💜Nicole
"Honestly, Gracie, this one makes you look like a meringue. And that one? It's basically a wedding tent. It has more structure than my entire life plan."
I sat on a velvet fainting couch, offering my expert opinion as Grace modeled her potential wedding dress designs. The bridal boutique was a suffocating cloud of lace and tulle, but at least it was a change from my room.
Grace, ever the patient saint, sighed in front of the enormous mirror. "Nicole, the Greco wedding is strictly formal. We need structure and modesty. Which one do you like for the engagement party?"
I pointed a manicured nail at a sleek, icy blue silk gown. "That one. It's elegant, doesn't involve four yards of tulle, and it's still graceful. Unlike your fiancé's personality."
Grace ignored the jab. "Good. I'll order the blue for the party. Oh! That reminds me." She spun around, her eyes suddenly sparkling with genuine excitement. "Marco is hosting a pool party at his penthouse this weekend. It's supposed to be huge, just the younger crowd from the families. Leonardo invited me."
I immediately sat up straight. Pool party. Leonardo. Bikini.
"You know, Leonardo asked if I wanted to invite you. Do you want to come?" Grace asked, folding her hands neatly.
I did my most profound, world-weary sigh. "Pool parties? Ugh. They're really not my thing, Gracie. Too much splashing, alcohol, too many half naked people. Plus, I don't really have the energy for synchronized drowning with the Greco cousins."
Lies. Pure, delicious lies. At the mere mention of Leonardo's name and the idea of him seeing me outside of a stuffy, corporate sheath dress, I was already half-naked and halfway to Marco's penthouse.
Grace leaned toward me, her voice softening. "Please, Nicole? I hate going alone, and it would be so much more fun if you were there to critique everyone's swim trunks. Only problem is, Papa might not even approve of you going."
"Well," I drawled, pretending to consider the heavy weight of social obligation. "If you put it that way, and since you're begging… I'll think about it."
I gave a casual shrug, fully aware that thinking about it meant buying the slutty dress I had spotted earlier. I didn't even acknowledge the part about Papa not approving. That was a challenge, not a restriction.
After two more grueling hours of examining lace samples, we were done. We walked to the car, but as Grace reached for the door handle, I snapped my fingers.
"Oh, my God, I left my sunglasses bag on the velvet couch. Wait for me, I'll be back in two minutes!"
I didn't wait for her reply. I darted back into the shopping complex, bypassing the bridal store entirely, and beelined straight for the designer boutique where I'd seen it: the dress. It was a scandal, my very own act of war, and exactly what I needed.
Leonardo wants to ignore me? Let's see him try to ignore a neon pink, backless, short as sin halter dress.
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣
That evening, I found Papa in his study, looking over documents. It was time for the hundred-and-first negotiation attempt.
"Papa, dearest Papa," I started, sliding into the chair opposite him.
He put down his pen, his expression already one of exhaustion. "No, Nicole."
"I haven't asked yet!"
"It's the pool party, and the answer is no." He didn't even have to look up. "It's dangerous. I still don't trust Leonardo or any of those Italians around you. Especially after yesterday's dinner."
"But Papa, Grace is going! It's Marco's party. It's safe! I'll wear a trench coat and sunglasses the whole time!" (Lie).
He gave me ninety-nine different reasons why attending a party with the family we were trying to marry into was a bad idea for the other daughter.
Finally, on the hundred-and-first plea, fueled by sheer, annoying persistence, he caved.
"Fine! Ty yedyosh." he snapped, running a hand over his face. "But Sergei is driving you, and you will stay within three feet of Grace, and you will be home by midnight!"
(Ty yedyosh: You Go)
"Thank you, Papa!" I yelled, kissing his cheek and running out before he could change his mind.
I stopped at Grace's door, taking a deep, calming breath to appear utterly casual. I knocked, then opened the door.
"So, I thought about the party," I announced with feigned indifference. "I'll tag along. I guess I could use the fresh air."
Grace, who was applying lipstick, stared at me. "Oh, good! But did you tell Papa yet? You should go ask him or you plan to sneak out?"
"Oh, no, I already asked him," I said, grinning widely. "Got his permission, actually."
Grace raised an eyebrow, a clear, silent "Huh? From where to where?" expression crossing her face. I hadn't even confirmed I was going, but I had already secured the clearance. My planning skills were unparalleled when trouble was involved.
I grinned again and ran out of her room. "Wait for me! I need to get dressed!"
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I moved with the speed and precision of a woman preparing for battle. I applied foundation, smoky eye shadow, and a devastatingly bold red lip. I curled my hair into messy, voluminous waves that fell just past my shoulders.
And then, the dress. The neon pink, backless, midriff-baring, short-as-hell masterpiece of fabric. It was less a dress and more a public declaration that I had lost my mind. I wrestled into my highest, most impractical heels, the ones that screamed I'm too reckless to care about tripping.
When I finally walked into the main hall, Grace was waiting, wearing a tasteful, long, flowy black sundress. She stared at me, her mouth slightly agape.
"Nicole," she whispered. "That's… very revealing."
"It's a pool party, Grace," I replied, striking a pose. "You're supposed to be in a swimsuit or something that looks like it's about to be a swimsuit. You look like you're attending a low-key funeral."
A quick, nervous scan of the room confirmed my lucky star was shining: Papa was nowhere in sight, Sergei and Mama was also blissfully absent. I wouldn't survive five seconds in this outfit under their combined scrutiny.
Ofc i knew Sergei wasn't around to drive us. Just didn't remind papa when he said Sergei would have to drive us that he actually sent Sergei somewhere since last night and he wouldn't be back till the engagement.
"Let's go," I ordered, grabbing Grace's arm and pulling her toward the door.
Leonardo Greco wants to ignore me? I thought, smiling wickedly. Let's see him try to ignore this.