Chapter 26

DORIAN'S POV***

I left for a meeting before sunrise.

The meeting dragged longer than it should have. I needed to close this deal. It was for the new app we were developing and this man who is very versed in technology played an important role. So I stayed calm as I didn't want to mess it up. My phone kept vibrating in my pocket. I hated distractions during work so I put it in DND.

Hours later, we were finally done.

I was tired from talking and listening but I was used to it. I did it everyday. I finally got back to the hotel. I swiped the key and stepped inside the penthouse.

I saw Amara pacing back and forth. Her voice was low and shaky. Her phone was pressed to her ear, head bowed.

“…please pick up.”

“Amara,” I called. 

She turned fast.

“Dorian?”

Her eyes were red, her face wet. Evidence that she has been crying.

“Where have you been?" she asked.

“I had a meeting,” I said, moving closer. “I went out early.”

She bit her lower lip hard like she's trying to stop more tears from falling.

“You didn't tell me,” she said softly.

“I thought you'd be asleep,” I replied. “I didn't want to wake you up.”

“I've been calling you,” she said. “You didn't answer. I thought you left me.”

A tear escaped her eyes. She bit her lips harder looking up at the ceiling. I pulled out my phone, removed it from DND. Missed calls filled my screen. All her.

My chest tightened.

“I didn't know it was you,” I said quietly. “ I muted it.”

I stepped closer, ready to apologize.

She shook her head before could.

“I'm your personal assistant,” she said, voice trembling. “ You should have woken me up.”

I looked at her for a long second.

“You're not that on this trip,” I said. “You're just… you.”

She was still biting her lip. I lifted my hand without thinking and slid my thumb gently between her teeth, easing her lip free.

“Don't do that,” I murmured.

Her breath hitched.

She stepped into me then wrapped her arms around my waist. I held her. She cried quietly against my chest. No sobbing. Just soft, broken breaths. I rested my chin on her head, one hand rubbing her back.

“I won't leave you like that again,” I said. “I promise.”

She nodded against me. We stayed like that for a while. 

Eventually, I pulled back slightly.

“I left so I could come back early,” I said. “I have plans today.”

She looked up. “Plans?”

“I'm showing you the city.”

Her face lit up instantly. Real excitement.

“But we're here for work,” she said. 

“And for you,” I added.

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Go get dressed,” I said instead. “We'll have breakfast before we leave.”

—

The day passed easier than I expected. We walked. We talked. She laughed. I watched her more than I watched the city.

Later, I took her to a high-end boutique. 

“Are we getting a dress for someone?” She asked.

“Yeah, you,” I said. I said moving towards the reception when she abruptly stopped.

“Me?” She asked. “But I don't need —”

“We have an important dinner tomorrow night,” I said. “Important client. You'll be my date.”

She stared at me. “Dorian —”

I turned to the receptionist. Minutes later a woman came then directed us to the fitting room. 

“Bring the finest of dresses you have,” I said. “She'll try them all.”

The attendant returned with the dresses, gave them to Amara and they disappeared into the room. I sat down, arms crossed. Waiting for them.

Then she stepped out.

“How's this one?” She asked. 

I shook my head. “Not the one.”

“I don't like it either,” she said.

She disappeared into the room. And out again. The dresses weren't just doing justice to her beauty. So we kept searching. 

“I don't like these dresses,” I said. “Don't you have something better.”

“We do, sir,” the attendant said. “But they are expensive and it's mostly for rent.”

“Get them, I'll be purchasing them. Not renting.”

She nodded and came back with them.

After few trials, Amara looked tired. But I encouraged her to try the last one. 

“What do you think?”

I raised my head. 

“You—”

I forgot how to breathe.

Her beauty awed me. She was putting on a red strapless dress with a high slit that began just below her waist. Showing off her flawless skin. It showed her cleavage as well. The dress hugged her in all the right places. I was speechless.

“Dorian,” she called. I didn't realize I was gone for quite long.

“We're getting it,” I said. “This is the one.”

“Are you sure?” She asked. “It's very pricey.”

“Do you like the dress?” I asked.

“Of course, I love it.”

“Then it’s settled.”

I told the attendant to bring shoes. We settled on a Saint Laurent silver heels.

While I paid, I caught Amara staring at a Dior bag in the corner. She looked away quickly when she realized I had seen her.

I carried the packages to the car while she followed suit.

We went back to the hotel as evening crept in.