CHAPTER 60: THE BEIGE DRESS
CHAPTER 60: THE BEIGE DRESS
LILY’S POV:
I was over the moon when Nikolai agreed to let me go shopping with Galina and he even gave me his unlimited black card.
When Galina came up to the room to tell me about the Ball, theme and what our dress should look like, I was so excited.
“Done with the kiss?”, Galina asked once she saw me come down the stairs, she was in the living room, waiting.
I couldn’t help but blush when she teased me.
“Let’s go”, I said and she smiled, intertwining our hands together, we walked out of the door with a huge smile on our faces.
Lev was already waiting by the car, ready to drive us as Nikolai ordered. He opened the back door for us but Galina walked past the open door, to the driver’s seat, I furrowed my brows and looked at her, confused.
“Isn’t Lev supposed to–“.
“I will drive us”, She immediately cut me off. She stretched out her hand for Lev to pass the car key to her.
“Your brother instructed me to drive you two”, Lev said.
“I’m not a child Lev, I’ll drive the both of us”, Galina said. He face which always had a smile or a fond look on it was replaced with a cold stare directed to Lev.
‘This is strange’, I said to myself. I have never seen Galina act this way and she was not the type to be bratty.
Lev didn’t argue more, he sighed a passed the key to her, she forced a smile to him and got in the driver’s side. I looked to Lev with a frown on, he just sighed and bowed lightly to me. I waved at him and got into the passenger side and closed the door.
Lev stood there for a few minutes before going in, I picked up a weird vibe between Galina and Lev, it was as if they were having an unresolvable issue. It was as if the tension between both of them was visible, maybe clearly on Lily’s side. It was clear as day that she was mad at him and intentionally avoiding him.
“What’s up with you and Lev?”, I asked Galina.
“Nothing”, I simply said, concentrating on how to start the car.
“Didn’t seem like nothing. You were rude to him–“.
“Aha! Finally got it!”, She cut in, feeling happy when she figured out how to work the car. I could see she was avoiding the conversation so I just dropped it.
Sitting in the Ford Mustang gt, I feel like I’m in a special machine, this was one of Nikolai’s car and he told me it’s name.
It was in pitch black, same as the windows. The leather seats are soft and snug and the dashboard looks like it was designed for speed.
There is a gearshift and some cupholders in the middle and the doors have armrests and storage pockets. The lights on the dashboard glow blue, like a high-tech gadget. It’s like being in a plane cockpit, ready to take off.
“Wow, this car is sick!”, I said, feeling so happy.
“Wait till you see what this baby can do”, Galina said with a proud smirk on. She worked on the gear and we were out of the compound and into the streets in no time.
***
We stopped in front of a very tall building, Galina told me it was a mall where the rich and famous came to shop. We got out of the car and Galina handed the key to the chauffeur and we entered the building.
I put my mouth on ziplock when I almost exclaimed in amazement. This mall was like heaven and I didn’t want to leave.
“Come on”, Galina grab me by the hand and she took me to God knows where.
We stood at the entrance of a shop where ‘Haute Couture’ was written.
“Good day Miss Galina and welcome back”, the manager recognized Galina and welcomed us.
“How are you?”, Galina asked the young lady as she directed us inside and to seat. She snapped her finger and three girls came to assist us.Content is © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
“I’m very fine Miss Galina… Can I just say your skin is glowing, is it honey you use?”, the shop manager praised Galina.
“It’s just my natural glow haha”, Galina said and they laughed.
If you asked me, what Galina said wasn’t funny but, she was rich and influential. The laughed because she has money.
“Any new arrivals?”, Galina enquired.
“Of course! You know it’s the new year and everyone needs a new dress”, the manager said.
“Good… This is my sister-in-law, Lily, she needs a gown for our family ball”.
“Oh wow!! Your brother has a wife?! We didn’t hear anything about it!”, The manager said. I could read from her face and body language that she likes gossip.
I couldn’t correct the lady when she referred to me as Nikolai’s wife, she gave off a weird vibe, like when Galina mentioned I was her sister-in-law, this manager expression slightly changed like she was envious.
“I want you to get her your best latest dress that is suitable for a masquerade ball. Something that screams ‘I’m the prettiest girl of the hour'”, Galina told the manager and I chuckled.
The manager looked at me with a stiff smile and nodded, “Okay Miss Galina. You know you can trust me!”.
The manager took me to the changing room while Galina just sat back and focused on her phone.
The manager instructed the other three ladies to bring the dresses for fitting.
I tried on the first on which was in blue color, I went to the mirror to see how I look and I was amazed.
“Oh wow”, I could only say. The dress was in navy blue with gold ribbing, it snatched my waist in the right places but I wasn’t feeling it. They brought another one and I tried it on too but the zippers was stuck, one of the girl tried to help me with it but it didn’t move, it wasn’t my size.
“This is not my size”, I told the manager who was on standby.
“No, this is the perfect size. Maybe it’s because you are fat”, She said and I was truly offended.
“Excuse you”.
“Large breakfast this morning?”, The manager asked, teeth in the open like she didn’t just call me fat. I told myself to just ignore her and focus on the dresses, the sooner I find a dress, the sooner I leave.
I tried about two others and still no one I liked, then I saw a beige dress sitting on a mannequin, it was love at first sight.
“Can I try that one?”, I asked.
“Oh no ma, that is two seasons ago!”, The manager laughed out loud.
“I still want to try it on”, I insisted and she nodded.
Immediately I put on the dress, I couldn’t stop staring at myself in the mirror. The beige dress is absolutely gorgeous, the fabric is so soft and silky, it feels like I’m wearing a cloud. The color is a perfect match for my skin tone, and it makes my eyes sparkle.
“Wow”, I murmured and smiled at my reflection on the mirror.
The top part of the dress is covered in delicate lace and embroidery, with tiny beads and sequins that catch the light. It’s like a work of art, the sleeves are long and flowing, with a slight bell shape at the wrist. It came with a lace mask of black and beige color.
The skirt is my favorite part – it’s full and fluffy, like a ballerina’s tutu. It falls in soft folds around my feet, and it’s so much fun to twirl around in. It’s like a fairy tale come true!
I feel like a real-life princess in this dress. It’s like it was made for me, and I can’t wait to wear it to the Moscow Masquerade Ball. I know I’ll be the belle of the ball.
“I’ll take this!”, I said to the manager and she stared at me like I had gone completely mad.
“No you can’t madam”.
“Why? Isn’t it for sale?”, I was confused.
“Like I said, this dress is two seasons ago”.
“And the problem is?…”, I wasn’t really getting her point. She sighed and came closer to me, her smile turned faker by the second.
“The problem is you are part of The Vladimir’s family. They are a family of reputation and power, someone at the ball could easily spot that this dress isn’t in the recent fashion trends and people spread gossips a lot these days. What if you get mocked and the Vladimirs too!”, She explained and I smirked.
“You don’t need to worry about that. I am comfortable with this and I’m taking it, un… der… stood?”, I dragged the last word like I was talking to a child, she nodded and instructed the workers to package the dress and have it sent to the mansion.
I left the dressing room and went back to where I left Galina. I saw her in a heated conversation with… Anastasia?
‘What was she doing here?’, I wondered.
She wasn’t alone, she was with lady. A very beautiful fair skinned lady who looks drop dead gorgeous. It was as if she just walked out of a water painting and I was truly amazed by how God took his time to create her.
“Good day Miss Elena and Miss Anastasia!”, My eyes grew wide in shock when the manager called the lady by her name.
‘That was Elena?”, I asked myself, frozen.
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