Page 144 of Arianna

Smiling, I say. “Yes?”

“I want you to go somewhere with me tonight.”

“Where?”

He replies. “That’s a surprise.”

“I don’t like your surprises.” I do, but I also like messing with him.

“Why are you lying?” The egomaniac smiles from ear to ear, and as much as his naked ass is one glorious sight, that smile. That smile on his face makes my stomach flip and my heart sing.

God, what has the man turned me into?

“Fine. Whatever the tyrant wants.” I roll my eyes playfully.

“Now look how pretty you look when you behave.” He is messing with me, or we need to work on his comprehension skills when it comes to my favorite language.

Sarcasm.

I think both.

Pointing a finger at him. “Don’t push it, Sebastian.”

Pure devotion is embedded in his smirk. “Be ready by eight o’clock.”

* * *

Smack.

Smack.

“Ouch.” I reach down and grab Ella’s tiny hand in mine. “Don’t be rude, baby. We only hit people we dislike.” I tell her playfully. Christ, what a role model I am.

Ella tilts her head and grins wickedly at me. The little brat knows more than most would presume. Laughing softly, I rearrange her on my lap, and hand her my phone to keep her entertained.

For the two hours I have been sitting on this chair, she’s been quiet, but now she's acting up, tired. “Pweety, mommy.” My girl mumbles tiredly, looking down at the cartoons playing on my phone.

Mommy.

My heart hurts and beats faster when she calls me mommy. She doesn't do it often, but on the odd times she does, it softens my hard edges a little bit more. I should have tried harder to stop it, knowing I am not her mother, but how could I do that when she looked at me with so much tenderness and sweetness in her eyes?

Kissing her head, I whisper. “You’re the prettiest, Ellaiza.”

“I no.” This one is all her father. Beauty and gigantic ego.

“Is this okay?” The kind woman who's been styling my hair for the past thirty minutes turns the seat around until I can see myself in the vanity mirror of my room. After I showered, I was met with more than twelve people invading my room with dresses, shoes, and everything they needed to prepare me for tonight.

Sebastian didn't tell me exactly where he was taking me, but the gown he chose tells me it is somewhere fancy.

A high society event, perhaps.

I am wearing a custom silver-colored Versace gown with a turquoise underside and a long train with subtle snowflakes close together, intended to look like the constellations he showed me back at the Planetarium.

The gown's details are stunning, as if someone took their time to perfect his vision.

There's no doubt in my mind that he helped design it.

For me…

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