"No, I have nothing in mind, all these dresses look very cute, but they are not perfect, or at least they don't seem to be to me." replied Natasha as Dom could not help but chuckle, he certainly felt the same way, the dresses were tiny and cute but they just didn't seem like they would be something Joy would like to wear.
"So what do you think she would like?" asked Dom as Natasha looked at him with a frown.
"I'm not sure, that's why I called you here didn't I?" she replied as Dom laughed and nodded.
"Yes, yes, you did." he replied while the clerk decided to excuse herself and leave the couple in peace.
How could she have known that the red haired woman that walked into the store earlier was actually Mrs. White when she was dressed like that so...casually like a college kid.
The woman groaned internally, she had unknowingly dug her own grave by being rude to the wife of a very influential man. If only she had not opened her big mouth and had kept her condescending thoughts to herself then she would not have ruined her chances of making a good first impression.
She was surely doomed now, she was certain that Natasha would report her to her husband and she had every right to. She just hoped that she would be able to turn this around and stop Natasha from hating her before she walked out of the store.
"So is there anything you like?" she asked him as she continued looking. She never thought that looking for a dress for her daughter would be more difficult than when she got a dress for herself.
"Hmm, let me see." replied Dom as he looked through the dresses on the rack while the clerk returned to the front desk to give the couple some space while she thought of ways to earn Natasha's forgiveness.
"These dresses are really shiny... and glittery." said Dom as he happened to touch a glitter sprayed dress leaving a lot of glitter on his hand.
"Tell me about it, quite frankly it's annoying, who told you that young girls loke glitter this much?" asked Natasha in annoyance as Dom laughed.
"Well some of them do." he replied.
"I doubt that they really do, it's just the media that promotes shiny things as pretty. I never cared for glitter or sparkles as a child." said Natasha as she shook her head.
"Of course you didn't, because you were always more interested in jumping up and down and playing outside." said Dom as he chuckled.
"Well Joy isn't interested in them either." replied Natasha.
"Yes she isn't, she's like you, she loves being outdoors, just leave her outside with Meggie the whole day and she's content." said Dom as he laughed and Natasha could not help but laugh as well, he was certainly right about that.
"You're right about that, and when she comes back inside she still has so much energy to burn out and I wonder where she gets all her energy from." said Natasha as she laughed and shook her head.
"Well that's Joy for you, always so full of energy, she finds it hard to sit still in one place these days." said Dom as he laughed.
"It's just because she's growing and becoming more active, I'm sure she'll grow out of it soon." said Natasha.
"That may be true, but she's still in that hyperactive phase right now, which is why I don't really think it's a good idea for her to be attending the party." said Dom as he stopped looking at the dresses and turned to Natasha.
"I also thought that as well, I initially didn't want her to attend since she's still very young and there isn't really much for a child her age to do, but Grandfather convinced me otherwise. He said that it was better she got used to all these social settings now because there would definitely be many more in the future which she would have to attend and I do agree with him on that." said Natasha as Dom listened.
"Knowing Joy I'm sure she will be really bored at the party." said Dom as Natasha chuckled.
"True, but if she gets really bored we will leave soon." said Natasha.
"Joy's favourite colour is orange, how about we get her an orange dress? That would narrow down our options and make it easier to decide on a dress." said Dom as Natasha looked at him.
"That is true, the theme is the coral reef, and there is orange coral right?" asked Natasha as she needed confirmation.
"Yes, there is orange coral." replied Dom as he nodded.
"Then let's look for some orange dresses." said Natasha.
"Ahh you're in luck madam, we have a whole collection of orange dresses right over here, please follow me." said the clerk as she jumped in out of nowhere.
Natasha said nothing at all as she followed after the woman who now seemed eager to please her after their unpleasant first interaction.
"Here is our collection please don't hesitate to call me if you need anything, anything at all." said the woman as she smiled brightly.
"Thank you." said Dom as he smiled while Natasha said nothing, instead she started to look through the dresses.
"My pleasure." replied the clerk with an awkward chuckle as she returned back to her duty post.
"What did she do to annoy you?" asked Dom as Natasha did not look at him.
"Who said I'm annoyed?" she asked as Dom just laughed.
"It's clear that you are, what did she do?" he asked in curiosity.
"Let's just say that she is very condescending and she realized her mistakes too late." replied Natasha as Dom just nodded.
"So are you just going to stand there or are you going to look for a dress?" she asked in irritation, she was frankly tired of searching.
Dom did not even reply to her statement, he looked at the several dresses and just picked out the first one that caught his eye.
"What about this one?" he asked as he showed Natasha the dress and she stopped looking as soon as she saw the dress.
"It looks perfect." she replied.
"Really?" asked Dom in surprise.
"Yes." she replied.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Are you saying that because it truly is perfect or because you're just tired of searching?" he asked as Natasha scoffed, regretting her choice of words.
Of course when she said that it was perfect she meant it. There was no way that she would let her dislike of shopping make her care less for her daughter.
"I don't hate shopping that much to lie about a dress being perfect." said Natasha as she scoffed, if she was being honest she was jealous that Dom happened to be the one to find this dress and so easily as well.
She had to admit that the dress was perfect. It was a long sleeved burnt orange velvet and tulle dress. She was very very jealous that she had not been the one to find it.
"Well then that settles it, this is the dress then." said Dom as he smiled.
"I guess so, but is it her size?" asked Natasha as Dom looked at the tag.
"It is." he replied.
"Then let's go then, you're paying for it." said Natasha as she walked ahead of him to the front desk.
"Of course I am." said Dom as he laughed and shook his head, that was no statement at all, of course he was going to pay for his daughter's dress. He was the one that found it anyway, and it was only his duty as her father to take care of her financial needs.
He couldn't wait to see Joy's little face light up when she saw the dress. He was impatient to see her reaction. Her smiles and giggles always lit up his world and he was proud to say that sometimes his only drive was seeing her happy.
"Glad that you agree." replied Natasha, she had nothing against paying for the dress herself, but since Dom was here she wanted him to take responsibility, besides, she knew that he was more than happy to pay for his daughter's dress.
"Have you found a suitable dress for your daughter?" asked the woman very cordially as they stopped in front of the front desk.
"Yes we have." replied Dom with a smile while Natasha ignored the woman.
"Oh I am so glad, is there anything I can help you with?" she asked eagerly.
"No, nothing at all, I would like to pay for this." said Dom as he smiled.
"Ahh of course, of course, and you happen to be in luck sir, this particular dress is on sale." said the clerk as she smiled brightly after she scanned the barcode on the tag.
"Really now?" asked Natasha coldly as she narrowed her eyes at the woman.
"Yes madam, how lucky you are." said the woman as Natasha stifled a scoff.