Chapter 4 - The Transformation
The next afternoon, the third floor of the Costello mansion was transformed into an elite fashion atelier.
Victor had cleared out his entire schedule. Tailors, makeup artists, and jewelers brought in racks of haute couture gowns and velvet display cases containing millions of dollars in heirloom diamonds.
Sadi stood in front of a floor-to-ceiling gilded mirror, staring at a stranger.
The tired, stained apron was gone. In its place was a custom-fitted midnight-blue velvet gown with a soft off-the-shoulder neckline that accentuated her collarbones. Her long dark hair had been styled into elegant waves, and delicate makeup hid the dark circles under her eyes.
On her hands, white silk gloves covered her medical bandages, stretching up past her elbows.
The door opened, and Victor stepped inside.
He was dressed in a pristine black tuxedo, his dark hair combed back, looking every inch the king of the underworld. But when his eyes fell on Sadi, he stopped dead in his tracks. The cold, impenetrable mask he wore for the world cracked completely.
"Sadi..." he breathed, walking toward her with uncharacteristic stillness.
Sadi turned around nervously, adjusting the hem of her gown. "Is it too much? I'm not used to... any of this."
Victor didn't answer right away. He reached into a velvet box he was holding, pulling out a heavy platinum necklace encrusted with brilliant sapphires and diamonds—the legendary Costello crest piece.
He stepped behind her, pushing her soft hair over one shoulder. His large fingers brushed against the sensitive skin of her neck, sending a shiver cascading down her spine. He clasped the heavy necklace around her throat, his hands resting gently on her shoulders as he looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"You look like a queen," Victor whispered into her ear, his deep voice sending a warm pulse straight to her core.
Sadi looked up at their reflection—the powerful, dangerous crime lord standing fiercely behind the quiet maid he had elevated to his side.
"They're going to talk," Sadi warned softly. "Your associates. Mick O'Shea's people. They'll say I'm just a servant girl you took pity on."
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Victor turned her around by her waist, bringing her body flush against his. His hand slid up to cup her neck, his dark eyes locking onto hers with absolute conviction.
"Let them talk," Victor growled softly. "Tonight, they learn that touching a hair on your head is a declaration of war against the entire Costello empire."
