Page 6 of Tangled Desires

I bit my lip, contemplating the myriad reasons why attending was nothing short of lunacy. “Even if I dared to go… what would I wear? I don’t have anything even remotely suitable for a ball.”

Josie waved her hand dismissively as if swatting away my doubts like pesky flies. “That’s the easiest problem to solve.” Her smile promised adventure and whispered temptations of what could be.

I sighed, knowing her heart was in the right place but fearing where this could lead.

Josie’s eyes danced with the kind of mischief that had always landed us in trouble during our high school years. The excitement in her voice was as contagious as a yawn in a quiet room.

“I could go,” I mused, rolling the idea around on my tongue like a forbidden sweet. “Just to see it, to live it for one night.”

Josie clapped her hands together, nearly knocking over her coffee in the process. “Yes! That’s the spirit! Mila Johnson at the Wintertide ball. Can you imagine?”

I laughed, though the sound was tinged with nervous energy. “But Josie, even if I decide to go, I don’t have anything to wear.” My wardrobe was practical, filled with clothes that could withstand bleach stains and long hours. Nothing in there could pass for ball attire.

“Don’t worry about the dress,” Josie insisted, her grin unwavering. “Leave that to me. You just focus on getting yourself ready for a night you’ll never forget.”

Her confidence was a life raft in a sea of doubt. The part of me that spent days scrubbing floors and nights worrying about bills wanted to dismiss the whole idea as ludicrous. But then there was Cassius Portman – his piercing gaze, his unexpected gentleness when he steadied me from falling.

My chest tightened at the memory, and I found myself yearning for another encounter, another chance to feel that strange and exhilarating connection.

“Okay,” I whispered, almost surprised by my own audacity. “Let’s do it.”

Josie squealed and grabbed my hands across the counter, shaking them vigorously. “You won’t regret this!”

And just like that, it was decided. For once, I wasn’t just going to dream about a different life—I was going to step into it, if only for one night.

Chapter Four

Mila

The mop glided across the polished marble, the last room of my shift echoing with the slosh of water and my own steady breaths. The grand ballroom loomed vast and empty, a stark contrast to the life it would soon hold.

With a sigh, I pushed the cleaning cart ahead of me, the wheels humming a lullaby for dreams best left asleep. The door swung shut behind me, and I trudged to the locker room to change out of my uniform. The weight of the hidden invitation in my pocket was like a secret smile, tucked away from the world’s prying eyes.

I stepped into the cool evening air, my heart a little lighter at the thought of heading home. My phone buzzed in my pocket—a message from Melody telling me to meet her and Josie at my place. It was odd; we rarely got together on a weekday.

When I arrived home, there was an unusual stillness. Pushing open the door, I found Josie and Melody in the living room, grins as wide as the sky itself plastered on their faces.

“Surprise!” they chorused.

My gaze landed on an ethereal creation laid out like a treasure across our faded couch. The gown shimmered under our dim lights—a concoction of royal blue that seemed to pull at every secret desire I had ever harbored.

“For you,” Melody beamed, her artist’s eyes alight with pride.

Josie chimed in, her voice trembling with excitement. “We couldn’t let you dream about that ball without doing something about it.”

The dress was breathtaking—a cascade of fabric that promised to transform any girl into a princess. I reached out, fingers trembling as they brushed over silk that felt like whispered promises.

“How did you—?” The question died on my lips as I took in their conspiratorial smiles.

Melody shrugged with feigned nonchalance. “I may have called in a few favors from clients who owe me.”

“And I might have dipped into my savings,” Josie added with a wink.

Their generosity struck me silent; such an extravagant gift was beyond anything I could have imagined. My world was one of penny-pinching and making do, yet here they were, offering me a slice of fantasy.

“I don’t know what to say,” I murmured, lifting the dress from its perch. It felt like holding a piece of the night sky—endless and filled with possibilities.

“Say you’ll go to that ball and give Mr. Billionaire a run for his money,” Josie teased.

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