Page 10 of The Wrong Bond (Wolf Billionaire #4)
CHAPTER 10
ARLENE
“ W hat do I wear?” I practically shrieked, pulling the clothes from my body and grabbing different ones.
I had no idea what I was supposed to wear for a very formal, very uptown elite art gallery event, and I had no idea why I had accepted Shawn’s invitation.
I’d been so close to saying no, but a part of me that lived for risk-taking and doing things that scared me had pushed a yes from my lips, and now I was attending an event I knew I wouldn’t fit in at.
“Just calm down and keep looking,” Leah assured me.
I slumped onto my bed. “I shouldn’t have agreed to go.”
“But you did, and you can’t back out now,” Leah said, pulling me back to my feet and ushering me to my wardrobe to look for different clothes to wear.
“I don’t have anything that screams ‘I’m part of the uptown elite,’” I wailed.
Leah giggled beside me, enjoying every minute of my nervous breakdown. “Maybe that’s because you’re not part of the uptown elite.”
“But I want to fake it.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I feel like if Shawn wanted an uptown wolf there, he has a list of supermodels on speed dial who he could call.”
I shook my head quickly at the thought. “Please don’t remind me that I’m just a number in his long list of hookups. It doesn’t feel good.”
“I don’t want to get your hopes up, Ally. But I’m a consistent gossip magazine buyer and I’ve not seen any news of Shawn with any other woman since you guys started seeing each other.”
That was the worst way she could “not” get my hopes up. Even if I knew we wouldn’t end up together and that this would probably dwindle out as quickly as it had started, my feelings, including hope, were quickly getting out of hand.
“Really?”
She wagged a finger in my face. “Don’t get your hopes up.”
“I’m not,” I lied.
“I thought you said you didn’t like him.”
“I don’t,” I countered.
“Well, it seems like you do. And you shouldn’t let your emotions get involved. I’ve told you this a million and one times. You’re meant to be detached. If not, you’ll end up hurting yourself,” Leah warned.
“And I don’t want that to happen.”
“Exactly!”
For the next thirty minutes, we couldn’t find any outfit that screamed fancy. After searching my wardrobe for the millionth time, I finally found an old dress stashed at the back of my wardrobe.
“Oh my God, I haven’t worn this in years,” I gasped as Leah pulled it out and held it in front of me.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this dress,” she replied.
“It’s old, but it’s gorgeous. I hope it still fits.”
She pushed it toward me. “Try it on, then. You don’t have all night.”
I finally got into the dress and it fit me like a glove…maybe a little too well. All my curves were on full display as I twirled in front of the mirror.
“It’s too…” I trailed off, not knowing the word to use to describe how it made me feel.
The neckline was a low V and the dress clung to every part of my body, leaving very little to the imagination. It was a dress that would make any man stop and give me a full-body look.
“It’s perfect,” Leah gasped.
I shook my head, feeling self-conscious already. “Leah, I don’t know. I think it’s a little bit too much.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I think I’m overdoing it.”
“What?” Leah gasped. “There’s no such thing as doing too much. Gallery events uptown are the embodiment of class. And there will be caviar, a chocolate fountain, and an endless supply of champagne.”
I winced. “That sounds really fancy.”
“Yes, and you’ll fit right in.”
“I don’t know.”
“To be honest, it’s a big deal. You sure you want to…mingle with the elite in their natural habitat?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I want to spend time with Shawn. He seems different around me. Less alpha CEO, and more himself. It’s refreshing.”
Leah pulled me into a hug. “I’m so happy for you.” She pulled back and studied me. “Anyway, you’re going with this dress and it’s not up for discussion.”
I had nothing else to say other than to agree. We spent the remainder of the time before I had to leave talking, laughing, and actually getting ready. It felt like I was going on a date. Even though it was nothing like a date, I allowed myself to think that and relish the feeling, just for a moment.
I also couldn’t shake off the uncomfortable feeling I got along with the butterflies that erupted in the pit of my stomach whenever I thought about him. It was unlike anything I had ever felt before, and it was nice and terrifying all at once.
I knew I needed the money I got from him to pay off Coral’s medical bills, and ever since I met him, I hadn’t been late for any of my bills. I didn’t have to worry about money or live from paycheck to paycheck anymore.
Being his mistress was definitely a brilliant choice, but the nagging feeling at the pit of my stomach persisted. I constantly felt like a fraud because my actual emotions were very much in play, which didn’t exactly make me a good mistress.
Instead of making it easier to be around him, my feelings made it worse. I felt more for him than I was letting on, and it was starting to hurt.