The Sweet Edge Read Online Free PDF Page A

them. Believe me. Now let's get to work."
    The hairdresser clipped, combed and sprayed while Jane flipped through magazines. Occasionally she would eye Stella and give a thumbs up. Stella smiled tightly at her. She didn't like change. She didn't like fuss. The whole makeover experience was change and fuss. Stella thought, for the hundredth time, that Campbell won't notice a thing. He will buy her dinner, talk about work, she will thank him for the meal and then they will part ways. Good. Stella let her thoughts wander to Ben. Ben is who she wanted to impress. Not the mean, drunk Mr. Royce. Stella wanted Ben to notice her. To desire her. Ben was who she longed for.
    "Done."
    Stella looked up. "Can I see?"
    "Of course." The hairdresser swung the chair around.
    Stella stared at her image. Her hair bounced around her shoulders. There was a slight curl on the ends and her new bangs were wispy and girlish. Her hair feathered out fanning her face. Her hair was also blonder. Not a trace of beige. Golden and fair.
    "Do you like?" The hairdresser looked at her expectantly.
    "Yes." Stella was happy. Her hair had never looked quite as shiny, healthy or full of springiness. "You did wonderful."
    Jane squealed. She hugged the hairdresser. "You are a magician."
    "You know it." The hairdresser had a huge smile on his face.
    Early Saturday evening Jane called shortly after her and Stella had parted ways from the hair stylist. She did not sound well.
    "What's wrong?" asked Stella.
    "Kyle just broke up with me. I’m devastated."
    "Didn't you only go on one date? I didn't know you two were together."
    "We had a connection." Jane started crying.
    "I'm sorry. Do you want me to come over?"
    "No! I look awful. My eyes are puffy and you have a date."
    "Not a date."
    "Stop. Tell me about it when you get home. I'll be here. Drowning in wine. Don't forget to wear makeup. You look smashing in makeup. Bye bye."
    Stella stared in the mirror. She opened her dresser drawer and pulled out a small velvet bag. Inside was pots of color. Makeup from Mac, Bobbi Brown, Lancome and Chanel. Stella had been buying it over the past year, waiting for an opportunity to use it. Daily work grind did not seem like an opportunity. Even on the days she saw Ben, it didn't seem worth it. Stella sighed.
    "Now or never," she said aloud.
    Stella busied herself with shadowing, brushing, glossing and highlighting her face. She struggled to line her eyes evenly and spent close to ten minutes trying to apply the kohl black liner. But it was worth it. Her eyes, light gray, looked larger and mysterious. Stella was pleased. She thought she looked pretty. She was hesitant to say beautiful. She put on the dress, hanging in plastic on her bathroom door, slid on her heels and secured the pearl necklace her deceased grandmother had left her. Stella looked in the mirror.
    "Wow," she said. She was suitably impressed and felt a sudden rush of confidence.
    Her phone rang. "Hello?"
    "This is your driver. I'm down stairs. Would you like me to come up and escort you down?"
    "No. I'll be right down."
    Stella grabbed her coat, her silver clutch, turned off her apartment lights and hurried down the stairs. She was in a fourth floor walkup and hated the climb up and down, but consoled herself that at least she was getting exercise.
    The black Lincoln was parked on the street with its blinkers on. There was a tall man in a black suit standing by the back passenger door.
    "Good evening," he said and opened the door.
    Stella smiled and got in. The driver closed the door and then got into the front seat and gently pulled away from the curb. Stella normally used the subway and the bus. Occasionally she got a taxi if she was too tired to deal with public transportation. She had never had a chauffeured ride in New York City. Leaning back against the leather seat, she watched as the city glided past. Stella lived in the lower east side and Clair De Lune was in Chelsea. It would take some time to reach the