12|Trial Run-Part 1

Emily's phone conversation didn't seem to be going well when Natalie returned to the room forty minutes later, wearing a fluffy white robe and a matching towel wrapped around her head.

From the way she frowned, pouted and gestured wildly with her hands as she launched into a lengthy explanation of why she had to drop the gala at the last minute, Natalie figured she was chatting with Paul, and he was giving her a hell of a time.

She pulled away from the conversation long enough to fangirl over Natalie's colourful unicorn slippers.

"Aw, unicorns! They're so pretty. I want them!" she gushed, blowing kisses at her feet as she left the room to continue her chat in the lounge.

Natalie laughed and turned to her closet. The slippers were a farewell gift from her brother. They were supposed to bring magic into her life. She was still waiting.

She sighed with despair as she scanned the row of inexpensive clothes hung in a neat line. Half of the outfits were corporate wear, and the other, a bunch of jeans and sweaters and some cute summer dresses. None were appropriate for an evening at the poshest hotel in town. If only a unicorn could dash into her closet right now and sprinkle some magic, her day would be so much better.

She looked through the two boutique bags from Aunty Viv she was yet to unpack. But nothing in there screamed 'gala'.

"I knew the god of closets wouldn't let me down!" she said when she found a black midi dress hidden at the back of her closet.

"All clear, we're good to go!"

Natalie turned around in time to see Emily plop down on the unmade bed, a relieved smile on her face.

"So, I take it Paul agreed?"

"Yep, and he's so grateful to you. Anyway, thanks again for doing this."

"What do you think?" Natalie asked, holding up the dress. If it passed Emily's high standards, she'd have one less thing to worry about.

"It's a firm NO!" Emily shook her head and crossed the room, searching through the closet, cursing the whole time as she pulled clothes from the hangers and threw them on the chair in front of the dressing table.

Unimpressed, she frowned at Natalie, "are you even a girl?"

She reached for her phone on the bed, running her fingers rapidly on the screen as she sent an SOS text.

"Aunty Viv will send a dress and a pair of shoes with the driver. Tell me I got your shoe size right. I told her you're a three?"

"Marry me; you know me so well!" She hugged Emily and planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek. "But, really, there's no need to go through all this trouble. I can make this dress work. It's a classic, and it's perfect for a gala."

"Perfect, my ass! Unless you're going to a funeral, I wouldn't—" Emily's voice trailed off when she saw the crestfallen look on Natalie's face.

"Nat. I'm so sorry. Me and my big mouth. I should have known. Gosh, I'm so insensitive sometimes."

"It's fine, don't worry about it. I'm okay," Natalie lied as she sat on the bed.

It wasn't fine.

And she wasn't okay.

The dress was buried so deep in her closet because of all the sad memories it brought back. The only time she ever wore it was at her mom's funeral seven years ago. But every time she looked at it, her heart ached like it was just yesterday.

She would never have taken it out. But from all her clothes, it was the most elegant and least used. Plus, it was the right colour. Suzanne, one of her close friends and Sparrow Beach's self-proclaimed style icon, always said one could never go wrong with black.

"The driver will be here in an hour. Let's get you ready!" Emily said as she clasped her hands excitedly.

Natalie reluctantly allowed her to work her magic. By the time they were done, she could hardly recognise herself.

"What do you think?" Emily asked, clearly satisfied with her handiwork.

Natalie, not so much.

She was stunned for words as she looked in the mirror, searching for traces of herself.

The girl staring back at her had the same tawny complexion, honey-brown eyes, pert nose and bow-shaped lips. They also shared the same curly black hair prone to frizzing even on the driest days.

But that's where the similarities ended.

This girl's hair was piled high in a chic updo to show off a delicate neck, and a few loose curls hung seductively at her nape. Her small face shone brilliantly from the highlighter drops Emily had generously applied to give her a fake glow. The smoky makeup around her eyes and the mauve lipstick topped off her look.

"So?" Emily asked.

"It's—Great?" Natalie said in a flat voice.

"Only great? Oh please, you're fucking killing it!" Emily gloated, leaning close, their eyes connecting in the mirror.

Natalie couldn't deny that the girl staring back at her was stunning. But she hated everything about her because she wasn't her.

"I've never pinned my hair up. I feel naked!" she said, reaching up to remove the pins and loosen her hair.

Emily quickly swatted her hand away. "You will not ruin my beautiful masterpiece. Besides, Paul loves updos!"

"Well, I don't!" Natalie tried to push back, but her friend wasn't having any of it.

"Don't be silly. It's just a few hours. You won't die."

Emily's phone pinged, and she quickly read the text and turned to her with a smile. "The driver is here. I'm running down to get your outfit."

Still bewildered by her reflection, Natalie nodded as she rummaged through her jewellery box for accessories. The only glitzy pieces she had were a pair of diamanté chandelier drops and an infinity pendant. The latter, a three-month anniversary gift from Casey she'd tried to return when they broke up. But her ex had refused to take it, explaining he'd bought it for her, and he couldn't exactly give it to his future wife.

Emily came back just as Natalie snapped the necklace in place.

"What is that?" she asked, a horrified look on her face as she pointed at the pendant. "It's cute and all, but Paul would die! Take it off!"

She shoved the boutique bag and shoe box in Natalie's hands, unclasped the necklace and threw it on the dressing table.

For the first time since Emily told her about Paul, Natalie hated him. He didn't sound like a nice person.

Pouting, she took out the dress from the bag and gasped at the champagne A-line evening gown. It was straight out of a fairytale. She'd never worn anything so beautiful.

"It's too lovely. I'm even scared to put it on," she whispered as Emily helped her slip into the dress and zipped her up.

"All done!" Emily said, turning her around to face the mirror.

Growing up, Natalie was always self-conscious about her hourglass figure and had tried to hide it under loose clothing. But tonight, she loved how the dress sat on her and accentuated her small waist and wide hips.

She twirled and curtsied in front of Emily, revelling in the smooth feel of the tulle lace fabric on her skin.

"My lady," Emily opened the shoe box, revealing a pair of matching shoes. "Your glass slippers."

Natalie giggled, stepping into the pair of Louboutins. "They must have cost an arm and a leg!"

"It's chump change for Paul."

Knowing the man paid for her outfit—from head to toe—made Natalie uncomfortable.

Not for the first time since she agreed to stand in for Emily, she wondered about the real cost of everything.

The more she learned about Paul, the more she felt like she was selling her soul, little by little, to a devil she hadn't even met.

And this wasn't even her first official Dreams assignment.

How much darker would things get once she started?