13.
1968 Words
"Tighter.." Opal said through gritted teeth, looking at her reflection through the mirror as her maid stood behind her trying to tighten the corset. The maid's fingers worked quickly, pulling at the laces with practiced efficiency, but the stubborn garment seemed to resist.
It was the perfect dress. An exquisite design Henri had spent a fortune on to have made for her. But she hadn't found the perfect occasion to wear it until now. Keeping it in waiting for over half a year, that she forgot the changes her body might go through. And to her horror, when she tried to wear it, it just didn't fit. She had to resort to extreme measure like wearing an uncomfortable corset, but she didn't mind, it was the most expensive clothing she owned, and one that made her feel closer to the levels of that damned woman, so she was willing to do just about anything to fit into it.
"Madame, I'm afraid if I pull any tighter, you might not be able to breathe properly," the maid cautioned, her voice tinged with fear and concern. Her hands trembled slightly from the effort of tightening the corset to its limits.
"Just do it," Opal snapped, determined to achieve the perfect silhouette. She could feel the constriction around her waist, the pressure building with each suffocating pull of the strings. She inhaled sharply, bracing herself for the final tug.
The maid, with a resigned sigh, gave one last firm pull. The corset cinched tighter, pressing against Opal's ribs and abdomen. She took a sharp intake of breath as her torso was compressed, the boning of the corset forcing her posture into a rigid but quite elegant stature.
"There," the maid said, her voice strained but relieved. "It's as tight as it can go. How does it feel, Madame?"
Opal exhaled slowly, adjusting to the restrictive hold of the corset. She turned slightly, examining the way it shaped her figure in the mirror. The gown, now fitting perfectly over the corset, accentuated her hourglass shape, the fabric beautifully hugging her curves. It was stunning. She was stunning. All eyes would be on her tonight, she just knew it.
"It's perfect," Opal replied, a triumphant smile spreading across her face despite the discomfort. She could feel the constriction with every breath, but the result was completely worth it.
The maid stepped back, admiring her handiwork with a mix of pride and a bit of concern. "You look stunning, Madame. But please, do take it easy tonight. I don't want you fainting from lack of air." She didn’t want to be blamed for anything if things went wrong.
"Shut up, and go fetch my shoes, time is of the essence." Opal said, hardly hearing what the woman was saying.
The maid nodded and hurried off to fetch the shoes, leaving Opal to admire her image, trying to adjust to the tightness of the corset. She took a few experimental breaths, quickly getting used to the suffocating feel. This wasn't the first time she'd been forced to wear one, she wore it quite alot when she'd been trying to hide her pregnancy in the initial stages from Aria, but that hadn’t been so bad. This was the first she'd ever had to wear one so tight.
A soft knock on the open door drew her attention. She turned, her breath catching for an entirely different reason when she saw Henri standing by the doorway. He looked incredibly handsome in his suit, his presence arresting and mesmerizing.
He wore a three piece suit, one she insisted he wore. It was beige with accents of red, that added an elegance to the whole ensemble. He didn’t do much with his hair, but that was its charm. Dirty blonde locks cut very short, exposing his very striking bone structure. His green eyes sparkled, and his low beard all made for an impossibly attractive image. It was no wonder he stole the breath out of her, anyone would be blown away by him. And he was hers, and hers alone.
Oh she longed to see the look of envy and utter despair in that woman’s eyes, when she sees how perfectly the two of them belonged. She would know she never once stood a chance against what they shared, could never win against her when it came to him. She might have all the money, all the power, all the luxury, heck have the entire f*****g world bent over its back for her, but Henri..she could never have Henri. And Opal aimed to remind her of just that.
Henri's eyes roamed over her, admiration clear in his gaze. He stepped into the room, closing the distance between them with a few quick strides. His hands reached out to embrace her from behind, his fingers gently tracing the outline of her corseted waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder, his eyes meeting hers in the mirror.
"You look stunning," Henri murmured, his voice a low, intimate rumble that sent shivers down her spine. "Every bit as perfect as I knew you'd look in the dress." Frankly he’d forgotten he even got it for her, but he was smart enough not to even suggest as such.
Opal's lips curled into a pleased smile as Henri's hands traced her tightly bound waist. "It took some effort, but I knew it would be worth it," she replied, her voice laced with satisfaction.
Henri's eyes darkened with desire as he held her gaze in the mirror. "We could..just stay in.." he said, his voice a seductive purr. His hands slid up to her shoulders, gently kneading the tension there.
Opal immediately stepped away from him, her smile dropping a little, "Shocking coming from you, after all the trouble you went through to get the invites..we have to go love." She murmured, her voice soft and a bit teasing.
Henri's smile widened, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Fair enough," he conceded, his hands dropping to his sides. "But know that I'll be counting the minutes until we can return."
Opal playfully rolled her eyes, and turned back to the mirror, giving herself one last appraising look. The gown was a masterpiece, and she loved every piece of it. She took a deep breath, feeling the corset's tight grip, and allowed herself a moment. Tonight, she would outshine them all. Especially her..
"Let's not keep them waiting then," she said, turning to face Henri, forgetting for a moment that no one was really expecting them there, "Shall we?"
The maid returned with her shoes then, and Henri feeling rarely romantic, bent low on one knee to help her slip them on. His touch smooth and gentle.
She watched him, her eyes softening for a moment as he carefully buckled the delicate straps around her ankles.
"Thank you," she murmured, a rare moment of genuine gratitude.
"Anything for you." He grinned as he stood up, and he fully meant it. Things between them hadn't been as sweet and rosy as it once was, but she was still his gem, someone whom he cared for beyond everything. She was his drive and his ambition, without her he would be nothing, could’ve never been the man he was today without her.
Together they descended down, where the Delarney house's butler waited, holding the couple's one-year-old baby. "Make sure Billy is in bed before 6, we won't be too long," Henri instructed the butler, his tone firm.
Alvin nodded, his expression perfectly blank. "Of course, sir. Enjoy your evening."
Opal bent down to kiss Billy's forehead, her gaze softening in a way it never does even while looking at Henri, as she looked at her child. "Be good for the servants, darling. Mommy will be back soon."
After saying their goodbyes, they stepped out, where one of Henri's posh and luxurious cars awaited them. Opal had them bring out one of his most expensive ones, knowing very well the circle they were about to enter was completely unlike the one she'd been so used to. To them, the expensive car might not mean much, but it at least wouldn't let anyone look down on them.
"You know..you still haven't told me.." Henri remarked as they settled into their seats and the car began the drive. "The reason that was worth me forsaking every Saturday for the next two months to play golf with that old bastard, just to get those IV's."
Opal turned to him, her makeup heavy and striking, looking up at him through a set of well placed fake lashes, her bold red lips pursed. "You wouldn't be happy.." she said finally, watching his reaction closely.
Henri raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her cryptic response. "Try me," he said, his voice laced with curiosity. "I had to leave a crucial meeting to make it to this thing and that didn't get me unhappy, so I doubt anything will."
Opal studied him for a moment, a slight smile playing at her lips. “Alright,” she said, if it was Henri, she had nothing to worry about. He didn’t care in the least about that horrid b***h. “She’s going to be there, Henri, that insufferable woman had come back.”
It took Henri a couple of seconds to figure out who Opal was talking about and when he did, his reaction was immediate. His pupils constricted and he drew back, mouth wide open in incredulity as he looked at Opal as if she’d gone mad. “What the actual hell Opal? You can’t possibly mean that,”
Opal’s heart dropped at the tone of his voice, but quickly her anger rose too. “What do you mean by that? Is there something wrong with her being back? So what if she’s come back, it’s not like it would change anything.”
“Then why are we in this f*****g car going to this f*****g event just because she’s going to f*****g be there?!!” He threw his hands up in frustration, unable to understand Opal at all. “I don’t need this right now, Opal! Do you know how hard the business took a hit because I made that b***h cry? Because I didn’t kiss the f*****g ground she walked on? Because I chose you? Do you know how hard I worked to get the investors back in? To keep the stockholders from leaving? Just because of her! And now you want us to go back in and what?! Huh!? Why the f**k?!”
“Because I need proof! I need proof that she doesn’t matter! That you don’t feel anything for her, that she’s behind us, that she won’t ever be problem! I need to know Henri, I need this closure..” She shouted back too, her voice raw with emotion.
“For f**k’s sake..” He sighed, running a hand down his face, tho he still shook with frustration.
“Henri, please.. I need this. We both do.” She was grasping at loose straws, hoping she could say something that would make the man see reason, and not force them to turn the car around. She really had miscalculated.
Henri shook his head irritatedly, turning to look at his beloved and the pleading in her eyes, and immediately he just..softened. No other reason but because he wanted to make her happy. And if going to see that damn woman would, then he would do it.
“..fine.” He sighed, cracking a grin when she let out a small cheer. “But you better not make me regret this.”
“You won’t, I promise.” She grinned.
If only he knew how much he’d come to regret going out that night, he would’ve risked everything to turn that f*****g car around.
- Writer
