Page 96 of Ruin Me With Lies

Perfect.Just what I was going for when I threw on this frilly floral blouse, khaki slacks, and flats.Just to see that snobby look on his face.Soworth it.“While yours isflawlesslyperfect, Mr.Debonair.”

“Waste of breath to tell me what I already know.”He opens the car door.“Get in.”

“Oscar!”I sing as I climb in.

As always, he ignores me like a true champ.

But that doesn’t stop Stefano from snapping, “No chitchatting.”

Moody bastard.

We drive in silence to the private boutique, where Stefano promptly shoves me toward Wendy with all the grace of a man throwing out garbage.

“Fix this tasteless rag doll,” he tells her.

I stifle a laugh, which only earns me a scowl.His brooding meanness doesn’t ruffle me anymore, because I know something he doesn’t know that I know.Something I discovered three hours ago, and have been quietly giddy about ever since.

There’s a soft, beautiful king hiding underneath that Teflon mask.

And Iseehim.

As Wendy whisks me away, I toss Stefano a saccharine smile over my shoulder.

He scowls harder.

I see you, Stefano.

Once inside Wendy’s mirrored fitting room, I take the reins.“I’ll pick my outfit.Show me what you have in red, emerald-green, and gold.Modest pieces, shoulders and cleavage covered, but still alluring.”

Wendy hesitates.“I don’t think Mr.Castello—”

“Don’t worry about him.If you like the end result, you can take full credit.”

She bites her lip, uncertain, but eventually nods and signals for her assistant, getting to work.

Once I’ve chosen my outfit and jewelry, I direct glam on the makeup and hair.Light, but dewy.Braids undone, hair straightened and swept up away from my neck.

When it’s done, Wendy steps back, eyeing me with wary surprise.“Wow.You’ve learned a lot about tasteful fashion since the last time you were here.”

“I’m a fast learner,” I reply with a shrug.“I hate not knowing things, so I did a crash course to understand body type, silhouettes, color theory, hair, all of it.”

Wendy nods slowly.“I’m impressed.”

“The credit’s all yours.”

When I return to the waiting area, Stefano gives me a quick once-over with that familiar brand of detached indifference.

At first.

Then, his gaze returns.Slower this time.Lingering.

He takes in the long-sleeved, shimmery emerald dress hugging me all the way to my ankles.The delicate gold drop earrings.The sleek feathered chignon.The elegant exposure of my neck and collarbones.

By the time he’s done drinking me in, his gaze meets mine with a knowing glint.As if he realizes, with absolute certainty, that this wasn’t Wendy’s work.

Eyes still holding mine, he buttons his jacket and mutters to Wendy, “Perfection.”

And he hasn’t even seen the backless deep V-cut yet...