Page 17 (1/2)

Chapter 1

Scarlett

Eight years ago

“Pretty is the beginning Perfection is the goal,” I whisper to ery Center located on the Las Vegas Strip It’s a hot su 106 degrees I lookI plan to have a consultation on my nose and my lips today

The city of sin is what most people call it, but really, it’s the city of sin and beauty, and to make it here or find someone worthy, Mother always said, “You usto I’m only twenty-two, and I don’t think I look that bad I’s I could… fix up, if you will

I have piercing blue eyes that most people co for my face, but Mother points out the tip and how it curves up a bit too e and voluptuous My blonde hair is th, recently touched up at the roots, like I do every six weeks I don’t dare go past the scheduled ti up with her ageless beauty isn’t so a Wells woman would do

I would like to say I knohere this all comes from—this deep-seated need to chase outer perfection, but Mother says it’s a choice, not a burden Maybe her parents talked down to her? I don’t know;to remember

Maybe ical father? Who knows He walked out the nant Or race Has this created heavy tension and strain in my relationship with my mother? Yes But that wouldn’tfroas Strip

Clireeted with instant heat, and not the huht to your face Adjusting rab the same brand purse and look myself over in the reflection of the car ent with a white bodycon dress and nude Louboutins

I noticeat , and I ignore the catcalls I don’t want attention frooals that live outside Mother’s deht perfection I want to go to school, earn a degree in business, maybe own hts a week at Coyote Ugly, and I stash away those tips to hopefully get through business school without my mother’s help

Mother would never let er; men do it for them But that’s not me I’et a life of my own Be free from this idea that I’m not allowed to step out of the squeaky-clean bubble Linette Wells created for me—better yet, forced me to climb into