Page 16 of Falling for the Bosshole

Towards the rear were rows of clothes racks with dresses in various styles and prints. She had no idea what she wanted, and the sheer number of choices left her confused.

“No,” she muttered, returning a sexy black dress that would reveal her soul. “Nope,” she declined a flaming red dress that plunged to the navel. She looked at a heavily embroidered brocade dress and decided looking like a saint statue lining the walls of a cathedral wasn’t a good idea either.

She kept pulling out hangers then returning them to the rack. The birthday dress hanging sadly in her closet suddenly looked appealing. Ana wanted to give up.

“May I help you,” a voice hailed her. “My name is Stefan.”

Ana turned. The voice was male, and it belonged to a tall thin man whose appearance was a spectacle in itself. He must have decided to wear a piece from every dress in the rack. Ana was awestruck; she couldn’t speak.

Stefan approached with an exaggerated swaying of his hips and circled her like prey.

“Hmm, lemme see. A new girl in town, probably a struggling dancer, doesn’t know the difference between a sheath and a flared dress … absolutely clueless … has somewhere important to go, probably a party, and about to give up,” Stefan intoned.

The smile on his face took the sting away from the words.

“H-How did you know?” Ana quipped.

“Been around far too long, dahling,” Stefan replied with an exaggerated sigh.

Ana sensed kindness and decided to stay.

“Tell me about it. Maybe I can help,” Stefan suggested.

“Well, there’s this party that I have to go to tonight. Work,” Ana shrugged, pretending disinterest, “and I have nothing to wear except a dress that was a gift for my birthday years ago.”

“Where is it gonna be? Club, hotel, poolside, private room?” Stefan asked.

“My boss owns this apartment, and the girls at work said his parties are always extravagant,” Ana replied.

“And you want to impress him?” Stefan’s question took her by surprise.

“No! No! Nothing like that. Besides, he has a supermodel for a girlfriend. I doubt he’d even notice me at all.” Ana fidgeted, unable to look Stefan straight in the eye.

“You like him,” Stefan concluded as deft fingers skimmed through the clothes rack. “I’m going to give you some free advice. Never compete. Highlight your assets. Forget hers. Why would he want something of the same if he already has that? Be different. Be you.”

Stefan pulled out a hanger. “This is you,” he proclaimed.

Ana looked at the dress. She couldn’t believe it. It was love at first sight. It was a hot little off-the-shoulder number with a delicate flower print in various shades of pastel. The waist was accentuated with a wide stretched belt. It was light and sheer. She could picture herself wearing it.

“Isn’t it a bit short,” she asked, suddenly skeptical.

“I can’t see what’s inside those sweats. But I bet you have long lean dancer’s legs,” Stefan replied.

“Yeah, I could wear a short dress,” Ana proclaimed. Then, “Shoes. I-I don’t think I own a decent pair,” she wailed.

Stefan rolled his eyes. “I bet you’re clueless about hair and make-up too?”

Ana nodded, embarrassed. “I was thinking of getting a haircut. I don’t put on much make-up. Maybe a lipstick and some blush?”

“Girl, I bet when you got out of bed this morning, you had no idea you’d meet your fairy godmother in a flea market. Come,” Stefan took her decisively by the elbow.

A few hours later, Ana stood in front of a full-length mirror in a salon owned by Stefan’s twin brother, Nigel. The hairdresser did wonders to her untamed hair, weaving them into a goddess braid crown that displayed her neck and shoulders. Stefan asked her to don the dress he chose earlier and the netted open-toed booties they shopped for together. A single gold bracelet was on her wrist for added drama.

“Well?” Stefan asked as Ana gazed at her reflection.

“It’s still me, only better,” Ana decided.

“Atta girl,” Stefan gushed ushering her out the door.