#7 Finding the perfect dress
"I told you that it doesn't fit me well," I muttered and grabbed the curtain to close it once again.
Nickolas' hand reached my wrist and stopped me. "I think you are wrong; it fits you perfectly. What makes you think otherwise?"
"I think you know perfectly well. Now let me change so we can get out of here," I said, struggling to break free.
"Would you like to explain to me what's troubling you, so we can find a more suitable dress?"
"Okay, I don't want a dress with a deep neckline."
"It wasn't that difficult, was it?" Nickolas replied with a smile.
The shop assistants brought a few more dresses. This time, I chose which ones I wanted to wear.
A few hours later, after roaming dozens of stores and trying more dresses than I cared to count, we finally found the one. I walked out of the fitting room with a huge grin plastered on my lips. Nickolas was sitting on the sofa, looking at his phone. He was obviously bored, and probably he had even regretted offering to take me shopping. Once he saw me walking towards him, he stood up, his eyes lighting with excitement.
The dress had a deep burgundy color that perfectly matched my pale skin and my blonde hair. Lace embroideries covered all the upper part of my body, from my clavicles to my waist. The lower part was made of chiffon and moved fluently with every step I took. It wasn't very revealing, but the contrast between the lace and my skin made it quite sexy. I made a small twirl so that Nickolas could see the back of the gown, too.
A low whistle escaped his lips, and he had a big grin on his face. "Evelyn, you're gorgeous. We're definitely buying this dress," he said.
"Yeah, I think this is the one."
"Go back inside and change. We still need to find shoes and accessories."
My eyes fell on the price tag as soon as I undressed. No way, I was going to buy this dress. It cost almost thrice my salary.
"What's wrong?" Nickolas asked, noticing my pout.
"Thank you for your help, Nick, but can we leave now?"
"Evelyn, are you feeling unwell? You seem a bit pale…"
"No, I'm okay, it's just the dress. I can't buy it," I confessed in a low voice.
Nickolas chuckled and put a hand on my lower back. "Evelyn, that's the last thing you have to worry about. Now tell me, can you walk in high heels?"
Okay, this man was going to drive me crazy. Thankfully it was easier for us to choose the rest items that completed my look. Of course, Nickolas paid for everything, and trust me, it was an insane amount of money. The youngest of the Leclair brothers offered to take me for dinner, but I declined politely. I was dead tired, and Sophie had called me a thousand times to check on me.
We got into his car again, this time heading towards my house.
"Thank you for buying all these for me, Nick," I said after a few moments of silence.
"It was my pleasure, darling," Nickolas chuckled.
"Uh, about the question you asked me earlier…"
Nickolas tilted his head to the side, waiting for me to continue talking.
"The scar on my chest, I know it was visible when I tried the first dress, and like a fine gentleman you're, you didn't ask directly."
"Evelyn, you aren't supposed to tell me something that you are not ready to confess, just because I'm curious…"
"The other day, I told you that I had fragile health when I was younger. Long story short, I had an operation a few years ago, and now I'm perfectly fine, except for the cocktail of medicines I must take. So, the scar is from that surgery," I told him.
Nickolas looked at me with wide eyes. "Does my brother know? I guess we shouldn't stress you a lot and…"
"Nick, I'm fine. The doctors approved my current job," I said, putting an end to his thoughts.
"Okay, but let me know if my brother acts like a dick again…"
I chuckled, and he turned on the radio.
"You could have done a plastic surgery, right?" Nickolas queried while taking a left turn.
"That's the best result I could get without plastic surgery. The scar reminds me every day that this is my second chance in life, and I have to make the best out of it."
"Damn, I'd have never thought about it this way. You're a strong woman, Evelyn."
I blushed hearing this compliment. Everything I got through made me stronger. But then again, sometimes I feel like I give in easily to other people's demands. Yet I can't stand it when someone is upset because of me. What really mattered though is my personal happiness. This might not have been my dream job, but I was content, and besides, I knew it would help me get closer to what I always wanted to do.
The car came to a stop in front of my apartment building.
Nickolas turned off the engine and looked at me, "One more thing you should know. The press will go wild when they see Sebastian with a date. Hopefully, my brother will think of something to protect you."
"That sounded scarier than walking around in a ballroom filled with rich, snob people," I whispered.
"Am I a snob, too?" Nickolas asked, making a little pout.
"Oh, I'm sorry. It wasn't meant for you. You're really cool, and I enjoy hanging out with you," I replied with a small smile.
"I like your company too, Evelyn," Nickolas replied with a smirk.
He helped me out of the car and handed me the bags.
"Would you like to come upstairs?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"I have some work to do, darling. Maybe another time," he said and pecked my cheek softly.
"Thanks again for today," I muttered under my breath, blushing uncontrollably.
"Next time, we are going for dinner, too," Nickolas suggested.
"Whatever you say…" I shout back with an eye roll.
I waved with my free hand while he sped on the driveaway.
Sophie was speechless looking at all the new things I brought back home. She made me try everything once again. When my little show was over, we ordered take-out and ate, watching a movie on the TV.
The next few days at the office passed by quickly. Sebastian had several meetings, but he wasn't as harsh with me as before. He even asked about my health one day, taking me completely by surprise. I started to believe that he had finally come around, and that made me even more confident about the upcoming Gala.
My Boss explained to me a few things about the Gala and the guests that would attend. An auction would be held after the dinner to raise money for a children's hospital. The cause was touching, and I wanted to help in any way I could. Besides that, he would mingle with different business associates, and I should keep mental notes for the most important things. Obviously, it was impossible to walk around with a notepad in a Gala…
Saturday finally came. My anxiousness reached another level, and I just wanted to get over this already. Sophie was on cloud nine; she was an expert in hairstyling and makeup, that's why she did my makeover. My hair was perfectly curled, and my best friend made a half updo, braiding my blonde strands. We opted for natural makeup, at least on my eyes, because my lipstick matched the color of my dress.
"Oh, Evelyn, you're so beautiful," Sophie exclaimed.
"Really? Maybe we should remove the lipstick; it's too bold," I said, looking at my lips that had the color of the red wine.
"I'm sure. Sebastian will be amazed. Now put your earrings on. It's almost time," Sophie instructed me.
We added the finishing touches, and I was ready to go when the intercom rang. My stomach made a flip, and my heart skipped a beat. I sighed and went to the elevator, while Sophie said to the driver that I was coming.
"Have fun, Evelyn. And remember to smile," my best friend shouted at me just before the elevator's door closed.
I sent her an air kiss and took a deep breath. It wasn't anything different than another meeting. Besides, Nickolas would be there, and Sebastian wasn't acting like the insensitive man he used to be.
A small gasp escaped my lips. I thought a driver was supposed to come and pick me up, yet my Boss was there waiting for me outside of a shiny, black limousine. He was wearing another tailor-made, black suit and he looked devilish handsome. Sebastian's eyes roamed my body, and when his intense gaze stopped at my face, I knew this wasn't going to be an uneventful night.
Sebastian walked towards me, meeting me half-way. "You look absolutely ravishing, Miss Russell," he said, his voice hoarser than usual.
"Thank you, sir," I replied, blushing uncontrollably.
He offered me his hand, and we walked towards the car. "I must have forgotten to mention that you could use one of the company's cards for any expenses regarding the Gala."
I sat on the leather seat and turned to look at him, confused. "Is something wrong? Is the dress inappropriate?"
"No, Miss Russell, it's just I'd hate if you had to pay a fortune only to buy a dress that most probably would wear once," Sebastian explained.
"Oh, well, let's just say my Fairy Godmother made sure to find the perfect dress for me."
He frowned a bit but didn't add anything else. "Do you live alone?"
"No, sir. I share an apartment with my best friend," I replied.
He nodded and then asked me a few more questions about my studies and my activities besides my job. My life wasn't that exciting, but it was great that Sebastian tried to do small talk.
Once we reached our destination, my heart started pounding quickly again. I looked at my Boss, who seemed calm. I could see the flashes from all the cameras, and that only added fuel to my panic.
"Evelyn, look at me," Sebastian said, and my eyes snapped at his grey ones.
"I… Maybe I…" I stopped stuttering the moment his fingers caressed my cheek.
I just realized how insanely close we were; his breath fainted against my cheek, his masculine scent made my core tingle. My eyes closed, and I bit my lower lip in anticipation. I could already feel his plump, sweet lips against mine…