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“Nope.”
I pick out three dresses, two pairs of shoes, and a bikini. Alex gives me a disappointed look.
“What? You told me I could get anything…” Is he really getting annoyed for doing what he asked?
He shakes his head. “It’s not that, Bella. Get more. Get everything you desire. I saw you eyeing that black beaded gown there.” He points. “Try it on. Get it if you’d like. If you want the whole store, it’s yours.”
Alex helps by taking things he likes off the racks and draping them over his forearms.
A shopkeeper whisks the clothes to a fitting room.
“I bet you’ll look beautiful in this one.” Alex holds a coral-colored form-fitting dress flush against my body, and I’m so tempted to kiss him. But without the paparazzi, I don’t know if I should.
I try it on. When I walk out and present myself to him, he’s sitting on a chair outside, staring hungrily.
“You have to get that one, Isabella.”
I do, along with about twenty other items from that shop alone.
Our last stop in the shopping district is a jewelry store that’s decorated in more crystal than I’ve ever seen in my life. He buys me a sapphire and ruby necklace, along with matching earrings.
“The same colors of your country and mine.”
“Thank you, Alex. I love it.”
I hold myself back from saying more. It would take so little for me to spill, to change that ‘it’ into another little word. I can’t puncture our illusion. To keep the ruse convincing, I can’t fool myself into thinking it’s anything other than fiction. That’s what I keep telling myself.
By the time we’re done, the cars are stuffed with boxes and bags full of suits, heels, athletic clothes, nightgowns, party dresses, loungewear, jewelry, and accessories, including types of attire and accouterments that I didn’t even know existed before now.
I have no idea how I’m going to take any of this back with me. But I don’t want to think about that. I just want to live each moment as it happens.
25
ALEXIS
Ihave to remind myself that this is all just a performance. Our public affair is only meant to serve as a distraction, drawing eyes away from the palace.
When we're spending time together, I can't help but notice the way Bella's eyes light up. It looks too genuine to be an act. Maybe she's truly enjoying herself. Maybe she’s feeling that fire we’ve always felt together, too.
I approach Villa Silvae, a quick drive from my own home. The guards bow and open the entrance right away. I wait in the sitting room for Isabella to come downstairs. I want to read the edition of theSolvaria Sunin my hand, but I don’t want to have to fold it back up to show it to Bella with the requisite flourish.
“Good morning,” she says sleepily as she descends the stairs. She looks radiant in a light dress that goes down to her knees and hugs her curves, even when she’s still waking up.
“Look who made the front page.” I hold up the daily newspaper, with the two of us pictured on the cover.
She grabs the paper out of my hand and shakes her head at our image. But her smile is pure delight.
“Alexis Fancies His Fiancée. Now that’s funny,” she says as she raises an eyebrow. She hands me back the paper like it’s a dirty towel.
I try to reassure her. "This is a good thing, Isabella. It means we've gotten over the hard part. The next few days should be smooth sailing."
My confidence seems to help calm her nerves. When she looks at the picture again, she's smiling. I lean forward. "Speaking of sailing, have you ever been to a real beach?"
“It depends on what you mean by a real beach," she admits. "The ones in Texas are mostly rocky and brown. If you mean white sand beaches with clear water, then… no."
"You’re going to love the Solvarian shore then. Pristine white sand, azure water, and mountains looming over the horizon. Would you care to join me at the beach this morning?"
“I’ve been dreaming about it since I saw it from the plane. Yes. And I got those new swimsuits yesterday.”
