Chapter 0081
Judy’s POV
“Let me do your hair and makeup now,” Nan said, grabbing her bag filled with hair supplies and makeup. I smiled and sat down at the vanity, trying to shake off my nerves. Nan immediately got to work, brushing through my hair and blow-drying it. She curled it with an iron, giving it soft waves that framed my face and cascaded over my shoulders.
After securing my side bangs with a hairpin, she turned her attention to my makeup. The transformation felt surreal, and by the time she was done, I barely recognized myself.
“Wow,” I breathed, staring at my reflection.
“You look incredible,” Nan said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “He’s going to be blown away when he sees you.”
She grabbed a bottle of perfume and spritzed it on me, making me flinch as a bit of it got in my eyes.
“Sorry,” she chuckled, her eyes wide with excitement.
Just then, the doorbell rang, and I froze in place.
“Oh my goddess!” Nan nearly shouted, tugging me toward the door. “He’s here!”
My heart skipped a beat as I followed her down the stairs. I grabbed my purse off the door handle, and Nan quickly grabbed a pair of black heels she’d spotted earlier in the living room.
“I saw these earlier, you have to wear them,” she said, tossing them in my direction.
I frowned at them.
“They’re my mother’s,” I said, glancing down at the heels.
“She won’t mind,” Nan said, brushing off my concern. “You two are the same size. Plus, they’ll go perfectly with your dress.”
Reluctantly, I slipped them on. They added about an inch to my height, but they weren’t too tall. I was still sure Walter would tower over me by a good foot.
Nan gave me one last look, her approval clear, before she gestured toward the door.
“I’ll hide, you get the door,” she whispered, disappearing around the corner.
Shaking my head at her antics, I grabbed the doorknob, opening it just as he rang the bell again. Walter froze when he saw me, his eyes widening as he took in my appearance from head to toe.
“Wow,” he murmured under his breath, completely stunned. “You look…” His voice trailed off, unsure of how to put it into words.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I teased, smiling as I took in his appearance. He was dressed in a sharp suit with a red tie, his curly blonde hair neatly gelled out of his face, and his jaw freshly shaved.
He looked great—there was no denying it.
“We should go before we’re late for our reservation,” Walter said, quickly pulling his eyes from my cleavage and back to my face. I nodded, casting a glance over my shoulder at Nan, who was peeking around the corner with a toothy grin and a thumbs up.
I smiled back at her before shutting the door behind me. I followed Walter to the sleek red car waiting outside. He opened the back door for me, and I slid in. He got in behind me.
There was a young man behind the wheel who looked around Walter’s age. When he met my gaze in the rearview mirror, he gave me a friendly grin. His suit was nice, but not as sharp as Walter’s.
“Judy, this is my subordinate, friend, and future Beta, Maxwell,” Walter introduced.
“You can call me Max,” the driver said, his tone easygoing. “It’s nice to meet you. You were all this guy could talk about since meeting you this morning.”
I blushed at his words and glanced at Walter, who shot a glare at his future Beta. Max immediately shrunk in his seat, focusing on the road ahead.
“We should get going,” Max said, clearing his throat.
“Yeah, probably a good idea,” Walter grumbled, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
The rest of the drive was quiet, the tension hanging thick in the air. When we finally arrived at the restaurant, Walter rushed around the car to open my door before I even had a chance to. He took my hand gently and lifted it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to it before helping me out of the car.
I couldn’t help but smile at the gesture as I followed him into the upscale restaurant.
“A table for two under Walter Landry,” he told the hostess confidently.
Her eyes widened when she heard his name.
“Mr. Landry… it’s such an honor to have you dining with us this evening,” she said, bowing her head in respect.
Walter smiled graciously and draped an arm around my shoulders. When her eyes landed on me, however, her expression darkened before she quickly masked it with a tight smile.
“Right this way,” she said, grabbing a couple of menus and leading us through the dining area.
As we walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. My eyes scanned the room, and then, my heart dropped into my stomach.
There, across the room, I saw him. My breath caught in my throat.
What the hell was he doing here??
