Ugh, I hate everything about this.
I know this is a trap. I just don’t know how to get out of it.
While I still plot how not to make an appearance tonight, I look through my closet to see what I could wear. Xander said he’ll send me a dress, but that is definitely not something I’m going to count on. I didn’t even bring high heels. The fanciest shoes I own are black flats with a tiny bow on top. I guess that will have to do. The only dress I could possibly wear is an emerald-green sweater dress. Either way, I will stick out like a sore thumb at this party. Not that I need anything else to add to the giant bull’s-eye on my back.
As I wait for the day to pass, my mind is too busy to get back into a book, no matter how much I wish I could escape reality. I spend the time on YouTube watching tutorials on how to curl up hair without a curling iron.
I end up using napkins and roll up my damp hair that way. Then I gather all the makeup I have, which is not a lot, and start applying it to my face until I look somewhat presentable.
Checking the time, I realize it’s already six o’clock. I only have one hour left and still have no plan in place to get out of this. Another knock on the door almost has me falling out of my chair. Last time I opened the door, it turned out terrible, but Xander did say he was going to send a dress, so maybe that’s who that is.
Hesitantly, I get up and walk to the door, opening it slowly. One of the maids is standing on the other side, holding a big box out in front of her.
“I’m supposed to drop this off here.” She gives me a nervous smile, shoving the box closer to me. I open the door all the way and hold out my hands. The maid briefly glances at my napkin-rolled-up hair but doesn’t comment. I’m sure I look quite ridiculous with this hairdo.
“Oh. Okay, thank you.” As soon as the box is in my hands, the maid spins around and walks away from me like she can’t get away fast enough.
I close the door and carry the box to my bed, where I open the lid slowly to peek inside. I’m still not fully convinced that this isn’t a joke, and something won’t be jumping out at me any moment. At first glimpse, all I see is a silky red fabric.
I drop the lid onto the floor so I can inspect the entire contents of the box. I pick up the corners of the red fabric and lift the dress up, finding a pair of stilettos on the bottom of the box. It’s a little bit more flashy and revealing than what I would normally wear, but other than that, it’s actually a pretty dress.
I strip out of the sweater dress I’m wearing and slip on the red dress Xander sent. Surprisingly, it fits perfectly. The only problem I have is that the bra is showing since the dress itself is completely backless. I’m not really comfortable going without a bra, but I don’t think there’s going to be a way around it.
Stepping into the shoes that came with the dress, I notice how they match perfectly, and I can’t help but wonder who actually picked this out.
I doubt Xander has this kind of fashion sense.
All dolled up and ready to go, I sit on the edge of the bed and wait for the clock to turn to seven. With every passing minute, the feeling in my gut that something terribly bad is happening tonight grows. The worst part of it all is that I’m actually hoping for Quinton to walk in. I could never get so lucky.
A part of me waits for the familiar clicking of the lock when he swipes his key card and walks into my dorm room. It never comes. Instead, another knock fills the room, and my stomach sinks even lower.
I open my door for the third time today, even though I want to do anything but that. This time, I find someone on the other side I did not expect—someone I loathe. Someone I wouldn’t touch if he was the last person on the planet.
“Well, hello, Aspen. I see you dressed up for me.” Matteo gives me a mischievous smile. “Are you ready to go, or do you need help with the dress?”
“One, I didn’t dress up for you. Two, I’m only going because I’m forced to. Three, if you even think about touching me with your slimy fingers, I will cut your dick off in your sleep.”
“That’s a bold threat for a rat like you. You hide out in your room all day, too scared of your own shadow, but you expect me to believe that you will come and find me at night to break into my room?”
I hate that he is right almost as much as I hate him.
Shoving past him, I walk into the hallway on shaky legs. I’m used to walking in high heels, but the anger and fear I’m feeling right now leave me on shaky ground. Matteo holds his arm out as if there is a world where I would actually take it.
I glare at him, and he shakes his head. “Suit yourself. I hope you trip and fall on your face.”
“I hope you trip and fall onto a sharp knife.”
“Oh, that mouth of yours, it’s just begging to be stuffed with my cock.”
I walk away from him, hoping that he’s not going to follow closely, but of course, that would be too much to ask. He catches up to me with ease, walking beside me the entire way to the ballroom of the castle.
A tiny part of me had hoped that I could somehow blend in tonight and not be the center of attention. When we enter the lavishly decorated ballroom, I know right away that blending in won’t be possible.
“I guess no one told you that this was a black and white ball.” Matteo chuckles, amused with himself.
“I like being different,” I lie, trying to play off my ever-growing distress.
Every pair of eyes is on me as we enter the large space. All the men wear black tuxedos while most of the women wear white dresses. You would think I would be used to the sneers and glares by now. But the truth is, I’m more uncomfortable now than I have ever been.