Chapter 5 - The Metamorphosis
Saturday evening arrived with a cold rain washing over the streets of Brooklyn, but inside Elena’s small apartment, the air was electric.
Her brother Leo sat on the edge of their worn sofa, staring in absolute shock as Elena stepped out of her bedroom.
She had used her first executive signing bonus advance to purchase a gown that she would have never dared to look at two weeks ago.
It was a floor-length emerald silk dress that draped over her curves like liquid metal, featuring a cowl neckline and an open back that exposed her smooth olive skin.
Her thick glasses were gone, replaced by disposable contact lenses that allowed her striking hazel-green eyes to shine without obstruction.
She had left her chestnut hair down, styled into loose, classic Hollywood waves that framed her high cheekbones and full, ruby-stained lips.
“Elena...” Leo breathed, shaking his head in disbelief. “You look like a movie star. Are you sure this boss of yours is just a boss?”
“He is my CEO, Leo,” Elena said firming her resolve, though her stomach was doing violent flips as she checked her reflection in the full-length mirror.
A sharp knock at the apartment door signaled the arrival of the private driver Julian had sent to collect her.
As she stepped into the sleek black Maybach waiting at the curb, she felt the last remnants of her drab assistant persona shed away like an old skin.
She wasn't hiding anymore; she was stepping into a world of wolves, and tonight, she was dressed to hunt.
When the car pulled up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, paparazzi flashes erupted like lightning against the grand stone steps.
The door opened, and a tall figure in a bespoke black tuxedo reached his hand inside into the cabin to help her out.
It was Julian.
As Elena placed her hand in his and stepped out onto the red carpet, Julian’s entire body went rigid.
May you like
His midnight-blue eyes swept over her from the crown of her glossy hair to the hem of her emerald gown, his breath catching visibly in his chest.
“Elena,” he murmured, his voice husky and completely stripped of his usual boardroom control. “You are breathtaking.”
