Make Over

Everything happened like a whirlwind.

Phil had taken over the hold on her wrist the moment they stepped through the door. While she got brought to a room holding three young pretty ladies, only God knew where Damien retreated to.

She was given no time to question anything. One moved her around like she was some doll. Another took measurements. Another took notes. They fitted her with the kind of elegant dress that Trinity would never dream of trying on. Besides the cost of it, it looked too prim and proper and classy for her taste. The ladies noticed the wrinkle of her nose. However, they still called Phil in to check. Clearly, his opinion mattered, not Trinity’s.

Phil gave a curt nod.

After gaining his approval, two ladies moved on to do her hair and makeup. The last one picked out a pair of fluffy indoor slippers which colour matched her ebony dress. Phil lounged on the armchair behind her. Trinity did not dare to meet the gazes of the ladies. She could tell their unhappiness from the little extra strength they put into their arms. Having expected this, she decided to keep mum about it. Besides, it did not hurt that bad.

So, she looked around the room through the mirror of the dresser she was facing. The first thing that struck her was that it was huge. If she included the balcony that she remembered seeing on the way in, the room was probably the size of her family’s apartment. Everything was coloured in shades of white and pink, like a stereotypical princess’ room. /Was it always this way? Waiting for a girl to enter his life?/

Finally, her gaze drifted to Phil. The way he sat and his little mannerisms seemed different from how he was in the van. The air of arrogance resembled how he was in her apartment earlier in the day. Before she could wonder much about it, the ladies presented her to Phil again.

She had light makeup on and a simple hairdo. Phil nodded his approval again then gestured for them to leave. The ladies did a little curtsy then exited the room. Damien was suddenly at the door, ready to walk the ladies out. Trinity made eye contact with him and he gave a little smirk. Feeling insulted, she turned to check herself out in the mirror. /Who’s that? Is that me? What in the world?/

“Watch it! If you touch me inappropriately, I’ll report you to Mr Wu!” One of the ladies snapped in the corridor.

Trinity could only see Damien. His hand was respectfully extended, clearly to show them the way out. Despite her accusation, his smile did not waver. However, she could tell that the look in his eyes changed.

“What’s the matter?” Phil said upon reaching the scene.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Your butler just got a little too close for comfort. I’m the one that freaked out.” She batted her eyelashes coquettishly, earning a disgusted look from Trinity.

“Oh but you might want to make sure that he…” She gave Damien a meaningful glance. “Doesn’t get too desperate. He might become hard to control. Have a good day, Mr Wu.” The ladies curtseyed again before taking their leave.

Trinity could easily imagine what their conversation was about from the smiles on their faces and the little nudges they gave each other on the way out. Irate bubbled up and words flew out of her mouth, “He was obviously just showing you the way.”

The three ladies stopped and turned to face her. Damien took a step back, so Phil did as well. The ladies briefly glanced at Phil then flashed a sweet smile. “Oh, darling, what do you know? Before we prettied you up, you were just a wallflower. Easily overlooked. No wonder you can stay so innocent. That won’t do, how is someone as innocent as you going to help Mr Wu with his ventures?”

“You shouldn’t accuse people because of how they look. You wouldn’t have minded a little touch if it was someone handsome, would you?”

She gasped. “You insult me. But you just proved my point.”

She was about to turn and leave, but Trinity took a step forward. “Apologise to him!”

“Ha!” The lady laughed. “Stop disgracing yourself in front of Mr Wu, little girl. They’re servants.” She looked pointedly at Phil before walking off with a little sway of her hips.

“You-!” Trinity was all ready to beat her up but her wrist got caught in a firm hold.

“What’s your problem?!” She yelled as Damien dragged her back into the princessy room. Phil had already left to send the guests out. Damien shut the door then turned to face the fuming girl.

“Seriously! Why do you always stay so silent when people say things like that to you? How?!” Trinity flailed her arms around wildly. However, he simply looked at her with raised eyebrows. Suddenly feeling dumb, her anger dissipated into thin air.

“I know now. You’re not a sadist. You must be masochistic.” She nodded as if agreeing with herself.

Damien scoffed. “I’d identify more with being the sadist.”

“Oh really? Sure doesn’t look like it.”

“Because you don’t get to see the aftermath.” He said under his breath while settling down into the armchair that Phil was in earlier. Trinity could not help but note how he looked a lot more imposing than Phil did.

“I what?”

“Anyway, please don’t be so uppity and ready to fight when you meet my family later.”

Trinity paused for a moment to glare at him for not answering her question. “Why would I?”

He shrugged. “Because you’re wild like a lioness?”

Trinity clenched her jaw and took a deep breath in. She wanted to argue but found that she could not refute him. “Humph.” She sat down on the edge of the bed with her back to him. The mattress sank under her weight and instantly grabbed her attention. Her eyes grew wide. /Oh my gosh, it’s so fluffy!/

Damien raised his eyebrow at Trinity’s poor attempt to be discreet about bouncing on the bed. /What an idiot./ However, a small smile graced his lips.

The door opened again and Phil walked in. “They hungered for my touches.” He reported as if they had been in the middle of a conversation.

Damien nodded. “Let’s get down to business.” He stood up and brought Trinity around the mansion with Phil a step behind her. Each bedroom had been adapted for a specific purpose. One to game on the computer, one to watch movies, one for arcade entertainment, and many more. She looked at Damien, then at Phil, and doubted that the rooms were ever used.

“Who maintains all these?” She asked at the end of the house tour.

“A team of house cleaners comes once a week. During which, we’ll be out elsewhere.”

“Not going to play pretend?”

“... I’d have to keep finding new cleaners. It’d be too much of a hassle. Besides, I like the standard of this team. Now, for your duties as my wife-” Damien paused when he caught her disgusted expression. “Don’t worry, we won’t do anything intimate, which should be obvious given how we'll be sleeping in different rooms. BUT, we have to put on a believable act in front of others. You know I’m not in the public eye so the only ones you’ll meet are close and important contacts. The only one who knows of this paid marriage is Phil. Do you understand the importance of this?”

Trinity could feel the weight of his warning. She held his gaze and nodded. “No messing up.” She reaffirmed.

“Good. In return, all your family’s expenses will be covered by me till they die. Deal?”

At the reminder of her family and all that had happened, Trinity’s shoulders sagged and the light in her eyes died a little again. As much as she disliked this, she knew that her family would be much happier with someone who could fund whatever they needed and wanted to get. “Deal.” She said softly.

“Is there something you’re not satisfied with? What else should I throw into the deal?” He frowned.

“Unless you can throw in my freedom, I’ll never be satisfied.” She said while looking at him pointedly.

“... Why don’t you refuse it then? For your family? Do you know that your sister… Natalie?”

Phil nodded.

“She was ready to throw you under the bus because of the nasty rumours about me. When Phil showed his face this morning, she offered herself up, sold herself hard, and spoke badly of you. Why’s it worth it to do this for your family?”

A long silence dragged out between them. “Precisely because they’re family.” She whispered so softly that they almost could not hear her.

“What about you? Why didn’t you accept Natalie? Or those other girls enamoured by your fake image?”

“I told you. I’m a sadist.” His voice went mysteriously deep and low.

Trinity frowned deeply, still not understanding what he meant by being a sadist. Before she could ask, the doorbell chimed and echoed through the corridors of the mansion.

“It’s time. Chin up.” Damien ordered.

“Wait. Wait. Already? It’s- It’s still 4.30pm!”

“Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that dinner’s at 5.”

“That early?!”

“... I’m sure that’s normal.”

Again, Trinity looked at Phil to confirm and Phil simply nodded with innocent eyes.