Chapter Five
Seraphina
THE LIMO PULLS up in front of a store I know very well even though I’ve never been inside. There are several stunning dresses in the window, including a black satin evening gown with a halter neckline and daring cutout in the center of the chest covered only by dark lace.
The kind of dress I would never wear in a million years.
But exactly the kind of dress one of Aiden’s previous girlfriends would have worn.
Unwelcome jealousy curls through me. I tamp it down lest the man seated across from me looks up from his phone and notices an expression I don’t feel like explaining.
I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. His hair is brushed to one side, his jaw set as he types something out. We’ve barely said two words to each other since he rushed me into the limo.
After he walked into my apartment and upended my life, I took thirty minutes to pack a couple of suitcases and a backpack. Aiden offered to send movers for the rest, but a quick glare cut him off.
I love my apartment. The night I finally left Brett, I fled with the clothes on my back and my wallet.
I didn’t even risk grabbing my phone off the charger.
I ended up at Grace’s Refuge for three days before I finally got the courage to call my parents and tell them what had happened, that they had been right and I’d been in an abusive relationship for years.
What made it worse was how kind they were.
They offered for me to move back in with them, but I didn’t want to leave New York, didn’t want Brett to chase me out of the city I loved.
And I definitely didn’t want to accept anything from my parents, even though they offered to pay the first month’s rent on a new place.
One of the client advocates at Grace’s Refuge found my studio apartment a week later.
It’s been home for the last three years and I’m not giving it up.
I need my place, a tether to the life I’m leaving behind, the one I’ll return to in ten months when this ridiculous charade is over.
“Ready?”
I start and turn just as Aiden leans over and opens the door. My breath hitches and I lean back. He gives me a curious glance as he climbs out and then extends a hand. I hesitate. Then, slowly, I place my hand in his.
His fingers curl around mine as he gently guides me out of the limo, his bare palm resting against mine.
Did he see the slight tremor when his fingers closed over mine?
I look at the store, the sidewalk, anything but him.
This man has already seen far more of me than I’d like him to.
I don’t need him to see just how deep my attraction to him runs.
My phone rings as the chauffeur closes the door behind us.
I pull it out of my pocket and grimace. Jessica.
She’s called no less than a dozen times in the last hour.
I hit the I’ll call you back later automatic text reply and slide the phone back into my pocket.
I called my parents while I was packing, a call that went as well as I’d expected.
Which is to say, horribly. I don’t blame them.
Here they thought I was still trying to get up the courage to start dating again, only to find out their daughter has supposedly been dating her boss for months and just got engaged.
I don’t know which was worse—my mother’s teary voice or my father’s threats to kidnap Aiden and drop him off at some random truck stop in the middle of nowhere if he hurt me.
I’ll need to talk to Jessica soon. But I need a break.
“Everything all right?”
I can’t help it. I laugh. “No, Mr. Hawke, everything is not all right.”
He doesn’t correct me on his name. Instead, he faces me and takes my other hand in his so both are held captive in his grasp.
“I know things are progressing rapidly—”
“I just lied to my parents.” God, I would love nothing more than a good cry and a steaming caramel latte right now. “I had to tell them all sorts of lies and you know what? They’re worried about me.”
God, I can’t believe I’m putting them through this again. They spent three of the four years I was with Brett worrying about me. Toward the end, they were terrified.
And now they’re scared again. Because of me.
“If there had been another way, I would have made it happen.”
I tug my hands out of his grasp. “I know. I know being engaged is the last thing you ever wanted.”
He doesn’t answer, just watches me with fathomless eyes.
“Let’s go,” I finally murmur.
We walk up to the doors. The interior is dark, with the hours clearly written on the glass, including Closed Sunday.
“Looks like we’ll need to come back.”
The words are barely out of my mouth when the lights flicker on and a tall woman with thick black curls walks into view.
She grins at both of us with an enthusiasm I’m not prepared to deal with after my life’s been upended.
But I force myself to give her a tiny smile and wave back as she opens the door.
“Good morning, come in!”
She opens the door and ushers us in. A cool blast of air greets us, as does the sight of dozens of stunning dresses hanging from silver bars, handbags displayed in recessed shelves with bright lights accentuating every expensive detail, and mannequins draped in beautiful jackets.
Why on earth did I just throw a T-shirt on over my sports bra?
“I’m Brenda, your stylist.” She inclines her head to Aiden. “We’re so excited to serve you and your fiancée today, Mr. Hawke.”
Another forced smile as Brenda looks at me. I probably look the opposite of a happily engaged woman.
“Thank you.” I watch the charm come out as Aiden shakes Brenda’s hand.
He smiles, still one that doesn’t reach his eyes, but most wouldn’t know it’s a fake smile unless they knew him well.
“As I mentioned to your manager earlier this morning, we’re on a special shopping expedition to buy some new outfits for Seraphina.
Our engagement recently became public and we’re looking forward to going out more. ”
“Oh!” Dimples appear in Brenda’s cheeks as she grins. “I’m both honored and excited to serve you today.” She turns to me. “What are your preferences? Do you have a list?”
I glance over at Aiden, but he gestures for me to answer.
A knot loosens in my chest. The last year of Brett’s and my relationship was a balancing act when it came to what I wore.
I tried dressing in outfits that met his standards.
But so often I fell short. I’m glad to see that Aiden’s need for control doesn’t extend to my clothes, because our engagement would be over as quickly as it’s begun.
“Um… I’m not sure,” I confess. What does a billionaire’s fiancée wear?
“Cocktail dresses,” Aiden says with that smile still in place. “Evening gowns, a few outfits for media appearances, and resort wear.”
I try not to sound ungrateful as I look over at him. “Do I really need all of that?”
“Of course you do. Darling,” he adds with what sounds suspiciously like amusement. He turns back to Brenda. “She usually likes vintage-inspired pieces.”
A fluttering sensation flies through my chest. Yet another detail Aiden paid attention to.
It doesn’t mean anything, I remind myself firmly.
“We have some beautiful dresses I know you’ll like.” Brenda clasps her hands in front of her. “What sort of budget are we aiming for?”
“There isn’t one.” Aiden gestures to the store. “Clothing, jewelry, handbags. Whatever she needs, whatever she wants.”
My head starts to spin. No limit? In a store like this? After he just dropped fifteen million dollars to buy a town house for a charity he’s never heard of?
I wait until Brenda disappears into the back before I turn to him.
“Is all of this really necessary?”
“Yes. We’ll be under constant scrutiny from here on out. I need you to look the part of a billionaire’s fiancée.”
I think of the numerous women he’s been seen with since I started working with Hawke Financial. They wear clothes like this on a daily basis.
“It’s nothing to do with your style, Seraphina.”
I wrinkle my nose. Is the man reading my mind?
“I didn’t say—”
“No, but the stricken look on your face spoke volumes.” He moves closer, so close I have to tilt my head to look up at him. “If I had concerns about your clothing, I’d have brought it up a long time ago. You have always represented Hawke Financial well, both professionally and fashionably.”
Damn it, why does that compliment warm me so much? I know how much Hawke Financial means to him, the hours he’s poured into making it successful.
“Maybe you’ll even enjoy yourself.”
“I’m not exactly a marathon shopping kind of girl.” Much to my mother’s chagrin.
“Well, do your best, then.” He glances down at his watch. “I should be back in two hours.”
“Two hours?” Spending time with Aiden isn’t high on my radar right now, but it’s preferable to being left here alone. “Where are you going?”
“I have a couple errands to run. I’ll be back by eleven.” He nods to Brenda as she comes back into the room with several gowns draped over her arm. “Take good care of her.”
And then he’s gone, walking out the door without a backward glance, leaving me alone in the middle of one of the most high-end fashion stores in the city. I watch as he gets back into the limo and the long, sleek car pulls away from the curb.
“Ready, Miss Clark?”
I turn back to Brenda.
“Uh…yeah.” I shake my head. “Sorry, it’s been a hectic morning.”
“I can only imagine.” Brenda smiles, her red lipstick bright against her dark skin. “Don’t let the media bother you. We get plenty of celebrities in here on what they think is the worst day of their lives, but things always turn around.”
Some of my tension bleeds out. “Thank you, Brenda.”
“You’re welcome.” She holds up the dresses. “Let’s see if we can make it better.”
Aiden
I press the buzzer for the boutique at five minutes ’til eleven. The box in my jacket pocket thumps gently against my thigh.