Free Fated - A Mermaid's Curse 2 by Daniele Lanzarotta Page A

say.
    She giggles. “I guess I should have checked with you first, huh?” She pauses for a second. “Come with me. You can borrow a pair from Jane. You’re the same size.”
    I follow her into this room that is twice the size of Blake’s apartment. All white furniture and very organized. Carol opens the walk in closet and waves me in. I gasp as soon as I see the size and everything that is in it.
    Carol smiles. “I always told her she keeps too much stuff around. Twice a year I have to practically make her go through everything and donate some things. Anyway… you can find all her shoes down there.” She points to the back of the closet, walks in and grabs a pair of shoes. “Here. These will look great!” she hands me a pair of flat shoes, black, which I put on.
    She looks at the heels. “This is really too bad,” she says, looking at the heels. “Why don’t you put them on anyway and see how you feel walking around in them.”
    “ I—hmm—okay,” I give in.
    I put on the pair of heels and I feel like I did the first time I walked with legs. I stop to take a deep breath and concentrate knowing that if I had done that I could do this too, but once Carol tells me that walking with heels on carpet is easier than smooth floor, like the one at the restaurant, I know this won’t happen.
    I sit on the bed, take the heels off and put on the flat shoes again.
    “ There is something else bothering you, isn’t there?” she asks.
    I nod and have to fight back the tears. “Blake got a call from his dad earlier. He says that Brooke has to be at the dinner with him, especially because her dad recommended this client.”
    She shakes her head, “Sometimes I wish I could slap that old man. What did Blake say?”
    “ He couldn’t argue with that, but Blake said that he wants me there either way.”
    She smiles her approval.
    “ Come on, Mike and I will make sure that you and Blake don’t have to stay at this dinner for long.”
    “ Thank you,” I say.
    “ My pleasure. I’m always happy to do anything that will piss off Crawford.”
     

 
    CHAPTER FIFTEEN
    When we walk to the living room, I see Blake talking to Mr. Jones and he looks tense.
    “ Carol,” says Mr. Jones. “Are we ready?”
    Blake turns to look at me and his eyes widen.
    “ You look beautiful,” he says as he walks toward me, placing his arm around my waist.
    Mr. Jones smiles at us and sighs. “I wish there was a way to keep you out of this dinner, but as you know, we need your signature, too.”
    Blake nods and turns to me. I can tell he’s tense and concerned.
    “ We’ll wait in the car while you talk,” says Mr. Jones.
    He waits for Carol and opens the front door for her. She gives him a look and I can tell that she’s not happy at all.
    “ What’s wrong?” I ask Blake.
    He takes a deep breath. “Mike said that because of Mikaelis’ relationship with Brooke’s dad, it is best if we just play along like we—we are still engaged… at least until the papers are signed. I hate to ask you this more than anything, but it’s just for a few minutes. As soon as everything is signed, I’ll come up with an excuse and come back here.”
    I swallow the lump in my throat and for some reason, well… because I don’t trust Brooke, I say that I still want to go. I tell Blake he can say that I’m a family friend if he wants. It sounds crazy even as the words leave my mouth, but I can’t just sit here and wait.
    “ Are you sure?” he asks.
    I look down, avoiding his gaze. “Yes, I’m sure.”
    “ I’m so sorry, Arianna. I’ve been thinking some things through and I was talking to Mike earlier about some ideas to get us out of this situation. I know my dad will never truly leave us alone.”
    I look back up at him. “Are you picking her up?” I ask and I can hear the anger in my tone.
    He shakes his head. “She’s meeting us there, but I want to call her on the way to let her know that you are coming and explain the whole