Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 138526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“Can I get changed now? You’ve seen it, surely, it’s okay right? Just buy it for your sister. What’s the big deal? If she doesn’t like it then take it back.” I’m rambling but I feel so uncomfortable right now.
I turn the corner to the part where the mirror room is, praying that it’s empty though the lady assured me it is. The dress is tickling my ankles.
The second I step into the light, looking down so I don’t fall, I hear somebody spray something from their mouth and start choking.
I look up… in my state of undress… and my eyes find Mr. C gaping at me, water dripping from his mouth, more water on the wooden floor.
I scream and grab for a nearby curtain, trying to wrap it around my body, still screaming.
“Holy shit what did I do?” the sales lady cries as I tangle myself in the curtain.
“GET OUT!” I yell at him but he seems to be stuck on the spot, still gaping at me as I try to hide myself from his view.
I pull off one of my heels and throw it at his head. He ducks at the last second and escapes the room, his tanned cheeks flushed and his eyes wide and down. As he leaves, he gives me one more look and I threaten to hit him with the other shoe.
“So… he wasn’t your boyfriend?” she asks, chewing on her lip.
“NO!” I cry, feeling on the verge of tears. “He was my boss.”
“Oh shit.”
“Did he tell you to get me to try that dress on?”
When she doesn’t reply I fight the urge to scream again. What the hell was he thinking? I stomp back to my room and almost rip the scrap of fabric that he tricked me into wearing when it gets stuck under my arms.
I get dressed at record speed and grumble my way out of there with flaming cheeks and my temper at near max. My sneakers hit the ground like bricks, and I don’t wait for him. He can get fucked. I am so angry.
I should have said no but I find it hard to say no to people.
“Rose,” he calls softly but I ignore him and continue. I know my way back to the hotel, so I don’t need him.
He doesn’t say my name again, but he does follow close behind not saying a word. I’m on the verge of tears again, angry embarrassed tears this time.
I don’t stop until we’re back at the hotel and he doesn’t speak until we’re in the elevator.
“Rose,” he tries again, and I flinch when he takes my pinky finger in his. “I am so sorry. I didn’t… I thought…”
“What? Hmm? What did you think?” I ask, looking at him over my shoulder with tears blurring my vision.
“I just wanted you to see yourself in something different,” he explains as the doors ping open.
“You think I don’t know what I look like in clothes like that?” I ask, sucking in a sharp breath as I rummage through my bag for the door key.
“It sounds stupid when you say it aloud but yes, I thought you were too nervous to try other styles because you’re so used to what you have.”
“Your stupidity is astounding,” I rumble, unlocking my door and pushing it open. He follows me inside without my permission. “What is your problem? Why do you always do this?”
“Do what?”
“Hurt me,” I reply, and he lurches back as though I’ve struck him. “You treat me like a toy… and I’m not a toy. What because I don’t dress like your wife, I’m not beautiful?”
“That’s not fair, that’s not why… I didn’t have any sexual motives to what I did. I didn’t realize you’d be so…”
“So what?” I ask, tying my thick wavy hair back. “Sexy?”
He looks away, shame crossing his features.
“Ezra, that’s the point,” I breathe, feeling disgusted with this entire situating. “I don’t want to be sexy. I don’t want to be the object of anybody’s desires but the man I choose. I wanted to be your equal, your partner, not the PA you’ve seen naked.”
“I haven’t seen you naked,” he corrects.
“You have, that dress was nothing but body paint and we both know it and I am humiliated.”
“I thought it might inspire an outfit for your date.”
“Because I couldn’t possibly get a man I want with how I like to dress?” I ask incredulously. “Because I couldn’t possibly know how to be sexy?”
He raises his hands and pushes one through his hair. “I was trying to help.”
“I didn’t ask for your help,” I snap and turn away from him. “You had no right to trick me like that.”
“I know.” He sounds defeated.
I shake my head and almost feel bad for chewing him out over this. Maybe he was trying to be helpful, maybe I am taking this too far, but then I think of Laurie, and what I’d tell her to do in my position.