Valentina's POV
The dress hung on the back of my door. Mrs. Chen had laid it out this morning with a note. "From Mr. Monte, for tonight's foundation dinner,” I stared at it for a long time.
Another event, another performance, another night of standing beside a man who couldn't look at me, I heaved a sigh.
Mrs. Chen knocked and entered. She wore her usual black dress and flat shoes, her hair was pulled tight and her eyes were soft.
"Time to get ready, dear," she said, smiling as usual.
I sat at the vanity as she pinned my hair up, curled the ends and applied foundation and lipstick. She worked in silence, but her eyes kept finding mine in the mirror.
"You look beautiful," she said.
"I don't feel beautiful,” I said, but she didn't answer and she finished my makeup and stepped back.
