Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Well,” Aunt Min gestured, and the woman with the blend of black and Chinese features stepped forward. “This is Amanda Allen. She is the designer of all of these outfits and I am hoping you consider having her be your main stylist for East events.”
“Oh my God. You’re an incredible designer.” I held out my hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Amanda shook it. “I’m just excited. This a huge opportunity for me.”
Is it? Well. . .good.
“Amanda group up in the East. She’s been struggling as a designer here, but. . .with your wearing her clothes that will change.” Aunt Min gave me a sad smile. “In the hopes of not being. . .I don’t know racist or well. . .look. . .we are trying to. . .be inclusive. . .progressive.”
I gazed at the other women. “This is why you chose sisters to be my ladies-in-waiting?”
“Yes, Monique.” Aunt Suzi uncrossed her legs and slowly stood up. “We are hoping that this is not taken in a way that is disrespectful. If you want, we can give you the typical ladies-in-waiting.”
“No way. I think it’s dope. Plus, sisters getting jobs will never be disrespectful to me.” I winked at them.
The women grinned.
I looked at Aunt Suzi. “Do they get paid well?”
“50k a year.” Aunt Min went through the rack. “If they get sick, the Palace medical staff tends to them. They also eat and live in the Palace which allows them to save a lot of that money.”
“What are their off days?”
“That’s up to you, Monique.”
I pointed at them. “You’re definitely getting off days.”
They grinned again.
“Well. . .I’m just glad you are happy.” Aunt Suzi’s smile widened. “Chen would have just assigned the usual. Our nephews don’t understand the delicate matter of this new transition. Therefore, Monique. . .at times you may have to. . .educate us on things if we do happen to be unknowingly insulting in some way.”
“I’ve got you.”
Aunt Min pulled out a designer suit that almost made me gasp. “This is just stunning.”
I further checked it out.
It was a work of art—deep rich blue with embroidered sky blue and pink flowers on the cuffs and collar. Every golden threaded stitch and seam was perfectly placed.
Plus, the cut was elegant and flattering.
I glanced at Amanda. “You really did that.”
She chuckled. “Thank you, Monique.”
“I’ll wear this for sure.” I took the suit.
“I'm so glad you love it.” Amanda beamed with joy.
Aunt Suzi clasped her hands together, her face brightening. “You are going to dazzle on your first official day.”
Aunt Min, on the other hand, was already thumbing through shoes that matched the suit. “Now to complete the look. . .heels for the camera but when we are taking the secret passages, you’ll have comfy flats. That’s what the young kids call a Palace hack.”
I quirked my brows. “Secret passageways?”
“They’re all over the palace.” Aunt Suzi strolled over to the empty wall where Chanel’s paintings had been and just stared at the blank space. “While our brother Leo loved the cameras, palace politics, and all the attention, Jing was not the same. Therefore, he had secret passageways built within the walls so she could get around under the press and other’s noses.”
“Thank God. I really love that.” I became less tense. “Yesterday, Lei and I had to walk through a bunch of press—”
“Oh. We all know that, dear.” Aunt Suzi left the empty wall and headed back. “Your face has been all over the news and newspapers in the East.”
My ladies-in-waiting exchanged awkward glances.
I blinked. “Say what now?”
“Yes. You are the only thing everyone in the East is talking about now. Although many are probably whispering behind closed doors.” Aunt Min gave a pair of blue heels to one of my ladies-in-waiting. “Lei was too eager to show you off and just flung you into the press, not understanding that there are traditional steps to this.”
Aunt Suzi let out a long breath. “Min, he’s a boy in love. We cannot fault him.”
“People died last night because of his foolishness—”
“Did they not deserve to die?”
“Not the children.”
I stiffened. “What?”
They turned to me.
I trembled. “Who died? And why? What’s going on?”
Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi exchanged a glance then something unspoken passed between them.
It was Aunt Suzi who finally broke the silence. “The East can be close-minded. Some call it traditions. I would say just plain old ignorance.”
Aunt Min checked her watch and then gestured at my ladies-in-waiting. “Get the shower ready, please. We need her dressed and ready to go soon. I fear we don’t have much time.”
“Hold up.” I swallowed. “Who died?”
“Two influencers said some rather racist things online about you and well. . .our brother didn’t like it.”
My bottom lip quivered. “Leo killed them?”
“And their families.”
My breath hitched.
Aunt Min shrugged. “The older ones in the East remember my brother. The youth. . .well. . .they are learning.”