Chapter 0125

“Oh my god,” I murmur, looking at the cutouts on the side, the absolute bare scrap of fabric that’s supposed to cover my ass.

Then I glance back down at the box and realize...

Oh my god, this isn’t even the lingerie.

I look back and forth between the black satin corset and lace panties that are still in the box and the slinky grey dress in my

hands, realizing with horror that Kent wants me to wear this out on my date with Ivan —

My cheeks rush with heat as I figure out that Kent is sending me out to Ivan basically naked — dressed in something Janeen

would wear on the main stage -

My embarrassment turns quite quickly to anger and to steely determination, though — faster than it has before. I narrow my eyes

at the dress, realizing, suddenly, what Kent is doing.

“Fine,” I snap, tossing the dress on the bed and stalking into the bathroom. “You want me to go on this date looking like your

hooker? No problem, Kent.”

I'd just make him pay through the teeth for it later.

Or at least, that’s what I say to myself as I turn on my shower and peel off my riding clothes. Because the reality of standing up to

Kent...

Well, it never goes quite as I plan in my head, does it?

I only saw Jerome as I left the house. He was at the foot of the stairs as I tottered down them in the six-inch heels Kent sent me

to pair with my outfit. Jerome had opened his mouth to say something, but I gave him a withering glare as I made my way slowly

down the stairs and he just shrugged, holding out a hand to help me balance.

I didn’t ask where Kent or Daniel were as we walked to the garage and he helped me into the car. We're silent now as we drive,

our relationship newly awkward. I glance at him, wondering if he knows that I know about him and Daniel, or if this new stiffness

is about me leaving him stranded in the road when I left with Ivan the first time.

No answers come to my questions, though, making me sigh. When we pull up to the restaurant — I do a double-take, surprised to

see that it's actually the same restaurant that Daniel took me to a few weeks ago — Jerome grabs my hand as I open the

passenger-side door.

Surprised, I look back him.

“Fay,” he says, worry on his face, and — I think — some real affection as well. “Just be careful tonight, okay?”

“Okay,” I say, giving him a little smile. “Thanks, Jerome.” A little warmth spreads through my stomach as he nods back to me.

Maybe our friendship isn’t totally screwed after all.

Still. ’'ve got business to take care of.

I step out of the car, closing the door behind me, and look around for Ivan.

My eyes go to him immediately and my stomach turns over, instantly filled with flutters. His six-foot, leanly-muscled frame is

wrapped, for the first time since I’ve known him, in a chic black suit, his tattoos peaking over the crisp white collar of his dress

shirt. Despite his ease at the valet stand, Ivan is clearly a man of significant power. It seems like everyone’s eyes are drawn to

him, inevitably, as they pass through the doors of the restaurant.

But Ivan carries his power easily, like

a jaguar moving through the jungle,

totally confident Beste

predateninet one? is eyes meet

mine and flick over my body and he

stands up straight to greet me. A

small smile curls at the corner of his

mouth. Please read the original

content at .

“Hey, Fay,” he says quietly as I cross the short distance to us. “You look...nice.”

His words check the final few steps I

take towards him, making me on

hesitate and logkc tov et myself.

Where ask, looking back up at Ivan

with a frown. “You don’t like my

dress?” Please read the original

content at .

He just shakes his head slowly, still

smiling but Metenlicdee he feblies.

"tigip ist really b t his hooks into

you, hasn't he, Fay?” Please read the

original content at .

My cheeks burn in embarrassment and defiance at his words, the regret in his voice.

But as I look back down at myself, in this ridiculous dress and these crazy heels...

Damn it, but I know he’s right. I’m Kent's little barbie doll, and he sent me out dressed like this to let lvan know it.