Chapter 42

HOPE

I stood nervously outside the door.  I could hear the crowd inside the ballroom, and I had seen the reporters being admitted earlier.  Nicco was turning this announcement into a whole big thing, and I was really uncomfortable with it.

After we had our moment in the living room, Nicco had gotten on the phone and an hour later three women were at his door with evening gowns.  They dressed me in a silvery, glitter sheath and put my hair up into an elegant updo with curled tendrils falling over my face.  Despite my protests, they strapped me into heels that I teetered around on, trying to see through my heavily mascaraed lashes.  I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror and I wasn’t sure I liked the look.

But I was proclaimed perfect.  Nicco didn’t want me looking like a young, inexperienced girl.  He wanted me elegant and sophisticated and, according to him, my reflection reflected this.  I sighed, shift