The new look came as a surprise to her. She was unable to see herself until the final step was to select a dress and shoes for her. Her eyes opened wider as she looked at the labels, counting the number of zeros on them. She was surprised that James had taken her to such an expensive store.
She blinked her eyelids as he took a fuchsia-colored dress off the rack and forcibly led her toward the fitting room. He locked her inside and, smiling under his breath, glanced at his watch. They had very little time left.
Chloe opened her mouth as she looked closely at the creation he had chosen for her. It was beautiful. She was impressed until she gasped. A heart-shaped neckline began at breast level, and the top was covered with white lace. The entire bottom was flared like that of a fairy tale princess.
She looked around the fitting room and fidgeted under her breath because there was no mirror. He had done this on purpose. He didn't want her to see herself until she was ready.
- You're standing at the door, aren't you? - She asked once she was dressed. - Then come inside because I need your help.
- Should I call the expediter?
- Damn," she muttered, rolling her eyes. - Didn't you see the back? Come inside and help me with the lock. After all, you're not supposed to undress me!
Just then, an expediter walked past him, so he asked her for help. In this situation, he was either embarrassed or playing the gentleman.
The woman helped the girl zip up and when she was ready, she stepped outside. She had no idea what she looked like in that dress, so she felt uncomfortable when James gave a nervous grunt and escaped with a sideways glance. She decided that she looked so awful that he couldn't look at her, and she didn't even suppose that he had done it out of his impression of her.
- You look beautiful... - Each of the women marveled at her appearance, which was something surprising to her. Chloe never weighed her appearance. She walked around in comfortable, favorite clothes; her short blond hair was always frayed, and her eye makeup was too sharp.
One of the employees matched her outfit with white stilettos. Although Chloe had never walked in high shoes before, they were so comfortable that she felt as if they were on a flat sole.
James measured her carefully, which she didn't notice as she positioned herself sideways to him.
- Since you're ready, you can see yourself.
One of the women led the girl to a large mirror. The blonde looked at her reflection; at first, she recognized that someone entirely different was standing in front of her. She couldn't believe that it was actually her. Her frayed blond strands of hair were arranged with bangs to the side. She didn't think it was possible to make such a wonderful hairstyle out of short hair. Her makeup was delicate, yet so beautiful that it completely transformed her. The added eyelashes gave her a sensual look, and the pink lips added a girlish charm.
The dress lay perfectly on the girl, as if it had been made just for her. High boots added inches, making her the coveted one-meter seventy.
She was delighted.
She opened her mouth when James stood behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders and smiled warmly. In a cornflower suit, black shirt and with his bangs up, he looked so handsome that the girl swallowed her saliva harder from the sensation.
- How many points can you give yourself?
- A damn hundred points," she replied hastily, looking at their reflection in the mirror. The man put his hand to his mouth to hide a smile.
- I know you like a harsh vocabulary, but I beg you.... tonight do me a favor and avoid ugly expressions.
The blonde smiled, cocky.
- I promised to be polite, so keep Isabelle away from me. She can get me unbalanced quickly.
- Isabelle will fall down with jealousy as soon as she sees you, so you don't have to worry about that. You look beautiful," he whispered as he leaned over her ear.
It wasn't often that Chloe was embarrassed, but at that moment she caught a beet making her look even prettier with a blush on her face.
*
Chris couldn't take his eyes off his partner. Isabelle looked stunning in a long red dress. In his eyes, she was the most beautiful woman in the room.
- Why isn't he there yet? - she muttered quietly, looking around. - Do you know who he is coming with? - She turned to Chris, in whom a mysterious smile appeared on his face.
- It's not difficult to guess. Although... it could be quite a show. I think I'll fall if he really brings her and makes a laughingstock of himself.
Isabelle boiled over in anger, surmising who she meant. Her partner's words made it clear to her that James had decided to take the simpering girl with him.
- Don't tell me ... he really wants to do it? After all, this girl can not behave at all! - She panicked, fearing that with one mistake she would ruin her reputation. - Besides, her appearance... she's a nightmare!
- He probably trusts her, since he dared to do it. At least it will be fun," he stated, shrugging his shoulders.
The smile came off his face as he fixed his gaze on the entrance. His best friend was walking at the side of a girl who had made a noise with her mere appearance. People began whispering among themselves, wondering who this dazzling lady was.
Isabelle found the object of interest and opened her eyes wider, almost whooping her champagne. She set her glass down and fixed a surprised gaze on the blonde, who at that moment completely resembled the person she was every day.
- Was it really her? - Chris was charmed for the first time by the appearance of the naughty girl. - James did an impressive job... I didn't think it was possible to discover such beauty in her.
Accompanying him, the girl fixed her angry eyes on him and pressed her lips together out of nervousness. Until now, she was the most beautiful in his eyes, and now he had changed his mind. She couldn't believe it because all the time he thought Chloe was a little monster.
Everything was bubbling up inside her, and she was waiting for the moment when they would approach, and she could humiliate her enough. She had to pour out all her anger; however, James nodded to them, taking an entirely different direction. He greeted everyone, introducing people to his partner.
Isabelle was sure Chloe would make a laughingstock of herself, but she acted too elegantly for her character. She was told how she should conduct herself and tried to conform.
- He didn't come up here because of you," Chris stated with amusement in his voice. - This is his way of trying to protect his partner. He doesn't want you to bring her out of balance.
- How well you know him...
The girl was not going to leave her alone anyway. Eventually, she decided to catch up with her and poke her in the face with a few words.
- Don't do anything stupid because it's not her you'll harm, but my friend. - Chris saw through her intentions, so he warned her to just let it go that evening.
Isabelle ignored his words. Indignantly, she crossed her arms over her chest, all the while keeping a close eye on the director and his partner. She was jealous and would have given up a lot to accompany him and not her current partner.
James got into a conversation about the company, so Chloe stepped away from him to taste something from the table. She put a small amount of food on her plate, trying to maintain the appearance of a lady. She played the part of an elegant woman so as not to disappoint her savior. It was hard for her, especially when she forced a fake smile, but this behavior was more maintaining the look she was charming with today.
Snacking, she looked around the room and lost her appetite when she spotted the unlikeliest of secretaries. The girl was scowling at her with a viper-like stare. Chloe grabbed her champagne and, smiling mischievously, raised her glass toward her, watching as the highly indignant secretary headed her way.
- Finally we have a chance to say hello," she declared when Isabelle stood in front of her.
- How did you convince him to take you with him to such a place? You completely don't belong here, bug.
- Ah, the venom until it flows out of your mouth," Chloe stated, biting into a cookie. - Nice coat," she added as she measured her from the bottom up.
Isabelle smiled mischievously.
- Yours is lovely too, and I'd love to douse it in wine, but James certainly spent a fortune on it, so I'll let it go. You can only afford rags from the lumberyard.
Chloe realized that the secretary was trying to get her unbalanced. That's what she meant, which is why she approached her. Even though everything was boiling inside her, and she felt like dragging her out by her hair and scratching her face, she kept her cool. She was not going to give her that satisfaction. She promised James that she would not bring him shame. Furthermore, she was grateful to him for everything, and at least tonight she could not harm him.
- Sometimes the rags from the lumberyard are nicer and more comfortable than the clothes of famous designers. - Chloe smiled at the sight of the director. Isabelle turned to face him, surprised that he heard everything. - I know because I used to be forced to wear cheap things myself. There is nothing to be ashamed of. - He shrugged his shoulders.
They were joined by Chris, who threw his partner a cool look. Even though he had asked her not to make a show of it, she still put on a show.
- Isabelle," he admonished her, glancing at the blonde from the corner of his eye. He had to admit that James had done a good job because the girl looked stunning. She was completely unlike the little monster he often saw.
- Oh, come on. You came as my partner, and you act like a father. It's boring," she whined. She didn't realize that she was hurting the boy who was in love with her with this.
James noticed that his friend was confused. He was ashamed.
- I am disappointed in your attitude. If you are to address my friend like this, then I favor not taking you out at all next time. There is not an ounce of dignity in you. There are many girls who will be happy to come with him and will be grateful for it. - He was disappointed in her behavior. - And remember, you are the one accompanying him, not the other way around.
Her face went pale. She had not expected such words from him, as he had always been kind to her. He had never addressed her so coolly before. Could it be the influence of the girl who accompanied him?
Chris did not say a word. He was not angry that a friend stood up for him, but more disappointed with Isabelle's attitude. Only Chloe smiled secretly, satisfied that James had told her appropriately.
The secretary walked away from them with tears in her eyes, but no one ran after her. They wanted her to finally understand her behavior. With each passing day, more and more hostility spoke through her.
- Father has come. We should greet him," Chris spoke up, looking at his friend. James nodded and, sending the blonde a smile, communicated that he would be back soon.
Chloe this time grabbed a glass of white wine. Her attention was drawn to the man, who did not take his gaze off her the whole time. She perceived that there was something strange about him. He was watching her with admiration in his eyes, even devouring her with his gaze. However, it was not a male gaze that saw a woman for the first time, but a gaze with which he communicated that he was happy to see her.
The blonde furrowed her eyebrows as she began to feel uneasy. The man was acting suspiciously, especially since he was a mature man.
With hostility in her eyes, she carefully measured him when he decided to approach her. She didn't run away, she simply waited to see what he had to say to her.
- What? - She asked dryly, forgetting the rules of politeness. Toward him, she was not going to be nice because he seemed suspicious to her.
- You remind me of her...
The girl raised an eyebrow, taking another sip of wine.
- Who?
- A woman I once knew....
Chloe unexpectedly laughed out loud. The man made her laugh. She knew the silly talk and knew that most men riddled women that way.
- It's a good thing you haven't bashed yet with the text that I remind you of an angel and probably hurt when I fell from the sky.
- I'm not kidding...
He started to tease her, so she was going to walk away from him, but he grabbed her hand to keep her with him.
- What's your name?
The blonde felt like punching him. She hated such situations, especially when a stranger touched her.
- Let me go, or I'll punch you in the teeth.
Several people turned their attention to them. James noticed that something was wrong, so he approached them and helped the girl get out of the man's grasp.
- What happened? - He asked, eyeing the stranger suspiciously.
- He clung to me, banging some cheesy texts.
- She is with me, so please leave her alone," he turned to the older man, grabbing her hand and pulling her closer to him.
He, however, looked as if he was still in some kind of hypnosis. He could not take his eyes off her.
- You are so much like her.... - he whispered when James took her with him. They approached Chris, explaining to him what had happened.
- I don't know the man. I don't know who it is.
Isabelle, who was standing off to the side, tilted her champagne glasses sometimes, watching the whole situation carefully. She intended to drown the pain in alcohol.
- That something cruel would happen to you, you little maggot," she said quietly, wishing Chloe the worst.
*
The man did not approach her again, as James did not leave her side. Chloe accompanied him all the way to the end of the meeting, and moreover, she drank more wine than she had planned. Only when they came up for air did she feel the alcohol go to her head.
James hired a driver to drive them home. Chloe discussed silly things all the way there, eventually challenging the man who had attached himself to her. She didn't spare Isabelle either, claiming she was the biggest and most venomous viper on earth.
She sprawled across the back seat, resting her calves on James' legs.
- I understand that your legs may hurt after so many hours in stilettos, but isn't it even a little uncomfortable for you?
- No," she commented briefly, with her back leaning against the door. She rested her head on the glass and closed her eyes.
For the rest of the journey, they both remained silent. James allowed her to be stuck in this position, since it was comfortable for her.
When she crossed the threshold of the apartment, she happily took the shoes off her feet and carelessly threw them on the floor. She jumped onto the couch, not caring that her dress had rolled up. James immediately turned his face in another direction and walked over to the kitchenette to pour both himself and her water into a glass.
The girl sat cross-legged, so the flared dress hid her legs. She looked at the glass of water James had placed under her nose.
She drank it all.
- I was being polite. I didn't embarrass you and everyone admired me," she announced suddenly, watching as he sat down across from her. - I deserve to be rewarded.
- I don't know if rewarding you is a good idea.... - he declared, shaking his head. - But you are right. Tonight you deserved to be praised.
The blonde twirled her index finger.
- As a reward, I just want one honest answer to a question.
- Let it be.
- Why did you act as if you knew me from the beginning? Why did you decide to take care of me?
He didn't answer. He knew she wouldn't give him a break until he gave her the right answer, so he went over to the cabinet and took something out of it. Furthermore, he placed the photograph on the table and then headed to his room without a word.
- This is a sufficient answer.
He disappeared behind the door, and she clutched the photo in her hand and squinted to sharpen her gaze. In the photograph, she spotted a teenager with slightly longer hair posing beside a woman. The girl blinked her eyelids when she realized it was one of the caregivers who had taken care of her at the orphanage. The young boy who stood next to her was James, however, the biggest surprise was that Chloe also snapped this photo. With her blonde, frayed hair, which she had cut herself at the time, she sat sadly under a tree.
He knew her from the very beginning. He recognized her, and their bracelets were not coincidentally the same. Furthermore, he was the one who gave her the talisman at the orphanage and helped the girl get back on her feet.
She finally learned the truth and found the good spirit that helped her that day when she suffered the most.