Lauren fussed over her hair and makeup, her tone half serious, half playful. “Edith, times have changed! We women ought to embrace our charm–boldly. Trust your big sis. I know what I’m talking about. Don’t be shy–go for it!”
Edith frowned thoughtfully.
Jayne and Lauren were the two people she trusted most in the world. Aside from KearneyJayne, nobody treated her with more warmth than her cousin did.
She decided to take Lauren’s advice.
Lauren was already dressed for work: a fitted black suit jacket and a pencil skirt that hugged her figure, striking the perfect balance between professional and sultry.
Edith couldn’t help but look at her with envy. “You look amazing, Lauren.”
Lauren rolled her eyes. “It’s not like we haven’t shared a bed before. I knew what a knockout you’d be the moment you turned eighteen. If you’d just ditch that innocent–girl wardrobe, you’d outshine me a hundred times over.”
Edith squinted and grinned. “But these clothes are so comfortable.”
Lauren had to report to her new job today–a top–tier branding firm in Northcrest, famous for their high–profile events.
“I just need to check in at the office,” Lauren said. “Why don’t you tag along? Afterwards, I’ll take you shopping. Let’s hit Victoria’s Secret together–you need a little help channeling your inner femme fatale. And because you’re my cousin, I won’t even charge for my expert advice. Just buy me dinner sometime.”
Edith was more than happy to agree.
Lauren’s new office was only a few blocks from Hawksley Tower.
Once they arrived, Edith found herself with some time to kill, so she wandered the area, taking in the towering buildings all around.
Northcrest Tower loomed overhead, its sleek glass façade catching the morning light. Directly across stood the imposing Hawksley Tower.
Gray, austere, and impossibly modern, this corner of the city felt like the intersection of every dream and nightmare–a place where reality blurred at the edges.
As Edith gazed up at Hawksley Tower, a wave of unreality washed over her.
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How had she ended up here? She and Justin seemed to inhabit separate worlds, yet now they were married–legally, officially–living under the same roof, sharing the most intimate of moments.
He was Justin, after all.
The man who ruled the entire building.
The higher Hawksley Tower stretched into the sky, the more surreal it all felt to Edith.
Lauren finished up her onboarding quickly, and the two of them headed off to shop.
This district was home to Northcrest’s most famous shopping centers.
Lauren marched Edith straight into Victoria’s Secret, but after rummaging through the
racks, she still wasn’t satisfied.
“Honestly, these are all way too conservative. Let’s just shop online–maybe we’ll find something with a little more flair.”
Edith stared at the rainbow of lingerie and pajamas. If these were considered tame, she wasn’t sure she was ready for “bold.”
Just as they were about to leave, Edith spotted two familiar figures.
She recognized them instantly.
The day of Justin’s birthday–her first visit to the Hawksley estate–these two had gone out of their way to make her feel unwelcome.
Yvonne and Susan.
Susan, loaded down with shopping bags, looked less like a friend and more like Yvonne’s personal assistant.
Yvonne carried herself with icy elegance, casting a sidelong glance at Edith without ever looking her in the eye.
“Justin doesn’t care for flashy nonsense,” she drawled. “I’d give up on your little schemes if I were you.”
Edith’s brow furrowed. The malice was almost palpable.
Susan chimed in right on cue. “Honestly, do you really think marrying up is enough to win Mr. Hawksley’s heart? Give it a rest. He’s out of everyone’s league–a cold–hearted prince who doesn’t fall for cheap tricks. If anything, you’ll just make him sick.”
Sick, huh? Or even “make him sick to his stomach,” apparently.
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Edith studied Susan’s pouty, indignant expression and almost laughed. “Sounds like you both know my husband better than I do.”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.