"So, what's the plan? And why am I getting a silk press?" Akari turned the salon chair towards Duri and Omani, who sat with champagne glasses in their hands.
"Simple, you turn into the 'mafia's angel' and we take out Vinny" Duri sipped his champagne and leaned back in his seat.
Akari turned back to the mirror, looking at them through it. "I didn't take Vinny as the romantic type" she took a chocolate from the box in front of her.
"He hosts a masquerade ball every year" Omani picked up a magazine, flipping through it.
"That doesn't explain the 'mafia's angel' comment. A masquerade ball could be front for smuggling, secret deals, etc" Akari explained, eating the chocolate until she bit into Turkish delight and spat it out.
"He also dates innocent women, so we are playing into the aesthetic" Duri stood grabbing Akari's hand and taking Turkish delight chocolate from fingertips, licking them softly.
Akari looked up at him, her eyes darkening. "We need you to seduce him, get him to a secluded area and take him out" Omani eyed Akari for a moment. "Only seduce him," he warned softly. Akari rolling her eyes and nodding, Omani stood walking up to Akari, grabbing her neck. "Only seduce him" he turned her head up, and she nodded silently.
As the experienced hair stylist entered the room, Akari felt a wave of apprehension wash over her, knowing the challenging process that lay ahead. The mere idea of the upcoming procedure filled her with unease, not because of the intense heat from the powerful blow dryer or the weighty, fragrant products that would be carefully applied to her hair, but because of the uncomfortable sensation of the meticulous Omani handiwork pulling persistently at her sensitive scalp.
When all the final snips were done and the last strands gently settled into place, Akari hardly recognized the reflection looking back at her in the mirror. Her hair, which used to be coily and simple, now displayed a delicate yet captivating curl, the strands falling in a perfectly harmonious way. Even though the process was challenging and uncomfortable, Akari couldn't help but acknowledge the elegant transformation that now enhanced her face.
Duri and Omani walked up behind her, staring in the mirror. "I hate it," Duri commented. Omani as well.
"I know," Akari agreed with them.
"It's perfect" Omani placed his hand on her shoulders.
"What's next?" Akari looked at the two men behind her.
"Shopping" Omani turned at left, while Duri presented his hand to help Akari out of the salon chair.
As Akari and the two men, Duri and Omani, stepped into the lavish boutique, the atmosphere was immediately palpable. Unlike the typical bustling energy one would expect in a high-end clothing store, the space was eerily empty, save for the pristine marble floors and the soft, ambient lighting that cast a serene glow throughout.
The shop assistants, with their impeccably styled hair and flawlessly applied makeup, glided across the floor in their towering heels, their movements almost robotic in their precision. Yet the moment their eyes landed on Duri and Omani, they sprang into action, a noticeable sway in their hips as they approached the trio.
Duri couldn't help but grumble about the wasted space, clearly unimpressed by the store's ostentatious display. But Omani reached out to stroke Duri's arm gently, a calming gesture that appeared to temper his partner's frustration with the lavish yet oddly vacant boutique they had stumbled upon.
"Can we help you?" The shop assistants purred with toothy grins.
"A private room, as much chocolate as she can eat," Omani said, before turning to Duri. "A Whiskey for him" he touched Duri's arm. "And I want Kathleen" he grabbed Akari's hand and pulled towards the private room, with a proud smile Duri following behind.
Akari fidgeted anxiously, her fingers twirling and twisting the silky strands of her hair as she tried to distract herself from the overwhelming array of clothing hanging on the surrounding racks. The sheer volume of options made her stomach churn with nerves. Sensing her unease, Duri reached over and gently pulled Akari's legs onto his lap, his firm hands tenderly massaging her ankles in a soothing gesture. The warmth of his touch and the comforting weight of her legs on his lap helped calm Akari's frazzled nerves, and she took a deep, steadying breath as she sipped the amber liquid in her glass.
Meanwhile, Omani meticulously scanned through the racks, his discerning eye expertly selecting several dresses that he felt would complement Akari's figure and coloring. With a decisive motion, he tossed the chosen garments onto the couch, creating a colorful display for Akari to peruse.
"Try on these" Omani handed Akari a white tulle dress.
"Okay, but this looks like a Disney princess, and not the good kind" Akari took the dress, walking into the changing room.
"That's the point" Omani sat next to Duri, sipping champagne, his finger wandering into Duri's hair.
Duri turned to Omani. "There is a bad kind of Disney princess," he commented.
Akari stood before the mirror, the tulle dress cascading around her in a voluminous cloud of white. Though the garment was intended to evoke a sense of whimsical elegance, Akari couldn't help but feel that it veered dangerously close to the caricature. The sheer, billowing fabric enveloped her petite frame, making her look more like a princess from a storybook than the confident, modern young woman she saw in the mirror every day.
Duri and Omani gazed at her with evident admiration, their eyes wide and mouths ajar. The typically self-assured and relaxed young men appeared captivated, their eyes wandering over Akari's altered appearance. This unexpected response only added to Akari's unease as she tried to make sense of the unfamiliar, fluttering emotions stirring inside her.
"It's white," Duri expressed with a nod.
"It's churchy" Omani placed a finger to his lip.
"It's a glorified wedding dress," Akari huffed, lifting the tulle of her dress.
"Yes, next" Omani gave her another one to try on.
Akari carefully slipped into the short jumpsuit, the soft fabric hugging her figure in a sleek and form-fitting silhouette. She then reached for the bone corset, the rigid structure cinching her waist and accentuating her hourglass shape, and looked down at her whimsical skirt, made up of a myriad of tiny wired flowers that gave the impression of delicate, budding blossoms. The result was a captivating fusion of sci-fi inspired glamor and high-fashion elegance.
Akari couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort as she moved - the corset was restrictive, and the skirt's wired frame made it challenging to walk with ease. In fact, she doubted she'd even be able to sit comfortably in such an ensemble.
Akari stepped out, the mesh panels of her artful mini dress revealing tantalizing glimpses of her figure. The moment she emerged, the gazes of Omani and Duri immediately fell upon her, their eyes tracing the alluring curves accentuated by the sheer architectural fabric.
"It's too sexy" Duri looked down at Akari's hip, his eyes lingering on the curve of it
"Too modern" Omani touched the flowers.
"I feel like a futuristic ballerina," Akari waved her arms around.
"It's not the look" Omani pulled another one from the bunch of clothes. "Try this one"
As she stepped out of the changing room, the dress seemed to mold to her figure effortlessly; the fabric hugging her curves in all the right places. Delicate bows gathered the soft tulle together, creating a captivating silhouette that flattered her frame perfectly. The corset bodice cinched her waist without any uncomfortable pinching or restriction, allowing her to move with ease. Omani and Duri watched in silent awe as she turned slowly, giving them a full view of the stunning ensemble. Omani, seemingly mesmerized, reached out and gently picked up the sheer mesh wings attached to the back, carefully helping her into them. His fingers trailed lightly across her bare skin as he secured the ethereal additions, unable to resist the temptation to make that intimate contact.
"That's it" Duri stood walking towards them, touching the tulle on the Akari's skirt.
"Maybe too short" Akari looked at Duri, who gave a suggestive smirk.
"That's the perfect part" Duri pulled Akari in by the waist.
"You have a point," Omani whispered, over Akari's shoulder, pushing her hair out of face. "I got something" he turned to grab it, holding it up towards Akari. "Mind if i?"
"You can," Akari nodded with a blush, that Duri took the opportunity to touch.
Akari's eyes went wide with shock as the Omani man before her gracefully sank to his knees, his movements fluid and deliberate. She gasped softly, captivated by the sight of this stranger bowing down in her presence. With nimble fingers, he began clipping a detachable mesh skirt onto the fabric of her dress, the sheer material cascading down to brush against her legs.
Akari felt her breath catch in her throat at his proximity, the warmth of his body radiating towards her. She instinctively crossed her legs, suddenly self-conscious under his intense gaze. Glancing upwards, Akari's eyes met those of Duri, the man standing behind the kneeling Omani. His expression was smoldering, his eyes narrowed as he fixed Akari with a heated, almost possessive stare. Feeling flustered, Akari quickly looked down.
Omani looked up at Akari, holding her ankles in his long fingers. "Now, it's perfect" he looked up at her.