Chapter 58: Dolled Up

\[Gianna’s POV\]

I stare in disbelief because honestly, I am finding that this man just said whatever he wanted and did whatever he wanted.

He was a free spirit, that much was obvious, but it was so offputting because it meant that I couldn’t get a read on what kind of man he actually was.

Those kinds of men were the most dangerous, but I wasn’t going to let him get the better of me.

“We’ll see,” I say now, heading toward the department store. “But remember that I get to have the final say.”

“Sure, sure,” Grant chuckles.

I have to admit, I like this guy's laugh, it is warm and it sends pleasant tingles through me, but it didn’t mean that I was going to fall for him.

Keep telling yourself that. The small voice in the back of my head says and I ignore it.

Now, I step into the store and find two women waiting for me.

“Nancy and Grace,” Grant announces as he greets the women. “Please make sure that this lady receives your finest treatment.”

“What?” I hiss as each woman hooks an arm in mine and leads me forward.

“We will do our best,” one says as we approach a rack that has multiple dresses in every shade of the sunset hanging from them.

“These are our latest arrivals,” Grace or Nancy, honestly, I don’t know which is which tells me. “Since we were told that you were olive complected, we chose these colors. We do hope they are to your liking.”

For a moment, I don’t speak as I take them in and I have to admit that I do like the colors, but whether or not I like the dresses themselves is yet to be determined.

Sure, I was being difficult because I hated that Grant could read me so easily, but I had to have some form of guard against him, right?

Don’t forget that you’re pregnant with this man’s child. I tell myself, slowly looking over the rack. You can’t let him find out.

Even the thought of him discovering my secret left me uneasy and when my stomach suddenly churns and I feel like I’m going to be sick, I grab a dress and beeline for the dressing room.

Once inside, I collapse on a bench and take in slow, even breathes.

It was a technique that I was used to from my time modeling because even now I still got nervous, but this wasn’t nervous stomach I was feeling.

This was definitely morning sickness and if I kept getting sick in front of Grant, wouldn’t he get suspicious?

Get it together. I hiss inwardly, slowly rising and examining the dress that I grabbed.

It’s a simple dress in a shade of peach that I quite like and it flows nicely.

Just from looking at it, I could tell that it would look great on me and when I pull off my clothes and slip into it, my thought is confirmed.

“I like it,” I murmur and immediately feel annoyed. “How the hell did they know that I would like this?”

Was I that easy to read?

I doubted it, but then again, I felt as though Grant could see through me.

“Ma’am,” one of the sales ladies voice calls as she knocks. “Do you need our help?”

“No,” I respond, examining myself in the mirror. “I’m fine.”

I wasn’t a child and I already had to put up with people fussing over me at work. Because of that, I didn’t want to have to deal with it now.

“I think I will go with this dress.”

As I speak, I pull the door open and when I step out all eyes come to rest on me.

“I looks nice,” Grant murmurs, his gaze slowly trailing over my body. “But don’t you want to try on the others?”

“I don’t,” I tell him. “What’s the point when I have already picked out the one?”

“Well,” he says and trails off and I realize that he was hoping to watch me model these dresses for him.

“Do I look like a doll you can dress up?”

I place my hands on my hips as I speak and narrow my gaze, but instead of intimidating the man in front of me, he simply laughs.

“Not at all,” he tells me, standing and coming to stand in front of me. “I just thought that the others would look good on you as well. Nancy,” he continues, turning his gaze to the women who watch us. “Please, ring all these up.”

“What?” I gasp, my eyes widening. “What do you mean all? I only…”

“Consider it a gift for putting up with me.” Grant tells me. “Now, what should we do about your makeup and hair?”

I don’t bother responding as I continue to stare in disbelief and when Nancy or Grace, I still don’t know which is which comes toward me, I know that I don’t have much of a choice in the matter.

“This way,” the lady says, nodding toward a door. “We will make sure that you are the most beautiful at this evenings event.”

“Event,” I squeak, shooting a look at Grant. “What event? You only said dinner.”

“I’ll explain later,” Grant smiles. “For now, just focus on looking gorgeous.”

“Wait!” I gasp as I’m led toward the door and then into a room where a large mirror and chair sits. “I haven’t…”

“Don’t worry, miss,” Nancy/Grace says as Nancy/Grace moves toward the counter covered in makeup and hair stuff. “We will make sure that you look beautiful.”

“I’m not worried about that,” I snap, my irritation starting to rise. “I’m just wondering why I’m being dolled and dragged to an event that I’m not even aware of.”

“Because Mr. Bellamy wishes to have you as his partner at his welcome banquet.” Nancy/Grace responds. “So, please, let us do our job so that he has the most beautiful date at the event.”

“Welcome banquet,” I repeat, remembering my mother mentioning that Grant was back in the states to take over his family’s business. “But why me?”

None of this was making sense.

Nothing about Grant’s pursuit made sense because honestly, I doubted that a one night stand would cause someone to fall in love.

Then what? I find myself wondering as both Nancy/Grace’s busy themselves dolling me up. Was this all a way for him to get me in the sack again?

That bastard. I hiss, suddenly feeling a bit embarassed for even considering that he may actually like me. Just you wait until I confront you.