The Ultimate Chance-Chapter 166

Avery was almost late for her appointment. Luckily, she had booked it in a place that wasn’t far from Vaillant Telecommunications so it was only a short drive over.

When she arrived, the receptionist greeted her with a brilliant smile. "You’re finally here, Avery."

She sucked in a breath. "Am I late?"

"Not at all. Olive will show you in." The receptionist dialed some digits and called someone on her telephone, then the woman with a tag that read ’Olive’ on her chest walked over with a similar smile.

Avery wondered if one had to know how to flash a killer smile in order to be able to work here. It wouldn’t be surprising. It was a beauty parlor and spa, after all. Looking at the staff, they had to be good at their job if they ever took advantage of the services offered here.

Olive led her to a stall where her stylist was already waiting.

"You will be in good hands, I promise." Olive winked and left.

She had already explained everything she wanted in detail, so her stylist was quick to get started. But when she brought the mixed color close to her head, Avery shrunk away. "Hold on." She took a deep breath.

The woman blinked in confusion. "You asked for auburn, right?"

"Yes. It’s just...I have never colored my hair before."

"I see." The stylist smiled. "Well, you will be pleased to know that your hair is the kind that will sustain almost every kind of processing and color. It’s healthy and there’s little that can make it weaker. Besides, you have the kind of skin tone to look good with most hair colors. Just stay away from black unless you want to look as pale as a ghost."

"Okay." She chuckled, but she did remember something. "I’m pregnant. Is it still okay?" She had booked the appointment long before she found out she was pregnant.

Her stylist still had on a smile. "Don’t worry. We check all our products to ensure they are safe. But if you are in the first trimester, I think you should consult your doctor. Just for an extra layer of caution."

"It’s okay." She finally relaxed, mentally counting the months in her head. Not that she had forgotten how far along she was for a second. She and Damon were counting down the days left until they finally met the newest member of their family. With Angel kissing her stomach every morning or humming to it, she found herself counting the hours as well. She couldn’t wait to see his reaction to his newborn sibling.

She was still thinking about this while the stylist worked her magic through her hair. Soon after, a makeup artist came over and applied a myriad of products on her face, before he finally used his skill and brushes to make her look like the most beautiful version of herself she had ever seen.

The makeup was barely noticeable—he had selected a color that perfectly matched her skin tone—except the liner around her eyes that made them look brighter and highlighted the blue.

When she looked herself in the mirror, she wasn’t sure what magic he had used to make her eyelashes so thick and dark. He didn’t even use any lash extensions. Good, because those fuckers irritated her eyes way too much.

Her lipstick was almost the same shade as her new hair color. The stylist and Mina were right. She did like the look of red in her hair.

After tugging and prodding at her body for a few hours, everything was finally done. She had a new hair color, her nails were perfectly manicured, she looked like she’d just stepped out of a magazine shoot and she was cleanly shaved.

She flushed when she remembered how awkward it had felt to splay her legs open for the esthetician to slap wax strips onto the most sensitive parts of her. But again, she’d been in more revealing situations. That was nothing in comparison.

Her dress had been waiting in a box. Mina had picked it up a few days earlier and had it delivered here so Damon wouldn’t see it. He was already aware of their dinner plans and knew it was for his birthday, so she wanted to keep as much detail as possible a surprise.

When she was finally fully dressed, she couldn’t help taking another look in the full length mirror.

Her formerly blonde, mid-back length hair was now in mild, auburn waves resting on her shoulders, barely grazing her dress. It was an off-shoulder black floor-length dress with a slit running up all the way to the middle of her thigh. Beneath it, she was wearing a lace thong that she knew would drive Damon crazy. She was not wearing a bra but knowing it would be a chilly night, she threw on a sheer scarf to mask her nipples that she knew would be poking through the fabric as soon as she stepped outside.

She finally slid on her strappy heels and was surprised by how comfortable they were. Mina had told her about this brand of heels for pregnant women that was supposedly so comfortable and safe that you wouldn’t know you were wearing heels, and she had thought her friend was exaggerating. Now she was starting to understand why Mina was still able to strut around in five-inch-heels.

Hers weren’t that high. She still wanted to be able to dance.

Damon was already at the restaurant with the kids when she arrived and his reaction was more spectacular than she expected.

"Oh my God, baby." He groaned, taking her in from head to toe. "You look...God, I can’t find a word good enough to describe how you look. Phenomenal doesn’t quite cut it."

She had dressed up for him and expected this kind of reaction but she still flushed. "Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself. You clean up nicely."

She caught sight of Angel and Aubrey and gushed. "Don’t you two look cute?"

Aubrey was wearing the blue dress Avery had chosen for her, with a crystal barrette in her hair and shoes that were so clear they almost looked like Cinderella’s glass slippers.

"I am Cinderella." She announced with a giggle.

"You look so beautiful." Avery kissed her cheek, then Angel’s. He was wearing a tux almost identical to Damon’s, only his was blue while Damon’s was black.

She straightened up and kissed Damon. "Happy birthday, my love. Shall we?"

He took her hand and led the way, guiding the kids along.

They were dressed like they just came from a regal banquet of sorts but they certainly didn’t look out of place in the restaurant. The patrons were mostly similarly dressed, men in suits and ties and women in either equally prim and proper business outfits or dresses that looked like they could cost millions.

They didn’t often dine at such fancy restaurants but it was the first time they were celebrating Damon’s birthday together. Avery had decided to go all out.

She had already preordered their food and a birthday cake. Soon after they sat down, the former was wheeled over to their booth on a trolley.

"You even went all out with candles." He gushed. "Thank you, my love."

She winked, noticing that Angel and Aubrey were too busy flipping through the menu and arguing over which flavor of cake she had ordered to notice them. She took advantage of the chance to whisper to him, "you will get that chance later."

"Oh yeah?" He groaned, knowing she was up to something naughty. He felt her legs shift under the table and before he could realize what she was doing, she was stuffing something into his palm.

He felt it with his fingers and although he already guessed what she was giving him, he was taken by surprise. He had the strongest urge to sniff it but had to restrain himself. He slipped it into his pocket, feeling the wetness.

As if it wasn’t enough that she was turning a birthday present into birthday torture, she lowered her voice even more and added, "I got waxed."

He cursed under his breath. This woman was driving him crazy.

He put up a serious face through dinner, but it was pure torture to eat anything when what he wanted to eat was something he couldn’t have in the presence of the kids.

She knew exactly what she was doing, because when dinner was done and the birthday cake was brought out, she once again leaned over to whisper to him, "do you know what my favorite way to eat cake is?"

"Don’t even say it." He warned, to which she chuckled.

"Angel and I made you a gift, Uncle Damon." Aubrey spoke, cutting through their banter. She then opened her little purse and took out a box, which she gave to Damon with a nervous smile.

He opened it and smiled when he saw the miniature canvas painting of him.

"It’s lovely. Thank you. I’ll put it on my desk."