Page 19 of Conquered

Thomas held the dress gingerly over her head. It flowed down her neck, past her shoulders and onto her feet like liquid gold. It was meant for her and a perfect fit. Noelle was eager to see how she looked. Thomas pulled her back before she reached the mirror and handed her a pair of open-toed crystal studded shoes. Noelle put them on meekly. Then Thomas brought her to the full-length mirror.

Noelle gawked in disbelief. That wasn’t her. Thomas conjured a magic wand and replaced the real Noelle.

“Well…do you like it?”

Thomas must have asked the question several times before the words penetrated her brain. She stood there in front of the mirror and realized her mouth was wide open. She needed to pick her jaw off the floor before she could make a coherent response.

"I-I like…Oh, Gawd! What’s not to like? I mean…who’s that girl?”

Thomas smiled and flipped open a rectangular velvet box.

“For the piece de resistance. Tah dah!”

A wreath diamond necklace soon nestled delicately against her neck.

Thomas literally hauled her out of the room otherwise Noelle would have stood there all day just staring at her reflection. He rushed her to the Bentley and instructed the chauffeur where to go. On the way she got a text from Hunter:

Can’t wait to see you soon. Sorry will not be able to enter with you...too much press. I will be waiting for you as soon as you walk in.

Noelle replied with an OK and a smiley emoticon, but she was terrified to be going there alone. She knew however that Hunter was right and they could do without the press’s unnecessary attention.