Chapter 8.2: Dress

After a few minutes of driving, Fire stopped the car in front of a boutique where the words, Ivory Closet was written on its big sign placed above its glass door. I immediately followed him when he got out of the car.

“What are we doing here?” I asked when I caught up with him.

“You guess . . .” He replied sparingly.

A moment later, someone welcomed us, which I think is a stylist. He looked at Fire and smiled. He also gave me a smile which I returned to him.

“I want her to be the most beautiful girl at the party. I’ll get her by four this afternoon.” He instructed the stylist which in return smiled at Fire in response.

“And you . . .” Fire closed the distance between which made me nervous as he’s also looking very intently at me,
“ . . .you behave.” He gave me a swift kiss after saying that, before turning his back and walking out of the shop.

My cheeks burned and I know my face is glowing red right now. Fire has kissed me multiple times before but this is the first time he kissed me in public with others watching.

*This is such an embarrassing moment.

I looked down in an attempt to hide my face and hide away from shame.

“Please come this way Ma’am . . .” The stylist said, showing his hands in front of us. A gesture to lead me into a room where they began fixing my look, applying my make-up, and doing my hair.

Two other girls came out from nowhere and started doing stuff on my fingernails and toenails. It took them awhile before the stylist, which they call Brandy spoke.

“And now . . . you look perfect!” He said gleefully and more feminine than it should, which made me realize that he's gay.

“T—thank you.” I stuttered and shyly wondered over my reflection on the big mirror in front of us.

They tied my hair into a messy bun, leaving some strands of hair carefully hanging on the sides of my face. Light make-up was put on me that complimented my skin tone well. But despite all these demureness, they decided to paint my lips blood red. They aimed for me to look seductively elegant for tonight’s party, and I think they did.

“Let's go this way, Ma’am.” Brandy gestured and one of the girls pulled me into another room, smaller than the previous one.

I roamed my gaze inside and it quickly landed on the sole long, black gown there. It was worn by a headless mannequin standing in the center of the room. Its fabric sparkled with every touch of light in it. Some of its excess fabric flows to the floor.

“Mr. Callante personally chose that gown.” Brandy said behind me as I walked into the center of the room.

*I’m so happy to hear that Fire personally picked this dress for me. It's the same as him giving this to me as a gift. Especially if it's this beautiful!

The off-shoulder, backless gown hugged every one of my body's curves perfectly. It showed the curves I always hide under the loose shirts I always wear. The plunging neckline showed a glimpse of my cleavage.

I mused on my own reflection in the mirror a great deal of time, admiring the fact that I could look this beautiful for once in a while.

The gown was ethereal. It was flowing and sparkling. I hope that Fire would like how I look tonight.

I noticed that there was a glow on my face. A different glow I didn't have before. I touched my cheeks. *Is this the glow a person gets when he or she is in love? That I couldn't surely tell.

“Where is she?”

I flinched as I heard Fire’s authoritative voice. I carefully made fast steps outside of the room to meet him. A smile immediately crossed my face as I saw him sitting on the couch and just like me, he’s also all set to go to the party.

“Hi!” I said to get his attention.

Fire was so busy with his phone. I wanted to frown but stopped myself from doing so, in case my makeup got ruined.

“H—hey”, he stuttered as he looked at me.

My brows furrowed when I saw him frown as he looked down and averted his gaze away from me. His face was red, his ears too? Is he angry? Didn't he like what I looked like?

“A—are you a—alright?” I asked him as I closed our distance.

“Yeah . . . it's just you look . . . uhm . . . gorgeous.” He mumbled as he lifted his chin but was still avoiding my eyes.

*Gorgeous? Did I hear it right? Did he just call me gorgeous?

He stood up and reached something from his back. My eyes widened and my mouth slightly parted when he extended his hands holding a bouquet of red roses in front of me.

My hands unconsciously reached for it and I accepted his present. I was smiling like an idiot as I walked and followed him out of the boutique.

“Fire” I shouted his name that made him stop walking.

“What?” He turned to me with a wrinkled forehead.

“Do you really mean what you just said?”

“What? Why, what did I say?” He asked me back in an impatient tone.

I swallowed and shook my head. “It's nothing.” I said and cheerfully walked towards him.

*I want to believe he really meant it so I won't ask him if really does.

I was already in front of him but he hadn't started walking to his car yet. He stood in front of me like a statue as his eyes were pinned on my lips.

In a swift move, Fire pulled me close to him. His other hand is on my cheeks while the other is pressing on my back. We indulged in a hot, passionate kiss, and I’m grateful he’s holding me or else I would have collapsed then and there with my weakened knees.

When he pulled out from the kiss, he looked straight into my eyes. “You're a fine lady, Solene. And I think . . .”

I held my breath waiting for more of what he'd say but instead of continuing, he quickly pulled away and walked straight to his parked car; as if I was a boiling water that would scald him if he touches me any longer.

I watched him as he opened his car's door for me and gestured for me to get in. During the ride, it took a great deal of self-restraint for me to avoid asking him about what he was going to say to me earlier.

As I think about it, this isn't the first time that he cut himself while telling me something. He’d pause in the middle of his sentence, as if he finds himself telling me a secret that I shouldn't know.

*Is he thinking of breaking the contract with me? Is he tired of me already? Did he at last find someone to replace me? Will the relationship founded between us be finally over?

“Are you nervous?” His voice awoke from drowning on my thoughts.

I swallowed before answering him. “A little bit.” I smiled awkwardly.

“Don't worry, he’s nice. And I’m also there.” Fire reached for my hand resting on my lap.

He told me earlier that he’ll be introducing me to his Dad. It's my first time meeting him so the nervousness came naturally.

“I’ll stick with you when we get there.” Fire gave me a quick glance before returning his attention on the road.

**“Just don't let go of my hand, okay?”** He said and I felt the grip of his hand on mine tighten.

I looked at him while his full attention is on the road ahead. I smiled and nodded slowly as a response.