Breaking Ice

Chapter 20

Chloe Pov 

I haven't been so stressed since my first day here, it's my first event and it has to be perfect. The guys had been so supportive, even though Alexander did make a few sly remarks that we can't sell people anymore, but he seems to be on board as well. I think he just gets pleasure from getting a reaction out of me.

Be it in front of my apartment, in front of the whole team or when I decide to drunk text him. Fuck, that was such mistake, but his reply made me so horny it is not even funny.

Katie has been giving me shit about not inviting him over but I know for a fact he would not have done anything with me with how drunk I was. I rather him not see me in this state, like ever again.

The event is black tie, so here I am trying to find a gown that will suit me. Kate has chosen hers pretty damn qucikly but everything on me seems to be wrong.

She went with green. Not just any green—the kind that looks like it was stolen from an enchanted forest at midnight, deep and rich, shimmering like it has its own secrets. And the way it clings to her? Sculpted. Like someone poured liquid silk over her and let it settle in all the right places. One shoulder bare, the other wrapped in a sweeping strap, the back scandalously low. And the slit—dangerous to make heads turn, high enough to be counted as pure elegance.

We can't forget about the gold embroidery that curls up the bodice like enchanted vines, catching the light with every move. Fuck me, I need to double the security as Liam will probably get into at least few fights since she will attract a lot of attention. The attention that she deserves to get.

"Girl, come on. You have tried at least twenty dresses. You looked amazing in all of them. Just choose one." She wasn't wrong, I did look amazing but not good enough. Today has to be perfect.

"It's all not it. They are just not good enough. You know I have to look perfect for tonight, it's my first ever event that I did all by myself. One I'm actually going to get credit for." Her eyes softened, she didn't know everything, but she did know that I wasn't exactly treated amazingly at my last job. I'm not ready to fully open up, I don't want to lose all of this.

I don't want her to think that our friendship started with a lie, I was truthful with almost everything. My family life isn't exactly that important. It will probably come out eventually but I'll worry about it when time comes.

"I know, oki, let me go look once more over the dresses. I'm sure there is a perfect gem somewhere in there." She shook her head as she grabbed her glass of champagne, but it's free. Who says no to free things, especially when it's alcohol? Not us, that's for sure.

Not even five minutes later I hear a squeal and she comes running in with a blue gown. It doesn't look like anything special in the cover. Besides its price actually. I can see the tag, which I think she hasn't noticed yet. It's almost thirty thousand dollars, and she knows I am not poor, we get paid enough. Our wages will not cover that without us regretting it. 

The sales lady comes running in with panicked eyes, that dress probably wasn't on the sale in the area available to everyone, hence why we haven't looked at it before. All the other dresses we looked at were tops like seven-ten thousand.

"Miss, that dress isn't—" she stops mid-sentence as I casually hand over my ID, making sure Katie doesn't notice what it says. 

And just like that, her whole demeanor shifts.

I hate this part. I hate how a name alone can make people treat you differently. Not because of who I am, but because of who my family is.

"My apologies. We just realized we brought you the wrong champagne," she says smoothly. "A bottle of Dom Pérignon is on its way." She barely finishes before signaling to her colleague, who scurries off to fetch a bottle that easily goes for at least five hundred.