My lips curled. “Yeah?”
“Sure. Why not.” She didn’t sound the least bit excited, but I’d work on that. “So what’s the plan? How are you going to change my mind?”
I smirked. If only she knew. “Well, for starters, I’m going to need you to change out of those clothes and into something more formal.”
“That’s going to be a problem.”
“Why?”
“I don’t own a dress,” she replied, grimacing. “I’d have to borrow one from Ryan or Carmen, and…” She lifted another shoulder.
“It won’t do you justice,” I finished for her.
“I was going to say it won’t fit.”
That, too. “It’s not a problem. I’ll handle the dress. In fact, I’ll handle it all. You just have to play along.”
She arched a brow. “That sounds ominous, Nacht.”
“On the contrary, Cinder. I’m about to make all your dreams come true. After we eat.” Because I was starving. Then we’d begin.
Chapter Seven
Ella
What are you really up to, Trayton Nacht? I wondered for the thousandth time as I studied myself in the mirror. And how the hell did you pull this off?
Not only did he magically open a store for me to find a gown, but he also had a team come in to do my hair and makeup. I nearly protested the latter but decided the battle wasn’t worth my time. If he wanted to waste his money on this extravagance, then so be it.
The only reason I indulged in this little game of his was to figure him out. He had to be doing this for his own benefit. Maybe Ryan or Charlie put him up to it. Some sort of twisted test to see how well he could humiliate me.
Well, the joke was on him.
Because he’d purchased this gorgeous dress and probably spent a pretty penny on my hair and face. Oh, and the shoes. The silver stiletto heels gave me an extra two inches—which was nowhere near his over-six-foot height. All in all,
I suspected he wasted a little over a thousand dollars on this princess charade.
At least I looked good.
The slight V in the neckline gave me a hint of cleavage while the bodice tapered into my slim waist, and the skirt flowed down to my ankles. I twirled in the mirror, watching as the fabric swooshed around my legs.
The blue ball gown was totally over the top for Homecoming.
I loved it.
And more importantly, Ryan and Carmen would hate it.
Two birds, one stone.
I just had to keep my wits about me to determine Tray’s true motives, and it’d be a successful night. Well, apart from not knowing enough about him yet to write his biography. He was evasive at every turn, refusing to tell me where he attended school before the academy or how he had all these contacts throughout Darlington. It wasn’t a large town, yet I’d never heard of him until this week. And it seemed Charlie and Dash hadn’t either.
So who are you really? I thought as I picked up my blue clutch—another purchase I’d made just to round out Tray’s bill—and started toward the exit to where Tray waited for me. He hadn’t bothered to help with the dress selection or anything else, just introduced me to the team, handed over his card, and said he’d be outside if we needed anything.
As he’d set no limit to the expense, I had a little fun.
No, a lot of fun.
I wrapped my gloved fingers—another extravagant accessory—around the door handle and pulled it open.