*Evangeline's POV*
"Welcome to The Aurora Turic's House of Fashion,where we make custom dresses for every special event." a bright-smile team head greeted,her cheeks beaming with blush. "It's an honour to have you with us,Miss Hidalgo,"
I managed a half smile as they brought out the champagne bottle.
"We hope the choosing of your dress marks the beginning of a marriage just as beautiful as you."
The room might as well be oogling at me with how fixed their eyes were on me,gossip spread,they wanted to know if this forced private marriage was indeed true.
"Thank you."I nodded pleasantly.
"The press outside was unnecessary."Deena cuts in,shooing the untouched champagne from my way. "We told you to keep things private."
"Which we did ma'am,"they began with a look I was sure meant they didnt. "We prioritise our partners safety and privacy."
"Then disperse them,"Deena harshed. "If we continue to be paraded for your silly marketing campaign,we will take our business elsewhere and make sure there is nothing left to market here."
The team head swallowed and briefly stared at me,assessing my reaction.
"We'll handle it immediately."
The group of twelve dispersed back to their stations and I was ushered upstairs.
The showroom opens to a brightly lit,high-curtain, aquarium reserve for walls aquamarine tiles,and center stage held by three tall mannequins silver pedestals.
All figures posing in their near-perfect designs…even though the issue of dress finding wasn't on my priority,I suddenly felt a surge if excitement staring at the dresses.
If we were in better conditions,I would have been ecastic for these,Aurora was my favourite designer after all.
"Ou,seems like something had caught your eye."Deena sing-songed,and I only realised then that I wasn't staring at a void...I was staring at a dress. "Would you like to try it on?"
"Sure."I sighed lazily. I honestly just wanted to get done with so I can go back to self soothing isolation.
Denna must have sworn to not let me find such peace,she has been feverently trying to get me out and about.
Yesterday it was to see a bird,the day before it was to escort her to pick tomatoes from the garden,dress hunting was her most significant effort yet.
I appreciated her but the only thing that could truly raise my moods in this state was a signed contract that ensures Luca's safety but the man who needed to sign might as well have vanished into thin air since he found out I wasn't an actual Hildago.
Not that I was shocked,the value of his asset had reduced exponentially,I too would have taken a couple days off to mourn my loss.
I was led into a changing room a few steps away from the showroom and as if God decided to finally give me a break,I found out it had a lock.
I stopped Deena and the others at the door and assured them I'll call when I was done.
"You must be Evangeline." a voice called softly behind me as I turned the lock in place.
I peered over my shoulder for the face of the nuisance.
The woman in question was dressed in a suit more fitted for a robust man, her jet black hair slicked to her scalp and her eyebrows thinned out to a bee line.
All the women here were in uniform dress shirt and burgundy skirts,she must have snuck in--probably press.
I decided to ignore her,in a few minutes,another employee will be in here and I could simply ask that she is escorted out.
So I changed as if she wasn't there and focused on my reflection in the mirror.
"I'm not a journalist."she said,as though reading my thoughts.
I have seen journalists try to assume professional air via appearance or disguising themselves but straight up lying felt like a new technique.
"Is that so?"I asked,letting myself chuckle.
"Yes."she replied firmly,her voice getting visibly frustrated that I didn't believe her.
"Word of advice,"I began calmly. "My security wont be gentle when they find you here,it's best you leave and salvage a story of seeing me in a wedding dress instead of waiting to quote me."
"I wouldn't need to,"she says through gritted teeth, "As I said,I'm not a journalist."
"Hm."I shrugged,swaying the dress in the mirror,my mind blanking out as I did. I don't think I like the dress,I don't think I hate it either,I felt nothing for it–nothing at all.
My nervous system has basically shut down since the discovery–now,it has been confirmed,not only did my mother not want me,my father,my real father–heck,I knew nothing of him.
Something stung at the back of my eye but I stopped short realizing this stern looking lady was still in the room,her eyes growing on me.
Our eyes locked momentarily before I spoke.
"Who are you?"
"I'll reveal myself after but I have to make sure that my identity remains a secret."
My annoyance peaked to world record heights."That was not a name."
"Your dress is beautiful."
I adjusted the hem angrily. "Flattery won't get you anywhere,I assure you."
"This would have been beautiful if this was for the fiancé you actually chose."
My back went rigid for a minute but I relaxed it again.
"I see you've done your research."
"No,Luca told me."
A hallow pit fell in my stomach and I turned to meet her in the eye.
"What do you mean Luca told you?"
"Luca knew the mission you two were about to embark on was risky,so risky he had a back up plan to ensure that in case things go south,we can move on to the next steps.."
"What next steps,wait-" My chest tightened even further. "Are you saying–"
I choked up momentarily,fighting to maintain enough composure to say the words burning at my lips.
"Are you saying Luca is dead?"
Her face remained infuriatingingly motionless,I couldn't tell what she was thinking unless she spoke and she was sure taking her sweet time with the task.
"Answer me!"
"I don't know."she finally confesses with uneerie calm."But what I do know is he had a tracker and a beep that he clicks to send signals to us and inform us he's still alive,and he hasn't beeped in four days."
"The machine could have been damaged or something."My mind grabbled desperately for other explanations.
"Or,"she says casually. "He killed him."
"No."I shook my head and sniffed back tears. "He's not dead,I've already arranged this contract–he's safe,or at least will be but–"
Her hands rests on my shoulders.
"Evangeline,I know how hard it must be for you."
"No,you don't."I muttered. "You have no idea how hard this is for me."
The dress on me seemed to get noticeably tighter,the fabric and the corset clinging so deep into my skin,I was sure it was trying to claw it's way into me.
I gasped for air as I struggled with the ropes.
"I need to get it get this off–"I begged."It's not loosening."
She rushed to help me,while simultaneously warning me to be quiet.
I took a deep breath as the dress came loose on me,hanging to my sides.
"You don't have the slightest idea."I continued,collapsing in the corner"Of how it feels when the world is happening around you and you can't even control anything of it…if Luca is--"I couldn't bring myself to say it. "–then it's my fault,I brought him into this,the one thing I had control over and this is what I do,the one man I love and I put him in danger."
She bent over me,her hand in her pockets.
"You didn't put him in danger,Vincenzo did."
"No,I asked him…this was my life."The tears were running down my cheeks now. "I dragged him into this."
"None of this would have happened if Vincenzo didn't shoot at you as an act of romance–"
"Vincenzo didn't shoot at–you mean Cameron?"
She started at me pitifully.
"You didn't know,did you?"
If my dress wasn't already ninety percent off me,I would have blamed the faintness in my head on it.
"What are you talking about?"
"Your first encounter with Vincenzo wasn't recently,it was when that gun was pointed at your head a few months ago,remember--your assassination attempt that began hell in your life was planned and orchestrated by Vincenzo Del Toro."
"–he would he want to kill me and then marry me in the same breath."
"No one can actually get in that man's head-"she clicked her tongue. "Has he tried to hurt you again?"
"No,"I replied too quickly,my head was heating up from trying to peice the Vincenzo I had a conversation about babies to with the man from my nightmares in a sole body.
"You have the power to bring him down,you know."
"Are you not aware of my failed escape attempt?"
"And that is proof that you are strong willed."she bends over and stares me in the eye. "This time,you'll have the FBI's full support,we have been building a case for years--nearly a decade and all we need is someone on the inside who is willing to feed us the evidence--giveus intel."
"You want me to be a spy?"
"More than a spy,an associate–you will be rewarded greatly,and your freedom–you will be earning your freedom."
I stared at her blankly.
"You want me to spy on Vincenzo?"I repeat slower this time,hoping she understands the severity."-the man even the FBI haven't been able to capture."
"That is only because everyone that surrounds him has either been born into the family or had been blackmailed into silence,you sre the opening,Evangeline,"she pressed harder."How are arent you seeing your power?"
"I am also seeing the position I am in,I am going to be exposed and vulnerable and everyone will know I'm the rat. I am not stupid,I know what happens when someone is a snitch in these spaces."
"You'll be avenging Luca–isnt he worth the risk?"
I wasnt even sure if Luca was dead,she wasn't even sure if Luca was dead.
"You'll be avenging your father too."she adds quickly.
I shut my eyes hard.
"So,what do you say?"
A knock at the door jolts us both up before I could give an answer.
"Evangeline?"Deena calls as she struggles with the door knob. "It's been a while,is everything okay in there?"
She gets off the ground in a hurry to leave but I grab her hand.
"What is your name?"
"Zion Forncesca."she says with her first smile."We'll meet again and till then,I hope you have an answer."
I let her make her exit for the window before I go to open the door. I stopped at the mirror and wiped the tear streaks off my face.
"Is everything okay?"Deena asks worriedly as she enters the room,looking around her.
I nodded curtly. "Yes,everything is just fine."