Why?
Because he could.
He always liked to exercise his authority and prove that he was in control.
Egocentric son of a gun!
I was seething in bed when I heard a knock on the door. It was Hilda’s way of knocking, soft and gentle. I jolted upright, a sudden smile creeping into my face.
“Come on in, it’s open!”
The door swung open, and she waltzed in. She was holding a new dress on a hanger, wrapped in a transparent garment cover. Her neck was bent sideways, pressed against the phone between her ear and left shoulder.
She was speaking in Russian to the person on the other line, her tone laced with urgency. I watched her stroll into the room and then halt before my bed. Once done with the call, she lowered the phone and rubbed her eyes, mumbling something under her breath.
Hilda was pissed. Someone had gotten under her skin. Weird, but I found the frown on her face rather hilarious.
“Everything okay?” I chuckled, my eyes never leaving her.
“Yes, dear.” She massaged her temple. “It’s this hairstylist who’s giving me a headache. She decided to bail on me at the last minute. Can you imagine that?” She lowered the garment bag, draping it neatly over my mattress.
“Hairstylist?” I asked, brows raised in confusion.
“Yeah. The one who was supposed to style your hair and do your makeup.”
I pulled my head back, shock and suspicion flickering in my gaze. “Okay, you lost me there.”
“I’m sorry, my thoughts are a bit messy right now,” she answered, sinking into the bed beside me. “This is yours, by the way.” She pointed at the garment.
“Uh…still not following, Hilda.”
“The dress is yours because Artur wants you to wear it tonight,” she explained. “He said I should make sure you’re ready before 8:00 p.m.”
Maybe I was slow. Or maybe she wasn’t giving me enough information. Because I could barely understand what was happening right now.
“Ready for what?”
“He has a function to attend, and he wants you to be his plus one.”
I hesitated. Shocked. “What?”
“Yeah,” she said, oblivious to my bewilderment. “He wants you looking all glamorous and stunning. But guess what. That incompetent girl no longer wants to work with us.” She buried her face in her palms. “Now I have to hire another professional, and the clock is ticking.”
She was worried that the task assigned to her was going south. I, on the other hand, was in awe of the preparations going on behind my back. So that’s why she hadn’t come to see me sooner—this was the errand she was running for Artur.
“He’s taking me to a function as his plus one?” I asked her, my voice soft and gentle.
He could’ve asked me first. But it didn’t matter. What mattered was his motive and the fact that I was finally going to leave this estate for a few hours at least.
“You sound surprised,” she said, wearing a small smile.
I shrugged my shoulders. “Would you blame me?”
She let out a quiet chuckle. “Artur might be the devil himself. But trust me. He’s not as terrible as you think he is.”
My cheeks flushed. It was annoying. And embarrassing. “Are you advocating for him now?” I teased, mirroring her grin.
“Maybe.” She laughed. “He’s like a son to me, you know.”