AllFreeNovel
Share Us
***
The day of the gala arrived like a thunderstorm, sudden and overwhelming. I stood in my modest living room, staring at the garment bag that hung from my door frame like some kind of alien artifact.
With hesitant hands, I unzipped the bag and gasped. Inside was a dress—a creation of chiffon and lace that whispered promises of elegance and grace. It was a gown fit for someone else’s life, someone else’s skin.
A knock on the door.
“Ready or not?” Cass’s voice filtered through the wood, a hint of amusement.
“Give me a minute,” I called back, my voice cracking like thin ice.
I slipped into the dress with care, each movement deliberate. The fabric clung to me like a second skin—comforting yet alien. It transformed me into someone new, or perhaps just uncovered a part of me long buried under layers of mundane.
Stepping out to face Cass was like stepping onto a stage—the lights too bright, the audience too silent.
His eyes traveled over me slowly, and I felt every inch scrutinized under his gaze until he finally broke into an approving smile. “You look stunning.”
Heat crept up my neck and settled on my cheeks as I fought back a disbelieving laugh. “Feels weird,” I admitted.
Cass approached and offered his arm. “You’ll do more than just fit in—you’ll shine.”
As we descended from my apartment building into the waiting limousine below, anxiety gnawed at my insides with sharp teeth. Yet nestled against it was a budding anticipation for what lay ahead—a night where maybe, just maybe, Cinderella didn’t need to worry about midnight.
***
The chandeliers above cast a celestial glow on the glittering assemblage of the high society event. I navigated through the sea of designer gowns and tailored suits, each step in my new formal outfit an uneasy mix of discomfort and exhilaration.
We’ve been there for an hour and it has been an endless kaleidoscope of faces and smiles. It seemed that everyone knew Cass and for as long as I was next to him, all of them were very interested in getting to know me as well.
I left Cass alone for five minutes to visit the ladies’ room and now felt invisible in the crowd.
As I approached the outskirts of the room, looking for Cass, the hum of conversations blended into an indistinct murmur. Then, his voice, unmistakable even amidst the cacophony, snagged my attention. Tucked behind a grand potted fern, Cass stood with his back to me, engaged in conversation with a sharply dressed man.
“…the city council vote moved up. We need to lock this down now,” Cass’s associate said, his tone edged with urgency.
Cass replied, his voice a controlled calm that belied the gravity of their words. “I understand. The community’s resistance is waning. Once we get the green light from the council, we can proceed as planned.”
My heart lodged in my throat. His words didn’t match the man who’d been by my side, promising to fight for the community center.
The associate nodded with a sly grin. “And our little distraction? The girl?”
Cass paused—a silence that seemed to stretch into eternity—before he spoke again. “She’s not a factor in this.”
A sickening twist coiled in my stomach. Was I merely a diversion? A plaything to keep me—and perhaps others—distracted from his true intentions?
I backed away, each step faltering as I fought against the swell of emotions threatening to consume me. Betrayal burned through my veins, a scorching fire that seared away any lingering doubt.
“I—I need some air,” I stammered out to no one in particular as I made for the terrace doors.
Once outside, I leaned against the cool stone balustrade and took deep breaths to steady myself against the tumult within. What had seemed so clear now blurred into confusion and heartache. Had Cass been lying to me all along?
The evening air did little to quell the storm inside me as I grappled with what I’d overheard. Could I confront him? Demand answers?
The murmurs around me faded to a low hum as my pulse throbbed in my ears. Each beat of my heart matched the clenching of my fists, hidden beneath the silk of my borrowed gown. I returned to the main hall and caught glimpses of Cass through the sea of tailored suits and glittering dresses, his posture relaxed as he laughed with a man whose face was greed personified.
“Excuse me,” I murmured, brushing past a woman whose eyes widened at my haste. My shoes whispered against the marble as I moved closer to him, unable to rein in the storm brewing inside me.
Cass turned, his smile faltering when he saw my approach. “Mila, what’s—”
