Chapter 49

**Bella-Rose POV**

After torturing myself for 5 long hours yesterday, I thought Amanda would be satisfied enough to leave me alone. Alas, no such luck.

Today is the day of the ball. The day I have to pretend as if I belong in an office environment and I totally know what I'm doing. Though I feel like an imposter inside, I shall smile and wave. Sigh.

"Remind me again why am I doing this?" I asked Amanda as she pulled the blanket, I was snuggled in.
I skipped my new ritual today. I haven't replied or seen the mailbox since I mailed James about the deeds on the ball.

Subconsciously I'm avoiding him for nothing other than fearing his wrath. James's anger is kinda scary.

The small glimpse he showed me left me in puddles. I don't know what I will do if I have to full-on face it in its entirety.

"Because you need a dose of reality," Amanda said as she tugged the blanket harder, I was struggling to hold on to.

"If you ask me, Amanda, you are taking this new role of fairy godmother a tad bit too far," I grumbled as I reluctantly let go of the blanket.

"You would thank me later when you got the taste of what life has to offer," Amanda said proudly of herself.

"We will see about that", I muttered under my breath.

She then took me to the torturing chamber called spa where they tried their utmost to scrub me raw. I felt like a dead chicken that has been plucked and marinated in edible oil. Only this was some kind of scented oil.

Thank god they left out the part of rolling me on the floor and deep-frying. Though the sauna came somewhat close to steaming.

Later she took me to trim my hair. She did her best to persuade me to change the hair color, but I put my foot down. Cutting it fine, adding highlights is somewhat ok. But changing color? Nope. Not gonna happen. And yes, it may have something to do with James calling me Little red.

Seeing Amanda in this role makes me scared though. I'm dying of anticipation when the other shoe is going to drop. And it dropped once we entered Sarah's home when Amanda said oh so casually while checking her nails,

"Did I forget to mention your date?"

"What date?" I was confused and not paying attention to her as I opened the front door.

"The date who is taking you to the ball," Amanda dropped the bomb unceremoniously.

When what she said pierced my thick head, I gave her a horrified look at her suggestion "You never mentioned any date, Amanda. I thought I was going in your place."

"Well, you are. But who would go to a ball alone? You need someone to escort you," she said over her shoulder as she dumped the bags on the couch.

"Umm...I can. And I really don't mind going alone. In fact, I prefer it," and James would too. I mentally cringed imagining his response. Better not to mention him about the date.

"Nope. Not gonna happen. Douglas is going to escort you to the ball," Amanda fervently said.

"Do you know anything about this?" I turned to Sarah who was walking behind me and asked.

"Hearing for the first time," she said nonchalantly.

"You knew about James, Amanda. You knew how serious we are. Yet you planned this? You apologized! Is this your way of rectifying?" I asked as frustration mounted inside me.

"Relax Bells. It's not a big deal. You are making a mountain of nothing. He is going to escort you, that's it. Once there, you can get glued to the wall for all he cares. It would be rude to go single in such events. People stare at those who arrive single"

"Really?" I was unsure if it's true. Who knows? There must be some tradition in such events.

"Have I ever lied to you?" Amanda asked innocently, batting her eyelashes expertly. If I try that I might harm my eyelid somehow.

"Always," Sarah said as she looked on the shelves for something to eat. Her crush on Scott is becoming so obsessive she is starting to acquire his characteristics.

"A million times," I said in a deadpan tone.

"Have I ever misled you?" Amanda batted her eyelashes making it look as if she has an eye problem

"Yup," I replied with more pronounciation on 'p'

"Happened that too," Sarah shot back not looking at either of us.

"Uhh...I'm doing this for your own good. Now shut up and go get ready. He will be here in an hour," Amanda said in who-is-the-boss here attitude. Used to her attitude, I ignored her tone.

"An hour! Are you nuts! What will he do by getting that soon?" I asked as I checked my watch.

"Why? To get to know you better," Amanda said as if it should be obvious to me. Of course, it should have been. First, the apology, then the dress and body treatment, I should have smelled the rat streets away.

"Amanda, why are you doing this? If James finds out then it would be a big huge mess and it will be your fault"

"I'm just sending you on a ball, not a honeymoon. Chill out! You getting scared thinking about the consequences should be a huge red flag in a relationship. I want you to experience how going out with a live human male feels like. Then maybe you will realize what you are missing out on."

"I could easily go with James if I want to. It was my decision not to meet him before. How would he react if he knows I went out with someone else? I'm not scared of him Amanda; I'm scared of hurting him. There is a difference."

"It's really not that big of a deal, Bells," Amanda raised her hands as if I'm exaggerating the situation.

"Then come with us"

Sarah spits out the water she is drinking into the glass again. Yuck.

"No, I won't. I can't. Do you know how long it takes to make this," she pointed at her body, "into a masterpiece?"

"Well, I too am not ready yet"

"Ya... but you can get ready in ten minutes whereas I... have to do primping, makeup, hair, it's a lot of work. And where will I get the dress now?"

"You have a wardrobe full of them"

"I couldn't wear an old one. What will people think!"

"Either you are wearing one of yours or I'm not going to the ball at all"

"Are you serious?"

"Dead"

After that things happened in speed motion. Amanda, albeit reluctant, was able to manage to acquire a dress. And we got ready in record time.

I looked into the mirror unable to believe the finished image I portrayed. I lifted my hand to touch the mirror to check whether it is really me. And yes, it is me. I never believed I could be beautiful, yet looking at my image, I could believe I'm.

I wore an off-shoulder A-line scoop neck floor wine red length evening mermaid dress which is a snug fit and covers up my breasts but does so without making it look awkward or messy. In fact, it accentuates the slight cleavage and makes people let you notice twice.

My hands are covered with tight-fit lace sleeves and my back...well, it is backless. My back is scooped low...way lower than I'm comfortable showing but I like how it compliments my figure. I have a slit at my right side giving a peek at my leg. And when I turn, I can clearly see why they define the ass as heart-shaped.

My hair is in thick curls that I let loose with the front tucked to the sides. However, a few have escaped framing my face nicely. I'm totally rocking it. My grey eyes shone like pebbles with the excitement I feel.
If I ever want to meet James I want to be in this dress, looking my best. I curbed the urge to click a selfie and send a mail to him. I don't want to add fuel to the fire. But what's the harm in taking a photo? I quickly took selfies in different poses and tucked my phone back.

I entered the living room just as Amanda came out of the only other room. She too wore a nice peacock green evening gown with two slits that are far wider and give not just a peek but the whole show at a certain angle.

"Oh my god! What about the masks? We are going to masquerade and we forgot about the masks!" I said as I hit my head at my forgetfulness.

"That, I got it covered," said Sarah as she came with two masks.

She gave me a red mask that covers only my eyes and nose and leaves my red lips bare. It has a nice addition of feathers at the side to give some character to it. I quickly tied the mask securing it in position as the doorbell rang.

"Douglas is here," Amanda clapped her hands in excitement.

"Yay," I mocked her excitement.

Time to get this show on the road. You can do this Bella. What's the big deal? You can enjoy it for a night, I told myself as the door opened and a scrawny-looking beanpole came into my view.

This... this creature...is Amanda's idea of living life? Then I'm better being dead. Or rather Amanda would wish that once I got out of this situation.