Chapter 7

- Wow, I'm gorgeous -

I turn around, checking myself out in the mirror and damn, do I like what I see?

Dimitri said I can keep the necklace, but that wasn't all. He has taken me shopping too...

Okay, let me say it properly.

He ordered Cisco to take me shopping. And for the first time in my life, I'm getting first-class treatment.

Cisco brought me to the boutique in a Chevrolet Silverado. Two other of Dimitri's men are guarding me like I'm royalty.

The best part is I get to pick any dress in the store. And I'm currently standing in a golden sequin gown worth 15 grand.

I mean, seriously luxury is beautiful. The gown is a turtle neck with a split up to my upper thigh. And striking a pose for the mirror has a majestic feel to it.

Gosh, I'm in love.

"You can't wear that."

I jumped at Cisco's voice in the doorway beside me. I glare at him and wrap my arms around myself as if I'm naked.

"What the hell, Cisco? You can't just come in here,"

Cisco didn't fret, he just stood there looking at me.

"We are on the clock, and that dress won't do." He said.

"But Dimitri said I can pick whatever I want."

Cisco nods with disinterest. He disappears through the curtain only to come back three minutes later with ten pieces of clothes in his arm.

"We are going to an all-black-themed Christmas party that will last three days at most. And whatever you wear must be a low-cut neckline." He picks up one of the clothes he brought,

"Like this."

I blushed.

The gown is black and short and it has no strap. If I wear this, I'd look like a slut. Only my nipples would be covered, my entire left side would be on display, and I'd be lucky if I didn't get harassed in it.

As if reading my mind, Cisco tosses the gown to one side and picks another one.

This one has a full transparent velvet pleating. The only part that isn't transparent is from my bum up to my chest, and yes, it's a low-cut neckline.

"Can't I get something else?" I asked, "I have a birthmark on my chest, if I wear this, it'd be on display."

"It doesn't matter. Whatever you choose must be a low-cut neckline."

He didn't even try to be sweet like he was when he picked me up earlier. At least now I know I don't have a choice.

Like Cisco said, we are on the clock.

He rushed me out of the store and beat the traffic back to the penthouse. That's when I realized why we are on the clock.

A spa and makeup routine is waiting for me in one of the side rooms.

Okay, I'll admit, I'm freaking excited about it.

The spa took about two hours. But when I'm finally ready for the makeup artist, I feel too beautiful already. My skin feels like gold to the touch, fueling me with a kind of confidence I am not used to.

- Luxury feels good -

If Dimitri hadn't ordered me to be brought here, I'd be slaving away at the restaurant. By now, I'd be tired and hungry, and I'd still have a mountain of plates to wash.

But here I am, getting a beauty routine and feeling like a goddess.

I'll admit, I've never had makeup on. Neither did I think I'd be sitting in front of a wild array of beauty products. With an expert artist transforming me into something...

Words seize from my mind as I look at myself - or rather, a product of the artist's skills in the mirror.

- Damn, I'm gorgeous -

I pinch myself just to be sure I'm not seeing things. Even Dimitri agrees with my beauty as his eyes linger on me longer.

It's dark already; the bling and sparkle of Christmas is everywhere. Christmas trees, strip lights, and jolly themes are thick in the air as Cisco drives Dimitri and me to the party.

And for the first time in sixteen years, I'm actually kind of excited to attend a Christmas party.

I know I'm doing this for the money, but as Cisco drives Dimitri and I down a ploughed driveway lined with decorated pine trees. I can't help the genuine smile on my lips.

Even the subtle theme songs paint joy in me.

"Don't smile like that."

I turn to face Dimitri. He is expressionless and calm as if his world is not full of guns and terror;

"When we get to the door, you need to remain calm and in control. You need to appear like you own the world and you don't like anyone who says otherwise. And don't open any door by yourself."

I swallow hard.

That's not so difficult, right?

All I have to do is act like Dimitri would. Try to exude the same level of control and menace, entitlement and terror, and I should probably work on my frown too.

"Don't frown like that." Dimitri said with a silly frown on his face, "You look like a constipated clown."

"I was just practicing. I don't know how to frown like you, you know?" I said with a hint of embarrassment.

Dimitri let out a sigh;

"Just hold anyone's gaze without faltering. You can do that easily, right?"

I looked at Dimitri, and without even thinking about it, his ocean eyes captured me. He looks like an angel;

"I'll take that as a yes."

"What? No, holding your gaze has nothing to do with others' gaze." I said, "I get icky when I look people in the eyes. Unlike you, your eyes are pretty."

Now that's a terrifying frown.

Why does he look so angry? I said his ears are pretty, right? I was trying to be nice.

- Did I just insult him? -

"Hold anybody's gaze." He said with a snarl, his easy voice sounding like the horns of Hades himself.

I swallow hard.

Gosh, he does not know how to 'not' be terrifying. Last night, he was terrifying and yet angelic, now he is just plain ol' terrifying. Gosh.

The driveway is really long.

It took five more minutes to get to the main Manor grounds, and it was packed full of cars... I mean, money. Sleek powerful builds of majestic metals made with money.

Each car is the kind of car a young boy dreams of owning someday; a few of them even have golden rims to contrast their black polish.

Cisco lines our car with the entrance.

As Dimitri said, I waited until someone opened my side of the car before I stepped out.

Dimitri walks around the car and offers his arm like a gentleman.

There's a black rug connecting the driveway to the Manor entrance, with six huge men standing guard on each side. We walk up to the guards checking guests in.

"I'll need your invitation card." The guard said with a scowl that said he didn't care who Dimitri was.

Dimitri smiles sweetly and scratches his eyebrow. He nudges his head to me;

"She's standing right here."

The guard looks at me, and I give him my best glare - or maybe my worst glare. I don't always glare at people

The guard looked me up and down, his eyes lingering for three seconds on my cleavages on full display.

Now I see why Dimitry got me a more expensive diamond necklace.

Yes, it's even more beautiful than my Christmas gift. And yes, It's literally calling attention to my chest and, consequently, my boobs.

The guard blinked several times and cleared his throat;

"All I see is a beautiful woman, and that doesn't cut as an invitation."

Did he just hide an insult in his compliment?

Dimitri's smile turns into a small chuckle, and he pats my shoulder gently... His hands are icy, maybe it's the cold.

"You must be new," Dimitri said.

"D'manno and I have a working relationship. He organizes a party of elite tycoons and I steal his business deals. But this time, he made sure I won't crash his party."

"Except, I have news D'manno would want to hear."

Dimitri tips his head to me as if I'm the news. Wait, am I the news? I feel like I'm the center of attention. What if Dimitri is trying to sell me to D'manno?

- Don't get ahead of yourself, Sapphire -

The guard looks at me, and I momentarily forget I'm supposed to hold his gaze. At least I hope I look disinterested in him.

"This party is invites only." The guard said, looking Dimitri straight in the eyes.

"And I value my life more than your relationship with Mr D'manno, and definitely more than..." He paused to look me up and down again.

"...a news."

Okay, that is very disrespectful.

Should I slap him? Or maybe I should yell at him.

Either way, I feel like Dimitri is about to pull out a gun and bust the guard's head open. And surely, Dimitri steps into the guard's face.

Dimitri is a muscular man, but the guard is bigger. Dimitri may be the Grimm Reaper with men at his beck and call. But right now, I feel like we're about to get shot.

"Do you know what kills a man faster than a bullet to the head?" Dimitri said with a gentle snarl.

His voice is a direct contrast to his tone, and I know I'm not the one he is talking to. But goosebumps dot my skin and I would be lying if I said I'm not scared shitless.

The guard isn't as he holds Dimitri's gaze and the dread of a gunfight looms.

Even the huge men standing guard along the black carpet seem just as ready for a fight as Dimitri is.

He is not backing down. He asked a question and his question will be answered. Whether or not he is outnumbered and outgunned seems to be of little consequence...

Except I'm standing in the middle of it all.

"What's going on here...?"