The Sweetest Temptation
Chapter 174: Date night

Chapter 174: Date night

Stella and Beatrix stood in front of Beatrix’s closet, sifting through hangers of clothing. Beatrix was nervous about her upcoming date with Rhys, and she wanted to make sure she looked her best.

Stella held up a bright red dress. "What about this one?" she asked, eyeing Beatrix’s reaction.

Beatrix looked at the dress skeptically. "I don’t know," she said. "It’s a little too bold, don’t you think?"

Stella nodded in understanding. "Okay, let’s try something else," she said. She scanned the closet again before pulling out a sleek black dress. "How about this one?"

Beatrix held up the dress to her body and looked in the mirror. "Hmm, it’s nice," she said. "But maybe a little too formal for a casual dinner date."

Stella nodded again. "I see your point," she said. "Let’s keep looking."

They continued to shuffle through the clothes until Beatrix finally pulled out a simple white dress. Stella’s eyes lit up. "That’s perfect!" she exclaimed.

Beatrix looked at the dress, still unsure. "Do you really think so?" she asked.

Stella nodded emphatically. "Yes, it’s elegant and understated. It’ll be perfect for your date."

Beatrix took a deep breath and tried on the dress. When she looked in the mirror, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. The dress fit her perfectly, and she felt confident and beautiful.

"Thank you, Stella," she said, giving her friend a grateful smile. "I don’t know what I would do without you."

Stella returned the smile. "Anytime," she said. "Now, let’s find the perfect shoes and accessories to complete the look." And with that, they returned to the closet, excited to continue the hunt for the perfect outfit.

Stella walked over to Beatrix’s shoe rack and pulled out a pair of strappy black heels. "These will look great with the dress," she said, handing them to Beatrix.

Beatrix slipped on the shoes and twirled around in front of the mirror. "I feel amazing," she said, a smile spreading across her face.

Stella grinned, happy to see her friend feeling confident and beautiful. "You look amazing," she said. "Now let’s add some jewelry."

Stella rummaged through Beatrix’s jewelry box and found a pair of silver hoop earrings and a matching necklace. She handed them to Beatrix, who put them on and looked in the mirror once more.

"Perfect," Stella said, beaming. "Rhys won’t know what hit him."

Beatrix laughed, feeling grateful for her friend’s help. She knew she would never have been able to put together such a stunning outfit without Stella’s expertise.

"Okay, let’s move on to your hair and makeup," Stella said, clapping her hands together excitedly.

Beatrix followed her friend to the bathroom, where Stella began to work her magic. She pulled out her makeup bag and started applying foundation to Beatrix’s face, blending it in perfectly. She added some blush to her cheeks and a hint of highlighter to give her a dewy glow.

Next, she moved onto Beatrix’s eyes, using a neutral eyeshadow palette to create a subtle but alluring look. She added a touch of eyeliner and mascara to define Beatrix’s lashes.

As Stella worked, Beatrix watched in amazement. She had never been great with makeup and had always admired how effortlessly Stella could create a stunning look.

"Okay, now for the finishing touch," Stella said, picking up a curling iron. She began to curl Beatrix’s hair, adding soft waves that framed her face.

When she was finished, Beatrix looked in the mirror and couldn’t believe how beautiful she looked. She had never felt so confident and ready for a date.

"Thank you so much, Stella," she said, giving her friend a hug. "You’re the best."

Stella smiled, feeling happy to have been able to help. "Just remember to be yourself," she said. "Rhys is going to love you no matter what you wear or how your hair and makeup look."

As they were finishing up, there was a knock at the door. Beatrix’s heart skipped a beat - it must be Matteo, coming to pick her up for the date. She felt a sudden rush of nerves and excitement.

Stella walked over to the door and opened it, revealing Matteo standing on the other side. He was dressed in a suit and tie, looking dapper and polished.

"Hey there," he said, giving Stella a warm smile. "Is Beatrix ready?"

Stella nodded and stepped aside, allowing Matteo to enter the apartment. As he walked past her, she couldn’t help but notice the tension between them. He cleared his throat and forced a smile at Beatrix.

"Hey, Beatrix," Matteo said, walking into her bedroom. "You look great."

Beatrix blushed, feeling a flutter in her stomach at the sight of him. "Thank you," she said, feeling a bit shy.

Matteo looked her up and down, taking in her outfit and hair. "Rhys is a lucky guy," he said with a smirk.

Stella rolled her eyes, feeling annoyed by his comment.

"Well at least he knows what he wants." Stella muttered underneath her breath but they all heard her.

Matteo glanced at her and she met his intense gaze, challenging him silently.

"Well, we should probably get going," Matteo said, breaking the awkward silence. "We don’t want to be late."

Beatrix nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness as she followed Matteo out of the apartment. She couldn’t wait to see Rhys, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with Matteo and Stella.

He turned back to Beatrix. "Are you ready?"

Beatrix nodded, feeling a rush of excitement and nerves. She grabbed her purse and followed Matteo out of the room, giving Stella a grateful smile as they left.

As they walked down the street, Beatrix couldn’t help but feel curious about the tension between her brother and Stella. They had always been close, but lately, something seemed to be off between them. She decided to ask Matteo about it.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" she said, looking up at him.

"Sure, what’s up?" he replied, glancing down at her.

"What’s going on between you and Stella?" Beatrix asked, her voice soft.

Matteo’s expression tightened. "What do you mean?" he asked, his tone defensive.

"I don’t know," Beatrix said, feeling a bit nervous. "It just seems like there’s something going on. You guys have been acting weird around each other."

Matteo sighed, his shoulders slumping. "It’s nothing," he said, his voice low. "Just some work-related stuff. We’ll work it out."

Beatrix looked at him skeptically but didn’t press the issue. She didn’t want to make things more awkward between them.