Chapter 49 The Strange Changes
“Here they are!” Emily said, entering Ruby’s shop once again. She brought in a couple of altered dresses and some she had made from scratch to accommodate Ruby’s desire for retro looks.
Emily wondered if she got too carried away with the retro style. She had made the clothes look like authentic 1950s pieces.
But Ruby’s face lit up when she saw them.
“This is what I’m talking about!” the usually dour young woman said, “I’ll display these, and if you’d like to make a couple more for the fashion show, they’re going to be a big hit.”
“Will do,” Emily said. She couldn’t believe someone actually liked her fashion designs. It had been a long struggle to get them taken seriously by anyone.
“I’m going to sell these on commission, see how they do,” Ruby said, putting an end to Emily’s euphoria, “Shall we say 15 percent?”
“I was hoping you would buy them off me,” Emily said.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ruby replied, going back to her dour ways. “You’re a newbie. You’re lucky to be able to sell your stuff on commission.”
Emily was beginning to get seriously annoyed. “In that case, I’d like to get at least 30 percent of the profit.”
“I’ll give you 20, or you can take is somewhere else,” Ruby said firmly.
Emily was still grumbling about the demanding shop woman when she met up with Byron later that evening at his place.
Byron decided to completely spoil her by calling for his personal massage therapist. About an hour later, a young athletic-looking woman arrived and set up her massage table right in the suite.
“Hi Clarissa,” Byron greeted her, “Tonight you don’t need to worry about me. Just help this young lady to relax and unwind.”
Clarissa looked somewhat disappointed. Of course, Emily thought, who wouldn’t be, when deprived of the possibility to touch Byron’s well-muscled body. His smooth skin, which simply begged for a caress... She was lost in fantasies while she lay on the massage table and Clarissa’s touch made her feel instantly calmer. Emily hadn’t realized how tight her muscles were until she felt the tension released from her back and shoulders.
“Having a personal massage therapist... is really not a bad thing,” Emily remarked after Clarissa had left.
“I think so too,” Byron said. He seemed amused with her drowsy state as she lounged in a terri-cloth robe with a cup of hot tea.
“Clarissa seems like a very attractive young lady,” Emily remarked, “with her blond ponytail and her overall good-looking figure.”
“Yeah, I suppose,” he said, giving her a sidelong look. “Are you jealous?”
“No, not at all,” Emily said. “I know you probably keep things professional.”
“Of course I keep things professional,” Byron said, “I should be offended, but it seems the massage has made you unable to think clearly.”
“Sorry, it’s just you’re surrounded by good-looking women. Your receptionist is really attractive too. Aren’t you tempted even a little?”
Byron stood up and picked her up from the couch. “I see you need some convincing.”
“Of what?”
“That you’re the only woman I’m interested in,” he said, carrying her to the bedroom.
“Please do,” she replied. “I need lots and lots of convincing.”
She could finally run her hands along his smooth skin which she had been craving all day, pressing her hands into the finely tuned contours of his body.
When Emily woke up the next morning she had a feeling they were definitely not past the honeymoon period.
Byron brought her breakfast in bed as he often did on weekends, only this time... there was no coffee! The only items on the breakfast tray were fruit salads and green smoothies.
She must have made some kind of face because Byron suddenly looked concerned. “What?” he asked.
“I don’t want to be a pest,” Emily said, “and I really appreciate this breakfast. Most people don’t bother to make breakfast for their significant other at all...”
“But you don’t like it?”
“I just miss the usual breakfast,” she said sheepishly.
“You mean the unhealthy caffeine and carbs?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Okay, okay.” He took away the tray.
A few minutes later he was back with coffee and croissants for her, while he still had the smoothie.
“You’re not mad, are you?” Emily asked. “I know it must be hard for you to stick with the healthy diet while I stuff my face with pastries.”
“It’s fine,” Byron said, giving her a kiss. They nestled closer in the bed, and Emily was soothed by the warmth of his body. “I actually enjoy the healthy drinks.” Suddenly he burst out laughing. “You should have seen your look when you realized there was no coffee,” he said, “I was scared for my life.”
