Chapter 6: The Transformation
929 Words
“Stand Still.”
I froze as the stylist circled me for what felt like the tenth time.
Her name was Venessa, and she had the intense focus of someone preparing a celebrity for the red carpet.
Two assistants moved quickly around the room, hanging dresses, arranging shoes, and laying jewelry across the large bed like a sparkling display in a luxury store.
All of this..for me.
I still wasn't used to it.
Venessa tilted her hair slightly while studying me.
“Hmm.”
That sound made me nervous.
“What?” I asked.
She walked closer and gently lifted my chin.
“You're actually very beautiful.”
I blinked.
“That sounded like a surprise.”
“It is,” she said honestly.
I laughed awkwardly.
“Thanks.. I think?”
She smiled.
“You just don't realize it yet.”
Before I could respond, she turned towards the racks of clothing.
“We need something elegant,” She muttered.
“Tonight is important.”
Right.
Tonight.
Meeting Adrian’s grandfather.
The reminder made my stomach twist again.
“What exactly should I expect tonight?” I asked.
Vanessa glanced at me briefly.
“You're meeting Mr. Wolfe’s grandfather.”
“Yes.”
“The man who built the entire Wolfe empire.”
That sounded even more intimidating than before.
“He's very respected,” she continued. “And very traditional.”
“Traditional?” I repeated nervously.
Vanessa nodded.
“He believes family is everything.”
My stomach tightened.
“And if he thinks this marriage isn't real?” I asked quietly.
Vanessa paused.
Then she shrugged slightly.
“That would be..a problem.”
Great.
No pressure at all.
She suddenly held up a stunning dark blue dress.
“This one.”
The dress was beautiful.
Elegant.
Simple but powerful.
And definitely something I had never worn before.
“Try it on,” Vanessa ordered.
A few minutes later, I stepped out of the dressing area wearing the dress.
The assistants immediately gasped.
Vanessa’s eyes lit up.
“Yes.”
I looked down at myself.
The dress fit perfectly, hugging my waist and flowing softly to the floor.
It made me look different.
More Confident.
More Powerful.
“WOW,” One of the assistants whispered.
Vanessa smiled proudly.
“Now you look like Mrs. Wolfe.”
The name still felt strange.
But something like seeing my reflection in the mirror made it feel slightly more real.
Vanessa walked closer and adjusted a strand of my hair.
“You’re going to turn heads tonight,” she said.
I swallowed nervously.
“I hope not.”
She laughed.
“That’s impossible when you are walking beside Adrian Wolfe.”
That name alone made my heart beat slightly faster.
Adrian.
I wondered what he was doing at that moment.
Probably running around a billion-dollar deal without breaking a sweat.
Meanwhile, I was here trying not to panic about dinner.
Vanessa finished styling my hair and went back.
“There.”
I slowly turned toward the mirror.
For a moment, I didn’t recognize the woman staring back.
The makeup was soft but elegant.
My hair fell perfectly over my shoulders.
The dress made me look confident, graceful, almost like I belonged in Adrian’s world.
Almost.
“Do you like it?” Vanessa asked.
I nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Before she could respond, the bedroom door opened.
Every woman in the room turned at the same time.
Adrian stood in the doorway.
He had removed his suit jacket, and the sleeves of his white shirt were slightly rolled up.
He looked tired.
But still incredibly intimidating.
His eyes immediately landed on me.
And for the first time since I met him, Adrian Wolfe looked surprised.
He didn’t speak.
Didn’t move.
Just stared.
Vanessa smirked slightly.
“Well,” she said quietly, “I think we did our job.”
Adrian slowly stepped into the room.
His gaze never left me.
My heart started beating faster under the intensity of this stare.
Finally, he spoke.
“You look... different.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Good different or bad different.”
Adrian studied me for another moment.
Then his voice lowered slightly.
“Very good.”
The compliment sent an unexpected warmth through my chest.
Vanessa clapped her hands happily.
“Perfect! Then tonight will go smoothly.”
Adrian’s eyes shifted to her briefly.
“Everything ready?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Vanessa and her assistants quickly gathered their things.
“Good luck tonight, Mrs. Wolfe,” she said before leaving the room.
The door closed behind them.
Now it was just the two of us.
Silence filled the large bedroom.
Adrian walked a little closer.
Still studying me.
“You’re nervous,” he said calmly.
“A little.”
“That’s normal.”
“You don’t look nervous.”
“I’m not.”
Of course, he wasn’t.
I sighed softly.
“What if your grandfather doesn’t believe us?”
Adrian’s expression remained steady.
“He will.”
“How are you so sure?”
He stepped closer.
Closed enough that I could smell his faint cologne.
“Because,” he said quietly, “ we’re going to give him a very convincing performance.”
Before I could ask what he meant, Adrian gently reached out.
And took my hand.
The touch sent a small shock through my body.
His fingers tightened slightly around mine.
“Starting now,” he said calmly.
My heart skipped.
Because something about the way he was looking at me suddenly didn’t feel like acting at all.
- Writer
