I've Changed

14. misunderstanding

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"ELLIE! MOVE YOUR ASS, WE NEED TO GO!"

I roll my eyes at the exaggerating yells of Malcom. I glance at the mirror one last time before leaving my room.

"Holy goddess," I'm too busy shoving my phone in my purse to recognize Malcom's comment, and not until he shrieks, "Are you even real?"

To prove that I'm very much alive, I smack his chest with my bag. He stumbles backwards sarcastically, rubbing the spot I struck.

"We need to go," I mock him from earlier. "Our ride is waiting for us."

"I see how it is." His eyes narrow before stretching into an eye smile. "Regardless, you look amazing goddess," he tips my chin up with his finger.

"Holy shit Ellie," Sofie shoves her beloved bestie aside and holds me in arms length. "You look—"

"Wow!" Theo interrupts her with an exclamation. Sofie looks at me with a 'he did not?' look.

"You look really pretty." Theo continues.

"Thank you." I say to all of them. "Can we leave now?" I point to the door, desperate to get this event over with. Although we worked so hard for tonight, I've been dreading all of the mingling. We all know how much I despise parties, and especially the people who attend them.

"Didn't I say that a few seconds ago?" A death stare from Malcom.

"I know," I drag myself out of our apartment. My heels reverberating with every step as Malcom catches up to me.

"You're going to wrinkle my suit at this pace," he smooths down the fabric , "which reminds me! If you're going to an event like this one..."

"An event like any other," We make a beeline for the elevators.

"Whatever Goddess," I hear the eye roll as we come to a stop. "This is your moment to shine. An event full of sugar parents that we need to impress." He sighs so loud, "I'm looking forward to the eye candy."

"I'm starting to think this is why you encourage company events."

"No..."

"Sure," I scoff, walking into the elevator.

"I mean it," He gives me a suggestive look. "May I?"

I stare for a little too long, "Go ahead."

He claps his hands excitedly. I watch as he takes the neckline of my dress and adjusts it upwards.

"Is this necessary?" I question, kind of amused about his attention to detail.

"Of course!" He pulls at the corset to tighten it further, causing my breath to hitch from the aggressiveness. "Amazing!" He outlines the dips of my waist, then takes a step back to analyze his work.

I check myself out in the elevator mirrors. My boobs look perkier and more outlined than before. I offer a nod of approval.

In my eyes, I look good. Good enough for a cocktail event that involves gaslighting and fake smiles. To Malcom however, he manages to find something wrong to fix.

He alters the pleading of my skirt, moves my necklace a millimeter to the left, twirls the ends of my blowout, and pinches my roots for more volume.

"Okay...that's enough." I slap his hands away before he goes overboard with the final touches.