Taylor, Maddy, Lindsay and Stella got out of Stella’s car and crossed the road to enter the building which housed the New York Daily. Taylor led them through the maze of corridors to Gary’s office. It was a large room – or, it would have been, had it not been full to the brim of racks of clothes, and boxes of shoes – which overlooked the street below.
Taylor ushered them in and unearthed the couch (which was buried below a mountain of clothes) for the other three women to sit on. “Unfortunately, this room is always like this – he didn’t actually bring all of these clothes in especially.”
“Ladies!” Gary exclaimed from the doorway, before walking over and kissing each woman on the cheek as Taylor introduced him to Stella and Lindsay. “You are all beautiful women,” he told them. “And beautiful women don’t deserve to wait to go to the ball. You first, my dear,” he grabbed Lindsay, pulling her to her feet. “Black and Gold.” He went to a rack and pulled a gown off of it
“That’s beautiful,” Lindsay gasped, taking it off him and running her fingers over the tulle netting which covered the sequined skirt below.
“Now, normally, I don’t like giving a girl something as sparkly as this, but when they have eyes like yours, I know that the dress won’t steal the attention away from them – only compliment them. Now, you’re going to have to wear heels, to stop the dress drowning you, and the straight neckline will look divine on you.”
“We’re not your readers,” grinned Taylor. “You don’t need to sell us the dress.”
“I know, but it will make you feel more special,” Gary said, walking over to the stack of boxes. “I take it you’re a six?” he asked. Lindsay nodded, and he pulled out a pair of heeled sandals, with just the one sparkly strap. “You need something like these with that skirt.” He took the dress back off her and hung it up on an empty rack. “You can try it on, once your hair and make-up is done.”
Lindsay smiled, her eyes sparkling like a little girl on Christmas morning.
“Maddy, darling,” said Gary, turning his attention to the blonde. “When are you going to realise that you look so much better as a brunette? Let the world admire that Cuban in you.”
Maddy smiled. “Thank you, Gary, but Pete prefers me as a blonde.”
Gary, who didn’t know about Pete, shrugged and turned to a rack. “This one, my darling,” he told her, plucking a floaty number in several shades of blue. “I know how playful you are, and this has just enough sparkle to it too.”
“Gary, it’s lovely, but I’m more of a hot pink kind of girl,” said Maddy as she dubiously held the number up against her.
“It’s an award ceremony, Maddy. It’s not your prom with the end game of losing your virginity,” Gary chided her.
Maddy pulled a face. “I lost my virginity long before prom,” she corrected him, breaking into a grin. “Prom was fun, not messy.”
“Well consider this your graduation in front of your parents,” Gary said with a frown.
“Oh, I had fun at graduation too,” Maddy told him.
“Maddy!” Taylor exclaimed. “You promised me you would behave.”
“I did behave,” Maddy smiled innocently. “I used protection.”
“Okay,” Gary interrupted them. “Maddy, I don’t have a hot pink dress in my collection. Please trust me when I say this will look fabulous next to your skin colouring, and in addition, the sweetheart neckline will make you look demure and graceful.”
“You’re the expert,” sighed Maddy as he took the dress off her and hung it next to Lindsay’s.
“I also remembered you love for stilettos,” he pulled out another pair of sandals and put them with the dress. Gary turned his attention to Stella. “My dear, your curls are fabulous. I am so happy to see a woman who loves them and doesn’t spend hours hiding them with the straighteners.” He looked pointedly Taylor. “For you, I think Grecian and purple. Elegance demands elegance.”
Stella smiled. “I already feel spoiled and I haven’t even seen the dress.”
“Well let’s not keep you waiting.” Gary smiled and plucked another gown from the rack. “A symmetrical draping from the fitted bodice to opposite waist will create a look of sleek elegance, while the jewelled bands that cross the bodice sparkle, drawing the eye down the clean lines of this glittering dress and over that fabulous figure of yours.”
“Even the way you describe it sends shivers down my spine,” murmured Stella, fingering the fabric.
“No, it will be you who sends the shivers down the men’s spines,” Gary assured her.
“Are you sure you’re not straight?” Maddy chuckled.
“And now for the guest of honour at tonight’s event. Tonight you are star of the show and you shall thus dress like one.” He turned and pulled one last dress out.
Taylor let out a gasp, as did the three other women. “Gary, I can’t wear that. It must cost a fortune.”
Gary smiled, “I wouldn’t expect my star in anything else. This, Taylor,” he held the gown up, “is for you. Strapless, ruched bust line and fitted dropped waistline. This divine little number will reveal your lovely figure with its sexy sweetheart neckline and mid back design.”
Taylor fingered the intricate embroidered detail which ran across the gown’s bodice. “Gary, this is beautiful. If it were white, I would want it as my wedding dress.”
“Well, it’s a good job its grey, isn’t it?” Said Maddy.
“It’s called titanium,” said Gary, defensively.
“Isn’t that just a fancy way of saying it’s grey?” Maddy asked him.
Gary frowned at her. “Do you still want to wear that dress I picked out for you?”
Maddy wrapped her arms around him. “Of course I do, darling. If you want to call it titanium, it’s titanium.”
Gary turned to Stella. “Aren’t you glad you don’t have to work with her?”
Stella smiled. “She reminds me of someone I used to work with – all attitude.”
“Well, my darlings, we can’t have you going to the ball without your hair done.”
“Huh?” asked Stella.
“Sorry,” said Taylor sheepishly, “I thought I told you we were going to get hair and make-up done as well.”
“You told me, if that makes you feel any better?” said Lindsay – her eyes were still sparkling excitedly.
“Follow me, ladies.” Gary led them out of his office and down the corridor to another office. This one, Taylor noted, had been set up like a salon. She wondered if Smith, from the finance section actually knew what Gary had done to his office. Probably not. Gary led each of the women to their own private cubicle, where a hair artist was waiting – straighteners and curling irons at the ready. Taylor settle back into her chair and waited for her stylist to work his magic.
Taylor ushered them in and unearthed the couch (which was buried below a mountain of clothes) for the other three women to sit on. “Unfortunately, this room is always like this – he didn’t actually bring all of these clothes in especially.”
“Ladies!” Gary exclaimed from the doorway, before walking over and kissing each woman on the cheek as Taylor introduced him to Stella and Lindsay. “You are all beautiful women,” he told them. “And beautiful women don’t deserve to wait to go to the ball. You first, my dear,” he grabbed Lindsay, pulling her to her feet. “Black and Gold.” He went to a rack and pulled a gown off of it
“That’s beautiful,” Lindsay gasped, taking it off him and running her fingers over the tulle netting which covered the sequined skirt below.
“Now, normally, I don’t like giving a girl something as sparkly as this, but when they have eyes like yours, I know that the dress won’t steal the attention away from them – only compliment them. Now, you’re going to have to wear heels, to stop the dress drowning you, and the straight neckline will look divine on you.”
“We’re not your readers,” grinned Taylor. “You don’t need to sell us the dress.”
“I know, but it will make you feel more special,” Gary said, walking over to the stack of boxes. “I take it you’re a six?” he asked. Lindsay nodded, and he pulled out a pair of heeled sandals, with just the one sparkly strap. “You need something like these with that skirt.” He took the dress back off her and hung it up on an empty rack. “You can try it on, once your hair and make-up is done.”
Lindsay smiled, her eyes sparkling like a little girl on Christmas morning.
“Maddy, darling,” said Gary, turning his attention to the blonde. “When are you going to realise that you look so much better as a brunette? Let the world admire that Cuban in you.”
Maddy smiled. “Thank you, Gary, but Pete prefers me as a blonde.”
Gary, who didn’t know about Pete, shrugged and turned to a rack. “This one, my darling,” he told her, plucking a floaty number in several shades of blue. “I know how playful you are, and this has just enough sparkle to it too.”
“Gary, it’s lovely, but I’m more of a hot pink kind of girl,” said Maddy as she dubiously held the number up against her.
“It’s an award ceremony, Maddy. It’s not your prom with the end game of losing your virginity,” Gary chided her.
Maddy pulled a face. “I lost my virginity long before prom,” she corrected him, breaking into a grin. “Prom was fun, not messy.”
“Well consider this your graduation in front of your parents,” Gary said with a frown.
“Oh, I had fun at graduation too,” Maddy told him.
“Maddy!” Taylor exclaimed. “You promised me you would behave.”
“I did behave,” Maddy smiled innocently. “I used protection.”
“Okay,” Gary interrupted them. “Maddy, I don’t have a hot pink dress in my collection. Please trust me when I say this will look fabulous next to your skin colouring, and in addition, the sweetheart neckline will make you look demure and graceful.”
“You’re the expert,” sighed Maddy as he took the dress off her and hung it next to Lindsay’s.
“I also remembered you love for stilettos,” he pulled out another pair of sandals and put them with the dress. Gary turned his attention to Stella. “My dear, your curls are fabulous. I am so happy to see a woman who loves them and doesn’t spend hours hiding them with the straighteners.” He looked pointedly Taylor. “For you, I think Grecian and purple. Elegance demands elegance.”
Stella smiled. “I already feel spoiled and I haven’t even seen the dress.”
“Well let’s not keep you waiting.” Gary smiled and plucked another gown from the rack. “A symmetrical draping from the fitted bodice to opposite waist will create a look of sleek elegance, while the jewelled bands that cross the bodice sparkle, drawing the eye down the clean lines of this glittering dress and over that fabulous figure of yours.”
“Even the way you describe it sends shivers down my spine,” murmured Stella, fingering the fabric.
“No, it will be you who sends the shivers down the men’s spines,” Gary assured her.
“Are you sure you’re not straight?” Maddy chuckled.
“And now for the guest of honour at tonight’s event. Tonight you are star of the show and you shall thus dress like one.” He turned and pulled one last dress out.
Taylor let out a gasp, as did the three other women. “Gary, I can’t wear that. It must cost a fortune.”
Gary smiled, “I wouldn’t expect my star in anything else. This, Taylor,” he held the gown up, “is for you. Strapless, ruched bust line and fitted dropped waistline. This divine little number will reveal your lovely figure with its sexy sweetheart neckline and mid back design.”
Taylor fingered the intricate embroidered detail which ran across the gown’s bodice. “Gary, this is beautiful. If it were white, I would want it as my wedding dress.”
“Well, it’s a good job its grey, isn’t it?” Said Maddy.
“It’s called titanium,” said Gary, defensively.
“Isn’t that just a fancy way of saying it’s grey?” Maddy asked him.
Gary frowned at her. “Do you still want to wear that dress I picked out for you?”
Maddy wrapped her arms around him. “Of course I do, darling. If you want to call it titanium, it’s titanium.”
Gary turned to Stella. “Aren’t you glad you don’t have to work with her?”
Stella smiled. “She reminds me of someone I used to work with – all attitude.”
“Well, my darlings, we can’t have you going to the ball without your hair done.”
“Huh?” asked Stella.
“Sorry,” said Taylor sheepishly, “I thought I told you we were going to get hair and make-up done as well.”
“You told me, if that makes you feel any better?” said Lindsay – her eyes were still sparkling excitedly.
“Follow me, ladies.” Gary led them out of his office and down the corridor to another office. This one, Taylor noted, had been set up like a salon. She wondered if Smith, from the finance section actually knew what Gary had done to his office. Probably not. Gary led each of the women to their own private cubicle, where a hair artist was waiting – straighteners and curling irons at the ready. Taylor settle back into her chair and waited for her stylist to work his magic.
* * *
“Wow.” Taylor turned to her best friend and smiled. She was all dressed up, including a small tiara settled on a mass of curls. Gary had insisted that she wear her hair down and curly – something her stylist had also agree with. “Gary was right; you do suit platinum, or whatever colour it was.”
“You look like a princess,” said Stella.
Taylor turned to look at the other three women. Maddy actually pulled off her number, her hair straight, sleek, and pinned up. Stella certainly didn’t look her age, and had Frankie been able to make it that evening, he would certainly been impressed. As for Lindsay, black and gold were most definitely her colour. Perhaps a certain other person there tonight would actually notice her. Although, mused Taylor, he had just been dumped by a girlfriend. Frankly, Taylor thought she paled in comparison to the others.
“Your limo is here, ladies,” said Gary, appearing at the doorway.
“There’s a limo, as well?” Lindsay exclaimed in excitement. “You’re really getting the star treatment, aren’t you, Taylor?”
“Taylor here, has just bought a huge amount of publicity to the paper which money can’t buy,” Gary told the younger CSI proudly. Taylor smiled and followed him out to the awaiting limousine.
“I feel like it’s my prom night all over,” said Maddy.
“Well, I didn’t have a date then, so I guess it’s pretty similar,” Taylor pondered thoughtfully.
“I thought you asked Marty,” said Maddy, slyly – she knew Taylor hadn’t told Stella or Lindsay this.
“Marty? As in Marty Pino? Our coroner?” asked Stella.
Taylor blushed. “Well, I asked Mac, Danny, Sheldon and Flack, as well.”
“Yeah, but they weren’t asked as the intention of being your date, were they?” Maddy piped up, earning a death glare from her best friend.
“I didn’t ask Marty as my date,” objected Taylor.
“I thought you were going to?” Maddy continued, regardless of the stares she was getting.
“Hang on, you like Marty?” asked Lindsay in surprise.
“I don’t know. We live together,” Taylor shrugged.
“You live with Marty?” Stella asked. “How long has that been the case?”
“About two or three weeks after we arrested Darius,” Lindsay told her.
“That was months ago! Why am I just hearing about it now?” Stella demanded.
“Whoa, hold up and rewind!” interrupted Maddy, her hands in the air. The three women turned to look at her. “Did you chicken out of asking him out again?”
“You were going to ask him out?” asked Stella, still looking a little surprised.
“Yeah, she was,” Maddy told her before Taylor could answer – Taylor sent her another glare.
“Oh, I always thought that … hmmm, I guess I should stop working on that one,” she muttered to herself.
“No, I wasn’t going to ask him out, Stella,” Taylor interjected, still glaring at Maddy. “I wanted him to come, and I do like him, I feel really comfortable around him. I don’t want to spoil that, though, and I don’t think he’s ready for the same kind of relationship I am… besides, he’s never given any indication as to wanting anything more.”
“He’s a guy, of course he has thought about something more,” said Maddy, rolling her eyes.
Taylor rolled her eyes. “Not the same kind of more that I’m after, ho-bag.”
“Ho-bag?” questioned Lindsay with a giggle.
“Sophomore year of high school – she was ho-bag, I was…” Taylor mumbled the last bit.
“Nancy Drew!” exclaimed Maddy, loudly.
Stella and Lindsay burst out laughing.
“Don’t tell Danny or Flack that, please.” Taylor begged.
“I don’t know, that’s too good not to,” chuckled Stella.
“Come on,” she pleaded. “You wouldn’t be wearing that dress if it weren’t for me.”
“Don’t worry,” Lindsay assured her. “Your secret is safe with us.”
“You look like a princess,” said Stella.
Taylor turned to look at the other three women. Maddy actually pulled off her number, her hair straight, sleek, and pinned up. Stella certainly didn’t look her age, and had Frankie been able to make it that evening, he would certainly been impressed. As for Lindsay, black and gold were most definitely her colour. Perhaps a certain other person there tonight would actually notice her. Although, mused Taylor, he had just been dumped by a girlfriend. Frankly, Taylor thought she paled in comparison to the others.
“Your limo is here, ladies,” said Gary, appearing at the doorway.
“There’s a limo, as well?” Lindsay exclaimed in excitement. “You’re really getting the star treatment, aren’t you, Taylor?”
“Taylor here, has just bought a huge amount of publicity to the paper which money can’t buy,” Gary told the younger CSI proudly. Taylor smiled and followed him out to the awaiting limousine.
“I feel like it’s my prom night all over,” said Maddy.
“Well, I didn’t have a date then, so I guess it’s pretty similar,” Taylor pondered thoughtfully.
“I thought you asked Marty,” said Maddy, slyly – she knew Taylor hadn’t told Stella or Lindsay this.
“Marty? As in Marty Pino? Our coroner?” asked Stella.
Taylor blushed. “Well, I asked Mac, Danny, Sheldon and Flack, as well.”
“Yeah, but they weren’t asked as the intention of being your date, were they?” Maddy piped up, earning a death glare from her best friend.
“I didn’t ask Marty as my date,” objected Taylor.
“I thought you were going to?” Maddy continued, regardless of the stares she was getting.
“Hang on, you like Marty?” asked Lindsay in surprise.
“I don’t know. We live together,” Taylor shrugged.
“You live with Marty?” Stella asked. “How long has that been the case?”
“About two or three weeks after we arrested Darius,” Lindsay told her.
“That was months ago! Why am I just hearing about it now?” Stella demanded.
“Whoa, hold up and rewind!” interrupted Maddy, her hands in the air. The three women turned to look at her. “Did you chicken out of asking him out again?”
“You were going to ask him out?” asked Stella, still looking a little surprised.
“Yeah, she was,” Maddy told her before Taylor could answer – Taylor sent her another glare.
“Oh, I always thought that … hmmm, I guess I should stop working on that one,” she muttered to herself.
“No, I wasn’t going to ask him out, Stella,” Taylor interjected, still glaring at Maddy. “I wanted him to come, and I do like him, I feel really comfortable around him. I don’t want to spoil that, though, and I don’t think he’s ready for the same kind of relationship I am… besides, he’s never given any indication as to wanting anything more.”
“He’s a guy, of course he has thought about something more,” said Maddy, rolling her eyes.
Taylor rolled her eyes. “Not the same kind of more that I’m after, ho-bag.”
“Ho-bag?” questioned Lindsay with a giggle.
“Sophomore year of high school – she was ho-bag, I was…” Taylor mumbled the last bit.
“Nancy Drew!” exclaimed Maddy, loudly.
Stella and Lindsay burst out laughing.
“Don’t tell Danny or Flack that, please.” Taylor begged.
“I don’t know, that’s too good not to,” chuckled Stella.
“Come on,” she pleaded. “You wouldn’t be wearing that dress if it weren’t for me.”
“Don’t worry,” Lindsay assured her. “Your secret is safe with us.”
Originally posted: 03/06/2006