TER

MING

d herself against the marble wal

hrough the hallway like a

er again. But she couldn't leave without telli

oms in the middle of the night lik

embling slightly as she tapped the keycard she'd st

es flickering against gold veined wallpa

g the door click shut behind her. "Emily?

cing on marble. Instead, nothing. The air smelled faintly o

er in, eyes darti

ht black, sheer in scandalous places. It looked untouched. On the vanity, makeup brushes

ere wa

y, Carter, did you ditch to go seduce him early?" She muttered unde

stretched tight. No clothes, no mess, not even a spilled

he bathroom door, hes

thing, not e

le tiles and a claw foot tub filled halfway with still wate

acked out

e a knock. She jumped. Her

wed. "Miss Carter? We're late. We need to begin styli

tside. One of them, a tall, razor cheeked stylist in leopard pr

rtune whispere

She glanced once more around the room,

e left. Snuc

climbed. If she told the stylists she wasn't Emily, they'd scream. Cal

what if she ju

for t

ress. The make

pa

onight," she whispered. "Just lo

headed for the

jacket, revealing her bare skin, smooth as r

he glass shimmered faintly beneath her touch.

her eyes

bottom of herself. She found Emily's image, burned into mem

upward, folding

orph

shrank. Her hips curved out wider, her breasts fuller. Her bones clicked, r

out. Blonde curls spiraled from her scalp in cascading waves,

oftly, sharp

always stole

eyes, Emily Carter

rf

inguis

lawless face, it

ng the smirk. Then the glare.

her knock, an

this time firmer. "We're opening the door.

he main room. Just as the lock clicked, sh

ately followed by two assistants

best Emily drawl. It came out smo

exhaled. "Well. She d

her head towards her. "Or I'll throw you out t

a said, swallowing hard.

ne stared at her. "Now

hurricane. Brushes, palettes, pins,

eapons of transformation. Fingers tugged her hair, brush

the eyes?" one

smoky," Sienna said

buzzing like hornets. She watched herself in the mirr

r the champagne satin?" asked the sec

" Fortune s

d. "Good. The slit alo

poured sin. Cool fabric hugged every inch

jewelry. Final spray of perfume

, taking a step back, "

er own eyes i

ate

. "Miss Carter," a voice ca

The stylists trailed her, still checking details,

a convo

y personnel in sleek suits opened doors without comment. The lead

g, Miss

nodded

urse like it contained a detonator. The car pulled into

past the window, Fortune's

d beco