Chapter 57：Mia

The door dinged open, and people walked out, ourselves included. James led me along a series of women's clothing stores. Very expensive-looking shops. Then he stopped at about the fifth one. I glanced up and noted the name Fleur written in glittery pink. A very feminine name for a boutique. From the pieces I saw displayed in the window, the stuff here was so chic I knew in my gut it'd cost anywhere above the hundred-dollar mark per item.

"This one," he said.

"This one? Oh my God," I said under my breath. "James, I can't afford to buy clothes, let alone the ones in this shop. You know that."

With his hand tight around my wrist, he led me in. "I'm paying for it," he said in a tone that demanded no argument.

I was shocked yet pleased at the same time. Of course, I did tell him only yesterday I couldn't afford to replenish my wardrobe and was delighted he bought me the cute dress that was currently neatly folded and resting in Andy's section of the wardrobe. But surely James wasn't going to buy me more?

I couldn't say a word as he introduced me to the sales woman. Rose, who I assumed to be in her late thirties, smiled pleasantly at me and whisked me away for a grand tour of the fancy shop, taking out beautiful dresses and blouses and skirts for me to try on. James, on the other hand, made himself scarce the moment I turned my back on him.

Alone with Rose, in no time at all, I had a huge pile of clothing to try on. She ushered me around to the back where the changing rooms were located.

I stared wide-eyed in admiration, as the place was beautiful and classically decorated to make clients feel welcome and at the same time like a princess.

Rose opened the last door of the five changing rooms for me. She helped me hang up the clothes before leaving me to it.

Alone, I glanced around in appreciation. There was a long mirror to the back, allowing clients to admire themselves. Then, of course, I gazed at myself and sighed.

"Time to try these on," I said, knowing this would take a while. Perhaps that was why James had left? Because he knew it'd take a while. And perhaps he had business to attend to?

I immediately snorted at the thought. Of course he always had business to attend to. He was a billionaire, and what billionaire didn't do business during his every waking hour?

I tried on dress after dress, liking a few and not so much others. Now and again, Rose would come knocking at the door, offering more for me to try on.

I was just putting on another cute summer dress, the fifteenth one, when the knocks came at the door once again. I knew it was Rose and said, "Yes?"

I was right, of course, and she said, "I've got another dress for you to try on."

I silently groaned.

I opened the door regardless. To be honest, I was surrounded with piles of clothes now and couldn't help but ask, "Another one?"

She laughed. "Mr. Maxwell's instructions were to have you try on as many as possible. You're doing a full new wardrobe, aren't you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes," I said. In my world, however, a full wardrobe consisted of maybe three pairs of jeans, a small number of shirts and sweaters and underwear, and, of course, a jacket. Not so much it was drowning me, as I was at the moment.

Rose laughed again after seeing the look on my face. That friendly, sweet laugh that made customers feel at ease, that made them put their whole trust in her to help them find the best and most expensive items for them.

"Of course," she said. Then she handed me the one in her hand.

I just stared at it, awed. It was one of the most beautiful pieces I'd ever seen. It was light pink with lace and silk and sparkles. It was gorgeous, and oh God, I wanted it as my own the moment she placed it in my hands.

I licked my lips as I continued to gawk at it.

Rose laughed again. "See? You're in love with it already. Come on. Try it on."

She giggled like a schoolgirl. "You never know." She even wiggled her fingers at me with a look that implied You just wait and see.

I looked at the dress in my hands and nodded. It wasn't that I was reluctant to try on so much clothing or this dress. Heck, I wanted to try on this particular dress. I wanted to have this dress. But it was just that I'd never done this before. Hand-me-down clothing had always been what I owned. This extravagant clothing? It was just so unexpected.

Rose left me to it once again, and I eagerly shut the door. I took off the current summer dress I had on and then slipped on the light pink gown. The moment I finished zipping it up, I looked up and just stared at myself.

My mouth was agape. I was overwhelmed. I couldn't believe I actually looked gorgeous in this beauty. Longingly I touched the fabric of the dress along the length of my belly where the contour fit snugly around me, showing off my slim figure. I smiled, and my eyes were bright. Then, just because it felt right, I played with my hair and bunched the strands up into a bun. Perfect! I looked perfect.

Just as instantly, though, my smile faded. Where would I wear this dress? And for whom?

James Maxwell. The name instantaneously popped into my mind.

I wanted James to see me wearing this dress.

The desire made my heart quiver and ache something sorely. Oh no! What was wrong with me? Why did I want James to see me looking pretty?

I bit my lip and decided I was being irrational. I told myself to stop thinking about James and abolish my weird desire for him to see me in this dress.

Nodding at that, I quickly unzipped and slipped off the dress. With only my undies on, I picked up the dress and gave it one last hug good-bye. Sometimes you just had to let it go even though you loved it, even though the encounter was only for the briefest of seconds.

A couple of knocks came at the door once again, and I jumped. I knew it was Rose bringing me more dresses to dry on.

"I don't want any more, Rose," I said over my shoulder. "I'm exhausted." Once again I gazed at the dress in my hand and sighed longingly.

The door opened with a creak, and a manly voice said, "Such a weakling."