Page 6 of Faking It with the Ice Queen

As the woman left, the store manager appeared with a saccharine smile that stretched just a little too wide, gleaming like the Cheshire cat. Patty was everything one would expect from a woman running a high-end boutique. She was dressed in a designer dress with bold prints that clung to her slim frame, and her smooth blonde hair was pulled into a tight pony, which almost completely hid the grays beginning to streak throughout. Her eyes sparkled with sharp calculation, always hunting for the next sale, though her warm, almost theatrical manner masked it. The faint scent of expensive perfume lingered as she drew closer, her voice dripping with pleasure at the thought of the purchases to come.

Patty drew out with a dramatic flourish, “Eeeelaaara! What a pleasant surprise.”

She pulled up short when she noticed Grace but composed herself quickly. “I hear you’re in a bit of a rush and need ready-to-wear pieces. This must be your guest. Hello, dear. I’m Patty.”

At the sudden attention, Grace’s eyes widened. Biting her lip, she nodded in reply.

“Patty, this is Grace. We will need a week’s wardrobe. At least three formal dresses, three semi-formal suits, three semi-formal dresses, five casual outdoor outfits, a fur coat, and a ski jacket.”

Her fingers, polished with a pale pink manicure, quickly jotted down notes, all while her ever-present smile grew wider with each item Elara listed. She was clearly already mentally cataloging the commissions. The Cheshire-like grin made Elara roll her eyes.

Patty looked delirious, dollar signs practically popping out of her eyes. Nearly hopping with glee, she turned toward Grace, grabbing her hand and dragging her toward the raised alcove.

“Of course! Come, dear, let me get your measurements.”

Patty’s hands moved with the confidence of someone who’d done this a thousand times before. Her eyes flicked over Grace’sform, calculating every inch even before the measuring tape touched her skin. As she hemmed and hawed over Grace’s curvy frame, her sharp eyes sparkled with excitement—this was the thrill of her work. At one point, she commented that Grace’s build would limit their options.

Grace bit her lip. “Will that be a problem?”

Before Patty could answer, Elara crossed her arms and glared at the manager. This certainly did not go unnoticed by either woman standing in the alcove.

“Of course not! We’ll have you right as rain in no time.” Patty looked between Elara and Grace quickly before continuing, “In the standard palette, Elara?”

Elara stared at Grace for a moment, assessing her light brown hair, bright hazel eyes, and light olive skin. Elara’s standard grays, whites, and tans would dull Grace’s complexion.

“I think a few in the standard will be fine. I’d also like to see greens, golds, and burgundy.”

As Elara spoke, she watched disappointment wash across Grace’s face and amended, “Add in warm pink.”

Grace turned toward Elara, her face lit up with surprise and joy. Though Elara would never admit it, seeing Grace smile made something warm creep up in her chest. Before she could think too deeply about that, she approached the manager and finished her list.

“I would also like shoes to match for each outfit.”

“Absolutely! I will be right back with your options.”

As soon as the manager left the room, Grace let another giggle escape as she turned to Elara. “That’s a lot of clothes for one week.”

“I was actually just wondering if it wasn’t enough. You don’t know my family yet, but everyone is expected to dress formally for each dinner. Image is important to them, and I need youto blend in. If you wore the same outfit twice or didn’t have designer clothes, you would stick out.”

Grace crossed the alcove and slumped back into the chair, drinking from her tea cup as Elara spoke. She looked at Elara with sympathy, which made Elara squirm.

“I’m sorry. That sounds…difficult.”

Elara bristled and snapped, “Don’t. I’m not sorry. They’re right. Imageiseverything.”

Grace gasped at Elara’s terse response. Elara could not let someone, anyone, criticize her family. Family was everything. Her family’s legacy was everything. Her father had taken his small inherited boarding house and built an empire. Elara was proud of his accomplishments and all that he had done to get there. The good, the bad, the ugly—it was all worth it. Whether she liked it or not, part of upholding that family legacy was the image.

Grace lifted her eyebrows and turned back to her tea. The two sat in silence until the manager returned, this time with an entire entourage.

Nearly all the sales associates in the shop carried armfuls of clothes. As the associates displayed the choices on the racks around the room, Patty clapped her hands before crooning her pleasure to Elara.

“My, this was certainly a fun one today. We’ve picked the best of the best. Each item should be up to your impeccable standards.”

At this, she gestured to the selection. “Now, we only need to check the fit of each item.”

Grace let out a nervous giggle. “Well…tallyho?”

Elara snorted at Grace’s attempt at a joke before she could stop herself. She coughed and cleared her throat in a pathetic attempt to pretend that she did not laugh.

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