for me.”

For the next two hours, Courtney told him about her life and laughed at all his jokes.

Finally, he turned her to see herself for the first time, and her mouth dropped open. “Oh, my…”

George laughed. “That’s the best compliment you could have given me.”

“I saw you with scissors, but I didn’t think about it. How did you make it look so full?” She tossed her hair a few times.

“Just some of my magic, Hun.”

“I can’t remember my original color being this pretty,” Courtney told him.

“I just snuck in a few highlights here and there,” he said as he unsnapped the cape and pulled it off her.

Courtney stood up but couldn’t stop staring at herself. This haircutmade her look different … pretty.

She twirled and hugged the man. “Oh, thank you, thank you!”

George chuckled. “Anytime. You are a delight to spend time with. Too bad you’re the wrong species for me.”

It took her a second, and shegrinned. “Too bad you’re not on my side of the road.”

He threw back his head and laughed until tears came to his eyes. “You really are precious.”

“You people here turned my day around. Thank you all so much.”

George fanned his eyes with his hand to keep from crying. “Stop it, sister. I hate crying. I get blotchy.”

Courtney grinned.

“Go on up, and Patricia will take care of you.”

“I will. I’ll come back,” she said in a warning tone.

“You better,” he threw back.

Up at the checkout, she spent another ten minutes talking to Patricia. Laughing helped fill some of the hollowness in her heart. She knew it wouldn’t last, but it gave her a reprieve.

“Wow, he’s going to adore you, girl,” Patricia said when she handed over a hundred-dollar bill.

“He deserves it.”

Patricia rolled her eyes. “Don’t say that too loud because if he hears you, we won’t hear the end of it.”

Courtney chuckled.

Courtney went next door and picked up the essentials she’d need for the night. She was waiting behind a family of five for the elevator to come down.

When the door opened and Ronin walked out with a gorgeous woman hanging on him, she ducked down so he couldn’t see her. She hustled into the elevator and pressed against the side, waiting for a few others to come in.

She couldn’t keep from looking at them one more time, even if it felt like a knife through her heart. He was opening the front door for his lady and glanced back. She turned her head to the side and asked the woman a few questions.

When the door finally closed, she was able to take a deep breath. The elevator stopped several times until it finally reached her floor. She slid the key card in, opened and shut the door behind her, and locked it. After she locked it, she slid down to the floor, tucked her knees to her chest, and wept until she started to choke.

She couldn’t believe how wiped out she was. Yes, it had been the day from Hell, but it was like she didn’t have any more life in her.

It took her an hour to shower and get dressed in the nightgown she had bought. She didn’t take time to dry her hair thoroughly because she didn’t have the energy.

Courtney slid into the huge bed and wrapped the blanket around her. No matter how many blankets she put on the bed, she still felt frozeninside.

Before sleep finally came, she promised herself she’d make a good life for herself, and she didn’t need anyone to do it for her.