Timothy handed me the mug and began to fill his own “it’s unlike you” he said carefully, bringing his mug to his lips and studying me “you’ve always been so cautious when it came to dating women and then you meet this Flair and it’s like you’ve thrown all caution out the window. It’s like she has you under a spell” he said puzzled “I mean, don’t get me wrong, she’s gorgeous” he added and a spurt of jealousy shot through me “but you act as though she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Maybe, because to me, she was. I sipped at my coffee “I don’t know how to explain it Timothy” I said evenly “because I don’t quite understand it myself. There’s something about her. A vulnerability that makes me want to protect her. A fierceness in me that wants to claim her as mine. It’s almost as though I can’t stand the thought of her being with another man or another man touching her. Have you ever felt that way?” I asked him.
He flushed. “To be honest, I felt a little like that with her friend Rachel” he said looking down into his coffee cup “but I didn’t have the nerve to ask her out during the wedding ceremony or breakfast you had.”
I frowned “Why not?”
He bowed his head “She’s too good for me” he said lamely.
I stared. “Too good for you?”
“Too good for me,” he said with an exhale “she’s way out of my league. She’s like a supermodel, with long legs and that body” he almost groaned “there’s no way she would have said yes to me. She could have any man she wanted. Why would she want to date a personal assistant like me?”
“Are you insane” I growled “that woman would be lucky to date somebody as loyal and kind as you. I happen to know that she liked you” I added with a glower “don’t let a girl like her slip through your fingers” I added incredulously “you can’t go around believing that a girl will say no. Rachel is just as down to earth as Flair is.”
He shifted awkwardly on his feet. “There’s just something about her, that screams luxury” he mumbled “I can’t explain it. It’s like she’s used to a lot of money.”
“I didn’t get that impression” I said surprised “anyway, I expect you to attend the engagement party with me” I told him as his eyes widened in shock “and you’re going to need a date to attend Timothy. You need a plus one and as much as I like you” I paused with a smirk as his eyes turned horrified and the blood drained from his face “I intend on taking Flair to the party, so you’re going to have to find somebody else. Perhaps you should reconsider the Rachel idea” I said lightly, turning on my heel as he spluttered behind me “I’m certain she would be delighted to go on a date with you. Do tell me how you go when you ask her out” I added meaningfully as Timothy made a strangled sound behind me “and hurry up too, the party is in two days.”
“Grayson” Timothy said desperately behind me as I made my way out of the kitchen “Grayson” he shouted.
I ignored him, grinning to myself and began to make my way back towards my office. The ball was now in his court. Hopefully he would man up and make that phone call, I thought with satisfaction.
Flair POV
Luxe was, as its name suggested, a luxury high-end boutique that only wealthy socialites and heiresses shopped at. As we entered the store, I saw several saleswomen politely nod and greet Rachel by name, making me smile with amusement.
“How often do you shop here?” I teased her.
“Often enough to be known by name,” she said with a giggle as we began to glance at the racks of designer gowns.
“Miss Rachel, it would be an honor to assist you,” a lovely young woman said, beaming widely at her.
“Melanie” Rachel said warmly as the woman glowed “lovely to see you again. My friend and I are in need of some gowns for an engagement party, but they need to be one-off designs and they need to be the kind that will turn heads in envy,” she said nonchalantly.
I didn’t even question the fact that Rachel knew the saleswoman’s name. Rachel was like that. She was friendly and kind. She never had a problem learning people’s names and speaking to them as though they were old friends.
“This is my friend Flair” Rachel introduced us, and I shook the woman’s hand as she smiled at me.
“It’s nice to meet you, Flair,” she said, as she looked us both up and down “a lot of gowns in here would suit you, but is it your engagement party?” she asked and both of us shook our heads.
“No, but it is Flair’s ex-husband’s engagement party so she needs to look like a damn goddess” Rachel interjected as the saleswoman’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What a foolish man” she murmured, making Rachel and I giggle “I will find you a gown that will make him rue the day he divorced you” she announced and began to rifle through the racks, a look of utmost concentration on her face “please, have a seat in one of the chairs over there” she ordered, gesturing at them.
I gave Rachel a look of amusement as we sat down. “Melanie is one of the best” she whispered “She’ll have you looking like a million dollars in no time or die trying” she joked.
I saw Melanie bite her lip “Rowena” she called out to another saleswoman who turned and viewed her “Is that new shipment in? The one with that new designer? I don’t see any of the gowns on the floor” she added.
“Oh yes,” Rowena said, her face clearing “We haven’t had a chance to put them out on the floor yet. They are out the back still.”
“I’ll be right back,” Melanie said excitedly, hurrying towards the back of the store with rushed footsteps.
“I wonder who the new designer is” I murmured.
Rachel was smirking. “I have a feeling it might be our new company designs” Rachel breathed “The new designs I submitted a week ago should have been made and sent to this store by now.”
I tried not to laugh out loud. Rachel and I had another company together where she was the main designer and submitted designs that were then created by a third party and sent to various boutiques under various designer names so that they couldn’t be traced back to either of us.
“Well it’s an honor to wear a design that was created by you,” I told her with amusement.
“Or by you” she pointed out “You tweaked the designs” she reminded me.
Sure enough, Melanie came back with two very familiar designs in her hands, her face wreathed in smiles. She handed one to me. It was a gorgeous royal blue dress that gathered at one shoulder, clung to the bodice, showing off the cleavage to maximum effect, and then flowed smoothly down to the ankles, the fabric shimmering beneath the lights, and the design one to make any woman look incredible. It would go fantastic with my coloring. Melanie had chosen well.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.