Since the feeling was mutual, it would be best to weaponize it. That way, I’d kill two birds with one stone—I’d have my way with him and still squeeze the truth out of him. I was going to use his sexual hunger against him, and once I was satisfied, he wouldn’t know what hit him.
Damn, that’s cold. With this plan, you’re no different from the monsters you loathe.
The words stung me like a bee, but it was a necessary evil. Sometimes, the best way to beat a criminal at his game was to be a criminal yourself. We weren’t the same—he enjoyed being evil. I, on the other hand, only decided to tear a page from the monsters’ guide to bring a monster to justice.
Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
That instant, a soft knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts—and I almost jumped out of my skin. I took a moment to get a grip of myself, then cleared my throat, wondering who was outside my room. This was the first time anyone had come knocking, and I had no idea what to expect.
“Who is it?” I called out, rising from the bed I’d been lying on this whole time.
“Katerina, ma’am!” a feminine voice answered.
Must be one of the maids.
I headed to the door and quietly opened it. There she was, standing across from me in her black and white dress with her black hair piled up into a neat bun. Beside her were two other women—one was another maid, and she was holding a plastic garment bag. The other, I didn’t recognize. She stood tall, a makeup kit in hand.
“Sorry to bother you, ma’am,” Katerina said to me, barely holding my gaze, her voice thick with the Russian accent. “GospodinTarasov asked us to get you ready.”
My brows arched, a glint of confusion flickering in my gaze. “Ready for what?”
The maid hesitated, almost as though she thought I should’ve been informed about whatever this was beforehand.
“He wishes to take you out.”
He wishes to do what now?
That explained the lady with the make-up kit and the maid holding the plastic garment bag. He planned on taking me out to God-knows-where, and he didn’t even ask me first. Notthat I would’ve declined anyway—it would be nice to breathe some fresh air after being trapped in here for so long.
“May we come in?” she asked me, her tone mild and polite.
I managed to squeeze out a smile. “Yeah. Sure. Of course.” I stepped away from the door, and they walked inside, one after the other.
They moved quietly, the makeup artist setting up her things as I watched in silence. I wondered what he was up to and where he was taking me tonight.
It took about three hours to finish getting me ready—and when they were done with me, evenIdidn’t recognize myself. The dress clung to my body like a second skin, outlining my curves and contours. The makeup was simple but classy, and it blended seamlessly with my skin tone.
My soft brown curls were swept into an elegant chignon atop my head—neat and refined. A pair of heels graced my feet, making me look inches taller. My nails were groomed, manicured on the hands, and pedicured on the toes.
When I looked in the full-length mirror, it was like looking at a whole new person. Beautiful. Sexy. Elegant in every way. The dress was a bit more revealing than I was comfortable with. It had a daring slit that grazed high against my thighs and a neckline that showcased my cleavage, leaving little to the imagination.
This outfit was gorgeous. But it wasn’t my idea.
“You look stunning,” the maid said to me, her cheeks flushing as he locked eyes with me.
“Thank you, Katerina.” I beamed at her, smoothing out the invisible wrinkles on the dress.
“GospodinTarasov will be pleased,” she added, mirroring my smile.
I’m sure he will.
“Where is he?” I asked her.
“He’s waiting downstairs,” she said. “I’ll tell him you’ll be down shortly.”
Her gaze swept over my body one more time before she signaled the makeup artist and the other maid. Quietly, they exited the room in a single file.
Left alone, I heaved a sigh, watching my reflection in the mirror. I couldn’t help admiring the breathtaking transformation from a regular girl to a gorgeous goddess. The makeup artist outdid herself on this one and deserved a bonus for a job well done.
