SHOPPING

ELENA’S POV

We approached the Dior store, where a small group of staff were already waiting for us outside. “Welcome, Mr Vance, Miss Celine. We’re honored to have you,” the store manager greeted, bowing with the rest of the staff as they led us in. 

I looked behind me, watching as they all moved about like clockwork, one turning over the open sign over and locking the store, others going to different areas in the store to bring out several collections of outfits. Like they were expecting us.

Like, Damien had bought the whole store for today.

He sure is speaking the language of money. Maybe I should make good use of it and shop to my heart’s content.

After the third hour, I looked ready to die. 

Die from trying out so many dresses. I huffed as the staff got me out of yet another gown and shoved another into the changing room where I was. I was ready to break down in tears if I tried one more gown, or one more jewelry to pair with it, who knew a day would come when shopping could bore me to death.

Well, not until Damien Vance waltzed into my life.

I dragged my feet in front of one another to show Damien the latest outfit. “This is Dior FW 2025 collection, yet to hit the market. We brought it here specially, courtesy of the Dior family, on news of your arrival,” the sales manager rattled on about the amazing qualities of the dress I wore. It looked nothing like something fit for fall or winter, but it was pretty. The sleeves and the bodice of the dress hugged my body like a glove, accentuating the right places. The sheen of the black material, coupled with the silver diamond beading in on the sleeves and the sides, and the high thigh slit made it ethereal and out of this world.

I loved it. Or maybe it was my tiredness and lack of caffeine that was talking because I looked ready to pass out from exhaustion. And sheer boredom. I blinked sleep away, looking up at Damien.

Then I saw it.

The clouded eyes, like all the times I’d teased him, the times we’ve gotten close. His lips parted in awe or admiration. Or lust, I couldn’t tell. Like a deer stuck in headlights.

I hated to admit it, but I liked the way he looked at me, a first since I started trying out different dresses. As though shaken out of a trance, he cleared his throat, regaining his composure. “We’ll take them all,” he said, getting up, ready to leave.

My mouth flew open in surprise. This man has got to be kidding me. He’d rejected the rest only to purchase them all? I’m sure he did all this to torture me. But I was too tired to complain or retaliate, and I tried to keep up with his pace as they reopened the store, bowing for us as we left.

“Let’s go eat,” he suggested, more like declared and I nodded, not in agreement but rather, from extreme tiredness. We soon entered a restaurant along the road, it was quaint and he had, like with the Dior store, bought the whole space for the afternoon.

As we sat down to take our order, I felt an unsettling feeling in my stomach, like we were being followed. But I made no mention of it, since Damien looked at ease while we ate.

We spent a few more hours outside before returning home, where some beauticians were waiting for me. They got to work almost immediately and by 8pm, my hair and makeup was done and I was feeling refreshed. The light makeup, complemented my dress perfectly, with the hair framing my face as soft curls cascaded down from a bun. Looking at the mirror, it felt nostalgic seeing myself all glammed up. 

It was like a trip down memory lane when I had just debuted into society, with all the socialite parties and get-togethers I often attended. Before I was framed and jailed. Before the tragedy of my life.

It felt only like yesterday, like I never left.

Letting out a deep breath, I thanked the beautician and headed downstairs where Damien was already waiting. The moment our eyes locked on each other, the air in the room changed, turning static in the matter of seconds. It felt like we were the only ones in the room, and nothing else mattered. I melted under his gaze and he held mine, losing his breath as he took me in.

I wished I could capture this time in a frame, and we never had to get out of this little bubble.

But alas, it wasn’t meant to be so. We got called back to reality when Alfred cleared his throat and indicated that the chauffeur was available now. As we rode to the venue, we decided to run through the plan for tonight.

“As usual, we separate them further,” I said, laying out the game plan. “I’ll sow the seeds of doubt in Charlotte’s mind, with that video of Adrian.”

Damien nodded. “I have a different plan for Adrian, you don’t have to worry,” he assured me. I frowned, wondering what he meant by that, but decided against asking him, so far it got us what we wanted.

We soon arrived at the venue, with a lot of paparazzi and several column photographers at the red carpet. Damien directed me towards the red carpet and I was shocked when a lot of the bombarded us, just like the last time.

We saw this lady out with you today. do you mind telling us who she is?

You seem whipped by her. Is she your girlfriend?

How did you two meet?

Who is she to you? Tell us.

You were on a date today. who is she, and what’s the relationship between you two?

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. What was going on? How did they know we were out?

My jaw almost dropped at Damien’s next words.

“This is Celine Vance. My wife and the love of my life.”