Member-only story
Look What You Made Me Do
A Story Inspired by Taylor Swift Songs (Part the Second)
New Year’s Day
“Are you ready for it?”
Anastasia Orlova let her eyes slide over to the gentleman across the table. He had no name — that was commonplace with jobs like these — but she allowed herself to pretend that this was an ordinary meeting over dinner in a fancy restaurant. No one paid her any mind: she was just a pretty face adorned with just the right make-up and a curvy body encased in a designer dress.
“Let me guess,” she purred, her fingertips gliding along his hand. “You have a gift for me?”
The man’s eyes gleamed in the dim light. “You learn quickly,” he said, his voice approving. She wished she could have thrown the glass of wine in his face. The impulse drained away as he stood up and took a slim box from a pocket in his suit coat. Before she could even perfect her expression, he lifted the lid to reveal a gold necklace encrusted with diamonds. Her heart seemed to still in her chest. This wasn’t a part of the plan.
“May I?” he asked, and she nodded, her throat dry.
“Gorgeous,” the man murmured as he clasped the necklace. It felt like a choker meant for a mangy dog rather than a gift from an admirer.
