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Logan
“Howabouttheblue,sir?” The sales assistant sweeps over to me, draping another long gown over her arm for me to inspect as she speaks to me in English.
“Like I said before.” I smile politely. “Whatever Ms. Harper likes.”
She leans closer to where I’m sitting in the waiting area, my laptop set up on the low table in front of me. I clear my throat as she lingers and her perfume surrounds me, tickling my windpipe.
“This one is very forgiving.” She lowers her voice. “I’d also suggest some of our control garments.”
“Control what?”
She licks her lips and bats her eyelashes at me. “Special lingerie, very popular with women carrying some excess wei—”
“Don’t finish that sentence.” I slam my laptop shut.
Her eyes widen as I glare at her.
“Mia?” Another woman rushes over to us. “Take your lunch.”
“But—”
“Take your lunch,” the new woman repeats with a tight smile.
Mia’s eyes dart toward the changing room Maddy is in. She looks back at me, her eyes roaming over my suit and then my face before she purses her lips. “I was only trying to help.”
“Your help isn’t required any longer,” the new woman says, effectively dismissing Mia, who then stalks off.
“I’m Elena. I manage this store. Please accept my apologies, Mr. Rich. Mia hasn’t been working with us long.”
I doubt it’ll be much longer if that’s how she talks to her customers. I stand and shake her hand.
“It’s lovely to meet you in person.” Her smile grows. “Our store has supplied many of the designer gowns for your mother.”
“So you have.” It’s why I brought Maddy here. And because the staff all speak English fluently. I wanted Maddy to feel comfortable.
“Your mother has exceptional taste. So elegant.” Elena’s eyes narrow as she thinks, one finger tapping against her lips. “But for Ms. Harper, I think we should try something a little more…” She tilts her head with a smile. “Alluring. I’ll pull some gowns and see what she thinks.”
“I appreciate it, thank you.”
I sit back down and open my laptop. Elena enlists the help of two other staff members who begin whirling around the seating area I’m in. A rainbow of gowns swish past, held in one girl’s arms as another carries a pile of shoe boxes.
I settle down to work, firing off a quick text to Mum first. We spoke yesterday and she seemed relieved to tell me that Gabrielle laughed in Spencer’s face when he suggested the idea of us marrying. Mum’s update quelled some of the unease hanging around in my gut.
“I don’t think it’s the one. But at least it fits.”
I look up as Maddy walks from the changing rooms in a long blue dress. The material’s floaty and she’s frowning and fidgeting with it as she walks closer to look in the giant mirror on the wall.
“It’s nice.” I stand and shove my hands into my pant pockets as I step closer to her, meeting her eyes in the reflection.
She shakes her head.
I nod. “Okay. It’s a no.”
She turns to face me. “You don’t have to stay if you’ve got work to do.” Her eyes travel to my laptop on the table.
“It’s fine. I can do it here.”
Her brow creases as she frowns. “Okay. I’ll try the next one, then.”
