‘Oh, I love it,’ Evie says. ‘Youmusttry it on.’
The pair excitedly hurry me behind the bamboo room-divider, shoving the hanger in my hand and paying no heed to mypolite objections. I unzip it slowly, careful not to snag it as I’m sure it’s worth more than I make in a month. I can hear them chatting animatedly– already brainstorming accessories and cheering for me from the other side– but I’m not prepared for this. I’m in mismatched socks and the completely wrong bra foranythingthat remotely shows cleavage. I try easing the straps off my shoulders and shoving them into the cups. It’s bulky and unrefined, and so wrong for the dress.
‘You OK?’ Anika asks carefully. ‘We’ll be tailoring, so I can let it in or out.’
‘Uh. . . I haven’t got it on yet, just figuring out what’s best. . .’ I’m trying to find the most appropriate way to phrase things in front of my sort-of boss and her accomplished stylist. ‘The neckline is a bit lower than I—’
‘Go braless, hun,’ Evie shouts out, somehow reading my mind. ‘It’s best for the fitting anyway.’
I pull my trousers to the floor, cautiously stepping into the dress and shimmying it up my legs. It tugs slightly at the hips, which is to be expected. Kimi always lovingly reminds me that what I lack in boobs I make up for in butt.
‘I need a little help with the zip,’ I say, scurrying out from the divider once I have it covering most of my modesty.
I swivel back and forth, trying to reach round the back for myself while I wait for one of them to rush over to assist, but neither does. Instead, they both stand and stare.
‘Anika. You have outdone yourself,’ Evie whispers, hand on her chest in sheer awe.
‘We need photos– she’s going in my portfolio.’ Anika nods.
They beckon me over to the mirror, turning me to face it as Anika ducks behind me to get the last of the zip.
‘Woah.’
It sounds conceited, I know. But it’s not. Because I don’t feel like I’m looking at me. I’ve worn dresses and cute outfits, anddone mybest, but none of that compares to the way I look in this dress. Everything from the colour to the shaping makes me glow in a way I didn’t know I was capable of.
‘Sorry, but yourbum!’ Evie grabs my hand and twirls me around. ‘This is the one. What do you think?’
‘I love it,’ I say softly, eyes still glued to the mirror.
The material hugs my curves, the boning in the top snatching in my waist and curving out to accentuate my hips. Even my boobs– a modest B-cup (approaching C on my period)– have the kind of cleavage I’ve only dreamed of, and that’swithouta bra. I’m lost in its sparkles, its shaping and structure, and the indescribable way it’s making me feel. I don’t want to take it off ever, let alone before I leave.
They both stay standing behind me, taking it in as I turn to catch myself from every angle.
‘We’ll keep the accessories simple. I’m thinking black bangles, small earrings,’ Anika says, jumping back to work. ‘Maybe dangly, maybe large stud– I’ll pull some options.’
She faffs around me, rummaging through drawers and holding pieces of jewellery up to my neck, wrist and ears. She shoves various clutches into my hand, slips my feet into different shoes, has me twist and turn and bend until she’s happy with what she sees. But I can barely engage. I’m floating on the high that overcame me the moment I stepped in front of the mirror. I can focus on nothing but the dress until I’m reluctantly back in my own clothes and sitting down with Evie in a nearby restaurant, having said my goodbyes to Anika.
‘I’m so excited for you.’ Evie is babbling away between bites of her scallop. ‘I wish I could experience the Lounge for the first time again. Are you much of a clubber?’
‘Occasionally,’ I say, trying not to sound too boring.
‘Understandable. I only like going with the right people.’
She finishes her bite, chewing vigorously and swallowing it down, before dropping her cutlery and staring intently at me.
After we left Anika’s, dress and accessories in hand, Evie insisted that she had to take me for lunch and wouldn’t accept no for an answer. She swore it was ‘nothing’ and that the lunch wouldn’t take too long. Now here we are, a good two hours later, still munching away. Do I feel bad? Of course, but I’ve been having a ball just listening and soaking up all her expertise. At least, I have been until now. Now Evie’s staring closely in a way that’s making my heart rate rise rapidly.
‘I like you, Maddison. You’re so bright, so hard-working. You have the drive that IwishI’d had at your age.’
‘Didn’t you have, like, your first million followers at my age?’ I ask.
She chuckles softly, a proud nod at my clear research.
‘Yes, but if I’d had your drive, I’d have turned that into a profitable business far sooner than I did.’ She pauses to take a quick sip of her champagne, before tilting her head and continuing, ‘How long have you been at Abbingtorn?’
I sigh. ‘Four years.’
‘Do you like it?’ Her eyes narrow conspiratorially. ‘Be honest.’
