A lot of evil

Helen POV

I had been divorced for several months, my mother's death left me bankrupt and my current job was desperate. Mariel turned in front of the three "leaf mirrors and analyzed the back of the dress, while I sat down to see her”. I might be in my room, looking at my mother's collection and choosing the right one for the gala, but I was expected to make myself available to the twins, and apparently they needed all the help they could get in choosing the right outfit. Not that they valued my opinion, but anything that kept me busy and at their mercy made them happy.

Fortunately, it was still a week away and I already had one in mind; so I would try it on as soon as I had a free moment. I couldn't tell them that I was leaving right away, after what had happened the night before, although I explained that I spilled my drink because I choked on a piece of ice.

I didn't want to go out, but the girls insisted. Of course, they only gave me ten minutes to get ready and hid my hair straightener; so I had to settle for brushing my hair, unable to control the curls that formed with the humidity. But that wasn't the worst thing they did. The night before, they took my contact lenses and I felt very clumsy without them. It was one disaster after another, so I spent the whole day looking for them, just as they wanted.

I knew they had done it because of her father's suggestion to take me to the gala. They wanted to show me that if I was going to be his companion, I was also going to be his comic relief.

The worst part of the night was when Mariel accidentally spilled her drink on the front of my shirt. I ran to the bathroom crying, but I didn't let them see me. They were tears of anger and helplessness because, if I wanted to get away from them and leave the Red mansion, I would have to hold on until I could save some money.

According to Carmen, who had always been like an aunt to me, the banks called in the money my mother had borrowed to pay for chemotherapy and, apparently, she had no insurance to cover the expenses. I thanked her for taking care of me and figured that when things settled down, she would be able to make my life and continue my career. That was the only reason I wanted to go to the gala. I planned to bring some of my signature jewelry pieces and if I was lucky, I would get future clients.

Many people were still looking for my mother's designs as they had increased in value after her death. I just hoped they would be interested in mine from now on.

My mother always wanted me to do the same thing as her, that's why she taught me everything she knew. She promised that she would introduce me to the right circles and, although she still had some connections up her sleeve, she wanted to be prepared. And also set up my own studio.

"I'm sick of wearing blue," Sadie said, throwing the piece of silk to the floor.

The designer, Morris Smith, rolled his eyes and walked away.

"So, what color would you like? "He seemed to be losing patience and I couldn't blame him. He had brought several fabric samples and some dresses for them to try on.

"Green, purple, red..." Sadie listed the colors with her fingers, she sat on the couch and looked at the man. Any shade but damn blue.

Mariel bowed her head, held her breasts and looked at herself from the side in the mirror.

"Well. I will wear blue and I don't want us to be dressed alike, like a couple of failures.

"I thought you had chosen the black dress. Sadie put her hands on her hips and turned to Morris.

"So, I want to dress in black.

"Bright. I have the ideal fabric. "The man began to search through the samples until he raised one in his hand.

Sady examined her while he looked in the mirror with her over her clothes and hugged him very happily, until he noticed me who was behind her and her face transformed.

“You better make sure the fabric you use is waterproof,” Mariel said ironically and then she turned to me. I hope you don't embarrass us.

"Or things will get very bad when we get home. “Worse than last night,” Sadie added.

Mariel entered the room and Sadie left, returning to her mirror as if the two of them had not harassed me a moment before. She didn't care that Perry had heard her cruel comments, but she didn't want her grandmother to do so.

The man looked at me with sympathy.

"Are you going to the gala? Do you need a dress? "As she asked, he raised an eyebrow and wrinkled his nose.

His accent was as thick as syrup; It looked like he had something stuck in the back of her throat.

"No, thanks. I already have something in mind.

It was a shiny silk dress, a blue color that matched my eyes and that I planned to wear with some of my mother's jewelry that was now part of my personal collection. Of course, the shade was much prettier than the one Mariel was wearing, which matched her hair.

Mariel rolled her eyes and Sadie shook her head, but Mariel smiled kindly.

"I bet anything that's sandpaper will be beautiful. Your mother always stood out for her beauty at galas. She was very stylish and elegant, an example of true classic beauty, just like you.

"Did my mother go to galas? She"she didn't know she had done it.

"We were both going. "We were surprised by Carmen entering the room. She stood behind Mariel in the mirror and checked the hem of her dress as if she were checking its quality. You were just a little girl then, but we went almost every year. Your mother's designs opened many doors for her, as did being my friend. She"she turned her head to look at me sideways". We were a different generation and now the gala belongs to our daughters.

Her daughters, she meant.

Sadie approached her mother with the sample dress that Morris would make her one in black and showed her the piece of fabric she was going to use.

"There will be some beautiful dresses, but you are going to need the right accessories. "Her eyes met mine in the mirror". Helen dear, I'm sure you have something in your mother's collection that would look good with these dresses.

I felt her pale when she put me in the commitment.

"I'm sorry, Carmen, I couldn't bear to have to lend my mother's collection.

I swore I would never part with her, it was my most precious possession. They had taken everything else from me: my house and the money that was going to be my inheritance. He couldn't stand anything happening to him. The thought of lending it to the evil twins made my stomach turn.

"Sorry? I do not think it's too much to ask. "Carmen's expression hardened and I felt bad for having said no.

She was like my family, she did everything to help me.

I tried to find an excuse to justify my refusal, if she refused me.

"That's all I have. Is...

"We've done a lot for you, Helen." We invite you to our house and we trust you with our safety, you don't mean that you don't trust lending us a few pieces that we will surely return to you intact,” she replied dryly, but before she could respond, Mariel intervened.

"It's not right for you to imply that Helen owes you anything, much less her most valuable possessions." “She,” she looked at her harshly. If you have so much confidence in your daughters, you should lend them your own valuables. I'm sure you have some just as pretty as the ones Sandra designed.

Carmen paled, I even thought I saw her jaw clench, but she immediately softened her expression with a smile.

"Of course, forgive me, Helen.”

Mariel snorted.

"As if we wanted to use her samples, when the best designer in the city can lend us whatever we want”.

Sadie's eyes met mine in the mirror, but instead of a smile, I glimpsed a malicious grin. It was the look of a viper ready to attack and she knew that once she sank her fangs into her prey, death would be just as slow.

Carmen maintained a neutral expression. It was evident that she was tired of Mariel defending me; especially because no one spoke for a while and when they did, the woman was gone and I was invisible again.