Disclaimer: I own all the characters in this story.
Chapter One
The Stein Estate
Madeleine's Bedroom
9:29 A.M
Sunday, September 1st
Madeleine Stein gazed at her reflection in the tall white-framed trifold mirror. She frowned slightly as she adjusted her white Jennifer Behr satin-and-silk headband several times before finally getting it to sit right.
Taking a deep breath, Madeleine had finally chosen a simple, dark-blue Ted Baker fit-and-flare dress. The sparkly collar provided a pop of flair. She accessorized with a thick white leather belt, matching Tory Burch ballet flats, and a small white Tory Burch tote. Pearl stud earrings and a signature pearl necklace completed the look.
Madeleine knew her outfit was timeless and refined, so she opted for subtle makeup. She applied a touch of Pretty & Perfect clear lip gloss, blended Red Bliss waterproof eyeliner and mascara, and misted herself with Chanel Chance perfume. Satisfied with her natural beauty, Madeleine set the perfume bottle on the vanity and pushed in the white cashmere director's chair she used in place of a vanity seat.
She looked down at her white Pomeranian, Coco, sprawled across her overpriced velvet dog bed. Madeleine walked over, knelt down, and scooped the dog into her arms. She showered Coco with kisses, cradling her against her chest.
Madeleine greeted her dog with a soft grin and said. "Good morning, Coco! You are just the cutest little thing."
Hearing her name, Coco barked excitedly in response.
Madeleine kissed Coco on the top of her little black nose. "And the loudest barker, it seems," she added, fiddling with her dog's La Jeune Tulipe diamond collar. "Well, Coco, Mommy's got to run. I'll see you later, sweetie."
Madeleine placed her Pomeranian on the polished hardwood floor. She checked her dress to ensure none of Coco's pesky little hairs remained. After triple-checking herself in the mirror, Madeleine grabbed her purple iPhone 12 from the nightstand and shoved it in her purse. She left her bedroom, leaving the door half-open for the maid Ingrid to clean. Racing downstairs, Madeleine snatched a Luna bar from the kitchen pantry. Just as she was about to step outside the front door, she noticed her mom, Margaret walking toward her. Madeleine threw her designer handbag over her right shoulder and tucked a long, curly lock of honey-blonde hair behind her right ear.
Margaret greeted her daughter warmly with a giant hug. "Hi, darling!"
Madeleine broke away from her mom's embrace. "Hey, Mom," she called out cheerfully, smelling her signature perfume. "Do you know where Dad is?"
Margaret fiddled with the double-strand pearl necklace around her neck, pointedly avoiding Madeleine's question. "How did you sleep last night?" she asked her daughter instead.
The younger blonde rolled her emerald green eyes before responding nonchalantly to her mom's question, "I slept just fine last night. Now, where's Daddy?"
Margaret ran her manicured fingers through her sleek, chestnut bob. "Your dad's probably on his way to work," she said to her daughter, shifting her black iPhone from one hand to the other. "He told me this morning he'll be in meetings all day. If you need to reach him, leave a message with his secretary."
Madeleine nodded at her mom and tucked a long, curly lock of hair behind her left ear. "Okay, Mom," she said with another nod.
Margaret raised an eyebrow at her daughter. "Why are you so dressed up? Are you going somewhere special?" she asked playfully, smoothing the sleeveless midnight-blue DKNY sheath dress she wore.
"I planned to have Nick drop me off at Coffee Bean and then drive Scarlett and me to the mall," Madeleine replied. She looked down at her outfit, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. "What? Do you think I've overdressed?"
Margaret gave her daughter a wry smile, followed by a chuckle. "Darling, there's no such thing as overdressing," she said, taking a seat on the pristine white couch behind her. Crossing her slender legs and placing her folded manicured hands in her lap, Margaret nodded at her daughter. "Anyway, darling, your father has made reservations at Uptown for the three of us on Tuesday night."
"Got it, Mom," Madeleine said, flashing a grin to reveal her perfect white teeth. "I'll mark it on my calendar."
Margaret looked at her iPhone's bright screen and said, "Madeleine, if you still want to get to Coffee Bean for breakfast, you should head out now."
Madeleine adjusted her headband and hoisted her purse higher up on her shoulder. "Okay, Mom, see you later," she said.
Madeleine waved goodbye to her mother and reached for the front door, but the family butler, Milton, opened it first. Blinded by the bright sunlight, she pulled out oversized white Dior sunglasses from her tote bag and put them on. Inhaling deeply, Madeleine strode down the leaf-strewn circular driveway.
Looking across the freshly mowed lawn, she spotted Nick, the family driver, waiting by the black Range Rover. Distracted by his iPhone, Nick didn't notice Madeleine approaching until she reached the end of the driveway. He slid the phone into his shirt pocket just as she arrived.
"Good morning, Miss Madeleine," Nick said as he opened the car door for Madeleine. "Where are we headed today?"
Madeleine tossed her tote bag into the backseat of the car. "Let's go to Coffee Bean first," she said, stepping gracefully into the driver's seat. "After that, Scarlett and I need to head straight to the mall to shop for her parents' party."
"Very well, Miss Madeleine," Nick nodded as he continued holding the rear passenger door open for Madeleine.
Once settled in the backseat of the Range Rover, Madeleine buckled her seatbelt and tossed her purse onto the adjacent seat. As Nick pulled out of the driveway, she pushed her sunglasses atop her head, noticing they were already on their way.
Sighing, Madeleine pulled out her iPhone and unlocked it. As requested by her mother, she opened the Calendar app and entered the reservation details. She then clicked on the Seventeen Magazine app, scrolling through the latest issue that featured an airbrushed Alexis McKnight on the glossy cover.
Engrossed in the glossy magazine, Madeleine lost track of time as she admired the models and read a romantic article. Ten minutes later, she bookmarked page twenty-three to finish reading later that night. Madeleine turned off her cell phone and dropped it back into her purse. Anxiously fidgeting with her dress, she tore her attention away from the magazine and shifted her focus back to her driver.
Madeleine shifted into a more comfortable position in her seat, uncrossed her legs, and called out. "Nick?"
Nick stopped the car at the red light and adjusted his black Dior tie, a Christmas gift from Madeleine's parents. "Yes, Miss Madeleine," he said, looking in the rearview mirror.
Madeleine examined her dark navy blue nails. "Do you think I'll make any friends at my new school?" she asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.
"Miss Madeleine, I'm sure you have many friends," Nick replied, focusing his attention back on the road. He sped through a traffic light turning from yellow to red.
The young girl bit her lower lip in disappointment. She knew Nick's answer was nothing more than the typical adult response of empty reassurance. "Thanks," she muttered, unconvinced.
Madeleine flipped open the oval mirror on the car's ceiling and admired her reflection, immediately improving her mood. She was grateful for the good genes from her parents that gave her gorgeous loose curls, glowing skin, and striking cheekbones that seemed sharp enough to cut ice.
Madeleine pressed the same button to return the mirror to the car's ceiling, satisfied with her reflection. She pulled a Lemon Zest Luna bar from her tote and took small, delicate bites as she unwrapped and finished the snack. As Madeleine finished eating, Coffee Bean came into view. Sitting up straighter, she looked out the tinted rear window and unbuckled her seatbelt in anticipation.
Nick parked the Range Rover at the curb and turned to Madeleine. "I'll be running errands for your father today," he said. "Call me when you need a ride back home."
Madeleine nodded, opening the rear door. "Sounds good, thanks," she replied before exiting the SUV.
Madeleine climbed gracefully out of the car and the intense sunlight nearly blinded her as she slipped her sunglasses back on. She shut the car door and watched as Nick pulled away from the curb. Taking a deep, calming breath, Madeleine adjusted the thick handles of her purse, rolled her shoulders back, and proceeded to walk confidently towards the frosted glass doors of Coffee Bean.
Westchester, NY
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
10:35 A.M.
Sunday, September 1st
Madeleine sat at her usual table by the coffee shop's floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Westchester's streets. She slipped off her sunglasses, tossed them in her designer handbag, and rummaged for her monogrammed wallet. Clutching the Saint Laurent wallet under her arm, she joined the line behind a gaggle of preppy middle schoolers crowding the register. Soon the kids had collected their drinks, leaving Madeleine facing her regular barista.
Madeleine greeted the barista with a wide grin and smoothed her dress before removing her wallet from under her arm. "I'll have a large vanilla chai latte with almond milk and extra foam," she said. "And a low-fat cranberry orange muffin too, please."
The barista nodded as she entered Madeleine's order into the register. "Okay, that'll be thirteen dollars and ninety-seven cents," she said.
"Thank you," Madeleine said as she tapped her black Amex card on the reader to complete the transaction. Once it went through, she put the credit card back in her wallet.
Madeleine walked to the end of the counter to wait for her order. A few minutes later, the barista handed her a latte and a low-fat cranberry orange muffin. Madeleine grabbed three Splenda packets from the sweetener bowl, ripped them open with her teeth, and shook them into her coffee. She tossed the empty packets in the trash, then turned and headed to her usual table. Once seated, Madeleine scanned the coffee shop, her emerald eyes searching for a particular girl with icy blonde hair. After a moment, she spotted the blue-eyed girl in a sleeveless ivory Ted Baker skater dress. The girl glanced around until her sharp blue eyes met Madeleine's.
"Scarlett!" Madeleine exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.
Scarlett recognized Madeleine immediately. Her face lit up with a warm smile as she walked over to the empty seat next to her friend. After setting down her large cinnamon vanilla latte made with soy milk and extra foam on the table, Scarlett hung her red Michael Kors handbag on the back of her chair. She then took out a low-fat raspberry scone from the paper bag.
Madeleine pinched off a piece of her muffin and popped it into her mouth. "I'm so happy you could make it," she said.
Scarlett took a long sip of her latte and replied with a chuckle, "Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss our weekly breakfast get-togethers at Coffee Bean for anything."
"Are you ready for the school year to begin?" Madeleine asked.
"I'm not really looking forward to it," Scarlett replied honestly.
Madeleine nodded in agreement, recalling how difficult the previous school year had been for her and her friend despite their wealthy backgrounds, which had made them targets for bullying.
"So, we're going to the mall later?" Scarlett asked, nibbling on her scone.
"Definitely," Madeleine replied with a giggle. "After all, we need new dresses for your parents' Labor Day soirée."
Scarlett jokingly crossed her arms. "Is there anything you enjoy more than shopping?"
A sly smile spread across Madeleine's face as she sipped her latte. "Coco," she replied smoothly, "I know you don't really mind. Besides, shopping gives you a break from binge-watching Riverdale all day."
"Hey, leave Riverdale out of this!" Scarlett retorted playfully, unable to conceal her grin.
Madeleine rolled her eyes at Scarlett's response. "Come on, Scar. Let's head to the mall before it gets too late."
The Westchester Mall
Ted Baker Dressing Area
5:51 P.M.
Sunday, September 1st
Madeleine grinned at her reflection in the trifold mirror, admiring the latest dress she was trying on for Labor Day. It was a sleeveless, mid-blue Ted Baker tunic dress with a scalloped high neckline that she instantly fell in love with. The dress's tailored fit emphasized her figure in a way that delighted her.
Madeleine twirled around the dressing area the full skirt of her dress fanning out. "Does this say 'Labor Day Soirée'?" she asked.
Sitting against the wall sipping her caramel latte, Scarlett glanced up from her red iPhone to examine Madeleine with laser focus. "It practically screams it," she mused.
Madeleine gave a half-smile as she looked over her reflection again. Smoothing the creases in her Ted Baker dress, she raised a perfectly waxed, honey-blonde eyebrow at her friend. "Oh, did I mention Lindsey Grayson and Avery Prescott called me last night?" she replied casually, taking a sip of her matcha green tea latte. "They want to meet up on Wednesday."
Scarlett's face lit up with an excited grin. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. She pulled Madeleine into a big hug, well aware that Avery Prescott and Lindsey Greyson were legendary for ruling as queens of the seventh and eighth grades. "What time's the meeting?" she asked eagerly.
"It's at 10:30 A.M.," Madeleine said, pulling back from the hug. "Why do you ask?"
"Well... Maddy," Scarlett replied, pausing for dramatic effect. "Rumor has it the eighth and seventh-grade queens meet before summer to pick the next sixth-grade Queen. And I just know they'll choose you as a legacy!"
"Oh my god!" Madeleine exclaimed as she skipped around the dressing area, overcome with happiness.
Scarlett watched her friend's joyful display. "I think you need a second-in-command," she suggested, her tone implying ulterior motives. "You know, just in case you get sick or something."
"You might be right," Madeleine said, taking another long sip of her latte.
"You sure?" Scarlett asked playfully. "I may be too much for you to handle."
"We'll see about that," Madeleine returned. "But on a more serious note, we need to come up with a glorious name for my court."
"How about the Glossy Posse?" Scarlett suggested, glancing at her perfectly manicured nails.
"No," Madeleine replied firmly, beginning to pace the plush ivory carpet and tapping her chin thoughtfully. "What about Beauty Queens?"
Scarlett lifted her caramel latte to her lips and drank it in one gulp. "I love it!" she exclaimed.
Madeleine stopped pacing to grab her matcha latte and drank it quickly. "Right?" she asked excitedly.
Before Madeleine could continue the conversation, she noticed two petite blonde salesgirls entering the dressing area.
"Can we help you with anything?" Frankie and Lucy asked Madeleine and Scarlett in unison. The name tags on the two petite salesgirls read Frankie and Lucy.
Scarlett stopped staring at her iPhone's bright screen. She stood up quickly from her seat with her cell phone still in her left hand. "Yes, I'd like to purchase the dresses in my fitting room," she replied, walking inside her fitting room.
"Same for me as well," Madeleine said as she walked back into the dressing room. She changed out of the dress she was trying on and tossed it onto a pile marked 'Yes'. With her tote bag slung over her left shoulder, Madeleine exited the dressing room clutching an armful of Ted Baker dresses that suited her classic style. "I'm taking all of these, so charge them to my black Mastercard."
Scarlett also emerged from her dressing room, arms full of Ted Baker dresses fitting her classic aesthetic. "Me too, but put it on my platinum Amex," she added.
After watching the salesgirls ring up their purchases for about ten minutes, Madeleine and Scarlett paid and found themselves near the mall's exit.
Madeleine glanced at her purple Apple watch and saw that it was 7:55 PM. "The mall is closing in 5 minutes," she said.
"Let's just head home then," Scarlett suggested, crossing her arms over her chest. Her heavy shopping bags swung against her thigh.
Madeleine nodded and reached into her purse for her iPhone. "I'll call Nick now," she replied.
Madeleine pressed her iPhone to her left ear after asking Siri to call Nick. The phone rang three times before Nick finally answered.
"Hello?" Nick's deep voice rang through Madeleine's cell phone.
"Hey, Nick," Madeleine greeted her driver. "It's me."
"Hello, Miss Madeleine," Nick returned the greeting. "Shall I pick you girls up now?"
"Yes please," Madeleine replied.
"I'll be there in ten," Nick said before ending the call.
After the call ended, Madeleine turned off her iPhone, dropped it in her tote bag, and refocused her attention on Scarlett.
Madeleine played with her pearl necklace as she gracefully walked toward the doors of the Westchester Mall, urging her friend Scarlett to hurry. "C'mon, Scar! Nick will be here in ten minutes," she said.
Tossing her curls over her shoulder, Scarlett begrudgingly followed behind Madeleine, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "Fine, Mads!" she hissed. "But I need to get home soon to watch Paradise on TV."
Madeleine pushed through the mall's glass doors and held it open for Scarlett. "Isn't that new teen drama airing at eight tonight?" she asked.
Scarlett walked out of the mall's glass doors and headed toward the curb's edge so Nick would know where to pick them up. "Yeah," she replied, pushing her heavy shopping bags even higher up her right arm. "The only reason I'm watching is Tanner Mellott is in it."
Madeleine crossed her arms over her chest and followed Scarlett to the curb's edge as her bulky shopping bags banged her left thigh. "Didn't he do that show about taking his dead twin's place?" she asked, stomping her right foot on an empty Starbucks cup.
"Yeah," Scarlett said, touching Madeleine's left shoulder with her right hand to ensure the weight of the heavy bags didn't make her fall. "It was canceled after one season."
Madeleine tuned out Scarlett as she glanced around the nearly empty parking lot. Noticing Nick had already pulled into the mall's parking lot, she announced. "Nick's here."
Moments later, Nick pulled the car up to the curb and kept the engine running as he remained in his seat.
The girls slid across the Range Rover's buttery soft leather backseat, dropping their bulky shopping bags on the floor. Dropping their designer handbags on the adjacent seat beside themselves, they buckled themselves, crossed their slender legs together, and sat up straighter in their seats as Nick pulled away from the curb.
Nick drove the Range Rover out of the mall parking lot, heading on the familiar route to Scarlett's house. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he said. "It looks like you two had a successful shopping trip today, Miss Madeleine and Miss Scarlett."
"Um, yeah," Madeleine replied absently, fidgeting with the collar of her dress. She turned her focus to Scarlett.
"Definitely," Scarlett agreed before redirecting her attention back to Madeleine.
Madeleine noticed Nick was focused on driving to Scarlett's house. She rummaged through her Nordstrom bag and pulled out a layered Alice + Olivia mini skirt. "This would look great with a blazer and blouse," she said eagerly, holding it up for Scarlett's opinion as usual.
"It's so cute, Maddy!" Scarlett said. She uncrossed her legs and took out a Luna bar from her designer handbag. "I'm borrowing that skirt someday."
Madeleine shoved the skirt into one of Scarlett's Nordstrom bags. "It's yours now, Scar," she said, uncrossing her legs.
Scarlett unwrapped the bar and took dainty bites until she finished. "Why?" she asked.
Madeleine saw it was already half past eight on the car's touchscreen, realizing they would miss the Paradise TV premiere. "It doesn't match my skin tone," she replied absently to her friend's question, before noticing Scarlett was absorbed in her iPhone's bright screen. Shoving the ill-fitting skirt into Scarlett's shopping bags, Madeleine gazed out the tinted window, watching nannies chasing children across the meticulously groomed lawn.
A few minutes later, Nick pulled the Range Rover into the circular driveway of the Wilsons' home but kept the engine running as he turned to face the girls. "Miss Scarlett, we've arrived at your house," he announced, readjusting his tie. "Do you need any help with your bags?"
"No, Nick," Scarlett replied. She unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the right rear door, and threw her purse over her left shoulder. Grabbing her shopping bags, she climbed gracefully out of the SUV. "Bye, Maddie!"
"Bye, Scar!" Madeleine called back, turning toward the open door. "I'll text you later."
"Okay," Scarlett nodded, closing the door with her right foot.
Waving goodbye to her friend until the car was halfway down the road, Madeleine closed her eyes, feeling completely wiped out. The only thing she wanted now was to soak in a warm, bubbly bath.
The Wilson Estate
Kitchen
11:27 P.M.
Sunday, September 1st
Sitting down in the mahogany swivel bar stool tucked under the marble island, Scarlett Wilson grabbed a low-fat chocolate chip cookie from the basket of freshly baked goods that Marino, the family chef, had left. She finished the cookie before turning on the TV. Hearing the sound of her mother's heels on the polished marble floor, Scarlett quickly turned the TV off.
Scarlett's mother, Carol Wilson, kissed her daughter on the left cheek. "When did you arrive?" Carol asked, slipping off her heels and leaving them by the kitchen door.
Scarlett flipped her curls over her left shoulder as she took another bite of the chocolate chip cookie in her right hand. "Two hours ago," she replied, glancing at her mother. "Where's Dad?"
Carol grabbed a chilled bottle of Smartwater from the fridge, opened it, and took a sip. "Your father's got some work to finish up," she said vaguely. "He said he'd try to be home later."
Scarlett raised a perfectly arched icy blonde eyebrow at her mom's statement. "So he's working late again tonight," she translated, attempting to sound nonchalant.
Carol sipped her Smartwater again. "Don't be upset, sweetie," she reassured her daughter. "He'll be home return soon. I'm certain."
"It's alright, Mom," Scarlett sighed. "I'm accustomed to it by now."
Carol set the Smartwater bottle on the island's marble countertop and placed her manicured hands on her hips. "How was your get-together with Madeleine?"
Scarlett shoved the rest of the chocolate chip cookie into her mouth and examined her painted nails. "We met at Coffee Bean today," she told her mom. "Then we shopped for the ideal outfit for tomorrow's party."
Good, good," her mother noted. Suddenly, her mother's phone started ringing, startling them both. Taking the phone in hand, her mother looked apologetically at her daughter. "Sorry, I've got to take this call."
Scarlett did not respond as she watched her mother walk into another room, talking on the phone with someone. She took a white dinner plate trimmed with gold from the kitchen cabinet and piled some chocolate chip cookies onto it. Grabbing a bottle of fruit punch flavored vitamin water from the kitchen island, she held the plate of cookies in one hand and the cold drink in the other. She walked out of the kitchen and hurried towards the winding staircase.
When Scarlett reached her spacious bedroom, she closed the door with her right foot and set down both her plate of cookies and drink on the nightstand. After begging her parents, they had finally allowed her to redecorate her room this past summer. Now it was her favorite place in the house.
Her bedroom was decorated in a red, black, and white color scheme. Three walls were painted white, while the fourth wall behind the headboard was covered in black diamond-patterned wallpaper. The bed had white silk sheets and an oversized red king duvet. Fluffy white goose-down pillows were piled against the headboard, with three red neck roll pillows in front.
Between the walk-in closet and bathroom stood a black vanity table with theater lighting around the mirror. Her Chanel makeup bags and Gucci perfume bottles were neatly arranged on top. The expansive walk-in closet contained the latest designer clothes, shoes, purses, and accessories, with white Moroccan poufs scattered throughout. Next to the closet was a tall white trifold mirror.
On both white nightstands were bright red lamps, along with a round digital clock, an iPad, and an Apple AirPod charging case. Above the large black trophy case was a 60-inch smart TV. Beneath the bay window was a window seat with five red velvet throw pillows.
Custom bookshelves filled with glossy fashion magazines, reading material, and textbooks for the upcoming school year stood above the seats. A large, rectangular white frame displaying an enlarged photo of herself hung over her white tufted king-size 'Blanchard' upholstered bed. In the center of her medium white rectangular coffee table, a tall Waterford crystal vase brimmed with red orchids.
Ornate rectangular frames showcasing colorful drawn art of shoes and handbags adorned the walls. Behind the coffee table, a custom red tufted chaise lounge covered in a white cashmere throw and matching Moroccan pillows sat in the corner, flanked by matching white end tables. Next to the desk, a white porcelain wastebasket held some trash. Automated thermal curtains hung from rods over the windows. A small Swarovski crystal-trimmed chandelier cast a soft white glow.
White Moroccan rugs spread over the polished cherry hardwood floor. French doors opened to reveal an en-suite bathroom. Skincare products lined the marble countertop of the white single vanity neatly. Across from it, an oversized walk-in shower with multiple nozzles ensured full body coverage without turning. Outside the shower, light fluffy robes hung from chrome hooks. Beside it sat a traditional white oval cast-iron double-slipper tub facing another flat-screen TV. Next to the tub, a sleek criss-cross leg end table with open storage held monogrammed towels. The heated Turkish marble floor gleamed.
Adjacent to the bathroom, a medium white glass Montclair desk held a 27-inch silver iMac, wireless Apple mouse and keyboard, a white Hello Kitty pen holder filled with fuzzy red pens, neatly stacked spiral notebooks, and a black framed photo of her parents. Finally, a white scallop-framed pinboard filled with outdated party invitations and photos of her and Madeleine hung behind the desk.
Collapsing on her bed, Scarlett rolled to her left side and took a deep breath. As Scarlett reached for the TV remote on her bed, a ding sounded from her computer. Grabbing her iPhone from the bed, she plopped onto the desk chair, setting down her phone, Vitamin Water, and cookies on the desk. With a deep breath, Scarlett clicked her wireless mouse to wake the computer from sleep mode. She saw Madeleine had sent a text message. Opting to respond, Scarlett opened Messages and read her friend's text.
Madeleine: Did you arrive home safely, Scar?
Scarlett: Yeah. I just came from the kitchen with some snacks to eat in my room. What about you?
Madeleine: Nothing.
Grabbing a chocolate chip cookie from the plate and taking a giant bite, Scarlett hastily swallowed the cookie and sent her friend a swift reply to the text message.
Scarlett: Would you like to get ready for the party at my place tomorrow, rather than at yours?
Expecting Madeleine to visit, Scarlett snacked on another chocolate chip cookie and took a long drink of Vitamin Water, checking her phone when it pinged with her friend's quick reply.
Madeleine: Certainly! Just ensure there are snacks to eat while we prepare for the party tomorrow. I will arrive at your house at 2:30.
Scarlett: Maddie, I have already asked my hairstylist to bring along an additional hairstylist and two makeup artists for the house call he will be making tomorrow afternoon.
Madeleine: I'm relieved that dressing for the party will be my only worry.
Scarlett: I'm also going to take a shower before bed tonight. See you tomorrow!
Madeleine: Scar, I'll see you tomorrow too!
Scarlett was excited that her friend Madeleine was coming over to her house the next day. Realizing her room needed to be cleaned before the visit, Scarlett quickly finished her snack, leaving the empty plate and bottle outside her bedroom door for the maid Elsa to take away. She then headed to the bathroom to get ready for bed. After brushing her teeth, Scarlett stepped into the shower, washing herself with lemon-scented gel. When finished, she wrapped herself in a fluffy Ralph Lauren monogrammed towel and twisted her damp hair into a messy bun.
Scarlett opened the French doors to her walk-in closet and clapped to turn on the lights, illuminating the plush red carpet and rows of designer clothes. Dropping her towel for the maid, she donned a black In Bloom by Jonquil lace-trimmed racer-back camisole and matching shorts. Across the room, tomorrow's outfit was already styled on a custom mannequin - a lavish gift from her parents.
With a smile, she noted that the outfit looked as stunning now as when she first saw it at the mall. After congratulating herself for picking the perfect outfit for tomorrow's party, Scarlett clapped her manicured hands to turn off the lights in her room before climbing into bed. Slipping on her sleep mask, she snuggled under the duvet, closed her eyes, and fell asleep within moments.
A/N:
Here is chapter one for you.
Enjoy,
FashionLeMode