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I tug out the black dress and gather it up so I can step into it. The cap sleeves fit over my shoulders perfectly, and I zip the back easily, then the side. The skirt is full with a slit that goes up over my knee. The back is fully open, exposing my skin. The front is the only part of the dress that is fully covered, and the sleeves cutting triangles across my shoulder blades across the back are the only connections between the front and back.
It's sexy and sophisticated, and I wonder if I'll see Drew tonight in this dress and what he'll do when he sees me. I finally give in to the urge and grab my phone off the bedside table again. I missed a text while I was getting ready
Psycho: I miss you. Where is my picture, Flower? You have five minutes or I’m taking your ass again, and this time I won’t be sweet.
Those three words make my heart squeeze in my chest. I angle my foot out of my dress so the slit slides open around my thigh, then snap a picture and send it to him. I don't have time to sit and wait for him to respond. Sebastian will be waiting for me to make my grand appearance so we can get ready to leave. I quickly add a simple bracelet and grab a clutch from the closet to stash my cell phone in.
The strands of long blond hair brush my bare waist, tickling me as I walk down the stairs to meet Seb. He's standing by the front door dressed perfectly in his tuxedo.
The smile on his lips slips when he catches sight of me. "Uh, Bel, I did not pick out that dress."
I grin back at him. "I know. I did. The dresses you picked out were pretty, but they were for a sister, a little sister. And while I’m your little sister, I’m also a grown-ass woman. None of them felt like me."
His forehead furrows, and he stalks around me in a circle. Pausing, he curses. "You can't wear that."
"And why is that?"
Casually, he slips his hands into his pockets and stares down at the floor for a second as if trying to gather his thoughts. "You look like..."
"Like..."
"Prey."
I blink slowly, so slowly I’m pretty sure my eyes close.
“I understand your hesitation, Sebastian, but this dress is me. I’m not hiding, not anymore. I'm going to walk into this meeting with my head held high. I don't care if anyone sees me as prey. They will learn real fast that I’m not to be messed with.”
He smirks, and I pin him with a glare. “What?”
“Not a damn thing. You just find a way to shock me over and over again.”
“Good. I can’t have people anticipating my next move.” I grin.
"Nope, let’s go."
He extends his arm out to me, and I take it, slipping my own into his letting him lead me to the car waiting for us. I'm grateful for it because I might look like I have it together, but I’m pretty close to falling in these dangerously high heels.
Sebastian holds the car door open for me, and I slide inside. As soon as I’m secure, he closes the door and jogs around to enter the other side, taking the seat beside me. I fidget with my hands, staring straight ahead.
We ride in silence most of the way, but as we get closer, he shifts to look at me.
"It’s very important that you stay near me and as close to me as possible. I’m wary about this entire event, and I can’t protect you if I don’t know where you are.”
I nod. "No worries, captain. I’ll be right at your side the whole night. Plus, I don’t know anyone who will be at this party or meeting. It’s not like I’d leave the one person I do know to mingle with people I don’t. That’s the first rule of being an introvert. Everyone knows that.”
“You’re such a nerd.” Sebastian smirks and shakes his head.
The car slows, and the anxious knot in my belly tightens. We turn right, and I peer out the window, noticing that we’ve pulled up to a gate. Not surprising. Rich people and their fences. Sebastian rolls his window down and hands his invitation to the guard posted outside the gate.
Once the guard waves us inside, the car eases up a long driveway, and I swear my eyes bulge out of my head when the massive fucking mansion comes into view. There's a line of cars waiting for valet, and we wait with them, because why not.
When it's our turn, a valet opens my door and helps me out.
"Welcome to the Marshall estate."
I nod and smile, then my smile slips, and I glance anxiously at Seb. "Did he just say Marshall? I knew his dad was hosting it, but I didn’t think it would be at his house!"
Sebastian isn’t paying attention to me, though. He is texting furiously on his phone. I feel bad for whoever is on the receiving end of that message. He’s still pounding on the keys when his phone rings.
