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“Fine, then.”
“Woo.”
“I want to spoil you, Ava,” Damon growls. “Let’s get you a new dress. Let’s go and get you spoiled.”
I let out a shriek of glee. “This is gonna be fun.”
“Go and buy a nice dress,” he says. “Go and have a browse. On me.”
Oh, I’m loving this.
For the restof the early afternoon, I take Damon down Fifth Avenue looking for something nice to wear.
And it is a hell of a lot of fun.
“Money is no object,” the crime boss tells me. Even though he might be annoyed I am tagging along to his so-calledbusiness meetingtonight, he’s still keen for me to be happy. I like that. He’s still happy to let me indulge myself.
As we walk to the next luxury store, I take a glance upat the man. I can see he’s deep in thought. Something is worrying him.
I bet it’s tonight’s meeting.
At this store, I try on another dress. I look at myself in the mirror.
This feels good.
I step out of the changing room wearing the dress to get Damon’s opinion, seeing as he’s the one paying the small fortune for it. He rises to meet me. His eyes are on me. He crosses the room and whispers in my ear.
“You look beautiful, Ava.”
It’s so sincere. So impulsive. I can tell that’s what he’s actually thinking.
Oh.
And my heart instantly melts.
“Well, in that case,” I say, “If you think I look beautiful, then I’ll justhaveto get it. Give me your credit card.”
42
AVA
This isone hell of a strange world that Damon is pulling me into.A total trip. It starts off all innocently enough with the art gallery opening, but then everything quickly spirals into some kind of crazy gangster movie.
Damon is wearing a black suit. It’s his typical color, but strange for the glitz and glamor of an art gallery opening.
“Are you going to a funeral?” I ask him as we take the elevator down to the private VIP parking lot of the fancy hotel.
“A meeting with other bosses in my profession is similar to a funeral,” Damon replies, his lips tight and pursed. He’s clearly very much on edge for this work meeting.
And that puts me on edge. I don't know what it is, but I've learned that if Damon's anxious, I damn well should be too. I used to think the guy is unshakable.
Until tonight.
We’re chauffeured downtown to that art gallery in Damon’s limo, and let me tell you, the place has got all therazzle and dazzle you’d anticipate for a grand opening in the heart of NYC. Paparazzi, A-listers, politicians - you name it. The big shots you usually only catch on giant billboards, movie posters, or the news, or scrolling through your social feed - they’re all here, gracing us mortals with their presence.
And just like every second of this little New York escapade with Damon, I’m utterly floored as our limo trundles up to park outside the red carpet and I see the commotion.
This is certainly a long way away from Crystal River...
