Chapter 190 Out of the Blue

Chapter 190 Out of the Blue


The moment Brie stepped outside the café doors, the cool air hit her face, washing off the tense confrontation from earlier. She had been holding on to the anger for weeks since the incident. She couldn’t count how many times she had thought of how this would have ended badly for her image. And the what-ifs would not stop roaming through the back of her mind.

What if she hadn’t given in to her head? What if she had let the pain from Alex’s supposed betrayal twist a knife deeper in her heart and widen the misunderstanding between them?

What if Alex had not wanted her just as fiercely and fought for her?

Brie released a shaky breath.

"Hey," Amber said softly, her hand still on Brie's arm. "You okay?"

Brie nodded, not trusting her voice yet. Then she stopped short.

Startled, Brie blinked.

"What are you—" Brie started, but Amber was quick.

"I called Alex on my way here," Amber said simply, a small smile playing at her lips as she guided Brie toward the car. "It’s a surprise, come on."

Lewis straightened as they approached, opening the rear door with practiced efficiency. His expression was professionally neutral, giving nothing away. She looked back at Amber, hoping for a clue, but got nothing.

Once Lewis was behind the wheel, Amber leaned forward slightly. "The high-end mall, please. You know the one."

Brie's head whipped toward her friend. "I knew it. Amber, don't tell me you're shopping again." A surprised laugh escaped her despite everything, the absurdity of it cutting through her emotional fog. "You actually called my boyfriend for us to go shopping, I didn’t agree to." Brie let out a tired sigh.

Amber's smile turned mischievous, and Brie caught the brief look she exchanged with Lewis in the rearview mirror—something conspiratorial that made Brie narrow her eyes suspiciously.

"What are you two plotting?" Brie asked, but Amber only giggled. Sighing, Brie relaxed into the soft leather chair. If she was going shopping with Amber, she needed all of her strength.

They soon arrived at the mall, and the ladies stepped out. Amber was actually more than excited.

“Is there something I’m missing, Amber? It’s just shopping,” Brie muttered under her breath.

A sound of mock disbelief escaped Amber’s lips. “It’s not just shopping, Brie, come on.”

Amber looped her arm through Brie's and practically dragged her through the gleaming glass doors into a world of marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and price tags that made Brie's eyes water.

"Amber, seriously, what are we doing here?" Brie protested as her friend steered them toward the elevator. This place was completely different from the shopping malls they visited. "I can't afford anything in a place like this."

"Just trust me," Amber said, pressing the button for the top floor—where the real couture boutiques were located. “And, you’re not paying a dime.”

“Uh,” However, before Brie could ask further, the elevator doors opened onto a hushed, elegant space that smelled of expensive perfume and new leather. A boutique stretched before them, its racks sparse but each piece clearly a work of art.

“Welcome, Miss Summer," a sales associate greeted Brie by name, which shouldn't have surprised Brie but somehow did. "We’ve been expecting you.”

"Perfect," Amber said, her smile bright as she pulled Brie along.

The private viewing room was larger than Brie's entire apartment, with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, plush seating, and a small platform clearly meant for modeling clothes. And hanging on a rack were at least a dozen dresses, each more stunning than the last.

"Amber, how did she know my name? What—"

"Try them on," Amber commanded, already pulling a deep emerald gown from the rack. "Start with this one."

"I'm not trying on clothes that cost more than my annual salary, and how did she know my name?" Brie argued, even as Amber shoved the dress into her arms.

"Let’s just say this was booked for you in mind. And you're trying them on. That's non-negotiable. Consider it therapy. Retail therapy."

Brie wanted to argue more, but the truth was, the dress was beautiful. “Is this one of those clients you’re trying to impress and you need a model again?” Brie looked at Amber with a mischievous smile before turning her attention to the midnight blue dress with intricate beading. This wasn’t the first time she stepped in for Amber as her model, especially when she was trying to showcase her work to some top clients. She started trying outfits, after outfits. Each one was more beautiful than the last, and despite herself, Brie felt that these outfits were worth the prize. She looked divine in them. Not to mention that the fitting and the color tones seemed to make her skin glow.

"That one," Amber said decisively when Brie emerged in a champagne gold dress that seemed to capture light and hold it. "That's the one."

Brie turned to look at herself in the mirror and felt her breath catch. The dress was stunning—a floor-length gown that hugged her curves perfectly, the champagne gold fabric shimmering with every movement. But it was the back that made it truly special: a low-cut design that showed off her flawless back, elegant and daring all at once.

"It's beautiful," Brie admitted, running her hands down the silky fabric.

"It's perfect," Amber corrected. "Now let's find shoes."

The shoe section of the boutique was equally impressive, with rows of designer heels with tag prices that seemed unreal. Amber immediately started pulling boxes, handing them to the hovering sales associate.

Brie paused, watching her friend with growing suspicion. "Amber, why are you taking the blue and pink dress too? Don’t we need just one for the look?"

Amber held up several designer shopping bags that Brie hadn't noticed before. "You know me, Brie, I like to prepare for emergencies, just in case we have a change of plans."

"Right," Brie said slowly, but her eyes, which were wide now, could not unsee the boxes. She was imagining the cost of all that.

What if the contract didn’t pull through? She thought.

Biting her lower lip, she tried to get an idea of the total cost. "Amber, everything here is crazy expensive. How much does it cost overall?"

Amber waved her off, smiling. “You worry too much. You forget my boyfriend is rich.”

Brie nodded, then Amber added for comfort. “Don’t worry, the store has a return policy.”

“Oh,” That seemed to calm Brie’s nerves.

By the time they were settled in the back seat of the car, Brie turned to Amber, “So, what next?”

Amber smiled, “We prepare, darling. You, my dear, will be the star tonight.”