doorway of the imposing, mahogany-paneled room, making herself look as small
ers on his massive desk, his express
Vargas... Father," she began, her voice soft.
y," he replied, his tone cold and
s. "But I... I don't have anything to wear. And I don't kno
ly's public image. He frowned, his annoyance clear. The thought of her, t
a stylist," he stated, as
red. I don't want to make a mistake. Claire... she knows everything
ed a bitter argument, framing her as an ungrateful, insolent girl who refused to adapt to the Vargas family's ways. This time, sh
showed Alexandr knew her place, that she was w
d visibly improving. "It shows you ar
e of feigned relief washing over her
rn dress and pulled out a simple, woo
ed vulnerability. "She said it would keep me safe through unfamiliar days. I know it's plain and worthless by the
simple girl, clinging to her humble past. To a man like Arthur,
he said, dismissin
and practically fled the s
nd her in the upstairs hal
so happy you asked! I have the perfect one in mind for
laire had forced her into a tacky, ill-fitting, out-of-season designer gown at
saving my life," Alexandr said,
ng gesture. "Don't worry, sister. I'
d, calculating smile. She walked to the top of the grand staircase, looking down into the cavernous fo
s set not for her humil
She scrolled to a number she had memorized from her past life-an anonymous underground fixer who specialized in confident
single, cr
ssion. A rush j
d the contact. The first piece of her counter-attack
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