AllFreeNovel
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Naturally, I imagined the mall being busy today, and I make a mental note to keep a tight hold on her in case she gets any big ideas. This is no everyday mall, anyway. “Would you believe it if I told you I own the place? Or rather, the company that owns the place?”
“Really?”
“Everyone told me it was a useless purchase.” I get out of the car, then help her out, taking her hand and walking beside her to the door of one of the mall’s many high-end shops. “I mean, malls are going the way of the dodo anymore. What too many people forget is shoppers want an experience.”
And stepping through the doors and into a veritable wonderland is an experience. Winter stops short, her mouth falling open as she takes in the elaborate décor I insisted all of the stores adopt, overriding the advice from their corporate offices. Lavish trees, swags of evergreen boughs, and golden stars galore. “It's beautiful.”
“And it's your playground. Not just this store, either.” I figured this was the best place to start, a department store where she could find just about everything she needed. Her eyes widen as we stroll through the lingerie section, and I find her casually checking price tags as we pass.
“I told you. You don't have to worry about that. You see it, you like it, it fits? It's yours.”
“You don't really mean that.”
“Don't tell me what I don't mean. I just told you I own this mall. You think I can't afford a shopping spree at Neiman Marcus?”
After a few minutes, she loosens up, reluctantly pulling a few items from the racks and holding them up against herself, biting her lip. I watch with amusement while knowing deep down inside, she's as excited as any reasonable person would be at the idea of having free rein.
Before long, a shopper’s assistant carries items to a dressing room for Winter to try on while a small stack of shoeboxes waits for us at the cash register. Everything she picks up makes her think of two more items she needs. I’m not about to stop her when she can’t stop smiling.
“We’ll have a nice dinner at home tonight.” I nod toward the section containing ladies’ dresses and formalwear. “Pick out something pretty for yourself. Whatever you want.”
She heads in that direction, and I can tell she’s simply itching to check the prices but manages to hold herself back in favor of perusing the different styles. “What do you like? I want to wear something you’ll like.”
“I’d like you in absolutely nothing.” The flush that colors her cheeks and how she averts her eyes tell me that wasn’t the right thing to say. I can’t let frustration get the better of me now. She’ll come around. She has no choice.
"What about this?” I ask, choosing a dress at random. Now that I take a serious look at it, it seems like it would suit her. The shining silver fabric will flow over her like liquid metal.
“That’s beautiful.” She reaches for it, testing the softness, before finding her size. “I’d like to try this on if that’s okay.”
“Of course, it is.” I begin to follow her to the dressing room—and when she notices, she stops short.
“You’re coming in with me?” Her eyes dart back and forth, her voice a shocked whisper.
“What do you think?”
“I think the people who work here might think that’s weird.”
“I don’t think they’ll care—and I know I don’t.”
When I try to nudge her forward, she bites her lip, still looking around. “I think I have to go to the bathroom.”
“You think?” I take one step closer, looming over her. “Or you thought you’d be able to get out of here without me?”
“No, that’s not it!” Her flushed cheeks and the fact that she won’t meet my gaze tell me otherwise.
Everything around me goes red. What do I have to do? How many hoops does she expect me to jump through? “Come here.” With my hand around her elbow, she doesn’t have much choice but to fall in line. A couple of the stalls are occupied, but the doors are closed. Nobody notices me dragging the panicked, trembling girl holding the silver dress into the room awaiting her.
“I’m sorry—” I cut her off with a hand over her mouth once the door is locked behind us. Her eyes fly open wide, and her body goes stiff with fear once I’ve pushed her up against the wall.
“Why do you keep pushing me?” I ask in a tight whisper, aware we aren’t strictly alone. “Have I done anything but try to make you happy? What will it take to show you how serious I am?”
The strangled cries behind my hand tell me she’s no closer to calming down than before. Rather than remove it, I thrust the other beneath her thin sweater, using my body to hold her in place.
She wriggles against me, arms caught between us. The girl is helpless. How far do I need to go before she understands that?
“Keep trying to fight.” My fingers work beneath her bra cup, where I find her already tight nipple and pinch until tears fill her eyes. “It turns me on. And you’ll be the one who’s embarrassed if anybody finds us. I have too much money to give a fuck.”
The fight drains from her as the truth of this sinks in.
