Chapter Seven

Maya’s POV

As I settled into the chair, the stylists got to work, their nimble fingers skillfully weaving through my hair as they began to style it. While one person was coming out the knots from my hair, the other was hearing up the curler and curling my hair into loose waves. 

The makeup artists were also working at the same time, applying what looked like foundation and primer into my face, dabbing it into my skin until when it perfect early sat on it. They moved to my eyelids, telling me to close my eyes before lining them and putting eyeshadow on it. 

I opened my eyes and they coated my eyelashes with mascara, making them look longer and fuller than they naturally were, they put some blush on my face, highlighting my cheeks and giving a gentle glow. 

As each of them worked on every part of my head, I couldn’t help but feel nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. Each stroke of their brush and dab of makeup on my face was a step closer to making me look amazing. 

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, not recognizing the girl that stared back at me. Up until now, the only makeup I had ever work was some cheap lip gloss and I was wowed with how beautiful I looked thanks to them. 

After what felt like hours, they were finally done with glamming me up. They stepped away from me, a proud smile on their faces as they stared at me. I was the embodiment of beauty and elegant- something I had never thought I could look like. 

The makeup artist picked up a bottle and sprayed what she a setting spray on my face to lock the makeup in place. They started packing their things up and I thanked them sincerely for making not only look beautiful but also feel it. They were surprised at my gratitude at first but they responded and told me they were only doing their job. 

Anna walked back into the room after the foam team had packed up their things and gushed over how beautiful I looked. “You look absolutely stunning, Miss Maya, sorry Maya,” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration. “You’re going to turn heads tonight!”

I couldn’t help but blush yet again at her compliment, grateful for her kind words. She really knew how to get to me. But as she brought out a dress for me to wear, my heart sank. It wasn’t the one I had loved earlier in the store- it was a completely different style that didn’t quite match my taste.

“I’ll leave you to get ready,” Anna said, excusing herself and leaving the room.

After she left the room, I walked toward my closet to look for the dress I deemed perfect for the night. My heart was racing and I carefully searched through the closet, praying to find it amongst the clothes Anna had hung because I had no idea how she arranged them. 

After minutes of searching, I still couldn’t find it. I heard someone walking into the room, thinking it was Anna, I made my back to the room, hoping to ask her to help me look for the dress. 

But, my heart fell into my stomach immediately I walked back into the room. The dress Anna had picked for me was all torn up and the pieces were all over the floor, looking like rags. 

Standing beside my bed with a malicious smile on her lips was Sarah. In her hands were a pair of scissors and I instantly realized why she had done this. 

My mouth fell open and I stared at her in shock. “Why did you do this?” I asked even though I already knew the answer. 

She let out a small humorless laugh and the sound alone was enough to send shivers down my spine. “Don’t ask me stupid questions,” she replied me, her voice as cold as her eyes. “Your dress is ruined now and you have nothing to wear. Which means Alexander is going to be furious with you. No excuses will save you now.”

My heart fell into my stomach and knots formed in my throat. Alexander was going to mad and I knew that he wouldn’t believe me no matter how much I tried to explain my situation to him. 

“And let me advice you that you shouldn’t dare call me name,” she spoke up again, walking closer to me. “Alexander won’t believe you even if you told him I did it. Plus you have no witness.”

She let out another laugh and it echoed through the room, sending chills down my spine. 

She walked away from the bed and I just stared at her in silence as she walked towards the door while still laughing. But, unfortunately for her, when she opened the door, standing on the other side was Alexander and he had a cold look on his face. 

Her laugh stopped and her widened in fear as she stared at him. Without saying anything, Alexander stretched out his hand and grabbed onto her by her throat, his grip on her tight. 

Fear washed over me as I watched Sarah clutch at Alexander’s hand, struggling to loosen his grip on her. 

“Alex- please… please. You’re su-“she choked out, trying to beg him but his grip on her only tightened, cutting her words off. 

My heart fell into my stomach and I stared at them helplessly. I tried to think of a way to help and I knew Alexander wouldn’t listened to me, but I tried to reason with him anyways. 

“Alexander, please, stop!” I begged, tears forming in my eyes. “Please, she’ll die.”

His grip on her loosened a bit, before he turned to face me, his eyes cold and dark. 

“And why do you care if she does die? Why would I listen to you and stop?” He asked coldly, his voice filled with malice. 

I opened and closed my mouth like a fish, trying to find the right words to say but I couldn’t form any. Eventually, he looked away from me, loosened his grip on her and there her to the floor. 

“Come with me,” he commanded and walked out of the room. 

Sarah that was struggling to breathe, immediately got up, stumbling as she followed him. 

She was shaking with fear and knew she was probably going to meet her doom but, she knew better than to disobey him. 

After they left, I was alone in my room and I felt relieved that he had stopped strangling her, but I couldn’t help but wonder what he was going to do to her wherever he was taking her to. 

I pushed the thought aside, before I went back to my closet to search for the dress. I finally found it at the back and without waiting another minute, I put it on. 

While I was admiring myself in the mirror, I noticed that my dress was the same shade of lipstick that I was wearing. What a coincidence. 

The bold color made me feel confident.

“You look absolutely beautiful,” Anna praised ash’s he walked into the room. “Ugh... the boss won’t be able to take his eyes off you tonight!”

I laughed at her words but immediately the scene that had happened earlier flashed across my mind, I found myself frowning. “I doubt he would even look at me,” I mumbled to myself. “Well, maybe if I was a gun, he would.”

“Did you say something?” Anna asked, staring at me in confusion. 

I smiled at her and shook my head. “No, I didn’t. Just thanking you for your kind words, Anna.”

Anna’s keen eyes caught sight of the shredded clothes on the floor, her expression turning to concern. “What happened to your other dress?” she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

I brushed off her concern with a weave of my hand not wanting her to worry. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just a little accident,” I replied nonchalantly. “Don’t worry about it, Anna.” 

Immediately I stopped talking, we were interrupted by a knock on the door. Anna went to answer it revealing Alexander standing in the doorway.

“Good evening, Mr. Alexander,” Anna greeted.

Alexander returned the greeting with a nod, his expression unreadable as his gaze fixated on me. Anna stepped aside before exiting the room, leaving me alone with him. My heart skipped a beat as I noticed his calm expression, a stark contrast to his earlier appearance. He walked further into the room and moved closer to me.

As Alexander leaned in, my heart pounded in my chest, and I held my breath in anticipation. 

His piercing gaze locked unto mine, sending shivers down my spine. Tension rising between us and the air thick with desire as he reached out to touch me. 

A surge of arousal washed over me, my body responding to his closeness with a hunger I couldn’t deny. I held my breath, expecting his lips to meet mine in a kiss.