TWENTY: SHOPPING

KIMBERLY


We set out to the cloth store where Liam said he knew people. Aiden didn't go with us, he had to take care of finding a name that suits me. Liam and I drove in silence on our way to the cloth store. It was weird how we were supposed to be lovers in public but hated each other in real life. I sat looking out of the window while Liam was focused on the road. Since I met him, I have not seen him drive, but I didn't want to think about it. I completely ignored him as we drove. He kept casting glances at me.

"You are not going to keep up with this attitude are you?" Liam asked.

I looked at him. "I am not putting up any attitude."

"What do you really want?" he asked keeping his gaze on the road.

"What do I really want?" I repeated the question not fully understanding why he had asked me that.

"You act as if this is all my fault. You were the one who went on National TV and..."

"You have said that enough to me already that it gets annoying when you open your mouth to talk. I wasn't the one that asked for it to continue." I folded my arms across my chest, facing the road now. "Listen, I had to do what I had to do and I am sorry for dragging you into all of it if that's what you want to hear, but I could do with you not being insensitive about it."

"Insensitive? I'm not being insensitive."

I chuckled sarcastically. "No, you are not..."

Liam's phone buzzed and he glanced at it, instead of replying to me. I watched his face crease into a frown as he stared at the phone. "A party?" he muttered and returned his gaze to the road.

That was when I took the time to look at him, although I only saw his profile, he was really a fine man with such a sore character.

"You are an exasperating woman," he said without looking at me.

"Huh?! I asked not clearly hearing him and not sure I understood what he said.

He cast me a glance and returned his gaze to the road. "You should put up this attitude when you see my mum, she can be a very difficult person to deal with and we are meeting her at a dinner party she had organized even without being here."

"What about your dad?" I was forced to ask.

Liam shrugged. "Busy running around the world chasing money."

Something about how he said that got to me. I turned to look at him. "So, has he heard the news yet?"

"He has, he is probably too busy to do or say anything, but he would eventually say something. My mum is really in charge of these things."

I decided to go on with the conversation since it was gradually turning normal. "You seemed so agitated when your mum told you she was coming."

"I know why she suddenly made that decision. She wants to meet you in person. She wants to know who the mystery woman her son is dating is."

"I see."

"Yeah."

Silence slipped in between us for a second and I glanced at him to ask the question I have always wanted an answer to. Since we were in the normal atmosphere now. "So, why did you choose to continue pretending to be my...boyfriend?"

Liam overtook a car, glanced at me, and huffed. "It's a long story, but I'm going to cut it as short as possible. "I don't want to get married."

"What's wrong with getting married?" I asked, turning to fully face him.

"Are you kidding me? I'm just twenty-six. I am still young and ready to mingle, I don't have time for a commitment right now."

I shouldn't be bothered by his statement, It was none of my business how he choose to live his life. But deep down in my most secret heart, that part that was almost hidden even from myself, I felt a tinge of hurt at his mindset. He cared less about any other person if not himself. "I see," I said quietly.

"We are here," Liam announced and pulled up at the curb. He got down before me and opened the door for me to get down. "When we are done here, we would take you to a hair place, you need a tinge to your hair," he leaned in and said in my ears.


He held the door open for me as we entered the boutique and grabbed my hand after that, entwining my fingers with his. I felt a warmth all over me that had not been there earlier. It must be my hormones reacting to the touch of a sexy man. I have never been in a relationship before so I didn't know what it feels like. We walked down the hall and a pretty girl with heavy makeup approached us.

"Hey, cupcake," she called, smiling at Liam and completely ignoring me. She also had a very strong French accent.

"Hello, Odette," Liam said and hugged the girl.

"I got your call and I had to come down here," she said and started walking in and we followed. "What are you looking for?"

"We want a complete wardrobe change," Liam said grabbing me along.

"Does she have any clue what she wants?" Odette asked.

Liam looked at me. I wasn't a fashion freak but I could pick out good clothes if I tried. I didn't know but I was getting a kind of negative vibe from Odette. "I can pick out a few clothes for myself," I said, ignoring how dry my throat was becoming.

Odette turned and her eyes rested on me, she looked me up and down with an expression I read as disdain and turned to Liam. "Your taste amazes me. She needs a lot of fixing. *Quel vilain petit canard."* [What an ugly duckling].

I didn't understand what she said in French, but I was sure it was a curse word from the look on her face. Liam just smiled at her.

"I need a superb transformation."

"I got you covered." She looked at me and waved for me to follow her.

Liam left my hand and I followed the girl as we walked through some collections. She pointed towards them. "Pick whatever you like."

I looked at the clothes, but I couldn't find anything I seem to like. I finally stopped at a maroon sleeveless dress that was fair and ran my fingers over it, then I turned the label and the price almost knocked me off my feet. I left the dress immediately and took a few steps back, my eyes widening in horror my jaw dropping open. Odette stared at me with a scowl.

"Is there any problem?" she asked.

"I can't..." I recovered and smiled at her, but her scowl deepened. "Can I talk to Liam for a moment, please?" I asked.

"As you wish," She waved me off and headed towards a desk.

I walked back to Liam who was seated and already on his phone, grinning widely. He didn't seem to notice when I came up to him.

"Let's get out of here, please," I said, startling him a little.

He looked up at me. "You were pretty fast," he said and started standing up. "I trust Odette to give you the best."

I rolled my eyes. Was he not seeing that my arms were folded across my chest? Was he being purposely clueless or was he pretending? "I am not buying anything from here," I said with a snap.

"What?" he asked, his eyebrows knitting together in a scowl. "Why? This is like one of the best clothing stores in town."

"I don't care what it is, I can't get a dress for five thousand dollars, it's too much luxury."

"Are you being serious right now? I have my debit card here."

I bit my lower lips from snapping at him. I kept quiet for a while. Was he going to pay for my clothing too, when he was paying me for this job? "I can't afford to pay you back."

He was bewildered and then chuckled lightly. "Who is asking for a refund. Take it as charity."

I shot him a look he missed and he put his arm around my shoulders and it took all the willpower in me not to slap his arm away and walk out of that shop. Charity?! He was really insensitive.

"Listen, Kim. You don't need to look like a beggar when you are dating a dignitary like me, fake or not. You need to look the part.

I felt the anger seething in me, Aiden was not here to calm me anyway. I could easily storm out of here and never look back again, but I couldn't afford that money. Why did I sign that stupid contract? I bit my lower lip more to prevent myself from bursting out. My phone buzzed, I took it out of my purse and glanced at it. It was Aiden.

* 'Don't take whatever he says to heart, Liam could really use a speech management class.'*

I looked around to see if Aiden was anywhere around us, but I didn't see anyone like him. That guy was very good. How did he know the right time to message me? I put the phone back inside my purse as Odette approached us.

"I am a very busy woman, Liam McGillivary, I won't have you waste my precious time," she said once she was in front of us.

Liam flashed her a flirty smile. I rolled my eyes. Was he flirting with her right in front of me?

"I had to convince my woman..."

"I'm sorry for the delay, can we go and pick up those dresses now?" I cut Liam short, flashing Odette the fakest smile ever.

"As you wish," she said and started walking away.

Liam grabbed my wrist as I was about to go, drawing me back a little too hard, that I bumped into him, our chests hitting each other. I looked up at him and he looked down at me with a smirk. Our faces were so close that for a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. My heart started beating frantically and my breath started to come out in heavy pants, I felt heat, creeping up my cheeks. He leaned closer, holding me spellbound.

"I am not called a billionaire for nothing, pick whatever you like and leave the payment for me." He straightened up and smiled at me, while I still stared at him. He released me and gestured for me to follow Odette.

I nodded and turned immediately, walking away as fast as my legs could carry me, hoping I won't fall flat on my face.


I wasn't interested in the rest of the things that went on. I let Odette pick out the clothes for me, I sized them and showed Liam. After so much picking and sizing, I was able to select twelve dresses.

"Some people are not just cut out to be sophisticated," she said while Liam paid for the dress.

I knew I couldn't keep quiet and let her treat me like that. Since Liam couldn't say anything in my defense, maybe, I should defend myself. "Excuse me, do you have a problem with me?" I asked staring straight into her eyes. I saw the surprise in her eyes and I was ready to lash out at her and at Liam too.



The Billionaire and the Unlikely Girlfriend
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