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“Bryce—”
“We don’t want to keep the Contessa waiting.” My protest dies on my lips. “Off you go.” He pushes me into my room before closing the adjacent doors behind him.
I shake my head.
I don’t have time to freak out about his generosity.
I take a quick shower, pull up my hair into a messy updo, reapply a more subdued color palette for my makeup, and head towards the wardrobe.
Dear God.
The few items of clothing I brought clash next to the new dresses hanging there.
My fingers trail along a row of simply gorgeous designer wear.
I opt for a strapless red cocktail dress.
When I peek at the label, I stop breathing.
Monique Lhuillier?!
I shake out of my stupor and slip the dress on and zip it up. I step into a pair of nude heels my sister bought for me three months ago at a crazy shoe sale. I toyed with the idea of selling them at the secondhand shop where I sold most of my designer clothing, but I knew if I did, Ciara would ask questions.
Checking my reflection in the mirror, I snicker.
Smoke and mirrors.
From the outside I look rich. In reality, I’m flat broke and desperate.
When I step out of the elevator, a few handsome men nod with approval.
I do a happy dance inside.
I feel ten feet tall.
Bryce is standing near the entrance of the hotel.
Damn.
That man was born to wear a suit.
He does a double-take when he sees me.
“I was texting you to let you know Mariella always overdresses, but I can see it was a waste of time. You look absolutely stunning.”
“It’s hard not to when someone keeps buying me incredible clothing.”
“I plead the fifth,” he winks.
“Thank you, Bryce.”
“It’s my pleasure.” He eats me up with his eyes and stops right at my cleavage. He narrows his eyes, looks at me, and asks, “Are you still wearing the bra I selected for you this morning?”
I get on my toes, as high as I possibly can, and force him to lean down to meet me halfway because the man is so tall.
“The bra you selected didn’t work with this dress and since the arrangement doesn’t have a clause for when I have to wear two different outfits in one day, I decided not to wear any underwear at all. I’d hate to break the terms of our arrangement.”
He doesn’t move for a long beat.
