Chapter 10 - Emily

**EMILY**

Emily felt a little uneasy as she stood in the dressing room and took one last look in the mirror before opening the curtain. The beige dress was a real eye-catcher, skin-tight and absolutely seductive. The slit in the back reached shamelessly high so that she could walk comfortably. And when she sat down, Emily was sure that even her thighs were barely covered. A dress like that might look good on a seductive secretary - but not on a simple accountant like herself!
She stepped out barefoot and raised her head hesitantly. She was a little afraid to look her boss in the eye. What could he see in her? Did he like the way she looked, or was he expecting something more modest? *You can’t call this dress simple*, she thought and sighed. But then she looked into his brown eyes and it sparked. He reached for his tie and loosened it. Surely that was a good sign. Emily breathed a sigh of relief.
He made a hand gesture and said, “Turn around, I want to see you from all sides.”
Emily pressed her lips together. *Don’t say anything wrong now!* But it bothered her that he spoke in a commanding tone. After all, she was supposed to play his girlfriend, not his slave. So he should try to be more polite. Nevertheless, she obeyed him and slowly turned around. Again she was annoyed that she hadn’t read the contract. What did she know, maybe a submissive attitude was part of her profile. After all, Oliver had also told her not to talk, but to giggle foolishly instead.
“Stop!”
She stopped immediately and looked over her shoulder. “Is something wrong?”
“Is something wrong?” His voice was dangerously dark. “I can almost see your panties! Take it off, now!” He turned to the saleswoman with an angry tone. “I said stylish. What in the world is classy about letting every passerby see between my girlfriend’s legs?”
Emily fled into the dressing room from the drama that was about to ensue and hastily closed the curtain. Her pulse was racing and her ears were ringing. She had never seen Alexander Fitzpatrick like this. At work, he was quiet, sometimes smiled, and seemed more like a narcissistic, arrogant man. She hadn’t expected him to be tough and almost domineering. But surely such a domineering demeanor was essential in the circles in which he did business. He hadn’t made his billions through benevolent generosity.
Nervously, Emily fumbled with the zipper and slipped out of the dress. She was glad he hadn’t expected her to wear it. Although it had been exciting to see the flash in his eyes. But now she wasn’t so sure if it had been a flash of lust or rather of anger. She just couldn’t be sure what was going on in his head.
Sighing, she grabbed the next dress. The top was like a white blouse that flowed into a soft, cream-colored skirt. It wasn’t quite as tight and was made of a stretchy material. Therefore, there was no slit, which her boss would definitely like. She turned in front of the mirror and found that it really flattered her figure without being too provocative. To appear more relaxed, she unbuttoned the top two buttons before pushing the curtain aside again.
This time he smiled approvingly, and when she turned to face him, he looked extremely pleased. But if she thought that was the end of the fitting, Emily was mistaken.
“This is the style I want for my date,” he explained to the saleswoman. “Find me more outfits in this style, plus something for the evening. We want to go out for a fancy dinner tonight.”
“Yes, of course.” The young woman quickly turned and motioned for Emily to follow her. But Emily refused.
“It’s really not necessary,” she replied. “I mean, this dress is fancy and...”
Alexander just shook his head, a determined look on his face. “It’s more than necessary.” His voice was calm, but there was a clear authority behind it. “You will have to accompany me on many occasions, Emily. And that means you will need the appropriate wardrobe. And believe me, you will thank me when we go to the restaurant later. So don’t worry, I just want your pretty head to look pretty. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Emily froze for a moment. This wasn’t friendly small talk, this was a clear indication of where and how he wanted her: pretty, quiet and stupid. She seethed inside. It was one thing that she had signed this contract - whatever it said - but she was sure that it didn’t say that he could tell her what to wear. She wasn’t a puppet that he could squeeze into whatever he wanted. On the other hand, there was this inner voice that reminded her that she had to get through this somehow to keep her job. It wasn’t just about the current meeting; after all, her job as an accountant depended on it. So maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if she adapted to him. *Just for a while*, she thought. *Until I find a way out.*
So she smiled, forced a carefree expression on her face and nodded. “As you wish.” The words came easily from her lips, even though a storm was raging inside her. Fortunately, this was a one-time meeting. She couldn’t stand another afternoon like this. And when she thought of the evening, a cold shiver ran down her spine. Maybe he had asked for a hostess who would also serve him erotically. She had no idea if he had also booked the night after dinner.
Her heart was pounding as she followed the saleswoman, who was cheerfully praising very exclusive and very expensive clothes. But her mind was elsewhere. She imagined herself in a luxurious hotel room, Alexander lying relaxed on the big bed, watching her. And she was awkwardly taking off piece by piece the clothes he had bought her - until she... No, she couldn’t imagine that, her imagination wasn’t good enough for that. Instead, her heart pounded like a heavy drum roll and she felt dizzy.
She risked a glance at him. He looked gorgeous, beguilingly masculine. Maybe... maybe she could after all? Undress for him?