ALINA POV
The next day, I sat on the counter while the stylist circled around me like a vulture. The hosts of the party were part of our new business collaboration– two powerful companies celebrating their long-awaited reunion—and as Mr. Parker’s assistant, I had no choice but to accompany him.
I hated makeup. It clung to my skin like a mask, making me look older, mature… like someone I didn’t recognize.
The stylist had chosen a gown that clung to my curves in a way that felt almost intimate, the soft pink fabric contrasting cruelly with the dark, smoky eyes painted onto my face. I barely recognized the woman in the mirror, she looked stunning, the one I didn't recognise inside me. She wore everything with confidence with a little innocence on her face.
“She looks fabulous, doesn’t s
