Chapter 23: Chapter:23

**Taylor's POV**

I'm standing infront of the mirror, watching as Lydia makes a few corrections to the dress. The dress is beautiful and it isn't even the final product. I just can't bring myself to be excited after what happened at the office.

Everything felt so overwhelming and it almost didn't make sense to me. It's like I had lost all sense of understanding when the confrontation started. My brain stopped working momentarily. That is until Vanessa started freaking out.

My heart breaks as I think back to how he fell to the ground and made a fool out of herself with all that screaming. I had never seen her before but now the images of her crazed eyes are stuck in my head.

"Does this feel better then before?" Lydia asks pulling me out of my own head. "Uhm, yeah. It's not as loose fitting around the waist anymore. It's honestly perfect like this." I tell her and she gives me a broad smile.

Lydia is a beautiful woman. Her chocolate coloured skin is smooth and has no blemishes and makes her hazel eyes pop. Her afro is big and fluffy and smells like berries. "You are very beautiful, Lydia." I tell her and she is visibly caught off guard and I start laughing as I realise what she must be thinking.

"Don't worry, I'm not hitting on you." I say and she lets out an exagarated breath of relieve. "Good. I do not want to get hunted down by, Dimitri. That man can be ruthless." She says and I laugh. "Experienced it first hand today. I do not ever want to be on the receiving end of his wrath." I tell her and she hums in agreement.

"But underneath that tough facade, there is a really good man. He is especially nice to you. I've never seen it happen before." She says and furrow my brows. "What do you mean?" I ask and she smirks.

"Dimitri Alfonso is not known to be nice to anybody but his mother and sister. He has never been seen with a woman, not even for a business meeting yet he is holding your hand and smiling for the cameras while on what seemed to be a very cute mall date. I don't know how you did it but that man is smitten with you." She says and my face is as red as a tomato.

"Thing is, we haven't known each other long and I'm afraid that it's just infatuation on his end. I don't want to be in another situation where I'm only good enough for a short time." I say and my eyes widen as I realise what I just said. "I'm sorry, didn't mean to unpack that much." I say, embarrassment evident on my face and as the pity is evident on hers.

"Hey, no. It's okay. I don't know what happened but I understand what you mean. Nobody should ever be made to feel like that." She says getting up and standing infront of me. She rubs my arms and I smile at her. "You're are a kind soul, I can feel it. Dimitri wouldn't have held out this long if he didn't actually like you." She says and I nod.

"Now look at this beautiful woman wearing a beautiful dress." She says with a huge smile and I can't help but giggle. "Damnit I'm good." She says and I laugh. "You sure are. I love it."

"You know, you are the first girl he had me make a dress for." She says and my mood is immediately better. She smiles at me through the mirror.

"We can take the dress off now. I just need to add the last touches and I'll have back here tomorrow morning." She says as she start unziping the dress. We carefully take it off to take sure the pin don't stick me.

Just as the dress is off, the elevator opens and Dimitri walks in. "Ahhh, a sight for sore eyes." He says walking in with a smile. A blush covers my face as I look at Lydia. She gives me a sly smile before turning around and busying herself with packing up.

Dimitri walks toward me and hands me the bunch of pink roses he was holding."Flowers for the pretty lady." He says and I smile as I take them from him.

"They're beautiful. Thank you, Dimtri." I say and he pulls me closer before giving me a kiss on the cheek. Pulling away, he walks in the direction of his room and come back moments later with a rob in his hand. He helps me put it on and I thank him before he retrieves the plastic bag he brought in with the flowers, from the couch. "I brought you a few things to cheer you up." He says opening the bag.

The first thing he takes out a one of my favourite chocolates and I smile at him. "I remembered from the first time we met. You told me not to touch your chocolate and I got curious so I might have snooped around your kitchen and found it. Twix isn't really my favourite by the way, so now you wouldn't have to worry about me eating your chocolates." He says and I laugh.

"The fact that you even remembered socores you a few brownie points." I say and he smirks. "You better not be kidding 'cause I'll be sure to use them." He says with darkened eyes and I smile at the thought of being intimate with him.

"I'm all packed up guys. I will be heading out now." Lydia says and we turn to her. "Thank you, Lydia." Dimitri says and she nods.

He walks her to the elevator and I pick the roses up, admiring them. Nobody has ever gotten me flowers before and it feels really nice to be spoiled like this.

I look through the bag and my eyes land on a pack of Durex condoms. "Oh." I say softly remembering that we didn't use a condom his morning.

*Very irresponsible, I know.*

"Oh what?" Dimitri asks and he walks back in and sits next to me. I hold the condoms up and he smirks. "We didn't use a condom this morning." I tell him and the smirk slips off his lips.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I'm clean but we could get tested if that would make you feel better. I have no problem with that." He says and I nod.

"Yeah, I think it would be best for the both of us to get tested just so we know." I tell him and he nods. "I would still have to get a plan be though. Can never be too careful." I tell him and he nods. "Absolutely. I can have the pharmacy deliver the pill."He says and I smile at him.

"Thank you for being so understanding about this. Most guys would've thrown a fit." I tell him and he laughs. "Health is a top priority. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to know whether your partner is clean or not." He tell me.

"I'll go ahead and make an appointment with my doctor. Is that okay with you?" He asks and I nod.

"Ada will be here soon to clean up and make us some lunch." He says and I tilt my head to the side. "I can do it." I say and he pauses in the steps.

"Do what?" He asks and I smile. "I can cook and clean." I tell him and he lets out a lazy laugh. "I can't let you do that. That's why I hired Ada." He says and I roll my eyes.

"Give her the day off. I can do it." I tell him and he stands there contemplating for a bit before finally giving in. "Okay. If you're sure." He says and I do a little happy jump.

"Cool. You can help me cook." I say and he chuckles. "I knew that was coming." I laugh at him and he smiles at me.

"What do you have?" I ask and he shrugs. "I don't know. Ada does all the shopping and cooking." He says and I shake my head and head to the kitchen.

I look through the fridge and cupboards with his permission.

"Okay, there are some chicken breasts and stake. I could either make you a basic stake and potato lunch or I could make you chicken strips and a loaded fries." I say giving him options and he smiles like a little kid on Christmas at the mention of chicken strips.

"Chicken strips it is." I say and he does a little wiggle with his shoulders.

"I'm going to go put some clothes on so that I can start cleaning." I tell him and he shrugs. "You could always just clean in your underwear. I don't mind." He says trying to act neverminded.

"You'd like that wouldn't you." I say walking to the room.

"Hey, it was just a suggestion." He says with a smirk and I laugh.

I get changed and start with my cleaning journey.