Free PleasureGames: A Games Novella by Jessica Clare Page A

famous designer. I believe the line is called 'postmodern ballerina'."
    I fingered one of the bows thoughtfully. We still had at least an hour before wardrobe call, and wardrobe call was never a speedy process. Dinner - and tonight's ball - was still many hours away. "What if...what if I wanted to make some alterations?"
    A look of excitement crossed the wardrobe assistant's face. "We can't tell you guys no. What did you have in mind?"
    "I was thinking more Grace Kelly, less Scarlett O'Hara with the ruffles," I told her. "How hard would it be to pull these off?" I pointed at the tulle, and the bows.
    "Not hard at all," she said. "Most of them are just locked with a quick-stitch. But if we do that, it's going to leave a few pinprick holes in the fabric." She held the skirt up, considering. "We'd need something to cover it."
    An idea hit me, and I nearly jumped at the thought. If I couldn't be creative with my glass, maybe I could be creative with wardrobe. "What if we went with a theme? Like...a sea theme? We could stitch tiny seashells on--"
    "Oooh," she said, eyes lighting up. "And there's a bit of soft blue netting I've been holding onto that would look great draped over the bustle."
    Dear lord, there was a bustle? "Can we ditch the sleeves entirely?"
    "Hell yeah we can." She grabbed the dress.
    We got to work.

9
    Chapter Seven
    " I feel like I'm in a battle to win Juno back...and I'm losing it. I just don't know what to do." -- Heathcliff Forester, the Billionaire Bachelor, Episode 4 Interview

    I slipped out of wardrobe before anyone else arrived, and went straight over to hair and makeup. Since Leona was not back, I took the reins. "I want a ponytail," I told them. "Just a simple blowout and then pony me up. Think simple."
    Funnily enough, with my instructions, my hair looked fabulous. My hair had been smoothed into a long, silky ponytail draping from the crown of my head. My makeup was simple - light and nude on everything but heavy on the lashes. The resulting look was clean and fresh, and went well with my newly transformed dress.
    The bows - and sleeves - were gone from my gown. The top had turned into a halter with a low back and a scooped neck, and looked fabulous. The skirt had been toned down from a tulle explosion into a soft elegant flow of silk dotted with starfish and tiny shells retrieved from the gift shop. Bustled down the back of it was the pale blue netting and more shells. It looked unique and elegant and island-ish and every time I looked in the mirror, it reminded me of the beach.
    Part of me kinda hoped it reminded Heathcliff of the beach, too. If nothing else, to throw his fickle words in his face.
    I wandered the hotel while I waited for time to pass. I couldn't sit in my dress lest I crush the masterwork we'd created. I didn't want to go back to the room I shared with Leona, because I didn't want to hear about how wonderful her date with Heathcliff was. I didn't want to see her glowing with happiness, because it made me feel...odd. I'd just concentrate on looking stellar tonight and make Heathcliff stew. Let him sweat for a change.
    I deliberately showed up late for the ball. I guess I was in the mood to make everyone sweat. But for some reason, taking control of my own hair and wardrobe had calmed me. I felt...more like me. More in control of the situation. Like I could handle anything. I just gave the production assistants a calm look as they ushered me into the room.
    The other five women were already there, dressed in their gowns. All eyes turned toward me as I walked in, and as I did, several of the other contestants frowned. I kept the smile on my face, though it was a little uncomfortable to be under so much scrutiny. The dresses were...well, they were monotone. That was the kindest thing I could say about them. It was like the designer had concepts and ideas, but because the show had insisted on the whole color scheme thing, any sort of fashion sense was lost. That was probably why