Golden Rays

I still don't know where this story is going.

I dug into my third and last pancake of the morning while the boys had both finished theirs already. They boys were having mindless chatter when Elijah's phone rang.

"Excuse me guys," he said as he brought the phone up to his ear and disappeared out into the hallway.

"So," Sawyer clasped his hands together, making me jump in my seat. "Let's talk about last night."

After I finished swallowing a bite, I looked up to those brown big eyes and said, "Lets."

"You don't remember at all?" Sawyer question, his thick eyebrows furrowed together.

"I think if you told me it'd come back."

"Well you told me about your family in-"

"-Chicago." I interrupted. Sawyer silently nodded, a sign he wanted me to continue talking.

"Yeah. If I didn't get this job with Elijah's company I would've been shit out of lock honestly. I would have to go back to Chicago with my family, well my parents."

"And you didn't want too."

"I still don't want too. When I was younger my parents drank almost all the time. Hardly ever involved with my life at school and friends. All the things I desperately wanted them to ask about. But they never did."

"Do they still drink?" Sawyer questioned.

"Yes, but not as much as they used to, thankfully."

"That's good, I mean- compared to their past drinking history." Sawyer chuckled, trying to brighten the mood.

"It really is." I smiled. I wish I could of had someone support like Sawyer's when I was younger. Oh how life would've been a lot easier. "I haven't seen them in awhile. It's my mothers birthday in May. I think I might go if I get some time off."

"I'll still be your boss so you better believe I'll give you some time off."

I smiled. Sawyer was so sweet. "What else did we talk about?"

"Well I remember we talked more about your childhood with your parents."

"But," Sawyer quickly said as he saw me uninterested in the topic, "We can talk more about that later. We talked about my childhood. And how when I was eight-"

"-you broke your arm!" I exclaimed like I had just won a contest. Albeit I wasn't happy about him breaking his arm.

Sawyer's deep chuckle escaped his parted lips. "Yes, ma'am. I hope you aren't glad I broke my arm."

"Of course not, but I do think it was a lesson."

"How so?"

"To not do a back flip on a poorly made treehouse." I laughed.

"I guess you're right. Well lesson learned." Sawyer nudged me in the side as he roared with laughter.

"What are you two laughing at, huh?" Elijah asked with a smile in his face as he strolled back into the kitchen.

"Oh you know, memories." Sawyer let out his remaining laughter.

"Did you tell her when you broke your arm?" Elijah snickered.

"Matter of fact I did. And a lesson was learned from it." Sawyer glanced down at me and threw me a wink.

My cheeks were tinted with a drop of deep red. I glanced up to Elijah and he had a questionable look on his face as he witnessed Sawyer's playful action.

"So who was on the phone?" I asked, breaking Elijah's stare from Sawyer.

"Remember Frederick Dawns? The one you and Sawyer ran into when you had dinner with Hugh and Carl?"

I nodded.

"Well he's an old friend of Sawyer's and I and he's hosting a charity dinner tonight. Invited me and whoever I wanted to take with me. Which is you two. Guys interested?"

"Oh yes, I'd love too!" I exclaimed. But my happiness was short lived as I realized I had nothing to wear. "Oh wait."

Elijah's eyebrows rose slightly, "What's wrong?"

"I have nothing to wear," I said as I thought back to the several shorts I stuffed into my suitcase. I only had one dress but that was meant for a dinner on the beach. Not this.

"No worries, I'll hook you up with on my friends. She's one of the bests stylists in the city."

"Oh thank you so much!" I squealed.

Elijah laughed, "Of course, Kyla. I'll get her on the phone now so you aren't rushed. I'll set up your ride to her and the time and everything. Frederick says dinner starts at seven."

My eyes glanced the green lit numbers on the microwave.

10:47

"So should I shower now or?"

"Uhhh," Elijah looked over his shoulder at the clock and then his gaze laid back on me. "That'll be fine, no rush though." Elijah turned his attention to Sawyer. "Want to come with me to Tyler's?"

"Fuck yeah, just let me go brush my teeth." Sawyer took off and left down the hallway, leaving just Elijah and I.

"Who's Tyler," I casually questioned.

"Close friend of ours, he's my go to man for suits here in L.A. So you'll have the house to yourself for awhile, is that okay?"

"Sounds good, when is your friend going to see me?"

"Well, Kyla, you're going to see her."

"Oh, right." I awkwardly laughed.

"I'll have one of my drivers come pick you up and bring you to her at one, she'll be deciding your dress and hair and everything in between. Best not to question her, she's been in the business for more than twenty years, she knows what she's doing."

"Wow, well I'm looking forward to meet her. What's her name?"

"Eleanor. She's a lovely lady but a stern one. She has to be seventy-two by now."

"Wow, seventh-two is pretty damn old."

Elijah chuckled. "Age is nothing for her, she doesn't even look like it."

-

I didn't quite believe Elijah when he said Eleanor doesn't look seventy-two until the moment my brown eyes laid on her.

Tall and skinny, with a stern face, she stood unshaken as she looked me up and down. Her platinum blonde hair was in a snug bun. She was adorned with diamond earrings that made her piercing blue eyes pop.

Eleanor wore a tight black dress that was accompanied with black three-inch heels.

"I do think I might have a dress in mind, unless it is a different color than you want."

I stayed silent as I waited for her to continue speaking. Her eyes narrowed down on me, raising her eyebrows. "And what color is it you want dear?"

"Oh right," I awkwardly shuffled my feet. "Red, please."

Eleanor nodded her head and she disappeared through a nearby door that presumably held the dresses.

Five minutes later, Eleanor came through the doorway and was holding one of the most beautiful dresses that I've laid eyes on.

It was the perfect color of red I wanted, it was long and sparkly. This seemed too much however. Eleanor instantly caught onto my confused face, she was a damn good observer that woman.

"Is something the matter?"

"It-it seems too much?" My reply came out more of a question than a sentence.

"Hon, have you met the Frederick Dawns?"

"Well yeah-,"

"-than you should know how luxurious he is. He is a very rich man, you must look rich if you are going to an event hosted by Frederick."

Remembering the words of Elijah and to not question Eleanor, I nodded in a agreement.

After Eleanor made the adjustments on the dress to fit my body better, she hung back in a different room that had a sign on the door.

Reserved.

Next, it was time to do my hair. Eleanor was so focused on my hair, we barely exchanged any words. But I did not complain especially when I looked at the final look.

It was a rather simple updo, but Eleanor made it look like it cost a hundreds of dollars.

"Let's see now...," Eleanor grabbed onto her phone and was glued to it for the next ten minutes.

I kept glancing in the mirror, admiring the hairstyle and how well it flattered my face shape. This woman sure knows what the hell she's doing.

"So Elijah just now texted me saying your ride is on it's way."

"Already?" I turned in my chair to look at her.

Eleanor nodded and gestured to the clock.

6:38.

"Oh wow, so I should get my dress on then."

"Yes, that'd be the best thing to do here. Let me help."

About ten minutes later, I had both the dress and heels on.

I checked my self out in the mirror and was in awe of how I looked.

"Absolutely stunning," Eleanor commented.

I blushed at hearing the rather surprising comment. "Thank you so much and also thank you for doing this for me. You are very talented and have a keen eye."

"Oh hun, you're too sweet. Elijah is lucky to work with someone like you. I hope you have fun tonight. Oh and it looks like your ride is here."

I looked over my shoulder and saw a freaking limo outside of Eleanor's shop.

Wow.

-

Twenty minutes later the limo pulled up to an extravagant venue. The building looked like something from Rome. Tall, magnificent columns lined the ivory building. Lights sparkled all about with two fountains on either side of the walkway. The limo pulled up to the sidewalk and I noticed two very familiar men, standing shoulder to shoulder look down at my limo.

From afar, it looked as if they had matching tuxes. But when I stepped out of the limo, I noticed Sawyer's was more of a silk fabric. The two gentlemen smiled at me. Sawyer offered his arm, I took it, and said,"Very beautiful, Kyla."

Blushing, I thanked him for his compliment and glanced at Elijah, expecting a compliment. All he did was smile and nod. Offering his arm as well, the three of us strutted down the walkway and inside.

Just like the outside, the inside was fabulous. Several tables lined the walls while the middle of the room was designated for dancing. Hundreds of people were already happily chit chatting, eating, and dancing away.

"This is amazing," I gawked at all the decorations. From the curtains that flowed near the ceilings to the flower petals delicately placed around the chair legs.

"This is Frederick Dawns after all," Elijah chuckled, looking around.

"The charity segment will be starting in a half hour I believe, let's find our seats." Sawyer suggested, beckoning us to follow him to find an empty table. There was an open table just to the left of the buffet, close enough so I could get all the food I could imagine but far enough so we wouldn't be troubled with the waiting line.

Just as Sawyer was pulling my chair out for me, I heard a faint, delicate voice.

"Excuse me, Elijah, is that you?"

The three of us turned around and I instantly recognized the woman. Black hair, a little longer than last time. Her mascara wasn't stained to her tear covered face and there was no pain in her soft voice.

"Bethany," Elijah almost said in a whisper.

Alright, so maybe after what? A year and a half, I finally know where this story is going.