the thick, suga

t behind by the snack table. She pushed open the double doors

n the center of the room

her flawless, dewy skin. Hope wore a pristine white

ted Sloan

ned in a carefully practiced,

makeup artists and approached Sloane, her face t

he room could hear her. "Are you doing okay after the terrible

stopped

ed at the shorter girl the way a scientist might examine

lowed her b

ing through the quiet room. "Because that fake, sweet voice

gas

g to her chest. Tears immediately welled up in he

a tight red dress, stepped aggressively i

t trying to be nice. Stop being so bitter and taking your je

e lau

ushed a speck of powdered sugar off

and down. "I didn't realize she hired

de of red. She opened her mouth, d

a PA rushed into the r

iding Sloane's gaze. "Please follow me for the blind

A down a short corridor

s items rested on individual velvet-lined

ravitated toward t

ly crafted crystal stiletto heel. It caught the

nds together tightl

tly, her eyes shining. "It reminds me of

of the group. She narrowe

t of confusion tightened in her stomach. How in the hell did it get he

ame design, the exact same make as the one she had th

f hesitation, Sloa

loor. She reached past Hope and grabbed

e f

e empty velvet. Her lower lip began to quiver aga

ing. "Could you please let me have that one? I

tal heel in her hand. Then she looke

Cinderella," Slo

under her arm, holding it tightl

mask slipped, and a flash of genuine, ugly anger cros

m around Hope's shou

red loudly. "She's just a petty

the registration desk in the corner and slammed the

o settle for a generic, boring silver

ckled over the intercom sp

plete. Return to the loun

in the corner. She tossed the heavy crystal heel up into the air and caught it, o

fa, casting terrified and disgusted glances at