Hot Coffee (The Hollens) novel Chapter 24

Emma's POV

I avoided him for the entire morning and afternoon until it was time get ready for the auction. I was nervous.

Please don't embarrass him. Please don't embarrass yourself.

I came from the bathroom and it was time to dress. I took my dress out of the closet and laid it on the bed. Black. I'd been in love with the color black since I was five years old. Black described my life; it was dark. Black like the sky at night when my parents dropped me on the doorsteps of a foster home. Black like the basement I had to sleep in.

I gently applied lotion to my caramel skin and put on my lace underwear. I slipped into my dress next. It was a long-sleeved lace dress that reached just above my knees. I hoped it was appropriate for the function. I stood in front the full-length mirror as I combed my hair and applied my body fragrance. I put my shoes on and took a final look, making sure everything was perfect. I smiled at myself, I looked so beautiful.

A knock came at my door as I was about to head out to wait downstairs. I hoped it wasn't him, I just couldn't deal with him right now. I opened the door and saw a smiling Halley.

"Wow, black really is your color," she said as she allowed me to closed my door and we headed downstairs together.

"You look amazing by the way," I complimented.

"Thank you," she smiled.

She was wearing an ankle-length white dress and white shoes. Her make up was light and had a natural look to it. Her hair was pulled in a back bun with some tresses hanging neatly at the side of her face. She looked amazing. She really was beautiful.



We sat in the living room and waited for Mr. Hollen.

I thought women were supposed to take more time than men when getting ready for an outing.

Halley and I waited for entire fifteen minutes, then he finally ran down the stairs. He took his car keys from the table and made his way over to us. We stood, ready to leave. He looked at us like if he had seen two angels. 

"Wow, you ladies look so beautiful," he complimented and we returned ours; he did look sharp and handsome in his black Armani tuxedo. "Lets go," he ordered and we walked out the door after him.

_________

We arrived at a large building situated along a beach. There were security guards at the entrance and swarms of paparazzi.  A red carpet was laid out.

Mr. Hollen took our hands and we walked up without any questions asked or any searches being conducted; we walked right into the building.

People were everywhere, women in dresses and men in tuxedos. There was drinking, talking and laughing from everyone all around. I looked around in amazement. A sweet jazz melody was being performed by a live band. 

Mr. Hollen let go of our hands, then led us to a table and told us to stay with each other but mingle if someone came over to say hello. He then disappeared through a crowd.

Halley turned to me, "Welcome to the world of the rich."

"Yeah, it's beautiful here."

"Let's look at these women and joke about their dresses."

We looked at the women in the room. They looked very sophisticated and elegant that I wouldn't dare to even touch them. As we looked on, we noticed someone coming over to our table.

"Hello girls," she greeted, "You're the maids, right?"

"Yes ma'am," I answered politely.

"I'm Mrs. Hollen, Ethan's mother. It's nice to meet you. He did said he was bringing along his help but I didn't think the two of you would have been his dates."

Was she serious?

"What were you expecting?" Halley asked, rudely but nicely. It was amazing how she could be disrespectful yet pleasant at the same time.

"I assumed the both of you would have been serving cocktails and wine like the other wait staff around here."

I smiled, not a nice one, but just one to stop myself from saying something rude to her. She might be his mom but she was just plain rude.

"Well, Mrs. Hollen, we're sorry to disappoint you," I finally said, having enough of her.

"Oh, I'm not disappointed, dear. I'm just amused."

"How so?" Halley asked.

"Ethan's engaged to a very wonderful woman, yet he brought two maids along with him."

I let out a loud scoff as I turned to face Halley. 

Mrs. Hollen got up from our table. "It was nice to meet you girls. I hope when I come over to my son's house, you two will be at my service."