Chapter 6: Chapter Six

As Lydia stepped inside Mia Novella's building, the usual buzz of activity was absent. The receptionist, Mindy, had left for the day and all the lights in the front office were off, except for one lone overhead light casting a dim glow. Peering through the slight opening in Mia's office door, Lydia could see Mia sitting prim and tall at her desk, a wide smile on her face.

Lydia's eyes scanned the room, landing on a tall man sitting across from Mia. His broad shoulders were outlined by a crisp, tailored linen shirt that hugged his muscular frame. Even while seated, she could tell he was tall as his knees reached the top of Mia's desk. Lydia couldn't see his face, but she could sense the power radiating off of him. Without even talking to him, she could tell he would have a confident and strong personality. His hair, under the light in Mia's office appeared to be a dark chocolate brown. It was cut short, but long enough for her to run her hands through if she so desired. Not that she would ever. She could only assume that this man was Drake Alston. He was her client. Not someone she could actually be interested in.

Taking a deep breath for strength, Lydia forced herself forward, reaching Mia's door and knocking softly to announce her presence. "Mia, I'm here as requested." Lydia called out.

Drake rose from his seat, facing the door and looming over her with his impressive height. He was easily a foot taller than her average five foot four height. He was undeniably handsome, with features that could easily grace the cover of a magazine. His eyes were a piercing jade green, and even though he sported a five o'clock shadow, he still looked impeccably groomed. Not a single hair out of place on his head or face. His broad shoulders and muscular arms filled out his shirt, leaving Lydia to wonder what he would look like without any clothes at all. The thought made her bite her lip as she imagined him standing naked before her. The parts of his skin she could see were perfectly tanned, making him appear like he spent a lot of time out in the sun, and she caught a tattoo peeking out from his long sleeve. Her eyes continued to rove his body, as she memorized every trace of him.

"About time, woman!" Mia exclaimed exasperated, gesturing for Lydia to enter into her office. "Shut the door behind you."

"Oh, yes." Lydia squeaked, Mia's presence startling her, breaking her from her trance. She softly shut the door, and walked into the office, stepping around Drake, who also smelled addictive, God help her, and taking the empty seat in front of Mia's office. "Err.. How can I help you?" She asked, directing her question to Mia.

"Mr. Alston, requires your presence now. His plans have changed, and you will be leaving with him tonight." Mia stated brusquely, not bothering to look up from the paperwork on her desk.

"Bu..." Lydia started, wanting to inform the Madame that she still needed to pack her essentials.

"No need for buts, Ms. Greystone. Mr. Alston will provide you with everything you need, plus some. So no need to worry about returning to your apartment and packing. You've already signed the contract agreeing to the terms. The dates have always been subjective." Mia replied bluntly, annoyed at having been interrupted.

"Madame!" Lydia shouted, irritated with being talked over.

"Ms. Greystone," Drake spoke up, interrupting the two headstrong women, "If you so wish, we can stop by your apartment before heading to my penthouse. That would be no bother."

Lydia groaned internally, or judging from the looks on Mia and Drake's face maybe she'd done it out loud. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate Drake's generous offer. She did, truly. It's just she didn't want Mr. High Society to see the hovel that she lived in. He was already judging her by her career choice, not that he had much room to judge her in that aspect since he was hiring her, but she didn't want him to judge her by her living circumstances as well. She wanted Drake to see her as the image she portrayed. She had wanted to go home and grab some things, but she'd hoped that Theo could quickly run her over there. Theo had already been to Mia's apartment. He came over every Tuesday night for Tacos and Tequila. But apparently, Theo wasn't an option. The only way she was leaving this office tonight, was with Drake Alston in tow.

Lydia plastered a smile on her face, trying to hide any signs of discomfort. "Mr. Alston, I appreciate your offer, but I am actually in need of anything from my home." Lydia responded, lying through her teeth, "I was only to going to tell Ms. Novella, that I hadn't gone to the seamstress yet for my measurements."

"Please, call me Drake. You are my girlfriend after all." He replied, his upper left lip lifting up in a semi smile. His eyes seemed to sparkle with amusement. "Ms. Novella, if there is nothing else you need, I'd like to escort Lydia to my personal seamstress, before we head home for the night."

"We've already received for the first transfer for the down payment. You are free to do as you will, Drake." Mia purred, smiling brightly at Drake, before turning to face Lydia, her face downturning in a scowl, "Please be on your best behavior, Ms. Greystone. Your actions reflect the company."

Lydia chose to ignore Mia Novella's comment. It was unnecessary. She had never done anything to make Mia think that she'd behave negatively. The madame was just posturing due to wealthy client being present. She wanted to look inferior to her subordinates. She wanted to feel as if she was on Drake's level, so she'd tried to knock Lydia down a few pegs. Well jokes on her. Lydia couldn't fall any further even if she'd been pushed. And Mia Novella would never been on the same level as the Alston family.

Lydia silently followed Drake out the revolving doors and to his two seater, silver jaguar. It surprised her when he walked around to her side of the car and opened the door for her, letting her in first. Not that she should've been surprised. Drake had been born into old money. He'd been taking etiquette classes since before he could properly walk.

"Are you sure you don't need to stop by your place?" Drake asked, as he slid into the driver's side seat, and through the car into gear.

"I'm positive." Lydia replied, attempting soft smile. "Nothing I own, will fit in with all of this." She gestured to him and his surroundings.

"It's not about fitting in with my lifestyle. It's about your comfort, Lydia. I want you to be comfortable while you live with me for the month, perhaps longer. If there's something of yours that you need, please let me know, so we can fetch it for you." He replied, staring over at her.

Lydia patted her purse, "Thank you, Drake, but I assure you, I have everything I need right here."

As they drove through the bustling city streets, Lydia's mind wandered to the contents of her bag. It was like a treasure trove of memories and necessities. Among the various items nestled inside were her trusty notebook filled with ideas and dreams, a worn-out paperback novel that had brought her solace in times of distress, and a small vial of perfume that reminded her of her mother's gentle presence. But it was the photograph tucked away in a secret compartment that held the most precious place in Lydia's heart. It was a snapshot of her and her mother taken just before the accident – their smiles frozen in time, their eyes brimming with love and shared secrets. The photograph edges were already frayed, worn out from how many times Lydia had taken the photo out and held it to her chest, wistfully reminiscing of what her life had been.

It didn't take long for them to reach the Seamstress. The building was magnificent and it radiated wealth. The exterior of the building was adorned with detailed carvings, showcasing delicate patterns that seemed to shimmer under the moonlight. The entrance was framed by large pillars. Stepping out of the car, Lydia couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and apprehension.

As she started to walk toward the building, Drake was right there beside her, his hand resting on the small of her back.

"My seamstress is normally closed at this hour, but I've called in a favor. I told her I wanted to surprise my beautiful girlfriend with a special gown for my brother's engagement party." Drake informed her as the walked up the steps.

"And how long have we been together?" Lydia asked, just before the reached the entrance.

"Ummm...let's say we started seeing each other about six months ago. We've been dating off and on, but just recently decided to get serious." He replied, pushing the door and holding it open for her.

"Sounds delightful, darling." Lydia replied, plastering a gushing smile on her face, "Drake, you really shouldn't have!" She raised her voice an octave letting it carry to to the woman waiting for the on a red chaise lounge.

"Monsieur Alston," The woman greeted jumping up and crossing the room to them, greeting Drake with air kisses, "I have some dresses picked out for the beautiful

Madamoiselle. Which color would you like to see her in?"

Lydia bristled at the fact that the seamstress hadn't asked her which color she preferred, but she didn't move to correct her. She figured this was the way of the elite.

"Whichever color Lydia prefers." Drake smiled, glancing down at Lydia. "I'll just wait here," He replied sitting down on the lounge, "Add any dress she loves to my account. And once all the adjustments are made, you can have them sent to my estate. Please also set her up with matching shoes and jewelry, and remember Cherie, this is a rush order, at least on the one dress. The engagement party is a formal affair and there will be press there."

The seamstress, Cherie, grabbed Lydia's arm and guided her to the through the double doors to a back room, which happened to be a private dressing suite. On a rack hung numerous dresses, all varying in length, shape, and color.

"Do you care if I show you the dresses I think you would look best in?" Cherie asked, grabbing a handful of dresses of the rack and hanging them all on the nearby empty one.

"Err...Not at all." Lydia responded, biting her lip nervously. She'd never been to a seamstress before. She was mostly a basic jeans and tshirt type gal, and of course she owned one little black dress. That thing was a staple in her line of work, but never anything this extravagant.

Cherie took a minute, concentrating on the ten gowns she'd selected and shaking her head. She'd then turned to Lydia and seemingly scrutinized her, before making an ah-ha sound, scuttling out the door, and returning back with a completely different dress in hand.

"This one, mademoiselle," Cherie declared, her voice filled with excitement. "The color will perfectly complement your complexion, and the design will accentuate your figure in all the right places."

Lydia's heart skipped a beat as she laid eyes on the dress. It was a breathtaking creation—a deep sapphire blue gown that cascaded down to the floor, its fabric glimmering like a starlit sky. She ran her fingers over the delicate beading adorning the bodice, marveling at the craftsmanship that had gone into creating such a masterpiece.

"Wow," Lydia whispered, her voice filled with awe.

"Strip. Quickly." Cherie demanded, setting the gown on the rack, and picking up her measuring tape.

It didn't take long for Lydia to rid herself of her tank top and cut off jean shorts, and for Cherie to take all of her measurements. She was quick and efficient. All proof that she was knowledgeable in her work and dealt with demanding clientele daily. "One moment." Cherie stated, walking to the a wall lined with an assortment of undergarments and selecting a matching bra and pantie set. "Here, put these on and then I'll help you into the dress. The dress should fit perfectly, but once it's on I'll make some notes, if adjustments are needed."

Lydia followed Cherie's instructions, slipping into the luxurious undergarments and then standing before the mirror as Cherie delicately lifted the gown and helped her into it. As the fabric cascaded down her body, Lydia couldn't help but feel transformed. The dress was a perfect fit, hugging her curves in all the right places and making her feel like a princess from a fairytale. She turned to face the mirror, her eyes widening in amazement at the elegant sight that greeted her.

Cherie beamed with satisfaction as she adjusted a few stray strands of Lydia's hair. "You look stunning, mademoiselle," she said, her voice filled with genuine awe. "This dress was made for you."

A mixture of excitement and nerves coursed through Lydia's veins as she took in her reflection. She hardly recognized herself; this woman staring back at her seemed like a dream, a version of herself that belonged to another world—a world of glamour and extravagance, the world the Drake Alston resided in.

She hadn't even realized that Cherie was gone again until the seamstress suddenly appeared at her feet, carefully slipping on a pair of silver heels. "And here are the jewels that Monsieur Alston requested as well." Cherie stated, standing at her full height, and slipping a diamond and sapphire encrusted tennis bracelet on Lydia's left wrist, and placing two studded sapphire earrings into Lydia's ears. "One last item," Cherie murmured, choosing to forgo the necklace, and instead handing Lydia a small silver clutch. "All set. Before you go out to see the Monsieur why don't you take look at these dresses on this rack, and tell me if you like any of them." Cherie stated, gesturing to the rack with the ten dresses she'd picked out earlier. "I thought these would all look lovely on you, but they weren't screaming engagement party to me."

Lydia quickly glanced at the dresses, they were all lovely and she told Cherie so. While she didn't want Drake spending anymore moeny on her, than what he was already paying her, she knew that she would need something to wear while attending wedding events, and nothing she owned, even her little black dress, would be adequate. These dresses would do perfectly.

As Lydia stepped out of the dressing room, Drake's eyes widened in awe as he caught sight of her. His jaw dropped slightly, and he couldn't help but admire her in the stunning sapphire blue gown. The color brought out the depth of her eyes, making them sparkle even more.

"You look absolutely breathtaking," Drake muttered, his eyes roving over her body as he drank his fill.

Lydia blushed at his words, feeling a rush of warmth fill her entire being. She couldn't help but smile, even as she forced herself to remember that this was all fake. It was just an act. She was still just his fake girlfriend for the month, just an escort. The reminder helped curve some of the excitement that she was feeling, but she kept the smile on her face as she walked toward Drake, each step filled with Grace and poise. Drake extended his arm toward her, taking her hand and spinning her around, so he could see the back of her dress. It was just as beautiful as the front. The back backless and punched just above her bum. It was beautiful and showcased her spine tattoo which was written in elvish writing, showcasing her love for Tolkien. His mother would find it trashy, but Drake thought it was downright sexy.

"What does your tattoo say?" He murmured in her ear, pulling her body close to his.

"Maybe if you ask me nicely, later, I'll tell you." Lydia teased, pulling out of his embrace, and taking a step back, not wanting to tell him anything more about her life than what was necessary.

"I'll keep that in mind," Drake replied his smile never wavering as he turned his attention to Cherie, "Cherie, you've done a magnificent job. I didn't think I could find my girlfriend more attractive than I already did, and you've proven me wrong." He joked.

"It was my pleasure, Monsieur. Ms. Lydia if you'll come with me, I'll help you change out of the dress and get it all packaged up for you."