The Love of Lady Dimitrescu X Female Reader || One-Shots

Beauty Behind the Mask Epilogue

"Alcina! Stop touching and moving my receipts around!"

Ignoring Donna's protests, the pale woman continued to sort them by date. "I'm sorting them chronologically so you can keep track of your expenses."

Donna knew it wasn't a good idea to leave her unattended in the back of her shop. "They're already organized!"

Raising her dark eyebrow at her, she pointed at her work desk. "You call this organized? Your receipts are overflowing from your drawers and spilling onto the floor. I also looked through your ledger. You've made errors in your account reconciliation. Your duplicate entries will throw your tax calculations off. You should know that accurate financial statements are crucial to the future success of your business."

Your best friend resisted the urge to swat her with the broom and planned on having a long discussion with you about how she was never going to babysit your girlfriend again. "Marvelous. Now, will you please stop going through my desk?"

"Very well. But if you ever need assistance, I would be more than happy to help reconcile your ledger? I am rather efficient at accounting."

She acted surprised. "Oh, are you?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then my answer is no."

"Are you always this stubborn?"

Donna glowered at her, which amused Alcina to no end. "I'm going to dismiss that remark because today's your birthday."

When she turned and left the back room, Alcina followed her out. "Aw. How considerate of you. What if it had been any other day?"

The milliner stepped outside her shop with her, locking it up for the evening. "Alci, don't test me. I mean it."

Smirking down at her, she began walking away from her. "But it's entertaining, I can't help myself. Well, I'm heading back to the cottage. I'll see you there."

Immediately spinning on her heel, Donna hurried after her, snatching her wrist. "Wait! Not yet. We can't because we have to go by my house first, remember? Bela said she needs more cinnamon. I've got a bottle of it in my pantry."

"Why does Bela require cinnamon?"

"She told me she's trying a new recipe."

"What recipe?"

Giving her a pinched expression, Donna urged her to move forward. "Okay, no more questions from you, birthday girl. Let's go!"

Back at your cottage, you were holding your bowl of frosting over your head, keeping it out of Daniela's reach. "Dani! You can't eat all of it, or else there won't be enough to cover the rest of your mother's cake!"

She grabbed a wooden spoon off the counter, jabbing you lightly in the armpit with it. "Our mother doesn't fancy frosting that much anyway! She won't mind."

"Guys!" Bela interrupted. "Come on, we have to hurry. Mother and Donna will be here any second. We still have to put the candles in and light them. Where's Cass? She should've been back an hour ago."

You were just as puzzled as she was. "Cass mentioned she was doing a quick favor for Mrs. Baker. Hopefully, she'll turn up soon."

Cassandra assumed and took on over half of your odd jobs. Undeterred by hard labor, she was never hesitant to roll up her sleeves and get her hands dirty. Unlike you, she was unfazed by heights, making her an invaluable asset in roof repair or thatching for the villagers. Faced with a rat infestation or a mouse in your house? Cassandra was the woman for the job. Her active involvement and eagerness to serve the community made you immensely proud of her.