Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

I was still shaking when I entered my bedroom after my first encounter with
Cassio. He had been intense and cold, not to mention dominant. Ordering me to
change my wardrobe? How dare he?
“There you are! Where have you been?” Mom asked, ushering me toward
my walk-in closet. “We need to get you ready. For God’s sake, Giulia, what are
you wearing?”
She tugged at my clothes until I started undressing, still in a trance. Mom
gave me a curious look. “What’s with you?”
“Nothing,” I said quietly.
Mom turned to the selection of dresses she must have spread out on the
bench before I’d arrived. “I can’t believe you don’t own a single decent dress.”
I’d always avoided going to official events because I hated the insincere
schmoozing and backstabbing attitude of those who attended them. “What’s
wrong with the dresses I own?”
Mom had chosen the three least quirky dresses from my collection. All of
them were in my favorite retro Audrey Hepburn style. Mom picked up a skyblue
dress with white dots. “Don’t you have anything solid-colored?”
“No,” I said. Had she never paid attention to my clothes?
I had Dad to thank for the freedom to wear what I liked. While he was
conservative, he had trouble saying no to me. Mom had no choice but to bow to
his command.
Mom sighed then handed the blue dress to me. “This matches your eyes.
Let’s hope Cassio isn’t put off by the ridiculous style.”
I put the dress on without a word, remembering Cassio’s words about my
clothes and my bangs.
“Put on makeup, Giulia. You need to look older.”