***THE NIGHT BEFORE THE GALA***Lena’s whistle bounced off the bedroom walls.“Turn around again,” she said, propped up on the bed. “More slowly. I need to soak this in.”“Lena, this is the sixth time,” Aria laughed, but she did a small spin.The black lace dress hugged her like it had been sewn straight onto her skin—high neck, long sleeves, the back mostly bare, and the hem just kissing her knees.“Bitch, I don’t care,” Lena said. “Damn! You look like a dangerous heiress. I fully support it.”Aria snorted and turned back to the mirror, smoothing her hands down her sides. “You don’t think it’s a lot.”“Anything from Dior is perfect,” Lena corrected. “Okay, now the blue one again. For science.”Aria groaned. “You just like bossing me around.”“You’re not wrong,” Lena said. “Blue. Come on.”Aria carefully unzipped, wriggling out of the lace, then stepped into the midnight blue velvet.The fabric slid over her hips like water, the slightly deep V‑neckline skimming the edge of indecent,
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