doorway of the imposing, mahogany-paneled room, making herself look as small

ers on his massive desk, his express

Vargas... Father," she began, her voice soft.

y," he replied, his tone cold and

s. "But I... I don't have anything to wear. And I don't kno

ly's public image. He frowned, his annoyance clear. The thought of her, t

a stylist," he stated, as

red. I don't want to make a mistake. Claire... she knows everything

ed a bitter argument, framing her as an ungrateful, insolent girl who refused to adapt to the Vargas family's ways. This time, sh

showed Alexandr knew her place, that she was w

d visibly improving. "It shows you ar

e of feigned relief washing over her

rn dress and pulled out a simple, woo

ed vulnerability. "She said it would keep me safe through unfamiliar days. I know it's plain and worthless by the

simple girl, clinging to her humble past. To a man like Arthur,

he said, dismissin

and practically fled the s

nd her in the upstairs hal

so happy you asked! I have the perfect one in mind for

laire had forced her into a tacky, ill-fitting, out-of-season designer gown at

saving my life," Alexandr said,

ng gesture. "Don't worry, sister. I'

d, calculating smile. She walked to the top of the grand staircase, looking down into the cavernous fo

s set not for her humil

She scrolled to a number she had memorized from her past life-an anonymous underground fixer who specialized in confident

single, cr

ssion. A rush j

d the contact. The first piece of her counter-attack