AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She just shakes her head.
Fine. I'm getting to the bottom of this.
I grab her hand and drag her out of the car and into the showroom.
Two women make a beeline for me, then immediately stop when they see I'm not alone.
"Mr. Baxter, what a surprise," one of the women I've seen here before greets me. I recognize her voice from the phone. "Good morning," she adds.
"Is it? I mean, I get the distinct impression that it's been a pretty shitty morning." I pull Clarissa in against me to send a clear signal: this woman is with me.
Clarissa doesn't say anything, just lifts her head and stares at the sales assistant.
That's my girl.
"I sent my fiancée here so that she could find a beautiful dress to wear to a charity function on Monday but, well, I don't see her with a dress, do you?"
The two women look at each other, neither saying a word.
"And then I get a call about my card. I want to know why you didn't put the sale through when my fiancée used it."
The older woman finally speaks up. "Well, when Miss..." She looks around, panicked that she doesn't have my name.
"Masters. My fiancée's name is Clarissa Masters. You didn't ask for her name when she came in here? Shouldn't that be standard when someone comes in here wanting to spend thousands of dollars on a little bit of fabric?" I'm holding back, but it's not going to last forever.
Just seeing the way they're scrambling is boiling my blood. They fucked up and they know it. They're not sorry yes, but they will be.
"Clarissa? Did either of these ladies ask for your name?" She shakes her head. "Well, that's awfully rude, don't you think?"
"We're sorry. Ms. Masters."
"Good." I step back so I'm level with Clarissa, so they see we're in this together. So, they'll see the way they treated her is the way they treated me. And whatever they did to make her feel this way, they're going to pay for it. "Now, darling, why don't you show me the dress you wanted to buy?"
She just blinks, eyes still crystal clear, giving away nothing. I feel sadness and anger at once.
Hand curled against her neck, I pull her in close, lips brushing her ear as I say, "I'm here, Rissie. Nothing's going to happen to you now I'm here. Let's show these snobby bitches how to treat customers. You in?" Her temple rests on my lips and then I pull away with a reassuring nod.
Through the showroom, she leads me until we're in front of a mannequin wearing a rose gold, floor length gown with crystals embroidered all over the skirt. The straps hang off the shoulder, and when worn, the bust would fall right at the swell of her breasts.
"It's stunning. Let's try it on you." Still keeping her pinned to my side, I crook my finger at the two women hovering a few feet away. "Would you mind getting this one down for my fiancée? Also, she looks parched to me. We'd like some Cristal."
The woman trip over themselves and each other trying to run out back to grab the dress and our drinks.
"Ma'am, you said a size two?"
Next to me, Clarissa snickers. I'm glad to hear her respond. "I believeyousaid I was a size ten. So, you're the expert. Why don't you get for me what you think is best." Her hand squeezes mine, and I know she's feeling better.
I kiss her cheek and say, "You've fought worse than this, my sweet demon of hell. You can snuff these bitches out with your pinky toe."
The dress and champagne arrive at lightning speed, and the sales assistant slides open the curtain of a dressing room and hangs the dress up inside.
"Ma'am, would you like to try it on?"
Clarissa glances at me, still lacking that last morsel of confidence she needs. I nod reassuringly. "I can't wait to see it on, Clarissa."
She fiddles in the dressing room for a few minutes, but finally, in a voice sounding more like herself, she calls out, "I'm coming out."
I hold my breath.
