Chapter 80
Once we were alone, Casey looked at me sheepishly. "I hope I didn't wake you."
My lips curled into a smile. "No. Actually, I needed to wake up. I can't believe I fell asleep like that. I was out late last night, talking to Frank."
She nodded as she tightened her grip on the armrest. "What did he say?" She looked over at me, suddenly attentive at the casual mention of Frank Mallory's name.
I shrugged. "Not a lot." I decided to distract her. "But when we get to New York, we're going shopping."
Casey's face suddenly brightened, the plane ride momentarily forgotten. "Really?"
I smiled. "He wants you to look just right for the party."
She looked down at her jeans and laughed. "So, no holey jeans, huh?"
I laughed as I shook my head. "No. I'm afraid not. But don't worry. We'll find you something suitable."
She returned the smile. "Maybe we can find an outfit for you, too."
I shrugged. "We'll see, but we'll take care of you first." Then, my thoughts turned wicked. "Besides, I have Frank's company credit card so the sky's the limit."
She laughed, but all conversation ended as the plane began its slow descent and the FASTEN SEATBELT sign flashed overhead.
Casey reached over to grip my hand and closed her eyes. The scenery rushed past our window as the wheels of the plane touched down gently on the runway and the pilot threw the engines into reverse. A moment later, we taxied to a stop at the jetway.
Casey released my hand. "Wow! That was a rush!"
I chuckled. "Flying is an experience all its own."
She nodded.
"Come on," I said as I slid my purse over my shoulder. "Let's go."
Everyone waited in the aisle as the doors opened. Light rushed into the cabin, and people slowly started taking their bags and moving
toward the exit.
A moment later, we were walking up the jetway. My heart pounded within my chest as the jetway opened up to the lobby. We collected our bags and stepped outside onto the curb.
"Taxi!" I yelled as I held up my hand. A second later, a taxi stopped short before us.
"Where to, miss?" an East Indian gentleman asked us as he unlocked the trunk for us to place our luggage inside.
"The Plaza," I said as Casey and I slid into the back seat.
"Really?" Casey asked, raising her eyebrows excitedly.
I smiled and nodded. "Frank wanted us to go in style."
She laughed. "I'd say."
The taxi driver looked at us in his rearview mirror and smiled. "Yes, ma'am. The Plaza it is!" He turned expertly down the city streets as skyscrapers surrounded us. There was no place in the world quite like New York. "Your first time in the city?"
I shook my head, but Casey nodded, practically bouncing in her seat as she watched the scenery pass. "First time for everything."
He laughed, and then a moment later, we turned down the famous Fifth Avenue and pulled to a stop in front of The Plaza hotel. The tall square building reached high into the sky as we stepped out onto the curb. The cabbie unlocked the trunk and helped us with our bags, setting them onto the curb.
"Thank you," I said as I paid him, giving him a generous tip.
"My pleasure, miss," he replied in a thick East Indian accent. "Have a wonderful stay in New York."
I smiled, and then turned to Casey. "Come on. Help me with the bags."
A moment later, we stepped into the infamous hotel lobby. Butterflies fluttered within my stomach as we approached the front desk. In spite of myself, it felt good to be back in New York.
"May I help you, miss?" a gentleman asked, dressed in a black suit and white shirt, wearing a white bow tie.
"Reservations for Alyssa Collins," I replied, and a moment later, I signed the slip and the gentleman slid two room keycards to me across the desk.
"Enjoy your stay at The Plaza," he said with a smile as he motioned for a bellhop. Within seconds, a young attractive man in his early twenties stepped up and placed our bags on a trolley as Casey looked at him with interest.
I shook my head at her discreetly, and she turned her attention to admiring the general splendor of the hotel. We stepped into the elevator, and it stopped on the eighteenth floor. We stepped out and walked down the hallway to our suite. I inserted the key card and opened the door a moment later. It was magnificent. There was a living room and then two doors leading to two separate bedrooms. Casey walked around the hotel, wide eyed as the bellhop set our bags onto the floor.
"Will there be anything else, miss?" he asked.
"No. Thank you," I said as I tipped him. After he left, I turned to Casey. "Well, what do you think?"
Casey flung herself onto the bed, claiming the bedroom to the right. "Wow! I love it!"
I laughed, enjoying her excitement. "Well, get ready because we're going shopping."
She squealed as she ran out and grabbed her suitcase, and then rushed back into the bedroom and closed the door behind her.
I shook my head as I took my suitcase into the other bedroom. Within minutes, I walked out, refreshed and dressed in tight designer jeans, a nice blue dress shirt, and black high-heeled boots. I grabbed my black leather jacket and sunglasses and stepped out into the living room.
Casey was waiting on the couch, dressed similarly to me. "Wow! You look great!" she squealed as she got to her feet.
I laughed at her excitement. "Come on. Let's go. New York is the best place to shop in the world."
Within minutes, we were walking down Fifth Avenue, passing stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Prada, Gianni Versace, and more. A thrill ran through me as we passed all the luxurious shops. But my heart slammed to a stop when I saw Tiffany & Co., bringing back memories of when Logan bought me the sapphire blue engagement ring that I had picked out, the night we got engaged the night he died.
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