Page 312 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 1

She just stared at me, not at all affected by the particulars. "I'm so sorry, but I don't know if we're going to be able to help you."

"What? Don't you have anything? Couldn't I buy a sample dress or something?"Shit.I had waited too long to look.

Jen laughed. "You're not buying a sample dress, Penny. That's ridiculous. Anna, your designers always make exceptions under certain circumstances, right?"

Anna looked at Jen and then back at me. "Yes, under very limited circumstances. But what is your budget? Rush orders start at..."

"She doesn't have one," Jen said.

I could feel Anna's eyes on me. I was wearing a simple blue sundress and sandals. She was probably thinking there was no way I could afford a rush delivery. She probably didn't even think I could afford to be here to begin with.

"It's not an issue," Jen said.

Anna turned back to her. "Okay, well there will only be a few designers that will be willing to work with us. Let me talk to my manager real quick." She looked slightly embarrassed as she rushed away from us.

"I don't know," I said, turning toward Jen. "Maybe we should go look somewhere else? I don't want to spend a fortune on a dress I'm only going to wear once."

"No way, Penny. I'm under strict instructions to make sure you get whatever dress you like the best here, regardless of the price. He said to just put it on the credit card he gave you. It's fine." Jen waved her hand through the air like it wasn't an issue at all.

I bit my lip. James had given me a credit card when I moved to New York with him. I had only ever used it a few times to buy fancy dresses for functions that I attended with him. I didn'teven know what the credit limit on it was. And I certainly didn't want to reach it. "You talked to James?"

"Yes, I talked to James."

Bee laughed. "I feel for you, Penny, but I'm pretty sure there's no way James is going to budge on this. Geez, I can just picture this happening to me too."

"Wait, Bee," I said. "Did Mason propose?" I could feel the huge smile spread across my face and I hoped I didn't look like a lunatic.

She immediately blushed. "No. I mean, we've talked about the future. I think he will at some point, but not yet."

I loved Mason and Bee. They were perfect together. When I had first met Mason, I wasn't really sure what to think of him. He had this edge that I couldn't quite explain. Since he was James' friend, I had pushed that thought aside and become good friends with him too. But when he had started dating Bee, he seemed different. She balanced him out somehow. It reminded me that I really needed to talk to her about what she meant about Mason planning James' bachelor party. Because I was almost positive that he had taken the wheel for the plans. It would be better if I talked to her about it in private though. "I know he will, Bee. And when he does, you think he'll make you buy a dress that is as expensive as a new car?"

Bee laughed. "I wouldn't put it past him."

"Well, maybe there aren't any other options," I said. "I waited too long."

My mom ran her hand up and down my arm.

"I heard about the party that Mason's parents are throwing you next weekend," Bee said, trying to lighten the mood. "That's going to be so much fun."

"It's going to be a blast. They're both so sweet. I really wish you could come though, Mom."

"Your father and I already took off time this week to come up. And time off for the wedding at the end of month. I'm so sorry that we have to miss it."

"It's okay, you'll meet them at the wedding."

Anna walked back over with a smile on her face. "Okay, I'm sorry about that. How about you come back with me and we can get started?"

I looked over her shoulder once more but Melissa was still nowhere in sight. "Sounds good." I stood up.

"And if you ladies would like to look around for dresses you think Penny will like, please feel free."

Jen was up, searching through the racks before I even took a few steps to follow Anna. I wound my way past some of the dresses and followed her into a fitting room.

Anna closed the door and gestured for me to sit down. She jotted something down on the clipboard she was holding. "Do you know what size you are, Penny?"

I tried to think of the most recent event I went to. "A two I believe?"

"Okay, you'll probably be a four in wedding dresses then. Don't ask me why they make the sizes smaller. It seems like the absolute worst time to do that to someone."