Hot Mysterious Millionaire

Preparations for the Ball

Aria stood in front of her bathroom mirror, staring at the reflection of someone who felt both familiar and foreign. She had never been one to fuss much over her appearance, but the upcoming charity ball had her feeling... different. Nervous. Out of place.

She sighed and walked back into her small bedroom, the apartment as quiet as ever, except for the occasional hum of traffic outside. Her phone buzzed on the bed—another DM from someone asking about Lucian, no doubt. She tossed the phone aside and sank down onto the mattress, eyes drifting toward the corner where her worn-out sneakers sat by her closet. If only things were as simple as sneakers and jeans.

A ball. She was going to a ball. With *Lucian Blackwell*.

It still didn’t feel real.

She glanced at her wallet on the bedside table. Opening it, she counted the bills. Not much—barely enough to get by until her next paycheck, let alone splurge on a gown fit for a charity event. The envelope with Lucian's money sat untouched on the dresser. Aria refused to use it. She hadn’t taken his deal, and she wasn’t about to let herself fall into a debt of favors.

But that didn’t change the fact that she needed a dress, and fast.

After pacing for a good half hour, Aria grabbed her jacket and headed out. She knew she couldn't afford anything fancy, but maybe she could find something decent second-hand. She pulled up directions to a thrift store a few blocks away and set off, the weight of uncertainty heavy on her shoulders.

---

The bell above the door jingled as she stepped into the small thrift shop. Racks of clothes, shoes, and accessories lined the narrow aisles. Aria wandered aimlessly for a few minutes before a saleswoman approached her with a smile.

"Looking for something special?" the woman asked, eyeing Aria with a friendly but knowing glance. Aria hesitated.

"I, um... I need a dress. For a formal event. Something nice, but..." She glanced at the price tags hanging from a few dresses nearby and shrugged. "Affordable."

The saleswoman nodded and led her toward a rack near the back of the store. Aria sorted through the dresses, feeling her spirits lift a little as she spotted a few options that weren’t completely awful.

After about twenty minutes of searching, she found it—a long, silky gown in deep burgundy, almost like red wine. The cut was elegant, the fabric soft, and the price tag... reasonable. It wasn’t perfect—there was a small wine stain near the hem—but it was the best she could hope for on her budget.

Aria held the dress up to her reflection in the store’s dusty mirror, imagining how she might look walking into the ball with Lucian at her side. The thought brought a strange flutter of excitement mixed with dread. But the stain bugged her, and no amount of mental convincing would make her feel otherwise.

"Not bad, right?" she muttered to herself.

The saleswoman appeared again. "It’s a great dress," she said with an encouraging nod. "That stain is barely noticeable, and with the right shoes and accessories, you’ll look like a million bucks."

Aria smiled weakly. "I hope so."

---

Later that night, she draped the dress over her chair and flopped back onto her bed, exhausted but at least a little relieved. The outfit wasn’t ideal, but it was something. She stared at the ceiling, her thoughts racing. What would the night be like? What would Lucian think of the dress? Did he care?

The next morning, while she was brewing coffee, her phone buzzed again, this time with a message from Lucian.

*What are you planning to wear to the ball?*

Aria’s stomach dropped. She glanced over at the dress still hanging on the chair. Should she lie? No, there was no point in that. Her fingers trembled as she typed her reply.

*I found something nice, but it’s nothing fancy. Just a dress I got from a thrift store.*

Lucian’s response came faster than she expected.

*You’ll need something a bit more... polished. The media will be there, and we can’t afford to look anything less than perfect. I’ll take care of it.*

Aria blinked at the screen, unsure of what he meant. Take care of it? Before she could even ask, another message arrived.

*What are your measurements?*

Her heart raced as she hesitated. Was this really happening? She quickly sent back the information, feeling both nervous and excited at the same time. What was he planning?

The next morning, a knock on her door startled her from her breakfast. She opened it to find a delivery man standing there, holding an enormous box wrapped in luxurious ribbon.

"For Aria Wilson?" the man asked.

Aria nodded, dumbfounded, and signed for the package.

Once the door was shut, she tore into the box, her eyes widening as she uncovered the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. It was a stunning red satin gown, the kind of dress you’d see on runways or magazine covers. A small tag near the neckline read "Vera Wang."

Aria gasped, her hands trembling as she ran her fingers over the soft fabric. This wasn’t just any dress—this was a masterpiece. Alongside it, nestled in the box, were a pair of delicate Jimmy Choo heels, the kind that cost more than her rent.

Her phone buzzed again.

*You’ll be receiving some appointments soon. Make sure you’re ready for tomorrow night. Everything will be handled.*

True to his word, within the next few hours, she received calls from a renowned makeup artist and a high-end salon, both confirming appointments for the day of the ball. Aria was stunned. Lucian had arranged everything—her dress, her shoes, her entire look.

She felt like Cinderella, but instead of a fairy godmother, she had Lucian Blackwell. The whole thing felt surreal.

---

Later that evening, she FaceTimed Lara to tell her the whole story. Lara's eyes nearly popped out of her head when Aria showed her the dress.

"Aria, this is *insane*! That dress is a dream. And the shoes... girl, you’ve hit the jackpot!"

Aria laughed, but there was a nervous edge to it. "I know, right? I don’t even know how to feel about it. I’m excited, but... I don’t know if I deserve all of this."

"Stop it!" Lara scolded. "You totally deserve this. Enjoy it! Besides, it’s just one night. If he wants to spoil you for the sake of appearances, then let him. You’re not doing anything wrong."

"Yeah, I guess," Aria said softly, glancing at the dress again. It was all so beautiful, and yet part of her felt strange accepting something so extravagant. But Lara was right—this was a temporary moment in her life, a brief step into Lucian’s world. She might as well make the most of it.

---

That night, Aria lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling once more. Tomorrow was the ball, and the whirlwind of preparations had her head spinning. Her heart thudded in her chest, a mix of excitement and anxiety swirling inside her. She was about to step into a world she had only seen from afar, with a man who made her feel like nothing was as it seemed.

With a deep breath, Aria closed her eyes, trying to quiet her racing thoughts.

Tomorrow would be a night to remember—whether she was ready for it or not.