The Forbidden Billionaire

Chapter 7

(Liberty's POV)

"Are you alright?" Alana asked with concern as we walked down the road. She hated walking, but she knew it calmed me down. I needed this right now, I needed to forget everything I just experienced.

"Come on, I am just trying to make sure you are alright Lib. Please, even a grunt will do." She huffs, as her steps started to slow down and her breath began to labor. If we were ever in danger, we would need to fight our way out, as she wouldn't even make it a block.

"I don't want to talk about it." That response was good enough for her as she began skipping next to me to hail a cab. She was done walking, it seemed, and because I voiced a response, she decided I was alright as well.

"No need to talk about anything beautiful. First stop, hair therapy." The giddiness in her voice scared me more than the words that came out. What did she mean by hair therapy? I swear if she made a stylist cut off all my hair, she wouldn't survive this trip.

After an excruciatingly long four hours, both of our hair was done.

Every single strand is perfectly polished and placed according to our facial structures. What a load of bullshit Alana just made us waste our time on.

"Look at you, anyone would think you were a princess." She gushed excitedly, as she jumped around like a little kid. I can't deal with her childishness sometimes. I turned towards the mirror, trying to contain the gasp that tried to escape me. She wasn't wrong, I looked like royalty. Between these remarkable features that highlighted perfectly with makeup in every right way, the smoky light blue make-up made my silver eyes pop out and matched the glimmering diamond-edged piece they laced in my hair.

I was no expert but I would describe this masterpiece as a whimsically soft-get-tousled up style. My favorite thing about this appearance, was that it is the best of both worlds, something that was so me. It made me look elegant but also wildly attractive at the same time. The lower section was braided around the occipital bone to the nape where it was pinned up to be used as a base. My black hair was made shiny with product and then messily pinned around in a curly, sexy and appealing way. I glanced at Alana and the mischievous smile on her face told me she had set this up. That sneaky little fox. She ran off giggling as her loose curls flew behind her in the wind, giving her an innocent look.

"Just remember I will get you back for this." I said with certainty, as I watched her visibly gulp in fear. She knew my threats were no jokes, they were promises. This was something she should have ran by me before proceeding with.

"Come on Liberty, this was all for you. Don't you want to look your best when you see your prince charming?" Alana questioned tauntingly with a raised eyebrow. As if I ever needed to impress anyone. If they didn't like me, then they didn't deserve me.

"You do realize France's end of the year ball is a masquerade this year?" I questioned emotionlessly, causing her to gasp in a chilish way. She was adorable in her own, weird way. You had to know her to understand, or maybe you just needed to have some sort of bond with her. She grabbed my hand before I could process what was happening, as I grunted in dissatisfaction. She knew not to touch me, that grimy man's face flashed through my mind, causing me to cringe. By the time I refocused back on my surroundings, Alana had already pulled me into a dress store and the damage had already been engraved again.

Not one of the dresses screamed my name. I watched as Alana swiped left and right, piling her try - on stack higher and higher. As she hit over twenty dresses, she took off to try them on. Still, none of them appealed to me. Dress after dress, Alana's face lit up, then found a flaw and then rejected the dress. Nineteen of her dresses were rejected and I was starting to think she was doing it because I didn't like anything there. Don't get me wrong, the dresses here are beautiful but none called to me like they should and all the dresses Alana tried on were gorgeous, but none screamed 'the one', so I didn't compliment any of them. She deserved to shine and the only way to do that was with the right dress.

As Alana came out in an off - shoulder white flowered laced dress that had a small - dip v neck and the lace connected to a baby pink tulle, I knew she had found her dress. She looked sexy and delicate at the same time. It complimented her in ways none of the other dresses did. This dress was perfect for her.

"I love it." There wasn't any emotion in my voice but my words were enough to cause a giant smile to break out across her face. She was happy with my response, knowing it was the best she was going to get out of me.

"I will take this one with the baby pink matching mask and the white heels I had earlier." Alana said cheerfully, as she skipped back into the changing room. She had too much energy for me.

"Why don't you stay in the dress? We are headed to the ball after this," I said seriously. Sometimes it is a mystery how she survived in this world without me.

"What about dinner?" She asked innocently, as she stuck her head out of the dressing room. Her eyes were as big as saucers, as if she thought I would make her starve.

"Fine" I said in annoyance. She hated eating when she felt others would be watching her, so there was no way she would eat at the ball even if they did have food, which they do. Alana is high maintenance sometimes, fine, most of the time. "Let's go feed that raging stomach of yours then."

"Not so fast, you don't even have a dress yet. You can't show up at the ball in that. Please, pick something. We won't be able to go if you don't, which means, I found the perfect dress for no reason." Alana whined. Before she could finish her rant, my eye caught sight of a dress that seemed to be calling my name. It was almost as if it was designed specifically for me. "How about this one? It's black, seems to be your vibe lately."

I ignored her snarky comment, carefully maneuvering myself towards the hidden masterpiece. The strap less dress has a plunging neck split, halting just above where my belly button would lie. It showed enough cleavage to cause my body to lure in more attention, but not enough to make me look slutty. Diamonds ran down the opening and around the top of the dress. The silk dress was skin tight until it flowed out after passing my hips. There was an appealing slit, one that would expose my left thigh, down to my ankle. The color was what drew me in though. A dark gray from the top to mid stomach that ombres into a bright baby blue. A baby blue mask, with diamonds littering every inch and dark gray streaks near the edge would go perfectly with the gown. The bonus was the mask would cover everything other than my eyes, lips and chin. I would feel safe beneath it.

"Are you even listening?" Alana exclaimed in annoyance, pulling my attention away from the gorgeous design. She had her hands on her hips, glaring daggers at me. I may have zoned out of the conversation.

"I got distracted, sorry." There was no guilt or sincerity in my voice. I never allowed my emotions to slip out and leave me vulnerable. "I found the dress I am getting, let me check out and then I will feed you."

I ran off to the register, and paid for the gown, mask and a pair of nude three-inch heels. I hated those dreadful things but I knew the proper attire for a gathering of this stature.

As we walked out of the store, the only noise evading my ears was the whining of Alana's hunger. I veered off, pulling her into the first restaurant I could find. I was not going to listen to her for any longer than I needed to. I quickly got us a table and ordered three appetizers with our drinks. Alana was small like me, but she could eat more than a horse at one serving. I wasn't honestly sure where she put it all. How could a petite woman like her eat more than a grown-ass man?

"Ah, a woman after my own heart." She said dramatically, as she placed a hand over her chest. That was as long as the drama went before she dug into the appetizers, as if she had been starved for the last three weeks. Not an ounce of food was left on the plates. I ordered a barely seared steak cut up on a salad for myself as I watched Alana order two meals.

"I do not know how you can possibly eat that much." I said emotionlessly, hiding my disgust.

"The same way you can eat those bloody meats. You could have cooked it till it wasn't leaking blood all over your salad." Alana snarked back in disgust. She never hid her feelings from anyone.