His forehead creases. “Why would she do something like that?”
“She wanted me to impress potential suitors,” I answer honestly, “although I never intended to marry any of them.”
“Because you’re too young?”
“Because I won’t get married unless it’s for love,” I explain, awkwardly. “Anyway, what I’m trying to say is, if you could either recommend me a store or have one of the secretaries recommend one for me where I can find an appropriate outfit, I would be grateful.”
He stares at me for a few seconds, and I have the feeling that he’s fighting an internal battle before saying, “I’ll do better than that. I’ll give you a whole new wardrobe.”
“What? No! I can’t accept that!”
“Did I give you the impression that you had a choice in the matter, Madeline? You don’t. I’ll ask Christos to close one of his stores so we can buy everything you need.”
“Oh my God! How did I not think of that before? Christos! Yes, I don’t need your help. I’m such a fool. I just need to call Zoe, and she’ll take care of everything. I did talk to my cousin, but I don’t think either of us thought about how easy it would be to solve my problem.”
“You won’t do that. As I told you, you have no choice, Madeline. I will accompany you on the shopping trip.”
Chapter 10
I don’t really need to be here. I also shouldn’t want to get in the dressing room where my assistant is changing, undress her, remove her lingerie, and make her come in my mouth.
When I informed Christos that I needed one of his most luxurious stores to be closed for a few hours, he agreed immediately—until I mentioned that it would be Madeline whom I would gift with a new wardrobe.
Then he picked up the phone and told me he hoped I knew what I was doing.
I got the subtle warning:Madeline is family.
I think about what she told me regarding her mother dressing her in daring clothes to find a good match, and I wonder why she didn’t accept that instead of moving to a foreign country to struggle. She must have been raised in a bubble, and it would have been the most logical path to simply succumb to her mother’s wishes. Easier, at least.
I admire her for that. It shows she is determined and, even at a young age, wants to choose her own destiny.
“I don’t think this is appropriate. It’s too beautiful,” I hear her say to the saleswoman from inside the dressing room.
I ring the bell that the woman left by my side, and another attendant appears within seconds.
“Yes, Your Excellency?”
“Tell Miss Turner that I wish to see what she’s trying on.”
I notice a hint of malice in the woman’s expression, but when I show her I’m being serious, she retreats. “Immediately, Your Excellency.”
I wait for a couple of minutes until Madeline comes out of the dressing room. She looks beautiful wearing a long, champagne-colored, one-shoulder dress.
“She went overboard. It will attract too much attention, and that’s not the idea, Kamal.”
She’s right. If she were my girlfriend, the outfit would be perfect. As for an assistant, it’s too flashy. However, I enjoy seeing her dressed like that, and judging by the sparkle in her eyes, she does too.
“Keep it. It’s not excessive.”
“My Sheikh,” she says, and once again, I feel a pang of guilt for not correcting her, but it turns me on to hear her call me that, “you’re very generous in wanting me to be well-dressed for a work event, but we’ll be sending the wrong message if I wear this outfit. I would rather get something more discreet.”
“What if I told you that I want you to dress for me?”
“That would be even more inappropriate.”
“What are you afraid of, Madeline?” I ask, approaching her.
“Of so many things that they would fill a huge list, but mainly of losing myself.”
