Ethan pulls into the driveway and I grab my bag from the backseat, getting down.
“Bye miss!” I waved back at him, humming lightly as I walk up the porch steps.
“Ella?” I call out, dragging my feet lazily into the house. “I’m home. Ella?”
I rounded the corner into the living room and instantly stopped.
Asher is sprawled on the couch and with him are two women I have never seen before. I squint at them, folding my arms. One holds a large, professional makeup case while the other has a garment bag draped over her arm.
“Right on time, Tiny,” he smiled, Ella and went along with mom and dad.” I trailed my eyes down his body, he’s dressed in a sleek, dark suit.
My eyes darts from him to the women and back. “Asher… what is this?”
“Your transformation,” he says simply, gesturing to the women. “This is Lena and Sofia. They’re here for you.”
“Transformation into what?” I ask, my voice laced with suspicion. “A clown?”
Lena, the one with the makeup case, chuckled before switching it to a polite, professional smile, stretching her right hand for a shake. “Hello, Miss Morales. We are just here to help you get ready for the evening.”
“What evening?” I asked instead, crossing my arms.
He groaned, walking closer to me. “I told you I’m taking you somewhere this afternoon right?”
“Ohh! You should have reminded me earlier. This feels like an abduction.” I shrug. “So where are we going to?”
“It’s a surprise. A good one, I promise,” He taps my forehead gently. “But you have to trust me. Now, go with them. Upstairs. Your room.”
“I don’t trust you–especially not today!” I mumbled slumping on a chair.
The artists laugh under their breath, and before I can protest again, Sarah cheerfully hooks her arm around mine, dragging me up..
“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s make you stunning.”
I rolled my eyes with a resigned sigh, leading Lena and Sofia up the grand staircase, to my room.
As soon as we entered my room, I dropped my bag on my study table and took off my clothes, stepping into the bathroom for a bath while Sarah and Lena did their thing.
Wrapping a towel around my body, I stepped into my room, cream my body and settled into a black lace pant and matching bra.
παρει ου
Lana and Sofia waited patiently until I was through.
Lena guides me to the vanity and begins her work. I watched through the mirror as she contours my cheeks, smudges a dark, smoky kohl around my eyes, and paints my lips with a bold, matte crimson lipstick while Sarah styles my hair in a sleek, low chignon that exposes my neck, emphasizing the sharp line of my jaw.
I blink at my reflection once they get were through.
“I look― older and very pretty.” I whisper, gaping at my reflection.
“Exactly what we’re going for,” Sarah smiled winking at me.
I gasped as they opened the garment bag, bringing out a dress.
“This is not a dress I would ever pick for myself.” I whispered, staring at the dress. It’s a beautiful, very beautiful dress. It’s a backless, deep, liquid emerald green, with a sweetheart neckline, dipping just low enough to show the faintest curve of cleavage, held up by two delicate, almost invisible straps.
“Asher… chose this?” I whisper, my fingers hovering over the exquisite fabric.
“No, Mrs Morale did,” Sofia says with a knowing smile. “She wants you to look classy and pretty at the same time.
“My mom knows about this? Wow.” I smiled.
I stepped into the dress and it wrapped tight around me, hugging my curves. The waist is cinched, the fabric sculpted around my hips before flowing down in a slit that climbs high up my left thigh.
“This is insane,” I mumble.
“And stunning,” Sofia breathes, adjusting the dress properly on my body. She puts on a set of sparkly earrings on my ears, sprayed a soft sweet perfume on me and fixed a delicate bracelet on my wrist.
There’s a knock on the door. “Are you through?” Asher asked, still knocking on the door.
“I’m fine,” I mutter, “you can come in.”
Lena opens the door with a grin. “Perfect timing. Come look.”
Asher steps inside, and the moment his eyes land on me, he freezes.
For a long moment, he just stares, a slow whistle escaping his lips. “Wow. Tiny… you look…”
“Older?” I finish for him, my arms crossed over my chest.
“Incredibly beautiful,” he corrects, gaping at me. Then he grins, pulling a small, black velvet box from his pocket. “One last thing to complete the look.”
He smirks and pulls out a box from behind his back. He opens it but nestled inside is a mask. It’s a half–face mask designed to covers from my forehead down to the top of my cheek, leaving one eye fully hidden. It’s made of the same emerald silk as the dress, with tiny silver patterns sweeping across to the side.
Chapter 80
58 Vouchers
“A mask?” I ask, my heart starting to pound. “Asher, what is this? Where are we going that I need to be dressed like this and wear a mask?”
“It’s a private event, we’re representing mum and dad.” he says softly, carefully lifting the mask from its box. “It’s exclusive. Very… discreet. Now, hold still, let me help you with this.”
He steps behind me and gently secures the mask in place, his fingers brushing against my hair. I look in the mirror again.
The mask covered the top half of my face, shadowing my eyes, leaving only the bold red of my lips and the sharp line of my jaw visible.
“So the mask is for them to not recognize me right?” I press, my voice muffled slightly by the stiff silk.
“Yes,” he smiled, meeting my eyes in the reflection, his expression unreadable.
AD
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
