buzzer sounded, loud and shrill. She hurried to shove her sweat pants on and hopped on one foot as she pulled her slippers on and opened the door. She ran down to the lobby, and Lou was dutifully waiting.
“Have a safe evening miss Belle.” He said to her, she kissed his cheek before she sat down into the limo, and he closed the door securely, patting the top before Daniel pulled away.
“Evening miss Belle.” Daniel said, and Belle smiled at him as she stripped her sweater over her head and slipped her pants over her hips.
“How’s life Danny?” She asked.
“Oh you know…” He winked and Belle bit her tongue in mock disgust, opening the cabinet at her knees and pulling out a long, golden evening gown.
It was unusually heavy, the golden beading glittered under the light, and the silky material on the inside chilled her skin as she pulled it over her legs, and up her stomach, slipping her arms in before pulling the side zipper up carefully.
“How much time do I have?” She asked as she pulled a pair of golden Manolo Blahnik pumps from the cabinet. Below them sat a small piece of paper, with handwriting on it. Belle whistled at the shoes but frowned as she picked up the piece of paper.
Miss Belle ,
If you are reading this, it means you’ve accepted my invitation for tonight.
As a token of my gratitude, and pleasure at the privilege of being in your
company, I’d like to gift you these shoes. I hope they are to your liking.
- Anthony
Belle smiled, shook her head and she slipped the heels on, scoffing softly.
“Not long. Another strike?” Daniel asked.
“I swear I don’t know how this happens.” Belle said as she poured herself a glass of champagne.
“It’s your beauty. They can’t help themselves.”
“Sure.” Belle said as she sipped the champagne, and took the golden bow from the cabinet, ignoring the small tin that sat below.
“ It’s true.” Daniel said, winking at her again.
“Regardless, the man has never met me. I do love the gifts though; a girl can get awfully spoiled in this line of business. I’ve still got to donate those clothes.” She said more to herself.
Belle wrapped the golden bow around her wrists idly as they slowed in front of a large building, but was surprised when Daniel didn’t turn off the ignition.
“Boss’s orders.” He said into the mirror at her questioning gaze.
“What’s with all of the rule breaking?” Belle demanded in annoyance. “I don’t even get an escort now? Where is the security?”
Daniel shrugged, and Belle noticed movement to her right. She looked out the window to see a tall, very large man approaching the limo. He reached down and pulled the door open as Belle stretched her leg out and placed it on the pavement, making eye contact with Daniel before she stood.
“I’ll be here.” He said.
Belle nodded and stood, looking up into a dark, handsome face, and steel grey eyes. She beamed at him as he took her hand into his, and brought it up to his lips.
“Belle, I’m so happy to finally meet you.” His voice was a deep baritone, and it seemed to reverberate in the space between them.
“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Bestia.” Belle said, he still held her hand poised at his lips and a wolfish grin spread across his face.
“I hope so.” Belle re turned his grin before he offered her his arm.
“I thought this was a masquerade?” Belle asked , slipping her hand over the thick material of his sharp black tuxedo.
“It is. The m asks are provided.” He said as they reached the top of the concrete steps.
Belle peered in through the glass doors, the warm ballroom was glowing in rich colors, and there were women in fine dresses, men in tuxedos twirling along the floor, Belle felt a twinge of embarrassment wash over her. She had no idea how to ballroom dance.
“Before we go in,” Anthony began, “I need you to know that, this is a company gathering for me. I need you to be discreet with our… arrangement.” He was
“Have a safe evening miss Belle.” He said to her, she kissed his cheek before she sat down into the limo, and he closed the door securely, patting the top before Daniel pulled away.
“Evening miss Belle.” Daniel said, and Belle smiled at him as she stripped her sweater over her head and slipped her pants over her hips.
“How’s life Danny?” She asked.
“Oh you know…” He winked and Belle bit her tongue in mock disgust, opening the cabinet at her knees and pulling out a long, golden evening gown.
It was unusually heavy, the golden beading glittered under the light, and the silky material on the inside chilled her skin as she pulled it over her legs, and up her stomach, slipping her arms in before pulling the side zipper up carefully.
“How much time do I have?” She asked as she pulled a pair of golden Manolo Blahnik pumps from the cabinet. Below them sat a small piece of paper, with handwriting on it. Belle whistled at the shoes but frowned as she picked up the piece of paper.
Miss Belle ,
If you are reading this, it means you’ve accepted my invitation for tonight.
As a token of my gratitude, and pleasure at the privilege of being in your
company, I’d like to gift you these shoes. I hope they are to your liking.
- Anthony
Belle smiled, shook her head and she slipped the heels on, scoffing softly.
“Not long. Another strike?” Daniel asked.
“I swear I don’t know how this happens.” Belle said as she poured herself a glass of champagne.
“It’s your beauty. They can’t help themselves.”
“Sure.” Belle said as she sipped the champagne, and took the golden bow from the cabinet, ignoring the small tin that sat below.
“ It’s true.” Daniel said, winking at her again.
“Regardless, the man has never met me. I do love the gifts though; a girl can get awfully spoiled in this line of business. I’ve still got to donate those clothes.” She said more to herself.
Belle wrapped the golden bow around her wrists idly as they slowed in front of a large building, but was surprised when Daniel didn’t turn off the ignition.
“Boss’s orders.” He said into the mirror at her questioning gaze.
“What’s with all of the rule breaking?” Belle demanded in annoyance. “I don’t even get an escort now? Where is the security?”
Daniel shrugged, and Belle noticed movement to her right. She looked out the window to see a tall, very large man approaching the limo. He reached down and pulled the door open as Belle stretched her leg out and placed it on the pavement, making eye contact with Daniel before she stood.
“I’ll be here.” He said.
Belle nodded and stood, looking up into a dark, handsome face, and steel grey eyes. She beamed at him as he took her hand into his, and brought it up to his lips.
“Belle, I’m so happy to finally meet you.” His voice was a deep baritone, and it seemed to reverberate in the space between them.
“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Bestia.” Belle said, he still held her hand poised at his lips and a wolfish grin spread across his face.
“I hope so.” Belle re turned his grin before he offered her his arm.
“I thought this was a masquerade?” Belle asked , slipping her hand over the thick material of his sharp black tuxedo.
“It is. The m asks are provided.” He said as they reached the top of the concrete steps.
Belle peered in through the glass doors, the warm ballroom was glowing in rich colors, and there were women in fine dresses, men in tuxedos twirling along the floor, Belle felt a twinge of embarrassment wash over her. She had no idea how to ballroom dance.
“Before we go in,” Anthony began, “I need you to know that, this is a company gathering for me. I need you to be discreet with our… arrangement.” He was
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