American Dynasty

F I F T E E N

"Signorina, there you are! I've been looking for you!" Tilly exclaimed, coming forward.

"Oh, um, Tilly! I-I'm just changing right now," Stella said frantically, feeling her pulse relax slightly when Tilly stopped in her tracks.

"Oh! Have you chosen your own outfit today, Signorina?"

Stella mentally cursed when she realized that she was still in the same dress that Tilly had put her in this morning. "Erm, no, uh...goodness, silly me! I forgot to pick a dress to change into! Could you pick something out for me, Tilly? Something appropriate to wear for dinner."

"Of course, Signorina," Tilly said before disappearing into Stella's closet.

"What the hell are you doing?" Flynn whispered urgently.

"I have to change outfits or our cover will be ruined. She dressed me in this this morning," Stella explained as she slightly lifted the hem of her white dress.

Flynn pinched the bridge of his nose. "Jesus Christ, this isn't going to end well."

"It'll be fine, I just can't let her come behind the screen."

"How is she going to help you dress?"

Stella had forgotten about that bit. Her dress boasted an elegant lace-up corset back, a fashion choice that was now backfiring horribly for her.

Tilly returned from the closet with a cream and beige dress with gold embroidering. "I think this will do nicely for dinner, what do you think Signorina?"

Stella poked her head out from behind the screen and smiled, hoping she didn't look as uneasy as she felt. "I love it," she said quickly and held her hand out. "I'll be able to dress myself, Tilly."

Tilly raised an eyebrow but did not question her mistress. She placed the delicate fabric into Stella hands and smiled. "You get changed, Signorina, I will do your hair and makeup."

Stella pressed her lips together as Tilly strolled over to the vanity and began to rummage through her drawers. She had been hoping that Tilly would leave so she could figure out how to get Flynn out of her room so she could change, but that option flew out the window the minute Tilly began to hum a tune and pull out Stella's hairbrush and perfume.

"What are we supposed to do now?" Stella whispered, barely audible.

Flynn, who had leaned himself up against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, pursed his lips and examined his fingernails. "Well, you're supposed to get changed," he said, equally as quiet.

"Kind of hard to do that when I can't reach my corset," she retorted.

Flynn rolled his eyes and twirled his finger. "Turn around."

"What?"

"Turn around."

Hesitantly, Stella turned her back towards him. She nearly yelped when she felt his fingers at the small of her back, undoing the laces of her corset. She spun around and swatted his hands away. "What are you doing!?" She mouthed angrily, waving her hands in the air.

Flynn exhaled quietly in irritation. "Helping you out of your damn dress, now turn around," he whispered.

Stella narrowed her eyes at him but she knew in the back of her mind that she didn't have many other options. She begrudgingly obeyed Flynn and turned her back to him once more. To her annoyance her heart rate picked up considerably when she felt Flynn's fingers tugging at the ribbon that held the corset in place. His nimble fingers worked quickly, undoing each criss-cross of ribbon.