Chapter 30: In Public

**Althaia**

We came to a stop in front of a tall building with massive double doors. *Couture Du Vie* was written on the doors in big gold cursive letters.

“You want to shop?” I turned to look at him.

“For you. You need a dress for tomorrow.” He stopped walking and took out his phone from his pocket. He looked at the screen with furrowed brows.

“I need to take this. Go inside and see what you like.” He picked up the phone and walked to the side, leaving me alone. I walked through the massive double doors and stopped by the door to look around. The store was huge and bright, and I walked down the aisle and came to an open space. The interior was all white marble with gold patterns, few armchairs and small tables were placed around the open space, there were even a few artificial white trees with gold leaves on. I mentally cringed as I stared down at what I was wearing, I wasn’t exactly dressed to be in such an extravagant boutique.

“Excuse me, can I help you with something?” I looked up and was met with a pale skinned woman, with blonde page hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a tight white dress with red heels and of course, bright red lipstick.

“Yes, I’m looking for a dress, can you show me where you have them?”

“Sure…” She gave a tight smile and led me to the back of the boutique where we came walked down a few steps where racks of dresses were hung. I went to one of the racks and looked through the dresses and smiled as I came to stop to a familiar dress.

“I think that might be out of your price range.” I looked over to her only for her to look me up and down with an eyebrow raised.

“And why do you think that?” I tilted my head to the side as I gave her a sweet smile. I hated people like her, she’s the kind of person that will only help you if she can you scream of money. Was she expecting me to come in a freaking gown before she would be nice?

“That dress is a limited edition by Jacinta. Not that I would expect you to know who she is.”

“Oh, I’m familiar with her.” I said as I looked back to the dress. I remember being with my mother as she worked hard on getting this dress completed, and the hundreds of different sketch ideas of how the finished product would look like if it was short or long with a long trail behind it. We settled for something in between, the front of the dress would stop mid-thigh in a curved shape, where the sides would continue into a long trail behind.

“Look, I think we’re both wasting our time here…” She stopped and looked to where we had come from as footsteps could be heard. Damiano showed up with his stone face expression he always wore and made his way towards us.

“Mr. Bellavia! So nice to see you again!” I scowled at her as her whole attitude and posture changed as soon as she spotted Damiano. What a sleazy bitch! A feeling of satisfaction filled me as he ignored her and didn’t spare her a single glance as he walked past her, his eyes set on me. He furrowed his brows as he looked at me.

“What’s wrong?”

“She doesn’t think I can afford this dress made by my mother.” I sighed as I looked back at her. Her eyes were wide, and she was quickly turning into bright red shade, matching her lipstick and heels.

“I – I’m sorry, your mother?” She stuttered.

“Where’s Chloé?” Damiano sternly said, his eyes snapped towards her.

“Y-yes, I’ll get her right away.” She quickly turned around and almost ran away.

“What a rude bitch…” I muttered under my breath as I turned to look at Damiano.

“I’ll get her fired.”

“No, no.” I shook my head. “She just needs to change her attitude.” Sure, she was rude, but I don’t think I could have that on my conscience if she got fired. She probably worked hard to be where she is, it’s a brutal industry.

“Damiano Bellavia!” A woman walked over to him and greeted him with kisses on his cheeks. She was wearing a long, off-white Versace corset like dress, and her hair was up in a tight bun. She was also wearing a red lipstick. I guess that was the dress code for working here. My fingers were twitching a little as she still had her hands placed on his shoulders.

“…Althaia.” I snapped my eyes towards Damiano and noticed they had been talking to me, but I was too focused on Chloé’s hands on him.

“Huh…?” I was confused and my cheeks heated up a little because they had caught me glaring at her hands. Chloé just gave a little laugh and stuck her hand out for me to shake.

“I’m Chloé, the owner.” She was a little older and had a thick French accent as she talked.

“Oh, hello. I’m Althaia.” I smiled at her and shook her hand.

“Damiano tells me you need a dress for tomorrow, yes?”

“Something like that…” We followed her into a private room with a small circular stage surrounded by mirrors. She asked me to step on the small stage and started to measure me. Damiano sat on the white couch that was placed in the room, close to the stage and watched me get measured.

“So, I have a few dresses in mind for you to try, however, I think they might need to be sewn in at the waist as you’ll need a bigger size because you have quite a big bust. I’ll be right back.” And then she walked away.

I stepped down from the stage and walked over to where Damiano was sitting. He took a hold of me and placed me to sit on lap. His golden-brown eyes stared intensely at me, giving me the fluttery feeling in my stomach.

“So jealous.” He simply stated as he twirled a strand of my hair around his finger.

“I’m not.”

“You’re also a lousy liar.”

“Whatever… Says the one who beat up his own cousin for dancing with me.” I rolled my eyes at him with a teasing smile.

“Mmhh… That’ll teach him not to touch what’s mine.” He said as he kissed my shoulder. My heart skipped a beat at his words. Before I could say anything, Chloé returned with her hands full of dresses and that’s when it hit me.

“I’m not wearing any underwear!” I whispered in panic to Damiano who wasn’t a help at all as he looked at me amused.

“Come dear, let me help you.” Chloé said as she hung the dresses in the fitting room.

“Oh, it’s fine. I can manage on my own.” I quickly got up and stepped inside the fitting room.

“Are you sure…?”

“Yes, yes, don’t worry.” I cut her off as I closed the curtain. I undressed and took a random dress. It was a long and tight white dress with a neckline so deep it stopped in middle of my stomach and the cups pressed on my breasts, making them appear even bigger. I pulled the curtain open and stepped out.

“No.” Damiano said immediately.

“Why not?” I already knew the answer, it was too sexy and too revealing but I wanted to mess with him a little.

“I said no. Try another one.”

“Well, I like it. It’s making my boobs look great.” But with the glare Damiano was giving me, sent me right back to the fitting room. And this continued with every dress Chloé had brought with her. I didn’t even need to step out of the fitting room, I just pulled the curtain open, and he would immediately say no and send me back in.

“What’s wrong with this dress!?” I said frustrated. I was wearing a turquoise dress, neither sexy nor revealing so what could be wrong?

“It’s ugly.” I sighed and walked over to him and plopped down on the couch next to him.

“Well, this was the last dress.” Chloé had a finger up to her mouth, thinking as she looked at the dresses I had tried on.

“I’ll be right back.” She said and left.

“You’re impossible to please.” I sulked.

“You are doing a rather good job in bed.” I dropped my jaw as he said that.

“Don’t say that loud!” I smacked his arm playfully and he smirked at me.

“This dress will do!” Chloé returned with a dress, and I tiredly got up, hoping this will be the last dress to try. It was a long deep wine-colored dress, with lace petals around the deep v-neckline which showed a bit of my cleavage, double high slits but the extra red transparent material on the outside covered my legs, and it was backless. It was really a beautiful dress but dreaded Damiano’s reaction.

I pulled open the curtain once again and stepped out. Damiano’s eyes scanned my body from head to toe, and I raised my brows in surprise that he didn’t say no immediately. I stepped on the little circular stage and did a little twirl for him to see the whole dress.

“We’ll take this one.” He nodded in approval.

“Finally!” I exclaimed and dropped my arms to my side dramatically.

“I’ll have it ready and send it to you as soon as possible.” Chloé said relieved. I got dressed back to in my clothes and Chloé took the dress to put it aside.

“Do you have a bathroom I can use?” I stopped her before she walked away.

“Just right down there and to your left.” I thanked her and made my way to the bathroom. All the fuss with the dresses made me hot and I needed to splash some cold water on my face. Luckily, I had decided not to wear any makeup, it was too hot anyways. It might have melted right off my face.

I dried off my face when the door suddenly opened. I turned to see Damiano had walked in. He locked the door, and before I could say anything, he pulled me into him and kissed me.