Ella POV
“Hold still! If I knick you with this curling iron, you’re gonna have a giant burn,” Claire said from behind me as she tapped my head with a disapproving finger.
“Sorry, Claire. I’m just so excited,” I said as I tried to stop bouncing in my seat. I kept fiddling with the burgundy eye mask and black lace trim Claire had gotten for me.
I had never been to a party of any kind before that wasn’t supervised by my father or his cronies, let alone a masquerade.
“Then stop spazzing, or you’re gonna turn this place into a burn ward. Almost done, so don’t move,” Claire said with a faux stern tone.
I couldn’t help but look at myself in the mirror as Claire fretted behind me. I had been dressed for my father’s ‘work functions’ many times, but I never felt anything about how I looked.
Seeing myself in a noir cocktail dress for the first time, I finally felt free from my father’s influence.
