Blythe’s eyes sparkled. “We can do extravagant.”
“I’d prefer to blend into the background, but I have a feeling that isn’t what I’m supposed to do.”
“A beauty like you?” she asked. “Absolutely not. We’ll make you and your friend Sophie sparkle beyond measure. When in a room of vampires, you have to go out of your way.”
They entered a section of the store filled with ball gowns. Every shape, size, color was available. She had no idea where to begin. All she could do was stand there dumbfounded and stare at the extreme luxury.
“Reyna! There you are,” Sophie called, walking out of a dressing room in the most revealing yellow gown. The neckline dropped almost to her navel. The sides were cut out, making her waist look teeny tiny. When she turned to stand on a box and stare at her reflection in the glass, Reyna saw that the back crisscrossed and then dipped unbelievably low before ruffling down to her feet.
“Wow,” she murmured.
“Isn’t it divine?”
“It’s…something.”
Sophie pinched the sides. “I think I can go a size down, Blythe. This one is a bit baggy. Don’t you think?”
Baggy where? She looked stunning. Her blond hair cascaded over one shoulder as she looked at the salesclerk seemingly innocently.
“We could have it taken in. Better to have a little bit of room so it’s easier to get on and off than to go a size lower.”
Clever answer.
“No,” Sophie said, looking at herself in the mirror. “It’s all wrong. I want to be irresistible to every man in the room.”
Without another thought for modesty, she wrenched the zipper down to the bottom of the dress and let the material slide off of her body and pool in a heap on the floor. She wore nothing but a white strapless bra, matching thong, and high heels. She kicked the dress away from her and sighed.
“Find me something else. Something that would eclipse the sun.” Then she turned and stalked dramatically back into the dressing room. “Come on, Reyna. Find something you like. Are you even a sample size?”
Reyna ignored her snide remark. It didn’t matter what size she was.
Blythe looked over at Reyna with a perfectly neutral expression on her face. She looked Reyna up and down, taking her measurements with her eyes. “I have just the thing.”
Reyna bit her lip. “Sorry about her.”
“Miss Sophie is a great customer. We like to keep her happy. Why don’t we get you a few choices and I’ll bring them to you in the dressing room?”
“Thank you.”
Reyna clutched her bag awkwardly as she walked back toward Sophie. There was another woman who offered her a glass of champagne, which she promptly refused.
“Don’t be a prude,” Sophie said, striding back out in another tiny yellow dress.
“I’m not thirsty. Thank you.”
“Whatever. Are you excited about the ball? I’ve never been to a Visage ball. It’s going to be so amazing. All the right people. I’ve only been to small parties. So, I know all the major players, but this…gah, I’m dying,” she said. She ran her hands down the silky material. “I mean, not really dying.” Then she giggled.
“That one is nice.”
“Nice? Ugh. You’re bad at this.”
She stripped out of that dress too and then just stood there with her hand on her hips. Her body was unbelievable. Reyna felt bad for even looking at her, but she clearly wanted to flaunt it.
“Here you are, Reyna,” Blythe said. She carried a handful of dresses with her into the dressing room. “Do you have your card?”
“Oh yeah. Sorry!” She fished out her credit card and passed it over to Blythe. Before it got to her, Sophie snatched it out of her hand.
“Holy shit!”
“What?” Reyna asked.
“You have a fucking black card?”
“Um…yeah?”
“How the fuck did you get ahold of this? Beckham gave it to you?”
“Yeah…”
“Fuck. I need one of these. I’m going to make Rowland give me one of these. I’m on a cap. Ugh! It’s frustrating as hell. I should have unlimited access to everything I want. Not that he denies me anything, but still. A black card! This is a must!”
“Miss Sophie,” Blythe said, putting her hand out.
“Oh right. So jelly.” She handed over the card, giving Reyna a pouty face as if she had any control over Sophie getting a credit card. Let alone any control over getting the card in the first place.
When Blythe walked away, Reyna closed the door on the dressing room. She had no special lingerie to try this stuff on like Sophie. Her closet was stocked with little silk panties and bras that fit her perfectly, but she still felt uncomfortable stripping in the middle of the store.
The first dress was a baby blue mermaid dress that she found impossible to walk in. She started to take it off, but she heard Sophie on the other side.