EXCOLO

I turn from the folding I've busied myself with and smile. "I think that I'm a genius, obviously." I move over to where she's standing and do a quick walk around, just to make sure everything fits properly. And it does, of course. "You want to make an impression, this is how you do it."

We're not done yet, though, not nearly. I motion for her to wait as I collect a pair of sandals, a knitted shoulder shrug, and a hair tie. When I return, I pull her over to the mirrors. There's no point in all of this if she can't see herself.

"You see, every good outfit has at least one secret weapon," I say, sweeping her hair from her shoulders and tying it to one side. "This is yours. The legs, everyone will notice, you have nice legs. But what you need to remember is just here-" I touch the curve of her neck just slightly, smiling at her in the mirror. "This is grace and beauty and sex rolled into one, without ever having to show much of anything at all."

I slip the shrug around her shoulders at that and laugh. "Everyone always forgets that. It's the small and subtle things that get the attention."