Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129027 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129027 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
I only barely kept myself from telling her to fuck off. I just have to play nice a little longer. Eight more weeks, and then I’m free.
Truly free. No more of these bullshit games.
“Just tell your mom we could only do so much. I know this is a really important day for her, and she wants you to look perfect.”
I barely stop myself from rolling my eyes. Instead, I smile and nod like the obedient little girl I am. Appearances, Kira Belle. I can all but hear Carol’s voice in my head. Always keep up appearances.
Of course. It’s an important day for Carol. Then again, she is the one paying these women. And she’s the regular, in here every four to six weeks for peels, Botox upkeep, lip filler, and god knows what else women are doing to their faces these days.
Just get through today.
“You know we could fix these little lines here.” The woman brings a mirror up and points at my forehead.
I frown at her.
“Exactly, these lines here and here.” She uses her gloved hand to point at small lines that have popped up above my eyebrow.
“That’s because I’m frowning at you. I’m making an expression. I’m only twenty-two. I don’t have wrinkles yet.”
She tilts her head at me sympathetically. “Those grooves will only get deeper as you age. Many of our clients are taking preventative measures. We can make you as smooth-faced as you were at sixteen and keep you that way. It’s just a couple quick injections.”
How about I take that injection needle and stab you in the eye? Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab.
I push the mirror away. “No thanks.”
“Are you sure? I noticed that your lips are on the thinner side, too. A lot of mothers and daughters are concerned about keeping the family resemblance similar. We could do some filler, and you’d only be a little sore for tonight’s dinner.”
Now I know that’s bullshit. I’ve heard from friends that lip filler hurts like a bitch.
“No thanks,” I say more firmly, fuming internally. I’m sure Carol put them up to this. Family resemblance, my ass.
I can barely sit still for them to finish applying the other million-and-a-half products they scrub, spray, and massage onto my skin.
Finally, it’s time to go.
They shove a cold green juice into my hand on the way out. “Per your mother’s request,” says a perky little blonde in the white uniform and cute little pink apron. “Have a pampered day!”
Isaak is on my heels as we exit. He waited in the hallway outside the small, curtained-off room where they do facials only because there were no windows inside. I obediently put the straw in my mouth and suck on the honeyed wheatgrass, which is just as disgusting as it sounds.
“Did that lady just wish you a happy diaper day?”
I snort and almost spray my green juice. “No, it’s a day of pampering. You know, getting your face and hair done. Doesn’t my face look different?”
I pause on the sidewalk and turn my face to him.
His nose scrunches. “I dunno. Kinda shiny, I guess.”
“Just goes to show,” I huff, shaking my head and stomping toward the car my mother sent to chauffeur me around for the day. “Women scrub and pluck themselves numb for the male gaze, and you can’t even tell the difference.”
I yank open the back door of the car just as the chauffeur comes around to open it for me and scoot in. Isaak follows me, making me move further across the back seat.
“Seems like a whole lotta torture when I thought you were gorgeous asleep on my chest this morning.”
I balk, my mouth dropping open. I see the chauffeur’s eyes catch mine before he shuts the door behind Isaak. I smack Isaak on the shoulder.
“Now Carol’s going to hear that. Thanks!”
Isaak’s head swings around to where the chauffeur disappeared to walk around to the driver’s seat. “Shit. Sorry.”
“Plus,” I hiss. “You didn’t tell me I was sleeping on you again.”
“Again?” he smirks. “So it’s happened before? You can’t help climbing me in your dreams, huh, Red? What’s your subconscious shadow self got to say about that?”
I make an offended noise even though inside, I’m a little chuffed. He actually listened to my lecture? I thought he was just there assessing threats.
“Don’t say anything else about it,” I whisper right before the driver gets back in the car. I glare at him to make sure he gets my point, and he nods, hands raised in surrender.
I don’t stop glaring. He loves getting under my skin and I just bet he’d think it was funny to keep saying things to get me in trouble. He doesn’t realize what Carol’s really like, and I seriously don’t need any more stress tonight than I’m already dealing with.
“I’m serious,” I bite out under my breath.