Page 83 of The Bad Boy Prince in Love

She handed Hallie something green with...feathers?

Reluctantly, Hallie took off the pink dress and put on the green eyesore.The dress was cut low at the front, with the green feathers sticking out like a barrier around her chest.It looked slightly ridiculous.

“I don’t know about this,” Hallie said when she showed it to Miss Santer.

“It’s perfect!”Santer said.“I think this is the one.”

Hallie suddenly lost her patience.“You want me to look like a freakin’ backwards peacock with a tail on its front?”

She caught the shop assistant trying not to laugh.Finally, the employee succeeded in making a serious face and said, “This is a design by Nora Policelo.It’s couture.”

“Regardless—” Hallie began.

“We’ll take it,” Miss Santer said.Now it was her turn to be cheerful.She brandished the company credit card as she flashed Hallie an evil smile.

“I’m not wearing that,” Hallie said.

“Luke will be expecting you to wear an expensive gown.And I don’t think you can afford any of these other ones unless you’re willing to dish out a whole month’s paycheck.”

“Fine, waste the company’s money if you want,” Hallie said with a shrug.

“I can always return it if you refuse,” Miss Santer said, “but you’re going to be the one who looks bad in front of the boss by not cooperating.”

Without another word, Miss Santer marched up to the counter to pay for the dress.

Hallie had to think quickly.The dinner was tonight, and she only had a few hours to decide.She was pretty certain that she would rather look frumpy than wear something so ridiculous.

As soon as she left the store, she texted Jessica:

*Fashion emergency!!!*

To her relief, Jessica texted back in the next minute:

*Let’s meet at my place.I’ll leave work early.*

Not for the first time, Hallie felt extremely grateful to have such an amazing best friend.

Twenty minutes later, Jessica was rifling through her closet, trying to find the perfect dress.

“I’m less and less enamored with this Prince Luke fellow,” she said as she dug through rows and rows of hanging dresses.“Who’s he to tell you how to dress?”

Hallie shrugged.“I know you were never too enamored with him to begin with.”

“I’m only tolerating this because he’s given you a job,” Jessica said, turning around with a long red velvet gown in her hands.“Try this one on.It’s probably fancy enough to suit his taste.”

“Oh, I love it!”Hallie exclaimed.Then her hope wilted away as she remembered that she was a size bigger than Jessica.“I don’t know if it’ll fit me.It looks like it would be figure-hugging on you.”

“You’ve got to try!”

Hallie tried it on, but the dress was so tight it made her look lumpy.

“What was I thinking?”she said, “Maybe I’m better off trying to buy a cheaper dress on my own.”

“No, don’t give up,” Jessica insisted.“Why don’t we have this one altered?There’s still time.”

“I don’t want to ruin your dress,” Hallie replied.“It could be impossible to change back once it’s altered.”

“That’s okay,” Jessica said, a determined look on her face.“I really want to stick it to Miss Santer.”