it wasn’t for the circumstances, I’d have been impressed.
The shoes, naturally, were a pair of black Louboutins with red soles and heels as high as was physically possible.
“You look perfect,” Cassie said, turning her back on me. “Knock him out. He’s addicted to chicks like this. Just play the role and he’ll be coming inside you all night. You look like you could use a good screw.”
Chapter 16
Lacey
R OB STOPPED DEAD WHEN HE saw me in the reception.
“Holy shit,” he said, obviously thrilled by what he saw. “Now you see what I was trying to say last night? You’re hot shit, Lacey.”
“Thank you,” I said, and without even realizing it, I let my voice go a little higher than normal.
Cassie was sitting in her position behind the desk, watching. Her eyebrows rose in approval at my high pitched tone.
“This is what I was talking about. How do you like it?”
I wanted to slap him. I wanted to call the fucking police and tell them I’d been tricked into this humiliating situation, but again, it was as if the outfit and the makeup changed my personality, along with my appearance.
“I love it, baby.”
“So much better,” he said, shaking his head. “So much better. You even sound better. You sound like a lady, Lacey. You know that? This really brings out your natural beauty so much more.”
I wanted to laugh. There was nothing natural about this beauty. But instead I just stood there as he walked toward me and took my arm.
“Thank you, darling,” I said, almost making myself throw up.
When had I allowed myself to become such a pushover?
He of course looked as dashing as he had the night before, dressed in an impeccable navy suit. His shirt was of such high quality cotton it almost felt like silk. He smelled of the finest aftershave.
As we walked past a big mirror by the elevator, I caught a glimpse of myself and it amazed me. I looked like one of those actresses on the red carpet outside an award ceremony. I looked fucking amazing.
I swallowed all my inhibitions, and decided to give this a fair shot. I’d try my best to see how this felt. I’d never allowed myself to be a complete, girly girl before. I’d never allowed the old, traditional stereotypes and gender roles to completely take over my will. Whatever I’d been doing so far in my life clearly wasn’t working. Maybe this was the woman I was meant to be.
Even before I’d gotten there, I’d decided to give Rob another chance. I’d forgive him the deception he’d used, and play along. It was just one evening after all.
“Maybe tonight we’ll actually be able to have some action,” he said, patting my ass as I stepped into the elevator.
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Cassie could still hear us. I knew he was trying to compliment how hot I looked, but there was something very humiliating about him saying I hadn’t been hot enough to fuck before the makeover. Especially in front of Cassie.
*
T HAT DATE WAS ONE OF the strangest experiences of my life. I felt like I was a different person, like I was locked inside of someone else’s body. I didn’t look like me, and I didn’t act like me either. It was surreal.
Rob had a town car with a driver pull around to the front of the building to meet us. I wondered vaguely how I’d ever be able to get home. Cassie said she’d taken my things down to my car, but I suddenly realized that my things included my car keys, my cell phone, and my wallet. If I’d felt vulnerable in this new outfit, looking like a new woman, I felt positively naked without my cell, my keys and my wallet. I was completely at Rob’s mercy without those things.
A shudder of apprehension came over me as I stepped into the car.
“Rob,” I said. “I need to get my things from my car.”
“Trust me,” he said, “you won’t need a thing, Lacey. Not the way you look tonight. I’ll be happy to pay your way.”
“I don’t even have my ID.”
“You don’t need it.”
I nodded. I know
Ken Follett
Fleur Adcock
D H Sidebottom
Patrick Ness
Gilbert L. Morris
Martin Moran
David Hewson
Kristen Day
Terra Wolf, Holly Eastman
Lisa Swallow