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Ettore, Bonnie, Saro, and Clip laughed under their breath.
Franco chuckled. “All right, that’s enough.”
“While I’m being held in captivity, this is a nice change of scenery. You know, since I’m locked in my room ninety percent of the time.”
He stood at my side, possessively holding my hip. “Don’t do this here, sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart,” I bit out through a framed smile.
“Who normally attends galas with you?”
“Escorts,” he responded.
His eyes met mine. “Why use an escort service when I have a beautiful woman whose cinnamon skin shimmers under the light.”
Did he really think my skin tone was beautiful? My smile rose and fell.
“I’m sure you hear how pretty your brown skin is all the time,” Franco said.
I swallowed passed what felt like dry toast in my throat. Raising a hand, I flagged down a server.
A woman balancing a tray on her palm approached. Her smile was infectious. I removed a flute filled with champagne from the tray.
“Your skin looks radiant,” the server replied.
What was the name of that body cream Bonnie suggested I use? It was getting all the attention tonight.
The server shared a similar complexion with my evil half-sisters.
I forced a smile. “Thank you.”
“Would you like hors d'oeuvres?” she asked.
“Yes, please,” I responded.
“I’ll be right back.” She weaved through the sea of people.
“First you compliment my skin tone, then the waitress. Franco, did you ask the staff to compliment me?”
Bonnie’s mouth dropped open as she glanced between Franco and me.
Franco’s lips pursed together. “No, I’d never do that.”
I swallowed the champagne in one gulp. “Bonnie, will you escort me to the restroom, please?”
“Yes.”
Ettore took the empty glass from my hand. Holding my head high, I strutted toward the restroom. The voices with less than pleasurable things to say clawed their way up my neck, then hovered around my ears. “They pity you. That’s why they say you have beautiful skin. Girl, you know that’s a lie. You are the color of ground cinnamon for Pete’s sake. Who in their right mind finds cinnamon attractive?”
My fist flew to my chest as I tore through the door. Once I reached the counter, my fingertips scratched the cool surface.
“Kennedy, you weren’t supposed to follow me inside. It’s important I sweep the restroom first. You have to get used to that procedure.”
Never meeting her gaze, I nodded.
She stepped beside me. “Who said you’re ugly?”
My eyes flicked to hers and my lower lip trembled. I shook my head.
