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Date Posted: 05:19:48 12/22/07 Sat
Author: Hannah
Author Host/IP: port153.dialup.bfree.on.ca / 66.207.116.153
Subject: Northern Woods, Chapter 131
In reply to: Hannah 's message, "Northern Woods" on 05:18:11 12/22/07 Sat

Chapter 131

Two days after Lakeisha’s date, Nikita telephoned Madeleine at the office. Michael had left early for work, and Adam was still asleep.

“May I speak to Madeleine please?” Nikita inquired politely when a male voice identifying himself as Simon answered.

“And you are?” a bored sounding Simon inquired.

“Oh I’m sorry. My name is Nikita Samuelle.” The blonde replied.

“Oui Madame.” Simon said, falling all over himself in his haste to impress their best client’s wife. “I’ll put you right through to speak to her.”

Putting the call on hold, Simon buzzed his boss.

“Yes Simon? A distracted Madeleine responded.

“Nikita Samuelle is on line one.” Simon professionally replied.

“Thank you.” Madeleine responded and immediately picked up the call.

‘Why is she calling me here I wonder?’ Madeleine thought as she took a breath and began, “Yes Nikita? How can I help you?”

“I’m sorry to bother you at the office Madeleine,” Nikita began, hoping she wasn’t being too forward, “but Michael wants Lakeisha and I and to go shopping for dresses for the party. He said he’d be back at noon so he could watch Adam and I thought I’d call you for some advice.”

“Oh?” Madeleine replied with a smile, “what kind of advice?”

“Shopping advice. I’m sorry, but I haven’t any idea where to go and I thought perhaps you might be able to give me the names of a few good shops to go to.” Nikita replied.

Madeleine smiled indulgently. “No, of course you wouldn’t know any local shops. There are many… and there’s also a lot of designer houses here in Montreal, but those require an appointment.”

“Designer houses?” Nikita echoed in dismay. “Oh, I couldn’t Madeleine!”

“Why ever not?” Madeleine responded. “Michel would expect you to.”

“It’s just too much, Madeleine.” Nikita responded softly in a horrified tone. “Besides, I wouldn’t feel comfortable in a place like that.”

Madeleine smiled tolerantly. ‘And I was worried about her being a gold-digger! If anything, she’s the opposite. How many women would worry about frequenting a designer house if they were married to a billionaire?’

“Nikita, you must.” Madeleine insisted. “The other women at the party will purchase their gowns from Montreal’s designers. As the guest of honour, you need to be attired as elegantly as they are.”

“Well, it’s probably too late to make an appointment and have a dress ready for this weekend.” Nikita said in relief.

“Actually, you have an appointment already with the head man at Alfred Sung’s design house here in Montreal. Michel asked me to set it up for you. He knew that you’d refuse to go on your own.” Madeleine said with a smirk.

“He what?” Nikita said in surprise. “Madeleine, no! I can’t!”

“Of course you can, Nikita.” Madeleine said with a chuckle.
“You do have a credit card, don’t you?”

“Yes, Michael gave me a new platinum Visa card this morning with my name on it, but that’s not what I meant.” Nikita admitted. “How did he get this so fast, anyway?”

“He knows someone who works there.” Madeleine replied vaguely. “I believe he ordered it when you were in Toronto.”

‘That was only last week!’ Nikita thought in amazement.

“Are you certain I need to go to a designer’s Madeleine? Surely there are other places where I could buy a nice dress.” Nikita continued.

“Of course there are. There are a lot of fabulous boutiques on Rue Laurier and on Rue Saint-Denis too and you’ll be able to shop at any one of them you wish to later. However, Michel would prefer if you dealt with Alfred Sung’s design house for the purposes of this party.” Madeleine explained.

“I don’t understand.” Nikita said softly.

“Simple, elegance is required for this party Nikita. If you must, blame me.” Madeleine said with a slight sigh. “I made the suggestion to Michel for you to go there. Besides, Michael and Alfred are good friends.”

“Really?” an awestruck Nikita replied. She had seen pictures of the designer in magazines, but she’d never expected to know someone who knew someone that famous.

“Yes really.” Madeleine replied seriously.

“Is that why you suggested I should go there?” Nikita asked.

“Partly. As you said earlier, you don’t know what’s available in Montreal in women’s fashions. I know that a lot of the women who will be at the party will shop there. Alfred’s fashions are simple, classic styles combined with brilliant colour.” Madeleine explained. “Besides, Alfred would be hurt if his friend’s wife didn’t visit his design house.”

“Oh.” Nikita responded in a small voice. She didn’t want to cause any friction between Michael and his friends.

You’ll love the clothes there Nikita and someone as beautiful as you will show those clothes off to perfection.” Madeleine stated assuredly.

“Thank you for the complement Madeleine, but is this really necessary?” Nikita responded.

“Yes. If it wasn’t necessary, Michel wouldn’t be asking you to do this.” Madeleine maintained firmly.

“Okay…. Is this one of those ‘perception’ things?” Nikita queried.

“Perception things?” Madeleine said; puzzled.

“You know, creating a good first impression by spending a lot of money.” Nikita said.

“Yes. It’s important that you do this for Michel and you needn’t be so shy.” Madeleine confirmed. “You’ll have fun, Nikita. Trust me. You and Lakeisha are expected there this afternoon at two.”

“But…” the blonde stuttered.

“But nothing.” Madeleine said firmly. “Nikita… quit worrying so much. Michel wants you to do this and you need to do this, for him.”

“For him?” Nikita said, puzzled by Madeleine’s logic.

“Yes, for him.” Madeleine said kindly. “Michel loves you and he wants you to look your best in front of all your guests on Saturday. You want to look your best for him, don’t you?”

“Of course.” Nikita answered meekly.

“Good.” Madeleine replied firmly. “Go… have fun. You’ll be assisted by Mick Schtoppel, who is the man in charge there.”

“I don’t know about this, Madeleine.” Nikita said, stalling.

“You’ll be fine, Nikita.” Madeleine replied. “There are several female assistants there at all times and Mick is harmless.”

“What do you mean by that?” Nikita asked.

“You’ll see.” Madeleine said mysteriously. “Now call Lakeisha and get your new bodyguard to escort both of you to 3572 Rue de la Montagne. Michel’s chauffeur will know the way.”

~~~~~~~~
Michael had been prompt in returning to the penthouse, and the three of them had enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the hotel’s dining room. It had been difficult for Nikita to question him regarding her conversation with Madeleine with Adam present, so she decided to drop the subject until later. In the meantime, she enjoyed watching him with Adam.

“Daddy’s going to take me to the park!” Adam crowed happily as he stuffed the rest of his sandwich in his mouth.

“Is that right?” Nikita asked, smiling indulgently at the happy, dark-haired tyke.

“Yes.” Adam said importantly. “And then we’re going out for ice cream. Right, Daddy?”

“If you want Adam.” Michael said while watching Nikita’s face seriously.

“Is Mommy coming too?” Adam hopefully inquired of his father.

“No, I’m sorry Adam.” Michael said quietly. “Today it’s just you and me.”

“Why?” the tot asked anxiously.

When informed that Lakeisha and she were going shopping that afternoon, Adam’s little face fell.

“Mommy, why are you going shopping? I want you to come to the park with me and Daddy.” Adam asked looking in Nikita’s direction with a trembling pout.

“I’d like that too Adam sweetie, but I can’t this time.” Nikita replied softly.

“Why?” Adam demanded as tears formed in his eyes.

“Remember that party your Daddy said he and I had to go to?” Nikita said with a slight smile as she took a tissue from her purse and gently dried his eyes.

Adam nodded, while staring intently into the blue eyes his father loved.

“Well, I need a new dress for it. So does Lakeisha, so we’re both going shopping today while you and Daddy go to the park.” Nikita replied.

Michael sighed in contentment; watching her quiet face lovingly while she focused intently on Adam.

‘Mon Dieu.. Not only is she a feast for the eyes, but she’s a genuinely loving person.’ Michael thought in awe as he gazed at his wife appreciatively.

Right now, Nikita was dressed in a charming, but simply cut rose coloured suit that he’d bought for her in Toronto. She had accessorized this deceptively expensive outfit with a cream coloured lacy silk blouse and matching pumps. Her beautiful face was discreetly adorned with delicate touches of flattering makeup and her gold crucifix rested softly on her silk clad breast. The soft and brilliant hair he loved to bury his face in was stylishly arranged in a simple chignon. It was a devastatingly simple outfit and he marvelled that every day she seemed more beautiful.

Michael sat back in the dining room chair, watching with pride as several men passed their table and gave him envious looks. Everyone saw her beauty… everyone but her. She was elegant and modest all at once, and he knew he’d never stop loving her.

This party was to be her debut to Montreal’s society but he wanted it to be so much more than that. Before she left this afternoon, he planned to ask her to agree to a request that he hoped would make it a special night that they’d always remember.

In anticipation of her agreement, he’d gone ahead and made several special arrangements to make the occasion memorable. Michael sighed slightly as he planned how he could explain this latest whim of his without it seeming like an insult.

Her trip today would involve her choosing a gown but he had commissioned another for her as well. This gown, while not a wedding gown, would be as elegant, and he would set it aside for later in the evening. For their special moment. He was determined that she would shine like the jewel she was in the midst of all his friends and associates. His only fear was that he was overstepping and that she would be upset with him when she found out what he’d done.

No, it wasn’t that he didn’t like her sense of fashion, but her tastes tended towards the understated. Normally that didn’t bother him in the least, because it was a reflection of the simple, loving soul she was.

Now as he sat here admiring his beautiful wife, he sighed once again as he considered his dilemma. He was thankful that Madeleine had called him before he’d left the office earlier. She had gently forewarned him that Nikita was a little upset with him over his choice of where he’d like her to shop this afternoon, but it couldn’t be helped. He knew that his modest bride would never pick such ‘an extravagant place’ to shop willingly, but this once, it was important that she did. He knew too, that his ego was a huge factor in this decision, but he didn’t want his angel to be embarrassed in any way.

If there was one thing he had learned about women, it was that what they wore was often a weapon, as well as a statement. He didn’t want the “vipers” he’d dated before to be able to say that what she wore was inferior to their gowns. They’d be there that night, although now he wished that was not the case. They’d be preening their ‘feathers’ and dressed in their most expensive gowns and Michael knew that they would be cattily comparing what they wore to whatever she did. The fact that they would make their initial assessment of Nikita based on her appearance made him sigh in disgust.

He knew their real motivation would be trying to ‘outdo’ his angel and the thought sickened him. It also made him laugh. None of them could even come close to the radiance that flowed from her.

“We’ll have fun, Adam.” Michael promised. “You’ll see.”

Michael continued to gaze lovingly at his bride while she spoke. He loved her so much. He also regretted marrying her at the backwoods church and not in a grand ceremony in Montreal. An angel like her should have had an elegant wedding, no matter how much she protested it wasn’t necessary.

Because of that, he wanted to renew their vows in front of all his guests, and had even invited Father Philipe from St. Vincent’s to attend the party. The priest was an old friend of his parents and had seemed delighted when Michael had called and explained why he wished him to attend. Now all he had to do was get her to agree to the ceremony and think of a way for her to agree to wear the gown he’d chosen for her.

Michael knew he was asking a lot of the design house, but that didn’t stop him from asking. He also knew his ‘request’ was short notice, but he wasn’t worried. Given the monetary motivation he’d given him, Michael had complete faith that the Mick would see that two ravishing gowns were ready in time for Nikita. Lakeisha would be assured of a designer gown as well. Michael grinned a self-satisfied smile. Sometimes, being rich was a lot of fun.
~~~~~~~~

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