Chapter 0019

She shrugs, beckoning me over to her. “Personal shoppers, mostly. Kent likes to look good, but he

doesn’t like to go to stores.” I join her at a velvet settee in front of a trifold mirror. “The rest,” she says,

“are…gifts. Donations.”

I cock my head at her, confused.

She gives me a wink. “You know. From people who owe him big but don’t have the cash.” She wrinkles

her nose and smiles. “That’s how he got me my Porsche.”

“Oh,” I say, my eyes going wide.

“Oh, little baby Fay,” she laughs, putting an arm around my shoulders. “You’re so cute with your little

blushes. It’s nice to have someone so fresh around.”

I smile at her, biting my lip as she moves over to a pile of silk and satin that she has draped over a

chair.

“Now,” she says, “I picked these out for you, but if you see anything else you like, just tell me.” She

starts to hold up dresses for me.

“Um,” I say, hesitating. “Picked them out…for what?”

“For the party!” she says, beaming. “Did no one tell you? Tonight! The party so you can meet your

father!”

Fiona smiles at me like I’m the luckiest girl in the world but I feel my face go as white as a sheet.

Seeing the change in my demeanor, Fiona puts down the dresses and comes over. “Aw baby,” she

says soothingly. “Too much? Too soon?”

I take a deep breath. “Yeah, I guess. I’ve never met this man – didn’t know he was my father until

yesterday. It’s all just a shock.”

She gives my shoulders a quick squeeze. “Well, nothing’s going to make you feel more confident than

looking absolutely fabulous.”

She hurries back over to the pile of dresses she set aside for me. “For you,” she says, “I think, this

one.” Her voice is reverent as she holds up a gorgeous velvet gown, midnight blue with gauzy fabric

trailing from the shoulders to create a diaphanous train.

I gasp when I see it, unable to help myself as I move forward to touch the material. As I turn it over in

my hands, I catch a view of the price tag. I blanche and drop the fabric.

“What?” she says, peering at me. “I thought you liked it? With that red hair you’ll be a masterpiece.”

“Fiona,” I say, laughing a little, “that dress is the same price as a car, and not even a cheap car.”

She shrugs. “So?”

“It’s just…it’s too extravagant for me!” I say, shaking my head.

“Baby,” she says, coming forward and taking my chin in her hand, a little good-natured pity in her eyes.

“This isn’t extravagant enough for you.”

I blink at her and she turns to hold the dress up so that I can see it against my body in the mirror. “This

is the stuff that Kent lets me wear, Fay. And I’m just the goomah – the lady on the side,” she says,

winking at me. I can tell she doesn’t feel any shame.

“You though,” she says. “Baby, you’re royalty in this world. You’re a princess.”

I stare at myself in the mirror, suddenly worried. I’m no princess – not in any world – I’m a just a psych

major –

But as I stare at myself in the mirror, with that dress pressed against me, I have to admit…I look, just a

little bit, like royalty.

“You’ve gotta get used to the luxe life,” she says quietly. “Kent told me to dress you in these tonight, but

a girl like you should be wearing couture. To make up for it, though,” her face lights up with excitement,

“Kent says I get to pick you out some jewels!”

She squeals, clapping her hands. I laugh as well, unable to help myself – she’s so infectious.

Ten minutes later, when I see myself in the dress with sapphires draped around around my neck, I

shake my head a little in disbelief.

“There she is,” Fiona says, her voice awed. “The future wife of the most powerful heir in the city. Ladies

and Gentlemen,” she says, giving a little bow, “may I present your future Queen.”

My heart sinks as I look at myself. Who even am I anymore?