10. Khaleya
I found myself thinking about what his mother told me over and over about his ex. I could clearly see why she was so excited to meet me. According to Meredith, the last woman was an opportunist and caused Myheir to second-guess himself.
That was the one thing she couldn’t forgive when it came to Mia. Myheir hadn’t told me a thing about ole’ girl, and his mother had even held a few details to herself once she realized I didn’t know a thing about Mia.
It was actually the reason I told her I had prior engagements I needed to get to. For some reason, I couldn’t stop the feeling that me and his ex had more in common than I wanted to admit. I was using him to get to the next level as well.
Meredith didn’t know she was talking to another opportunist in different skin. When we got in the truck, I kept all my thoughts to myself. I knew it was making Myheir nervous, but I needed a second to think things through clearly.
“Your thoughts are loud as fuck, Doll. Go ahead and tell me what happened, so I can alleviate whatever is bothering you.”
“I don’t know what to say, Myheir. But I found out about Mia. Why didn’t you tell me so I was prepared?”
I looked over at him, and he was rubbing the bridge of his nose, which let me know she was still a topic that he didn’t get into often. His mother had mentioned she watched a piece of her son go away after that relationship.
“Myheir. We’re back to that now, all because of one conversation with my mom?” he asked.
I crossed my arms and tilted my head to the side. “Don’t try to flip this on me. Why didn’t you tell me before we came here? I should have known about your relationship.”
“I’m not going to front, Mia is a sore spot. But it’s not going to affect what we have going on. Now tell me why this is bothering you so much,” he asked.
I turned to look out of the window to get my thoughts together.
“Your mother mentioned she didn’t like her for you because she was an opportunist who used you for what she could get from you. I’m doing the same damn thing.”
We were just pulling up into the parking lot of my apartment community. The driver placed the car in park. So Myheir asked him to step outside the truck for a moment. Once the door closed behind him, Myheir returned his attention to me.
“You’re nothing like her. Do you realize I sought you out? I presented this situation to you. Not the other way around, so get all of that out of your head. This shit is mutually beneficial. What was going on with Mia was nothing like this.”
He reached over and cupped my chin. “This is our shit. Don’t allow words that never came from me to fuck with you. I’d tell you if I wasn’t feeling something. Honesty is the key to making this work. So, my bad that I left that shit out. I didn’t expect that to be important.”
I nodded.
“I hear you. Well, I enjoyed your mother and your dad. Even though he called me a damn prostitute.” I chuckled.
Myheir smirked at me.
“I’m sure he meant it in a good way, Doll.”
I lifted a brow. “How many good ways can you call someone a prostitute, Big?”
“I haven’t met many—”
Before he could finish, I nudged his shoulder, causing him to laugh.
“Alright, alright. But he does fuck with you, though.”
“I don’t know if I believe you,” I responded.
Myheir kissed two fingers and raised them to the roof of the car.
“I promise, Doll. The man told me himself, he just has a weird way of showing it.”
“Mm-hmm. Well, thank you for breakfast. It was great.”
“No problem. Oh, you have plans later? That’s what my mom said.”
I bit my lower lip and looked away with a small smile.
“I kind of told a small lie. She had me thrown off after she told me about your ex. I was feeling really guilty, and parents can sniff that out. I figured it was time to abort that mission before I ruined it.”
Myheir shook his head, then looked down at his watch.
“You up for some shopping?” he asked.
My eyes expanded. “Wait, before I get excited. For what?”
He chuckled and pulled his phone from his pocket to show me an event invitation for this weekend.
“Wait, how long did you know this was happening?” I asked.
“A few weeks, but I’ve been so damn busy I almost forgot. Not to mention, usually I go to these things by myself.”
I nodded. I couldn’t expect him to start thinking like a man who is in a relationship, even if said relationship is fake, immediately.
“Do I have to go?” I asked.
“I would like for you to go. I don’t want to bring up rule number 2 in the contract. I would rather you just want to come willingly.”
I rolled my eyes and smiled. “I guess I can do a little shopping today.”
Myheir didn’t waste a moment before rolling down his window to let his driver know I wasn’t staying and where we were headed. He then went to work on his phone, typing fast as hell.
“So, where are we going? SouthPark?” I asked.
“Nah, Maison Virelle,” he responded, while continuing to type.
My eyes widened at his statement. He must have misspoke, but I knew he hadn’t. That place was one of the most exclusive boutiques to get into. You couldn’t even walk in off the street. So I don’t know how he got access on a whim like this.
The drive to that side of town was a silent one. All I could do was enjoy the sights and try to settle my nerves before we made it there. The truck pulled up moments later in front of the valet station, who opened Myheir’s door.
Immediately, different men with cameras came out of nowhere, taking picture after picture. I silently thanked God that I’d put on something worth being pictured in. I was going to have to remember this man was no ordinary man. Shit, I wasn’t ordinary either, and that was for damn sure.
Myheir led me into the shop, and it was unlike anything I’d ever seen. I walked over to one of the racks with dresses on it, then searched for a tag to tell me how much it was.
“Big, I can’t find the price tag,” I complained in a low whisper.
Myheir was still texting on his phone before he glanced up at me with a smirk.
“Doll, this isn’t the kind of place that you will find price tags.”
My eyes widened. “Well, that means I don’t need to be shopping in here. How am I supposed to know if something is too expensive?”
“You’re not shopping,” he corrected, placing his hand against the small of my back. “I am.”
Soon after, a woman in a cream form-fitting dress walked out to greet us with a tray holding champagne-filled flutes.
“Hi, welcome, Mr. Blackwell. We have pieces picked out for your guest in the back. Will you be staying?” she asked.
I glanced over my shoulder to look in his direction.
“I sure am. Can you make sure we have a private space, uninterrupted?”
The woman nodded and led us to the back. In the center of the room was a runway that obviously was connected to a dressing room. They set a few chairs around the stage.
I leaned over and whispered to Myheir. “I haven’t picked anything. How do they have options for me in the back already?” I asked.
“I told them to pull a few things to match the vibe of the event. I wanted you to feel pampered today. I’m going to be in this chair right here. I have a few calls to handle, but if you need me, I’ll be here. Don’t worry about the price, this is on me. Remember?”
I nodded as the associate approached me with an inviting smile. I took a sip of my champagne.
“Mr. Blackwell, get comfortable. We got her, and I think we picked the right sizes,” the associate said to him, speaking over me.
I lifted a brow. I didn’t like being talked about like I was a child. I knew how to pick my clothes. But he was paying for it. So I’m going to play my part. This was part of the deal, and I didn’t want to fuck up my opportunity for Stamped.
I released a breath and followed behind the associate.
She led me to the dressing room behind the small stage.
The moment I stepped inside, I noticed a rack filled with a few floor-length dresses in monochromatic colors.
Nothing was vibrant or had any flare. But if this was what he wanted to see me in, I would give it a shot.
The associate walked over to the rack, then pulled a chocolate brown dress from the rack with thin spaghetti straps. It was some sort of mesh material with crystals all over it and a square neckline. The dress left nothing to the imagination and clearly was made for a woman who liked to be seen.
This wasn’t me.
I took the dress from her and stood in front of the long mirror as I held the dress against my body. I released a breath and looked up at the associate, who looked like she wasn’t going anywhere.
“So, you just stay here while I’m getting changed?” I asked.
Her eyes widened, and she began to stammer over her words.
“I am so sorry. I can step out, just give me a shout when you’re ready to be zipped up.”
I gave her a tight-lipped smile as she slipped out of the dressing room, then closed the door behind herself. I took that as my cue to strip down. I removed my bra because this dress would accept nothing less.
I unzipped the dress and stepped inside, then pulled the thin straps over my shoulders.
I don’t know how he knew my size, but the dress fit perfectly.
I called out to the associate, and she zipped me up, then offered a few pairs of heels that would pair well with the dress.
I obliged her and then stepped onto the runway so Myheir could see it.
I hesitantly walked down the strip until I stood before him. His eyes were eating up every inch of my body. The heat from his stare almost made me like the dress a bit more, but he would like this. I was practically naked in front of him.
I gripped my hips and did a 360 turn until I was facing him again. Then I crossed my hands over my breasts. This dress was revealing as hell.
“Uh, what do you think?” I asked.
Myheir sat up in his chair and lifted a brow.
“I would think you looked good in a damn paper bag. What do you think? You look like you’re uncomfortable, and I don’t want that.”
I released a breath. “I don’t like it at all. This dress isn’t me, honestly. Nothing on that rack back there is anything I would wear. Is this something your ex would choose or something?”
His mouth fell into a hard line.
“I thought I was being helpful. I would never try to make you look like her. Aye, Anastasia, allow her to pick her own dresses. Don’t worry about any of the choices back there,” he told the associate, who nodded.
“Oh, and she can grab anything. Don’t tell her a single price. That’s my business,” he reminded her.
She returned to the back to give us some privacy, and I’m sure to get those other dresses from back there.
“Thank you.”
It was the only thing that fit in this moment. I turned and placed my hand over my ass.
“I already seen it, Doll. Might as well walk regular. That ass is sitting, in case you wondered.”
I looked over my shoulder and flicked him off. Only for him to crack up laughing before getting back on the phone call he had been on before I walked out.
“Oh, I already know, Pilates.”
His smirk was addicting as I did an extra switch while walking out of the room. He whistled at my back, causing me to giggle. When I got back to the dressing room, Anastasia was there to unzip me and take the rest of the dresses from the room.
“I’ll be outside the dressing room whenever you’re ready.”
I smiled and quickly got undressed so I could find something more like me. I placed it on the hanger and carried it out onto the floor. Anastasia rushed over to take the hanger from my hands.
“I got that. Take a look around, and if you find something you like, I can bring your size into the fitting room.”
I smiled and nodded, then made my way over towards the racks. My fingers skimmed across the dresses until they caught on something soft. I stopped and pulled the gown from the rack.
Champagne fabric spilled from the hanger, covered in tiny beads that shimmered beneath the boutique lights.
The corseted bodice dipped low in the front, while the skirt gathered across the hips before opening into a thigh-high split.
It was elegant, a little daring, and nothing like the dress I’d just put back.
But the moment I touched it, I needed to see myself in it.
Myheir told me to choose something that fit me. No one else.
Me.
“Yeah, this is it.”
Anastasia smiled. “You haven’t tried it on yet.”
“I know.” I ran my fingertips over the beading again. “It’s just a feeling, but I definitely want to try it on,” I told her.
She smiled and picked up the dress, only to find out it was my size. So I followed her to the dressing room. She unzipped it and placed it on the hook, then stepped back out.
I quickly undressed, knowing this would be the last dress I tried on for today. I stepped into the dress, and the gown hugged my waist, softened over my hips, and left one leg exposed through the slit. It sparkled when I moved, but it didn’t feel like I was wearing a costume or playing pretend.
It felt like me.
Anastasia came back in at my insistence to zip me up, then stepped back with a nod.
“You look stunning. Are you showing Mr. Blackwell?” she asked.
I turned to look at myself in the mirror once more, then smiled.
“Nope. I’ll keep this one as a surprise.”
She smiled, then unzipped me so I could hand over the dress.
Moments later, she carefully folded it into layers of tissue paper and placed it inside a garment bag. Myheir appeared by me with his hands tucked into his pockets.
“I’m going to assume you found the one,” he said with a smile.
“I did, and I can help you pay for it if it’s too expensive.”
Myheir frowned and stepped around me to hand Anastasia his black card. She didn’t bat an eye swiping his card, and neither did he.
“Did you get shoes from here? Or do you want to go somewhere else?” he asked.
“No. But I have the perfect pair of heels at home. I don’t want to wear a new pair of heels that will be killing my feet all night because I haven’t broken them in.”
He nodded and took his card. “You can email me the receipt.”
“No problem. Enjoy your event, and you’re going to look beautiful,” Anastasia said.
I smiled. “Thank you.”
Myheir reached over and took my garment bag, then held his hand out for mine. I obliged and smiled as we left the shop. His driver was already out front. He must have sent the man a text or something.
“You got one more stop in you?” he asked as we slid into the backseat.
“As long as it’s food, I’ll follow you anywhere.”
He laughed.
“I got you.”
I settled back into the seat. I needed to be careful. I could get used to those three words.