“So the bottom line is you will be attending three meetings today. Albeit, the longest ones.” Luna Anne grimaces at me in the vanity mirror while | am getting my hair done. It’s just a ponytail, but I guess a royal ponytail requires two types of hairbrushes, a comb, two different types of hairspray and special elastics to hold it in place, permanently.
I just smile and give a noncommittal sound, not wanting the hairdresser to have to start over. I have been primped and prepped for almost forty five minutes. I don’t want to have to sit here any longer than necessary. I have to admit, I look better than I thought I would. The make-up artist didn’t go overboard with the caked on make-up. She accentuated my gray-blue eyes with a smokey blend of grays and blacks, but it doesn’t look like some of the pictures I’ve seen where girls end up looking like they got punched. She did add lash extensions to the outsides of my eyes since my lashes are blonde. She said she wouldn’t have to use as much mascara that way and | tucked that little bit of info into my memory for later. She put a rosy pink color on my cheeks and finished off with a gloss that had a pink tint to it.
When they were both done, I just stared at myself fora minute. | still looked like me, but better, older, definitely more put together.
“You are beautiful Sweet Girl, now, let’s get you dressed. I think for the first meeting we should go in a warmer color, Start out strong and bright.” My eyebrows raised at her. ”
There is just as much strategy in what you wear as there is in planning an attack, especially with all of these people.”
She matches her eyebrow with my own. “You will change after each meeting too.”
“Why is that? I’m not trying to argue, this is what you do so | trust you no matter how ridiculous | think it is.” | quickly defend my question. Female politics were a whole new world for me, and I am discovering far more ruthless than men with soldiers.
“First, depending on how many people come to these meetings now that we are introducing everyone’s kid and using it as training.” She rolls her eyes. “You are going to get sweaty and uncomfortable, even in these outfits which are designed to not show any of that. It also gives us an excuse to step away from everyone and just take a break, otherwise you would get none and be grilled by these vultures all day.” I nod in understanding, it’s all tactical strategy. I can work with it. 7 My first outfit is a bright maroon jumpsuit that is so soft and silky | could probably sleep in it. The pants were wide all the way down with a sharp crease down the front and the back.
There was a wide band of the same material going around the torso like a corset, leading up to just above my barely there cleavage where a band of material was threaded through the keyhole at the top of the bodice to create a halter look. The straps that went over my shoulders were wide and sturdy and comfortable. They wrapped around to attach to the bodice just under my arms, so all my bits were tastefully covered. Luna Anne has a thing for open back outfits on me, the straps from the halter are the only material on my back and the pants tastefully come up to my hips, so at least my butt won’t hang out, but it’s all skin beyond that. She finishes the outfit off with a pain of matching maroon wedges. I feel like I could exercise in this outfit, it’s amazing. I can’t help but turn and smile at her.
She gives me some bracelets and earrings to finish off the look and then walks me to the mirror so I can see the whole thing.
“Oh, wow! | didn’t realize | could look like this.” | look at her in the mirror.
“You’ve always looked like this, sweet girl, we’ve just accentuated a few things. This way Xander will have to do some work too.”
“Huh?
“He’s going to have his hands full keeping interested men away from you as much as you are going to keep the gold diggers away from him.” My mouth drops at her blunt honesty. “Now, we should head down. We are starting with a brunch and meet and greet before the first meeting. And you are going to want to be fully nourished to put up with some of these guys.”
