Cara's pov
"What do you think?" Gina asked me over the soft RnB music playing through the speakers of the Alexander McQueen store, pulling a bright purple tulle dress to her body.
I cocked my head, my face scrunched in an exaggerated thoughtful look. The dress was pretty and perfect for her age, but if we were doing what we had to do, she needed something more mature and demure. Something less gaudy.
Gina was nineteen. Only just a baby in adult years and yet, the weight of her unfair responsibilities were catching up to her.
I respected her for braving through this with a determined heart and brave face. I wouldn't know what I would do if I was the one in her shoes and I was the older one here.
My gaze coasted to the left side of the aisle we were in, scanning through the multiple dresses on the clothing racks, each of them more expensive than my apartment rent. They settled on a copper coloured slip dress and my fingers pulled it off the rack. I beamed in delight and faced Gina with an excited grin.
"This is the one." I said, trailing my palm down the long length of the silky material. It was the perfect dress really, sexy yet modest enough for a high society princess like my stepsister. The cleavage was a humble cut that still teased up the scale of sensuality. The best fitting dress for the mission we were embarking on; seducing Gina's fiance.
Just like I had advised, Gina had met him, spoken to him and has become infatuated with an amusing quickness. Her eyes went dreamy at the mention of him and she spoke about him like he was Prince Charming himself.
Gina blushed profusely, staring at the clothing with awe in her big brown eyes. Because of the nature of her status and that of her family, I usually forgot she was just shy of teenagehood at the end of the day. Moments like this reminded me of that fact.
"Can I really wear a dress like this?" She asked even though I knew that she wanted too.
I placed the dress in her outstretched arms. "Yes dear, you can."
When the uncertainty didn't leave her expression I tried another way. "If you're going to seduce your husband-to-be, you'd have to first prove to him that you're a woman and not a child." My words got the desired effect and her shoulder straightened with determination.
She gripped the dress, staring at me for validation that I gave with a solemn nod. "I'm trying it on," she declared before making a beeline for the changing room.
I took a small tour around the large store, perusing through luxury items with a vague yearning. I want to be able to afford them someday. I want to be able to thrust out my credit card and not think about the price, only wants and needs. Sighing I ambled for the changing room Gina occupied, my chest light with the anticipation of seeing her in the dress.
My eyes coasted to the men in black lurking outside the transparent glass of the floor to ceiling windows, watching me like a hawk. Their number doubled was today, seeing as Gina was here too. The biggest of them met my gaze, his expression detached. Sergio, I think that what his name was, was the only one I was familiar with. They no longer bothered to be inconspicuous and I no longer bothered with trying to lose them. I hadn't since the alley incident. I decided to live with it, if Gina could then I could too. I'll just treat them as invisible.
Besides, I choose their unfamiliar presence over my stepbrother's haunting one any day.
A big lie.
Gina finally appeared from behind the curtain, her steps shy and her demeanor coy. My hand flew to my mouth, she looked like a totally different person.
"It's so gorgeous, you're so gorgeous!" I gushed, eyes roving all over her form in awe.
Gina's cheeks flushed at my compliments and involuntarily straightened her spine. The dress was perfect against the curves and dips of her body, accentuating the flushness I didn't know she had. She went from looking like a girl to a full grown woman with one dress.
I bounced over to her, grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to the full length mirror. "He's going to be so floored when he sees you."
The red in her cheeks deepened as a giggle escaped her lips. She rested her hand over mine and her gaze turned solemn in the mirror.
"I'm really grateful to you Cara. You've been the best."
My smile was reassuring and I squeezed her shoulder. Spinning her to face me, I spoke. "Now our next mission is to find you the killer shoes." My hands left her as I was scanning the store once more.
"You should know this," I started as I jumped to the shoes section, "shoes are what make or break an outfit. Hair too. You could have on the best dress but the wrong shoe can ruin the entire look. Same way they can save the look of a lackluster dress." I tutored, my hands skimming over a long row of high-heeled sandals with long straps. I grabbed the last one and raised them to an expectant Gina, the shimmery gold of the texture, glinting in the store's light.
Gina clasped her hands in excitement, her high ponytail swinging behind her. "I love it!" She gushed.
My lips pulled back in a smug grin. Of course she does, fashion agent Cara had picked it after all.
Gina paid for the dress and we stumbled out of the store, laughing and giggling like excited highschool girls. I waited for Gina to announce our next stop when she suddenly smiled at me, a plotting glint in her eyes. I pursed my lips in puzzled amusement, wondering what idea was brimming in her pretty head.
"What's that look you're giving-" the rest of my words got swallowed up in a yelp when she clamped a hand around mine and pulled me into another store-Vivienne Westwood, my favourite designer brand that I'd never worn- with our bodyguards at our heels.
My head snapped to Gina and she gave me a sheepish look, her eyelids downcast. "You once mentioned wanting to own a piece so…" she trailed off and I knew she was good at this thoughtfulness of a thing.
"It's fine, Gina. You don't have too" My words contradicted the heavy pounding in my chest that thumped in protest. It wasn't fine, I had always wanted to own something by Vivienne Westwood since forever.
Gina shook her head firmly and linked her arm around mine and pushed me further into the luxurious space. "No. I want to do something for you. Lord knows you've done a lot for me."
And just like that I was pulled from aisle to aisle, my eyes going wide from drinking in all the fine and beautiful pieces. It felt surreal, I never expected to be here, not this soon as least.
My heart flipped over my chest as the shop attendant handed Gina a turquoise floor length dress with star shaped stones dotting all over the low neckline. She said it was from their recent ocean collection and was currently the only one of three that was left. My shaking hands skimmed across the material, so gently like I was afraid the dress would disappear if I touched it too closely. I felt like I was holding a piece of the ocean in my hands. It was so precious I felt almost guilty for wanting it.
Something this perfect would be tainted by me.
Gina nudged me lightly, "you look like you just fell in love."
I let out a throaty laugh not knowing what to say.
"Wanna try it on?"
I hesitated then nodded deciding it couldn't hurt. I'll just wear it, even if it was only for a handful of minutes I'll wear it and dream a little.
I took the dress to the changing room, got out of my second hand doc martens first, then my tank top and faded skinnies. My hands quivered as I pulled on the dress, overly careful with my movements. Last thing I needed was ripping the expensive thing.
When I stepped out both Gina and the shop attendant squealed in delight. I moved to the mirror, my heart bouncing up my throat in anticipation and when my eyes connected with my reflection, the excited organ froze.
A gasp left me.
"Dio mio, you look absolutely stunning!" Gina gushed at my reflection.
And I believed her because I saw it too. For the first time in my life, I felt priceless, worthy. The dress hung down my body like it was made for me, Cara, the hem flowing down in shimmering sea waves. I looked like a water goddess, powerful in her own right and it empowered me, made me feel like I could easily take on anything as long as I was wearing it. Clothes really did do wonders for your confidence after all.
It's perfect for you. There's absolutely no need for adjustments or alterations, you're good to go." The shop attendant said, her words breaking into my dreamy haze.
Yanking me back to harsh reality.
Not able to watch my reflection any longer, I tore my gaze from the mirror and forced a smile on my lips. "It really is, but unfortunately I won't be taking it." I said, feeling the frustrating sting of tears in my eyes.
I skitted back to the changing room before the treacherous flow dropped and when I got in, I clamped both eyes shut in an attempt to contain. I let out a dry laugh I didn't know why the tears showed up, it was just a fucking dress. I was too old to still be crying over one. Betraying memories of childhood disappointments and yearning flashed in my head. Maybe my current fraying emotions were a trauma response to the times where I had been promised a new dress but never given one. Ten years old Cara was still carrying all of the hurt.
Gina was watching me when I reappeared again, back into my original clothes. Her gaze was stripping me bare with the serious regard darkening her eyes. "Do you want it?" She asked.
I gave a violent shake of my head. I couldn't. It was obviously the most expensive thing I've ever come across. I couldn't make Gina buy it for me.
Gina rolled her eyes like she could hear my thoughts. She uncrossed her legs and got up, pulling the dress out of my limb arms.
I mourned the loss.
She pushed it to the staff and instructed her to pack it up, hushing me with a smile when I tried to protest.
"Cara, we are family. My father and brother are loaded, you'll be surprised by how much. This is the least of things I could get you. See it as a thank you gift for saving my future." She winked.
My mouth clamped shut because what the hell does one say to that? The dress came back, properly secured in the brand's signature shopping bag. Gina thrusted it to me and my hand closed over the handles in disbelief.
"I'm suddenly craving food. We should go find some before we leave." Gina announced, linking our arms together once more.
We strolled down the wide hallway for the lift leading to the restaurants on the ground floor. The both of us ignoring the stares we were getting because of the scary looking men following closely behind us.
Gina sighed tiredly beside me and I shook of a tired feeling of my own. Shopping was a more tedious task than it looked.
We reached the ground floor and headed into a pasta restaurant, sitting at the table closest to the bodyguards. I briefly wondered if they were hungry as well but I shook of the thought. It was none of my business.
Gina handed me a menu and we placed our orders. She had a thoughtful look on her face as we waited and I suspected she was thinking about her fiance.
"Do you really think he'd love the dress?" She asked suddenly, still looking at nowhere in particular.
My eyes dipped to the shopping bag on the floor. "As long as he's not gay, yes."
A chuckle shook through her and she finally turned to look at me. "Well that's one way to answer the question." Mirth danced on her lips but I could peep the nervousness crawling back in.
"What about you, is there someone in particular you'd want to wear the dress for?"
I let out a scoff, "everything I wear is for myself alone Gina. I've never felt the need to dress up for a man."
Something like hurt flashed in her eyes and I rushed to tweak my statement. "But that's just me. I'm not the one in love after all."
Gina put her jaw on her propped elbow with a sigh. "I don't know why but I suspected that you did."
I gave her a playful grin, "well you thought wrong." As soon as the words left my mouth, a voice yelled the word "LIAR" at me. I HAD thought of someone, had envisioned his dark grey eyes darkening at the sight of me in the dress as unfiltered desire shot out of him.
And it had both warmed and chilled my insides.