For the next few weeks or so, Evangeline spent as much with Cathleen as she possibly could. Mr. Styles still would not allow Evangeline to go to the orphanage, but the girls preferred spending time together at Evangeline's home anyway.
Eventually, Cathleen began accepting the presents Evangeline gave her; Cathleen of course was still reluctant to accept such extravagant presents, but Evangeline was insistent on her friend taking them home every time she came over. Evangeline didn't seem to mind giving away her things since she's never had this much in her entire life. She truly did feel like a princess.
And she loved it.
Evangeline also grew considerably closer to Mr. Styles throughout the days, the two spending the mid afternoons together when Cathleen wasn't there. Of course, Mr. Styles always left after dinner, except for a very few occasions where he stayed in his study, and Evangeline made sure not to bother him.
However, one day after dinner, Mr. Styles told Evangeline to get changed into something very nice.
Evangeline set her napkin in her lap and quirked her head in confusion. "Why, Daddy?"
Mr. Styles merely glanced evenly up at her, his hands cutting into a thin slice of meat sitting on his plate. Evangeline tended to eat much faster than he did; he always seemed to take his time.
"Tonight, you will be coming with me to a business party." He answered. "We'll be leaving in a few minutes or so, so go on and get dressed."
Evangeline instantly perked up at the thought of going to a party; she had never been to a party. Her mind was instantly picturing vivid lights and smiling faces, figures dancing and -
- boys.
Of course, she wasn't aware that the party Mr. Styles was taking her to was not for younger people; it was not a frivolous party meant for fun. It was a business party.
"I'll go get ready right now," Evangeline said excitedly, nearly dropping her fork as she quickly set it down. "Thank you, Daddy!" She pushed herself out of her chair and pressed a quick kiss to Mr. Styles' cheek, who merely chuckled under his breath at the younger girls excitement. She always wondered how Mr. Styles never grew annoyed with her quick bubbly excitement, but he never did seem to get annoyed with her. He always looked amused, like he truly did enjoy her excitement and happiness.
Evangeline found one of her favorite dresses - a tight-fitting, sleek, blue dress that reached midway past her knee. She liked how the dress made her body look. Just a few months ago, Evangeline was self conscious of her body frame; she didn't feel like she had an attractive chest, and that her hips were too slender. But as she admired her reflection, she saw that she did have slight curves in the hips and her chest looked bigger under the tight material. She then added a few accessories to the outfit - bracelets upon her frail wrists, earrings to match her eyes, and some high heels she found on the floor in her closet.
She also applied some makeup after pulling her hair back into a bun, letting two thin strands loosely in her feminine face. She had seen the hair style quite often when she used to read novels at the orphanage, the ones with the pictures inside, and she never thought she would ever be actually wearing it. She then glossed her lips in light red lipstick, being very careful not to smear it, and she applied just a bit of blush before she smiled at herself.
She didn't feel like a 16 year-old girl. She didn’t look like the quiet, shy, insecure girl who was a "nobody” back in the orphanage.
Now, she looked like Evangeline, who was a somebody. She was physically able to see it now; her skin no longer as pale as it was, now lightly kissed under the sun; even her eyes looked more hazel than they ever had. And she didn’t look as rail-thin as she always thought she did - this was most likely from her newer, much healthier diet. She could not believe that just a few months ago, she was eating rock-hard rolls with stale water, and maybe a potato or a fruit as dessert.
