The full-length mirror in my penthouse suite was massive, its heavy frame gilded in ornate, looping gold that made the entire room feel like a palace. I stood before it, slowly turning to catch my reflection from every angle.
The midnight-black silk dress really was perfect. It fit me like a second skin, clinging flawlessly to the curves of my hips and waist before cascading down to the floor in a river of dark elegance.
It wasn't too revealing, yet it wasn't modest either; it was the ideal balance of power and sophistication for an occasion like this. I reached up, carefully fixing a few stray strands of my dark hair, ensuring my face—now completely cleared of the dirt and tears from earlier—looked unbothered and regal.
The sharp, sudden chime of the penthouse doorbell echoed through
