I stopped short inside the doorway. I found a living room filled with boxes and wardrobe bags emblazoned with the names of stores I’d never stepped foot in before.
Because I knew I couldn’t afford anything they were selling.
What in the world?
After a casual inventory of the items, I discovered there wasn’t just stuff for me to wear when I was out and about with Cole. There were also exercise clothes, jeans, loungewear, and underwear. Lots and lots of underthings. Enough bra and panty sets to stock an entire Victoria’s Secret fashion show, including silk teddies. My cheeks went into total burn mode.
“The clothes are too much,” I told Agnes when Cole’s assistant called to get my breakfast order.
Apparently, Cole didn’t like to waste even the time it took to put in an in-person order.
“I won’t be needing most of this stuff. Can I just pick out a couple of things to get me through the next few weeks and send the rest back?”
“If Mr. Benton approves that request, I’ll be happy to arrange that for you.”
I twisted my mouth, seeing exactly what Agnes had done there. “But there’s no way he’d approve it, right?”
“It’s not my place to speak for Mr. Benton, but I highly doubt it.”
"Okay, fine." I gave in with a huff.“But can I ask if this is usual? Like, does he always buy entire high-end designer wardrobes for the women he dates?”
I could sense Agnes’s hesitation, and I wondered if she’d even answer. But then Agnes lowered her voice and said, “The truth is, most of the women Mr. Benton dates come with designer wardrobes. The full package, so to speak. I’ve never had to arrange for a toothbrush for one of Mr. Benton’s dates, much less an entire wardrobe.”
“Oh, okay." My voice sounded far away, even to my own ears. And a queasy feeling churned in my stomach, threatening to send the coffee back up. But I swallow the nausea down to say, “Well, thanks for the clothes. They're, um…really nice.”
Then I quickly hung up the phone before I could ask Agnes any more questions I didn't truly want answered.
Still, her words continued to ring in my ears as I sat down to breakfast—really, seven thirty on a Sunday was too damn early for a meal to respectably call itself brunch.
“The truth is, most of the women Mr. Benton dates come with designer wardrobes. The full package, so to speak.”
What did he even see in me, then? Why did he offer me a relationship contract when it was so obvious I was nothing like the women he preferred? I thought of Juliet, with her petite body and chic haircut. Not to mention that beautiful coat, which definitely hadn't been happily taken from the Benton Girl wardrobe when they updated the holiday show costumes six years ago. Was that his type before his grandma requested he get engaged to me as her dying wish?
My negative spiral was interrupted by the arrival of a waiter with our entrees and another to refill our coffee cups.
Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised that Cole didn't say much to me as we ate.
He ate in mechanical silence, only stopping occasionally to checkhis phone. As if he'd rather be anywhere else than on a fake breakfast date with me.
I stood up the tenth time he paused eating to check his phone, even though my breakfast was only half finished.
“Where are you going?” he asked, looking at me directly for the first time since I’d arrived.
“I don’t know,” I answered, fingering the diagonal ruffle on the coral-colored silk romper I’d decided to wear to breakfast. “I was thinking of going upstairs to watch someSoft Lifereels to figure out what to do with myself now that I don't have a job. Or maybe I'll go to the community center and work on the routine for Wednesday's afternoon class. You know, actually do the half a job I have left? Unless, you've had the door locked to the dance classroom and told the building manager I can't work there, either.”
"No, you can keep that one job," he answered with a sharp look. "But you're aware we still have thirteen minutes allotted for breakfast?”
I shrugged. “Sorry. I guess getting ignoredhas killed my appetite.”
A beat passed, and then Cole very deliberately set down his phone. “You think I’m ignoring you?"
“I don’t have to think anything. I’ve been living it for the last seventeen minutes.”
Cole drew back, his eyes narrowing.
And I realized how absolutely whiny I sounded.Boo-hoo! I'm not allowed to work to pay you the money that should have never been stolen in the first place. Wah-wah, you've been quiet for seventeen minutes while I wallowed in my negativity spiral.
"I'm sorry." I shook my head. "I think I'm just tired from last night. I should probably go back upstairs and sleep..." I waved in the general direction of my head. "…whatever this is off."
