A week passed and Alexandra resumed her work. Daniel St. Claire was introduced into her company on a Monday morning meeting and everyone in the floor already knew that she was his fiancée.
Alex finished her work before 4pm and received her new project from Samantha, her senior editor. She was assigned to draw an illustration for a sci-fi genre.
"By the way, I was told by Daniel that he gave you a new project of illustrating for a game his developing."
"Yeah, he did. It actually hatched as a game plan for his niece."
"That's sweet of him. By the way, he said that will be creating a new team of illustrators for the game design projects in the future so soon you will be transferred to the next floor as the senior editor to head the projects."
"Thanks for the info, Sam. I'll try my best on this new project and on that game he mentioned. I hope he'd like it."
"Do your best."
Alex was cleaning up her desk before leaving for work when she decided to ask Diego, her gay colleague if he wanted to have a fun Friday night out with her.
"Let's go to the bar and have some drinks, Diego. You, me, Sabina, Diana and Alex. It's Friday night."
She said mentioning their gang who usually hangout before the weekend. Sabina is a copywriter. Diana is one of the authors and Alex, another gay friend of theirs is one of the senior editors.
"I would love to, Alex but I already have a hot night out with Rad," explained Diego, "and I wouldn't miss it. I'm out to be blasted in pieces and splinters tonight."
Alex looked at him laughing with her eyes.
"Enjoy your night then and enjoy the fireworks."
She called the other four to invite them out and received same replies of having their own plans for tonight with their boyfriends.
She released a dismayed sigh. Diego looked at her with a frown.
"Just have a hot night out with your fiancé, Alex. One look at St. Claire makes me go up in vapors and say I'm in heaven."
"You're exaggerating, Diego."
No one knew in her company that her engagement with Daniel St. Claire is a fake one.
Diego frowned at her and put his hand on his mouth.
"What?" She looked at him, annoyed.
"Nothing. Forget about it."
He fixed his own desk and bid her goodbye.
"Have a fun night, Alexandra."
--
She got out of the elevator when the next door elevator also opened showing Daniel St. Claire holding his mobile on his ears.
"Going home now?" he asked striding along beside her.
"Yeah."
"Got any plans for tonight?"
She frowned at him.
"All my girlfriends are having a night out date with their boyfriends so they turned me down."
"That's good then because Sarah just called me and invited us to have dinner with her."
Alex brightened up at the statement.
"Great. Let's go. She's a dear to brighten up what would have been a glum Friday evening to me."
They went out of the rotating door of the company and reached the car park.
"Leave your car here and ride with me so we can head straight to Sarah's shop."
"St. Claire, it would be really inconvenient for me to hail a cab next Monday at work if I leave my car here."
"I can stop by your house and drive you to work."
Alex looked at him with menacing eyes.
"Convenient for you but not for me, dullhead."
"Fine. Drive it back to your house and I'll follow you and you ride with me on the way to Sarah."
"I can drive to her shop."
"Alex, Sarah doesn't know that you're posing as my fake fiancée. She might get suspicious when she sees us two in separate cars."
"She doesn't have to be that suspicious." Alex complained frowning.
He gave her a pleading look. "Please?"
She released a defeated sigh.
"Fine."
Alex parked her car in the garage and sat on the passenger seat in Daniel's car. They were quiet as they took the long drive to her shop. Once in a while they talked of random things but it couldn't be more awkward when you're sitting next to Daniel St. Clair. The guy favored his silence more than talking. They listened to music along the way.
Sarah was cooking dinner when they arrived. She prepared pasta pesto, Caesar salad, fried chicken and fried prawns, and lobster salad for the main dishes. And have strawberry gelatin and vanilla ice cream for dessert.
They were eating their dessert and randomly chatting when Sarah started a conversation.
"Devin's coming in a month."
Alex noticed Daniel suddenly stopped eating his vanilla ice cream before resuming.
"He's Dan's older twin brother," Sarah informed her. "He works in Milan as a fashion designer."
"He's coming home for a vacation."
Daniel looked at Sarah, then asked her.
"Would you like to join Alex tomorrow for her bridal fitting?"
Sarah was licking her spoon before she answered.
"Sure. Is Devin your best man, Daniel?"
Daniel answered quietly.
"Yes."
"Then, make me your maid of honor, Alex."
Sarah said in a bright tone.
They left her shop after dinner and once again had a quiet drive back to Avery Hill.
While driving, Alex asked Daniel, "Are you okay?"
He didn't look at her but replied, "Yeah."
She patted his shoulder in silence. He removed her hand after a while saying, "I'm really okay. Let's just drive through."
--
It was a bright and sunny Saturday when Alex and Sarah went out to visit a bridal shop. They went to the next city to check for a bridal gown. Sarah recommended the place as she once attended a wedding of her cousin named Cyril a year ago.
"They design beautiful wedding dresses with great lace designs. Even the embroideries are first class, Alex. I can't wait to see you in a gown," said Sarah excitedly.
Alex was driving the car. She looked at her excited face.
"Can't wait then."
She agreed throwing her a smile.
"Though you know what?" Sarah said with a dramatic pause. "I'd rather wear a bride's gown creation by Devin. He makes fabulous dresses. He actually designed that dress you and Dan found me when I was gardening at the back."
Alex almost stopped the car at her statement and jerked her head fast at Sarah before returning her focus on the road.
"He designed it?"
"Yes, he did," then Sarah looked at her with a cross expression. "You didn't like it?"
"Nope, not really like that. How do I say it? You looked like you were in middle-school when I saw you wear it."
Alex explained carefully. Sarah laughed.
"He actually designed that dress when I was seventeen when there was an event at his school and I had to model his dress for an Alice-themed dress."
"Like Alice in Wonderland?" she asked.
"You know how crazy fashion schools are. They throw off the moment themes and book themes fashion style."
"Why were you wearing that dress when we came in?"
Sarah stifled a laugh.
"Glad you asked. Remember how Alice worn her blue dress when she entered Wonderland. That day I was just feeling it and Clarissa came by ordering her geraniums and I found it fun while I was gardening. It was actually easy to move with while I was transferring the plant to the pots. Feels like I was in Wonderland while doing it."
Alexandra found herself laughing joining Sarah in her laughter.
"Sarah Kale, you are one crazy woman, you know," she said. "I didn't know you're also into cosplaying dresses."
"Oh, you should know, Alex. Devin used to design me Victorian dresses when I was kid and he enjoyed seeing them worn by me."
She slid her gaze at the young woman beside her who was wearing her bright brown hair down secured by a red silk headband.
"Well, you look like a doll, Sarah."
Sarah smiled then frowned.
"Know what, Alex. I had a complex when I was a kid. My mom loved to see me in dresses when I was very young but she died early. I was six. After mom passed away I met the St. Claire's twins and they adored me. Like mom they loved to see me wearing doll like dresses so I wore them for them.
One time when I was seven years old I tried to wear boys clothing. Devin cried because of it and didn't talk to me for a week. Then, I tried to wear the doll like dresses again and asked him why he didn't talk to me. He then said that they used to have a little sister that just died and they moved away from their old home and transferred to our neighborhood.
So, since then I wore doll dresses. Devin was good with his hands. He drew and tried designing doll dresses for me. He sewed them and I wore them for him."
"He became a fashion designer because of you, didn't he?" Alex asked in a light tone.
"Yeah."
Alex asked what was persisting at the tip of her tongue.
"Sarah, if both of the St. Claire ask you to marry him, which guy would you choose?"
"Devin." Sarah said simply and glanced at her driving figure. "I mean you already have Daniel."
"What if he ask you to marry him? Will you say yes?"
Sarah was silent before she answered back.
"Guess, he has to ask me to get that answer," she replied with a faraway look.
As if on cue, Alexandra stopped the car in front of the bridal shop. They entered the shop called The Perfect Fit. There were two assistants in the frontline.
"Hello. Good morning. Welcome to The Perfect Fit." The taller assistant greeted wearing a black uniform with red trimmings. "I'm Jane. Who would be the bride?"
"I'm Alexandra Diaz, the bride," answered Alex and introduced Sarah. "And this is Sarah Kale, my maid of honor."
"Alright. Which gown would you like to try first, Alexandra?"
Alex thought for a second. "You can give me a classic style."
The second assistant went to the gown room and carried her request. She took a fitting. Sarah said it was okay and asked for a second one. They showed her a mermaid style gown. Sarah suggested a third gown and she took a fitting. It was a lace and embroidered long gown with the top heart-shaped showing the curves of her breast.
"It fits you great, Alex."
Once the assistant returned the gown, Alex said to Sarah, "Why don't you try one?"
"I'm not a bride."
"It's not a problem, Sarah." The other assistant called Dahlia said.
Sarah picked a gown and fit it. It was an ivory silk and lace gown with a scallop top.
"It fits you to a T, Sarah Kale."
"Doesn't it? You know what Alex? Should I get married, I'll get you as my maid of honor. I don't have a female bestfriend. I only always have Devin and Daniel."
Alex gave her smile. "No girlfriends in school back then?"
Sarah shook her head. "I was an introvert and some people find me weird wearing doll dresses so I kept to myself."
Brightening up, she said, "Hey, why don't we try bridesmaid dresses just for fun?"
The two spend another half hour in the bridal shop trying bridesmaid gowns before they called it a day.