Page 96 of Bitter Heat

“Who’s with Roth?”

“The others.”

“How many of you are there?”

“As many as he needs.”

She sat back with a shake of her head and checked her messages. Her voicemail was completely full, and she left it that way. She texted Colette who said she was resting and not feeling great. Her social media was out of control, but she did her best to respond to messages and thank the readers who were enjoying her work as Mo pulled up to the curb in front of Black Jade. She took Johan’s hand and stepped onto the sidewalk as she finished her correspondence. She reached for the door handle and pulled. Nothing happened. She looked up from her phone and saw that the store was dark. What the hell? She was about to step back when she saw movement inside. Dai blitzed toward her. Today, she was dressed in black silk overalls and a skintight white long sleeve with five strands of pearls around her neck. Dai threw the door open, grabbed her arm, and towed her through the dark shop.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“What’s going on,” Dai growled as she shoved her onto the pedestal in the dressing area, “is you’re giving me mere weeks to make you bride-ready.”

“But why’s the shop closed?” she asked as Dai’s assistant closed off the dressing room from the rest of the shop and began to undress her.

“The shop’s closed because I don’t want to be distracted,” Dai said curtly. “Now, let’s see if this fits.”

Jasmine stared at the beautiful dress the assistants were holding so she could climb into it. “I wasn’t asking for this dress in particular. I was just wondering—”

“Just shut up and get in,” Dai ordered.

She gave her friend a quelling glance but did as she was told. She braced her hands on the women’s shoulders, stepped into the dress, and sucked in a breath as they pulled it up. Dai stood in front of her, hands pressed together in prayer as she watched. Carefully, Jasmine slipped her arms into the delicate lace sleeves and watched Dai’s face as the assistants did up the back and then backed away.

Dai urged her back onto the pedestal and then walked around her. Jasmine looked at her reflection and felt her stomach ice over. The gown had been breathtaking on the mannequin, but on a living body, the dress came to life. Rhinestones shimmered as she sucked in a breath. The intricate lace pattern on the long sleeves and high neck made her look regal and elegant. The tulle skirt fell around her in soft waves and… it was all wrong.

“This isn’t the right dress,” she said flatly.

“But it’s perfect,” one of the assistants said.

She shook her head and tried to step off the pedestal, but Dai shoved her back onto it.

“This isn’t it, Dai!”

This dress was special. It was made with love and care and so beautiful, she couldn’t bear to look at it. This dress was what little girl’s dreams were made of. It would be disrespectful to steal someone’s dream to promote a business marriage with a time limit on it.

“This dress is too much. I need something simple and—”

“You’re kidding me, right?” Dai snapped her fingers. “You’re a Hennessy, and he’s the guy from the other side of the tracks who made it big in the business world. You give up everything for him, divorce him for some reason I’d like to know, and then you magically get back together? This dress screams fairy tale, and that’s what you’re living, biotch.”

“It’s too small for me.”

Dai pulled a measuring tape out of her pocket. “It’s snug around the bust and can be taken in at the waist. I can fix that.”

“I want to try on something else.”

“When it’s right, it’s right. The dress picks the princess, Ms. Jasmine. You ever heard that one?”

She snorted. “No.”

“Well, now you have.”

Her phone rang, and she waved to the assistants. “Can someone please get that? I’ve been waiting for a call.”

Coming to Dai was a mistake. Dai would force her to walk down the aisle in what she saw fit, and nothing would dissuade her.

When the assistant brought the phone to her, she saw Ariana’s name. She answered with, “Ariana, is it an emergency?”

“Um, no, I was just—” Ariana began when the phone was snatched from her.

---