Free Web NovelChapter 112: Dress fitting
"Can you run down our checklist?" Emily asked her wedding planner over the phone. Marco was driving them toward Aurora for the final fitting.
"Great work," Emily said, sounding satisfied. "I’m about to try on the gown. I’ll call you when I’m done."
When the car pulled up, Emily’s sister Ivy was already waiting in the lobby.
She had insisted on being there. "I need to make sure it’s perfect," she said firmly. "That’s my job as the flower girl."
Emily didn’t argue. She just gave a small nod.
The building was quiet. Since it was Sunday, the halls were empty. There were no assistants rushing around. Only five security guards stood watch near the entrance.
They stepped into the private fitting room. The dress was hanging there. It was made of rich, ivory silk.
Emily gasped when she saw it. She threw her arms around Lyvana in a happy hug before rushing behind the curtain to change. Lyvana followed, adjusting it with pins and makes tiny alterations.
Finally, Emily stepped out.
The dress was tight at the top and flared out at the bottom. It shimmered in the light. The best part was the large, white fabric flower on the left side. The tiny beads on the petals sparkled like stars. It made the simple gown look like a work of art.
"Oh my God, you look so beautiful!" Ivy squealed. "Wait until Mom sees this."
Their mother was strict about the wedding. Since Emily was marrying a wealthy man, she couldn’t wear a basic dress from a regular store. Emily knew her mother would finally be happy with this design. She would have been there, but she was out of the country until next week.
"Emy, stop moving around, I need to take a picture for mom."
Ivy snapped a few pictures to send to her.
"You really do look incredible," Lyvana said, smiling at her work.
Emily laughed quietly, hiding her blush.
When she returned from the changing room, she noticed Ethan standing at the doorway. He hadn’t been expected to come.
"Ethan!" she exclaimed, slightly flustered. She went over to kiss him. "What are you doing here? Wait... tell me you didn’t see the dress. It’s bad luck!"
He laughed, pulling her closer by the waist. "Relax. I didn’t see a thing. Ivy texted me the second you went behind the curtain to change."
He looked over at the others in the room, then back to Emily. "I figured you’d be hungry after all that work. I thought I’d take you all out to lunch."
"Lunch sounds amazing," Ivy said, already grabbing her purse. "I’m starving."
Emily looked at Lyvana. "You’re coming, right? We need to celebrate. The dress is perfect."
Lyvana checked her watch. She remembered Julian was picking her up at midday for lunch with his mother. The knot of unease from the morning returned. Julian hadn’t called or texted since he left her apartment in such a rush.
"I’d love to," Lyvana said, offering a small, apologetic smile. "But I actually have plans. Julian is picking me up soon."
"Alright then," Emily said. "We’ll see you later, Liv. And seriously, thank you. The dress is a masterpiece."
They waved goodbye and headed toward the elevator, their happy chatter echoing down the empty hallway.
Lyvana stayed behind for a moment, the silence of the building settling over her. Then she turned to her office, to wait for Julian.
....
"Gideon, Seraphina is locked up there," Stephan said glancing at the man beside him.
Gideon looked at the safehouse. There were only two men outside.
"How did you find out about this place so easily?"
"I drugged Mr Carter’s second daughter. She usually goes out drinking at the same spot every night. She told me where to find the safe house."
"You’re a genius."
"I know," Stephan said with a grin.
Gideon didn’t smile back. He kept his eyes fixed on the two guards by the front door. "If it was that easy to get the location, it might be a trap. Carter isn’t a careless man." frёeωebɳovel.com
Stephan’s grin faded slightly. He checked the clip in his handgun and slid it back into place with a sharp click.
"The girl was wasted, Gideon. She didn’t even know what she was saying until it was too late. Trust me, they don’t know we’re here."
"They will in about thirty seconds," Gideon muttered. He pulled a black mask over his face, leaving only his cold, dark eyes visible. "You take the one on the left. I’ll take the right. Silent until we’re inside."
Stephan nodded, his playful mood finally turning into professional focus. They moved through the shadows of the trees, staying low to the ground. The only sound was the rustle of dead leaves under their boots.
The guards were leaning against a rusted SUV, sharing a cigarette. They were laughing about something, completely unaware of the two shadows closing in on them.
Gideon signaled with three fingers. Three... two... one.
Before the guards could even drop their cigarettes, Gideon and Stephan lunged. Gideon gripped his target’s throat, cutting off any scream, while Stephan drove a shoulder into the other man, taking him down hard.
A few seconds later, both guards lay unconscious on the gravel.
Gideon stood up and looked at the heavy steel door of the safehouse. He could feel his heart hammering against his ribs. Seraphina was just on the other side of that door, and if her father found out they were here, none of them would make it out alive.
"Open it," Gideon whispered.
Stephan pulled out a set of electronic tools and began working on the keypad. "Almost... there."
The lock hissed as the vacuum seal broke. The door swung open, revealing a dark, narrow room that smelled of damp concrete and old smoke. Gideon gripped his weapon tighter and stepped into the shadows.
He expected to see guards. Instead, he saw two women lying down unconscious.
"Seraphina?" Stephan whispered, lowering his gun just an inch.
