A fate worse than death~~A Finnick Odair story~~

34. Designed by, not Silvers

Alone in my room that night, everything suddenly became crystal clear. All the secrecy, all the sneaking around, even the president's insistence that I had to meet a young man that time. They were fucking related, it was his grandson and I hadn't realized it until he announced it for all of Panem to hear! Now I wasn't just going to have a secret relationship with an important man, no, I was going to have a very public relationship with Cory Snow, the president's facking grandson.

My life sure sounded like a dream to the entire capital, but I was pretty sure it was only going to get worse from here.

~~~

The rest of the time in the capital moved as if in a fog, or rather, everything was as usual but I was as if in a fog. I couldn't answer properly if anyone asked me anything, the only time I left the apartment was when I either had an interview or was made to spend the night at Cory's. Maybe I was in the mentor room too, but the only people I could remember from there were the bar and Haymitch.

Our tributes had almost survived, or well, half had, so one then.

But he or she was badly injured, to be honest I didn't know which of them it was, but in my defense my head was filled with other thoughts.

Like, for example, the thought that I would have to try on yett another white dress to wear to my next interview. I had always worn blue, but now the president himself had asked Silvers to dress me in white. I didn't know why, but I had my suspicions, and what was worse, so had the rest of the capital. But in their case it was anticipation.

"Elizabeth! Elizabeth?
God are you even listening?!"
"Hmm? What yes sure Finnick."
I had not.
"Then tell me what I just said.
"Uhh, that I'm the most beautiful woman you've ever seen and the love of your life!"

I knew it was wrong.
We had both apparently agreed that no words of love or the like were allowed in the capital. But the dose of alcohol I had drunk started to reach the brain and all I could focus on was his god's beautiful eyes and the drink in my hand. Said eyes that in the next second couldn't save him from even an iota of my drunken rage as he took said drink from my hand and poured it out.
"For God's sake Izzy listen!! You need to sober up, you have an interview soon, god you weren't even like this when--."

He interrupted himself, surely regretting the words he had already said, but drunken Elizabeth Whitmore was not one to provoke. She had no compassion, or philanthropy for that matter.
"When my mother died. That's what you meant to say, weren't they?"
"Izzy I didn't mean--."
"Don't call me that!! That name's reserved for my brother!! And besides, Silvers doesn't care if I'm twerking in dung straight or nail-biting, she's so great at her job she just works it out!!"

A claim that in recent weeks has been tested, and confirmed. Not once had my condition when I stepped into Silver's dressing room even glimpsed when I set foot on that damn stage. Not once.

So imagine my shock, and horror, when I later stepped into said dressing room and Silvers and her designer were nowhere to be seen. Fack!!

"Miss Whitmore what a pleasure to finally meet you!!!"
My hand was shaken and I was pushed into a make-up chair before I even had time to gather my thoughts.

"Who are you and what have you done with my style list!"
It came out, some what sober.
"Ohh silly billy I'm your stylist!"
"No I mean my stylist Silvers, the woman who has styled me for years!" "Ohhh."

His face went from happy to stiff before he, in a slightly more strained tone than before, continued.
"I'm afraid Silver's abilities were needed, somewhere else."
"Somewhere else?"
"Yeah, like I said, but I--."
"No buts. I want Silvers back!! No one else will be allowed to touch me whit even a hairbruch until she's back!!"

"Honestly you victors!!! What are they you don't understand Silvers was not the right persion for the direction we want to go with your style forward." "No facking way. I haven't agreed to change style I--."
"Miss Whitmore!! President's orders, now sit still so we can begin!!"

All kindness was now gone from his voice. Instead there was only irritation and anger. But he didn't need to feel any of that. At even just the mention of the president, I would have understood. This was nothing I had any say in, it was just one more bitch ass way to make me an obedient pawn in his sick power game.
I facking hated him.

Now, maybe the designer didn't have to be so bad. He had been thrown into a tough situation and I convinced myself that I had to give him a chance, granted he wasn't Silver's but hey he would surely try his best and if he was even a little good he might get me to look at least half as beautiful as I used to.

Usually, people can suprise me when I give them a chance, but Wert wasn't one of them.

To begin with, his name was Wert, he had yellow cat-like eyes and continued to wett his lower lip all the time. All things I could have looked away from, if it weren't for the fact that he had a shitty personality.

All he did was talk about himself, or rather brag. He had done this and his creations had been in magazines blah blah blah.
One would perhaps then think that he would make me look more beautiful than ever, but no!!

Honestly, the man had turned me into a walking sex symbol!
The dress could have been beautiful, but it was so form-hugging that it almost made it impossible to breathe, the material was rose-patterned lace, which made me look almost naked, but worst of all was his constant pawing on my body with the excuse of him adjusted the dress.

Honestly, it could have been a wedding dress, a scandalous one, but never the less a wedding dress.

The feeling of shame colored my cheeks red as I thought about having to step on a stage in front of several hundred people, and cameras, wearing only this. But when he made an attempt to take of my necklace witout evan the slightest of wornings, I had had enough.
"The necklace stays."
"But, but you have received a much more beautiful gift from your fiancé, it would go perfectly with--."
"The necklace stays! And he's not my fiance. That is final!"
I could stand the shameful dress, but just the thought of something from Cory replacing the necklace from Finnick made my blood boil.
"But don't you even want to see--?" "No!"
"But--."
A blessed knock interrupted him, it was time for me to go.

I was shocked when Finnick was the one to escort me to the interview, he hadn't done that since my game.
But my shock was no match for his when he saw me in the dress. Honestly, the man was having a hard time holding himself together.

But when we were a good distance from the dressing room, he dared to ask.
"What on earth did Silvers do to you?!"
"Oh trust me, this isn't Silver's fault, I've been assigned a new stylist."
"But why? I thought you loved Silvers."
"Ohh I do, but apparently the president doesn't, that or his grandson just want to see me naked!"

It could have been a serious conversation, but after one look at my dress we both burst out laughing.
I knew my reason was that I wasn't completely sober, but Finnick's?
One could only guess,
and the closest I got was second-hand embarrassment.

A/N

Just wanted to say thanks for 1.25k readers!!!
OMG I am so happy and grateful!!!

It feels like everyone says this, but I never thought anyone would even want to read what I wrote, thank you<3