Chapter 1
Alysa Stevens slipped into the strapless black silk ball gown with the help of her assistant, Lisa. The stark black color was the perfect complement to her porcelain skin. The hand-sewn gold crystal beads across the bodice shimmered in the light of her bedroom. The dress was sure to turn heads at tonight’s charity masquerade ball. “Hold still while I do these corset ties,” Lisa said.
Alysa chuckled. “I do need to breathe tonight. Please remember that.”
“With a dress like this, who needs to breathe? And besides, if I know you, you won’t stay long enough to be suffocated by this corset.”
“I don’t know how women in history used to wear these? Can you imagine going through this process every single day?
“No, not at all. Maybe that’s why so many women used to faint? They couldn’t breathe.”
“You’re probably right, Lisa. I really don’t like going to these things, but how could I pass up a masquerade party. It’s not like I’m invited to one every day.”
The event was being held in the ballroom of one of the wealthiest socialites in the Hamptons. It was the social event of the season and Alysa planned on enjoying herself. She’d been working hard these days and needed a short break to recharge her batteries. This ball was exactly what she needed. After all, not many knew who she was and she liked it that way. She could slip in and out if it suited her without making apologies for her untimely departure.
With a last tug on the ribbons, Lisa tied them off and tucked them inside the corset. “There. You look amazing.”
“Thank you. This dress should put Gabriella’s name on every socialite’s lips. At least, that’s my hope. She deserves the recognition and more business.”
“I’m sure it will. What jewelry do you want?”
Alysa glanced over to her vanity table at the stunning gold mask. “None, that mask is all I need.”
Lisa walked over and picked up the mask, admiring its intricate detail. A master craftsman who truly knew how to work the metal to its best effect made it. “This has to be the most beautiful mask I’ve ever seen.”
“I know. Alan outdid himself on this one. He remembered I was going to this ball the last time he traveled to Italy. When he saw it in a tiny shop window in Venice, he knew it was the one for me. I had Gabriella design the dress to match it.”
“It’s truly beautiful. What do you want to do with your hair? Up or down?”
“I was thinking down with a few more curls. What do you think?” Alysa moved to her vanity and sat down.
“Oh, I agree.” Lisa picked up the curling iron and wound sections of Alysa’s shoulder length blonde hair around it, creating long, flowing curls. “Done. That’s perfect.”
Alysa craned her neck while looking in the mirror to see the back. “Oh, I love it. Thank you. What would I do without you?”
“Lucky for you, you won’t have to find out,” Lisa said. “Are you ready for the mask?”
“Please.”
Lisa helped tie the mask’s ribbons and secured it with a few bobby pins on the back of her boss’s head. She picked up the invitation and handed it to Alysa. “Here. You need this to get in the door. You’re all set. The driver is downstairs waiting for you. Have fun tonight.”
Alysa gave her assistant a quick hug. “Thank you for everything. You’re the best.”
Lisa chuckled. “You’re welcome. Now off to the ball with you, Cinderella! You’re officially fashionably late.”
Alysa took one last glance in the mirror before gliding out the door, the satin of her ball gown rustling softly. As the young CEO of a thriving Fortune 500 company, her online presence was Al Stevens and no one was the wiser, at least not yet. Her VP, Alan Skateley, did all the in-person negotiating and her assistant screened all her visitors. She would show those venture capitalists that had denied her early requests for funding a thing or two about a woman
Alysa Stevens slipped into the strapless black silk ball gown with the help of her assistant, Lisa. The stark black color was the perfect complement to her porcelain skin. The hand-sewn gold crystal beads across the bodice shimmered in the light of her bedroom. The dress was sure to turn heads at tonight’s charity masquerade ball. “Hold still while I do these corset ties,” Lisa said.
Alysa chuckled. “I do need to breathe tonight. Please remember that.”
“With a dress like this, who needs to breathe? And besides, if I know you, you won’t stay long enough to be suffocated by this corset.”
“I don’t know how women in history used to wear these? Can you imagine going through this process every single day?
“No, not at all. Maybe that’s why so many women used to faint? They couldn’t breathe.”
“You’re probably right, Lisa. I really don’t like going to these things, but how could I pass up a masquerade party. It’s not like I’m invited to one every day.”
The event was being held in the ballroom of one of the wealthiest socialites in the Hamptons. It was the social event of the season and Alysa planned on enjoying herself. She’d been working hard these days and needed a short break to recharge her batteries. This ball was exactly what she needed. After all, not many knew who she was and she liked it that way. She could slip in and out if it suited her without making apologies for her untimely departure.
With a last tug on the ribbons, Lisa tied them off and tucked them inside the corset. “There. You look amazing.”
“Thank you. This dress should put Gabriella’s name on every socialite’s lips. At least, that’s my hope. She deserves the recognition and more business.”
“I’m sure it will. What jewelry do you want?”
Alysa glanced over to her vanity table at the stunning gold mask. “None, that mask is all I need.”
Lisa walked over and picked up the mask, admiring its intricate detail. A master craftsman who truly knew how to work the metal to its best effect made it. “This has to be the most beautiful mask I’ve ever seen.”
“I know. Alan outdid himself on this one. He remembered I was going to this ball the last time he traveled to Italy. When he saw it in a tiny shop window in Venice, he knew it was the one for me. I had Gabriella design the dress to match it.”
“It’s truly beautiful. What do you want to do with your hair? Up or down?”
“I was thinking down with a few more curls. What do you think?” Alysa moved to her vanity and sat down.
“Oh, I agree.” Lisa picked up the curling iron and wound sections of Alysa’s shoulder length blonde hair around it, creating long, flowing curls. “Done. That’s perfect.”
Alysa craned her neck while looking in the mirror to see the back. “Oh, I love it. Thank you. What would I do without you?”
“Lucky for you, you won’t have to find out,” Lisa said. “Are you ready for the mask?”
“Please.”
Lisa helped tie the mask’s ribbons and secured it with a few bobby pins on the back of her boss’s head. She picked up the invitation and handed it to Alysa. “Here. You need this to get in the door. You’re all set. The driver is downstairs waiting for you. Have fun tonight.”
Alysa gave her assistant a quick hug. “Thank you for everything. You’re the best.”
Lisa chuckled. “You’re welcome. Now off to the ball with you, Cinderella! You’re officially fashionably late.”
Alysa took one last glance in the mirror before gliding out the door, the satin of her ball gown rustling softly. As the young CEO of a thriving Fortune 500 company, her online presence was Al Stevens and no one was the wiser, at least not yet. Her VP, Alan Skateley, did all the in-person negotiating and her assistant screened all her visitors. She would show those venture capitalists that had denied her early requests for funding a thing or two about a woman
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