Page 45 of The Alpha's Forsaken Vow
Chapter Twelve
LILA WINTER
I choose you as my plus one, but it’s strictly for work.
His voice gnaws on my mind like an ich that can’t be scratched. I’m not going to lie and say my breath didn’t hitch when he said he had chosen me, neither am I going to lie and say when he added the word “work” in the next sentence, my heart didn’t shatter even a little.
Work companion or not, I had seen the look in his eyes when he slid his black AMEX card against the glass on my desk, pushing it toward me.
Alaric wants me to look good for this banquet.
He might not want me to embarrass him, but I read his words and saw his eyes as they roamed down my body. He wants to see me in the best clothes his money can buy.
Honestly, I should be ashamed for taking his card, but in truth, I have nothing in my closet that would match the clothes any of the women who were supposed to accompany Alaric to the banquet would have worn.
So here I am. In one of the most luxurious and most expensive stores in the city.
Royale Atelier.
The bouquet’s name is skillfully written in golden italics outside the massive building.
I gaze at the revolving doors and the windows by my side that showcase some of the most beautiful dresses I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Lina would have been excited if she got to see this. I bet she’d want everything in this store. The thought itself almost crushes me, but I push it away. Someday, I’ll be able to buy my little girl all the finest dresses in this freaking city.
Holding my purse close to my hip, I walk inside Royal Atelier. The moment I step in, the air itself shifts, and gone is the choking car smog. Instead, I’m met with the exquisite scent of fresh leather, expensive perfume, and the type of indulgence Lina and I only see in movies.
A whiff of freshly baked croissants wafts in the air the more I walk in. Gilded mirrors all around reflect back an image of someone who doesn’t belong here.
Not in the exquisite dresses put on mannequins.
Not on the white floors, walls, and everywhere I see.
And not in the crowd of cheery women shopping.
I should have just gone to a cheaper store, because in here, I feel like an imposter.
If it wasn’t for Alaric’s black card in my purse, I probably wouldn’t even be able to afford to clean the toilets here, let alone munch on the wonderful appetizers that are croissants placed a few feet from where I’m standing—
“Ma’am? Ma’am, hello?”
I snap from my thoughts when a willowy blonde stands in front of me with a practiced smile.
“Hello,” I greet her.
The blonde has an exquisite set of pearls around her neck that match the white in her teeth. Her ironed work outfit looks like it cost an arm and a leg.
“Welcome to Royale Atelier. How can I assist you today?”
Another practiced smile.
Another predatory gleam in her eyes like she can sense I don’t know anything about gowns, nor do I look like someone who can afford one.
Clearing my throat and pushing away my hesitation, I say, “I need a gown. Something elegant and formal but not too formal?”
This time, when she replies, her shoulders are relaxed and her eyes less intense.
“I got you. We have a wonderful array of gowns. You can walk with me while I show you all the gowns we have here If you like one, you can try it on.”
