Page 21 of Once Upon a Prince

“Dax,” Ella said breathlessly. “It’s beautiful but it is too much. It’s too expensive.”

“Anything of good material is going to cost. This suit is made of the finest quality, with the knowledge and understanding of how a woman’s body is shaped and the best way to accentuate what she was given. The suit could be considered a work of art and as such, deserves to be seen, to be worn, to be admired. Just like the person who is wearing it should be admired. The suit needs to have a life, be cherished, and appreciated. It would be a crime to have it stay on a shelf and not be seen. The suit was made to be worn by someone with style, elegance, and strength, by a woman who has the grace and beauty to show how it was meant to be. The suit was made to be worn by someone as special as you.”

Chapter 13

Ella

The suit was made to be worn by someone as special as you.

How the hell is a woman supposed to argue with that? The comment, how Dax had looked, and the whole afternoon kept playing in my mind as I looked at the bags that were sitting on my bed. It was an extensive amount of bags and I still wasn’t sure how Dax and Garrett had convinced me to take them all. Though the comment Dax made about the suit and how I looked in it certainly made it easier to say yes.

It had been really fun to have my own personal shopper, though it had been beyond intimidating. Cynthia and Garrett had known the exact size and style that would be perfect for me and when I put on the black pantsuit, it had felt like a dream. I hadn’t even allowed myself to look at it in the mirror, instead wanting to know how much it was. I hadn’t been lying when I said the suit cost more than my first car.

When I had gone out to see Dax, I had been determined to put an end to this charade. I understood why he was doing it and I did appreciate it, but it had gone too far. But then I saw myself in the mirror. I had seen how Dax was looking at me while I wore the suit, and I knew I was going to accept his assistance. It was petty, and not like anything I had ever done. But I wanted to have Dax look at me like that again. I wanted to feel what it had felt like when he had looked at me in the mirror. If I had to accept some clothes in order to do it, I would.

I hadn’t told Layla or Ara about the shopping excursion. I kept thinking I would find a way to convince Dax not to do it. I also knew if I told my friends, they would do everything in their power to change my mind. I didn’t want their encouragement, even if it would have come from a place of love. But once the clothes had arrived, there was no hiding in from Ara, who had immediately called Layla.

“Is this a Teemu Slide?” Ara asked as she picked up a blouse.

“It is,” Layla said and snatched it out of Ara’s hand.

“I guess,” I said and could feel myself blushing.

I hadn’t realized how much Dax had bought for me until it was all laying out on my bed. There were over ten bags of clothes with various outfits, pants, blouses, skirts, sweaters, and three different pantsuits. Once Dax had seen me in the first one, he had insisted on buying a few more. I told myself it was what he wanted so that I looked the proper part for my job, I wasn’t going to allow myself to think it was anything else.

Layla ran her hands slowly along the blouse and then lifted her head and smiled at me. She then looked over at Ara before looking back at me.

“Since when does getting an original blouse from one of the top designers cause a woman to blush?” Layla asked.

“Since her boss, her very sexy, and generous boss, bought them for her. When he insisted on buying them for her,” Ara answered for me.

“Oh, you didn’t tell me that,” Layla said and leaned back on the bed.

“You thought I bought these for her?” Ara asked.

“When you said come over and see the clothes that Ella got, I did. I was a little surprised at how much there was but thought you were being a good friend,” Layla said to Ara.

“Don’t get me wrong. I will help a friend in whatever way I can, but even I’m not this generous. Look at this pantsuit,” Ara said, and held up the black pantsuit.

“Oh, that is pretty,” Layla said as she stood up and held the pantsuit in front of her. “I wish I was the same size as you so I could borrow it.”

“I’m sure we could bring down the hem a little bit, you aren’t that much taller than me,” I said.

“No, I’m kidding. This is all for you. I’m just a little jealous. I’m sure you’ll look amazing wearing this,” Layla said and put it up against me, and smiled as I looked down at it.

“There’s that blush again,” Layla said and pointed at me.

“I’m not blushing,” I stated but I could feel how hot my cheeks were.

“Totally. It’s just really hot in here and your cheeks are feeling it,” Layla teased.

“I’m all for a boss helping with a nice wardrobe but this is extensive. What prompted this? More importantly, how did you get him to do it?” Ara said.

“He was just being nice,” I said but the words sounded hollow even to my ears.

“Nice is buying you lunch, or letting you go home early. This is on a whole other level. Is something going on with you two? Is he trying to impress you?” Ara asked.

“The man can walk into the room and be impressive,” I admitted before I could stop myself.