Mantis

36. Manuel

It was hard for me to choose something more spectacular for the party than what I wore the previous evening, even though I had plenty of options. Eventually, I decided on a black, fitted, silk dress with lace on the back and was practically out the door when Victor knocked.

– Every day you look more and more appetizing – he said, straightening his tuxedo, as I quickly stepped out of the reach of his arms.

– You were supposed to wait for me downstairs – I snapped, eyeing him warily.

– I preferred to check if you weren't still in your bathrobe – he replied with a mischievous gleam in his eye. – And I need someone to tie my bow tie.

– You need? – I asked, giving him a pointed look.

Victor smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.

– I'd like to ask you to do it – he corrected himself immediately.

– Can't you do it yourself? – I asked sarcastically.

– It appears not – he replied, shrugging.

– Who tied it for you yesterday?

– Marcel.

– Why didn't he do it today?

– He said it's high time I learned to do it myself or found another nanny – he said smoothly and shrugged innocently again.

– Why do you think I can do it? – I asked.

Victor smiled at me lazily and looked at me with his warm, chocolate-brown eyes.

– You can do anything. May I?

– Come in – I muttered graciously, stepping aside to let him through the door.

Victor walked through the short corridor leading to the main part of the room, and I stood opposite him, grabbing both ends of the bow tie hanging around his neck.

– Back to the tried and true colors? – he asked, glancing at my outfit as I fiddled with his neck.

– I preferred not to surprise you with too many details at once – I said, unable to suppress a smile. Victor hadn't seen the entire dress yet. – Done – I announced and turned towards the door. – Be kind enough to close it behind you – I threw over my shoulder and walked ahead, letting him admire my back.

Victor lingered for a moment before catching up with me on the stairs.

– Are you wearing panties? – he asked in a slightly hoarse voice.

I smiled to myself, delighted like a child that Vic was such a simple creature.

The dress may not have been particularly impressive from the front, but the sheer, lacy pattern on the back extended low enough to make Victor seriously wonder if I was wearing any underwear.

– You'll never know – I said in a sugary tone, smiling sweetly at him.

– I'm sensing some hostility towards me – he muttered, but his tone didn't sound particularly worried.

– Really? – I asked in an overly sweet tone that dripped with sarcasm. – I wonder how that's possible.

Victor smiled to himself and made a face that said: „I'm not at all surprised".

– What did I do wrong this time? – he asked as we stood in the long but quickly moving line to wish the birthday person well. – I haven't even touched you yet and only asked for help with the bow tie.

I turned to the chocolate-eyed beast and looked at him like a child who had asked for the hundredth time in an hour when dinner would be ready.

– Should I give you a medal for that? – I asked sarcastically, and Vic looked genuinely surprised. – Stop acting like you're the master of the world – I snapped, stepping forward as the line moved. – Kneeling and kissing a hand has never made a jerk a gentleman. And if you ask for something once, instead of demanding or taking it by trickery, don't expect everyone to start carrying you on their hands.