“How much do you want to wear it?”
Her eyes shine in the mirror. “Very much.”
“Then what is stopping you?”
“It’s too short. What would people say?” A sad look appears on her face.
I narrow my eyes at her. “What people?”
“The wives. My parents.” Her voice wavers.
“Why would you care? There is nothing wrong with wearing whatever you want.”
“But…”
“There are no buts. Listen to your heart.”
“I wish I could be as confident as you.” Her voice wavers.
I let out a laugh. “My confidence didn’t come easy, but I was lucky enough to finally break free from what was holding me back.”
“So, there’s a price to pay for me to be confident and wear this dress?” A sad smile appears on her face. I shrug. “We can’t always have everything. There has to be a balance. You wear this dress, you're happy. You succumb to others’ expectations, and they are happy, while you slowly die inside.” Clara’s face falls.“That is the reality. You just need to pick whose happiness you want.”
A smile spreads across her face. “Fine, I’ll get it. It’s time to think of myself first.”
“Good, because we have a problem.”
“What problem?”
“I’ve been followed since I left the house, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
“What are you going to do?”
I look between her and the man. “I have a plan, but I need your help.”
“Whatever you need.”
“First, let’s change and meet here.”
She looks me up and down. “Oh, what about your dress? It looks amazing on you.”
I smirk. “I’m getting this one. But I need matching underwear.” I push her forward. “Change and meet me back here.”
I quickly change and leave my dressing room, my eyes scanning the area. I spot the man lurking around the lingerie; the saleswoman is showing him pieces he doesn’t look interested in.
“So, what’s the plan?” Clara stops beside me.
“You're going to distract the woman by making something fall on the floor, while I sneak up behind the man. Leave the rest to me.”
“What are you going to do?” Clara questions.
“I’ll improvise. Go!”
Her brows knit, her eyes searching for answers, yet with steady steps, she approaches the target. Sideways, she looks at the saleswoman and goes through the different kinds of lingerie, and just like I asked her to do, she makes a scene when she drops some things on the floor. I use the motion and slowly approachthe man who has been following me. I pull my knife from the secret place in my jacket. A jacket tailor-made just for me, with a secret compartment where I can hide my Tai Pan knives. I place one of them at the man’s back, and his body stiffens.
“Don’t move, and if you don’t want my knife deep in your kidney, I suggest you walk into the changing room with me. Keep your hands where I can see them.”
“You’ve got this wrong.”
