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“You sign here,” he said pointing at the clipboard.
I managed to sign and hand the clipboard back, my hands trembling slightly and my breath short. He handed me the package and I'm not sure if I returned his “Have a nice day” to my surprise.
I opened the door and stepped back into the house before popping the card out of the envelope.
“I thought you’d look good in this,” it read. Simple and straightforward.
The suspense killing me, I tore open the package, revealing a beautiful ball gown. The fabric was like liquid silver, soft and silky to the touch, shimmering in the light. The dress was sleeveless, with a low-cut back, and a long train that seemed to go on forever. I couldn't help it... I gasped softly, running my fingers over the intricate embroidery, imagining how it would feel against my skin.
Without hesitation, I slipped into the dress and twirled around. Moving down the passage to my room, I twirled again in front of the mirror and watched the train float around me like a delicate waterfall of silver, the light catching the sequins.
The gown hugged my curves in all the right places, accentuating my hips and revealing a hint of cleavage. I looked at myself in the mirror, feeling proud of the picture I saw. This was a gown for a queen, and I would be one when I was done preparing for the ball. I could feel Christian's eyes on me, even though he wasn't here, and I couldn't wait to show him how stunning I looked in his gift.
I walked down to my dresser and picked up my phone to call him. He answered, and his gruff voice came on the line.
“Hello Alex,” he said.
“No way you picked this out yourself,” I said staring at myself in the mirror. It just wasn’t possible.
“You think I don't have good taste?” he asked laughing into the phone. “You could’ve just said that you really love it, you know,” he added.
“It’s beautiful,” I exclaimed.
“I’m happy you like it,” he said softly.
“Thank you, Christian,” I said, my voice soft in the quiet room.
“I’ll pick you up later then?” he asked.
“Yes, I’ll be ready by eight,” I told him before ending the call and twirling around the room. I wanted to scream. The dress was a beautiful concoction, and it had to have cost a lot of money too. But then Christian could afford it.
Reluctantly, I got out of the gown and moved back to the living room, settling into the couch with my laptop. Now that I didn’t have to worry about a dress, it would take less time to get ready. I checked my emails, hoping to hear back on some of the job applications I’d sent out.
I’d been back for a while now, and it was time to get on with the rest of my life. Miami was my home, and I wanted to settle in. To do that, I needed a job, a link to the adult world. It wasn't that I needed the money. Nobody in my family had to work if they didn't want to. But I still wanted to be able to support myself. Anyway, research was in order, and more job applications, and tweaked my resume yet again. I sighed and set myself to the task. I would play soon enough.
Two hours later, I got off the couch and moved to my room. I spent the next hour or so watching a movie, about a lovelorn man who could not stop pursuing the object of his passion, a heavy-breasted waitress.
As I started getting ready, my heart raced with excitement. I wanted to look good. This was my first time attending the Sanchester ball as an adult with a date. Tristan and I never went to it together. My parents would be there. Nathan and Sophie were too busy planning the wedding to make it, and Valerie was too busy with her practice, so I'd have to rely on my parents for moral support.
I hadn’t seen the Sanchesters since Tristan and I broke up. Mrs. Sanchester had tried keeping up with me for a while, but all I’d wanted then was to forget, which Christian made impossible, with his texts, emails, and the occasional snide reaction on social media.
I shook my head and told myself to stop thinking, I knew my date with Christian would bring up the memories, especially with Tristan in the room, if he even made it to the party. Wouldn't it be great if nothing ruined this night?
I started with my hair, taking time to curl it into soft waves that cascaded down my back. I wanted to look like a goddess tonight, and every detail needed to be perfect. The curls framed my face delightfully. I added a touch of volumizing spray for an extra boost and to make sure the curls were kept all night. I danced around the room to my own terrible whistling.
Next, I moved on to my makeup. I applied a light layer of foundation to even out my skin tone, then did my usual subtle smokey eye to get that pop. I swept a shimmery rose-gold eyeshadow across my lids, blended it out with a dark brown shade on the crease, then added the black liquid liner for the sultry look. I finished it off with a few coats of mascara, to make my long lashes look even more full and fluttery.
For my lips, I decided on a soft pink shade that complemented the silvery tone of my gown. I applied a matte liquid lipstick that wouldn't budge all night, which would give me the confidence to eat and drink without worrying about smudging it. It wouldn’t do to leave lipstick stains on party glassware.
With my hair and makeup complete, I slipped into the dress, the silk lining gliding over my skin. The gown hugged my curves just right, accentuating my figure in the most flattering way possible, and the low-cut back revealed just enough skin to be alluring. This looked like it had been sized to fit me perfectly. It was unbelievable.
I put on my jewelry, a pair of sparkling diamond earrings that glimmered in the light. As I looked at myself in the mirror, my confidence rose. You look good, girl, I said out loud. No one could deny that.
While I didn’t obsess over it, I really hoped Christian liked the look, half because he’d sent me the dress and half because I wanted to spend the whole night tormenting him in it.
I was putting the final touches on my makeup when a text came in from Christian that he'd arrived. I peered through the window and saw his custom Tesla parked in front of my place. My heart skipped a beat, without warning. No doubt, he’d be looking delicious.
I smoothed down the silvery gown, took a deep breath, and grabbed my clutch. As I walked down the hallway, my heels clicked against the tiled floor, and I felt a heady mix of nerves and excitement building inside me. This was my first time attending the ball with an official partner, and I couldn't have picked a better one than Christian, I decided. Bet or no bet.
