Chapter 92 Come in for a second

Click... The dressing room door made a soft noise, startling Asher into composing his features. The last thing he needed was for Stella Turner to catch him with a look as sour as a lemon and get on his case about it. He shot a hopeful glance at the door, eager for Stella to finish trying on clothes so they could make their escape...

But what puzzled Asher was that, after the door creaked, it didn't open, and Stella didn't step out. Instead, a small gap appeared, soon followed by Stella's head poking out, scanning left and right. Upon spotting Asher looking her way, she gestured with a quick wiggle of her fingers, "Asher, could you come in here?"

"Me?" Asher's jaw dropped and he pointed at himself, incredulous.

Come in there?

What did Stella mean by that?

"What are you waiting for, come on!" Stella sounded annoyed at Asher's frozen, bewildered stance.

"Uh, sure." With an awkward nod, Asher, utterly clueless, moved towards the fitting room. Just as he reached the door, Stella's hand shot out, yanked him inside, and swiftly locked it behind them.

As soon as Stella pulled Asher into the dressing room, he kept his gaze firmly on the floor. The sound of the lock snapping shut behind him sent an involuntary shiver through him. Struggling to sound calm, he finally asked, "Stella, what are you doing?"

Seeing the distress plastered all over Asher's face, his head nearly touching the floor, Stella couldn't help but snicker softly, a sound that swayed Asher's composure.

Even though they hadn't taken their relationship to the next level, Asher felt their connection went beyond mere friendship.

"You weirdo, why are you staring at the ground? I asked you to check if this room is safe. I've read online about hidden cameras in fitting rooms. How can you inspect anything like that? Come on, lift your head up," Stella chastised him after her laughter subsided, clearly not amused.

Asher rolled his eyes inwardly, wondering how he was expected to conduct such a check without being a detective.

Yet, he had seen the news about such incidents—they weren't uncommon, and the stakes were high if Stella planned to try on clothes without prying eyes.

Stella glanced at him and noticed Asher wasn't just keeping his head down; he was also squeezing his eyes shut. She couldn't quite figure him out. Despite seemingly dying to take every advantage, here he was posing as a perfect gentleman.

The contradiction amused and puzzled her, making her chuckle to herself.

And it was precisely Asher's internal struggle that inadvertently boosted his standing in Stella's eyes.

The memory of their first encounter always brought a mix of amusement and emotion to Stella Turner's heart. Asher had raised his hand in a promise to take responsibility for teasing her, a gesture that had left her feeling both tickled and touched.

That's why Stella didn't hesitate to have Asher join her for her birthday, even trusting him enough to let him into her dressing room at the boutique.

"I'll take a look around," Asher mumbled, feeling slightly exasperated. The usually laid-back Stella seemed unusually cautious all of a sudden.

But it made sense. Despite her easygoing nature, Stella was a woman, and not just any woman – a stunning one at that. She cared deeply about her privacy and safety.

"Nope, nothing here," Asher reported after a thorough fifteen-minute inspection. He had scoured every nook and cranny, including the most inconspicuous spots. "Triumph is an international brand, after all. This is their flagship store – they certainly conduct regular checks in their fitting rooms."

The discovery of any sort of spying device would be catastrophic for a woman's privacy, not to mention a death knell for the business.

"Oh, good," Stella said with a sigh of relief.

When Asher turned around, his brain practically short-circuited. Stella's purple plaid shirt was now hanging on a rack, alongside a small white tank top. Thankfully, she was facing away from him.

"I must admit, you've got quite the eye – this looks great on me," Stella admired herself in the mirror.

Asher's gaze shot up to the ceiling, sweat beading on his forehead as he tried to look anywhere but at Stella. His head was spinning, his thoughts tangled...

Asher, still green in the ways of the world, found himself in a dressing room, of all places, trying to resist an earth-shattering impulse. Any loss of self-control here would make him infamous!

Was Stella oblivious? Changing clothes in the same room as him?

He was a man, for heaven's sake!

Desperate to keep his composure, Asher was on the brink of tears.

"What are you still doing here? Haven't you ogled enough? Get out – I'm changing my clothes," Stella commanded with a hint of irritation following her satisfaction. These intimate garments had to be washed at home, and she would need to change again.

"O-okay," Asher stuttered back to reality and dashed out the dressing room, wiping his sweaty forehead in relief.

He was convinced, swearing never to accompany Stella on a shopping spree again. No matter what persuasive tactics she employed, he wouldn't cave. It was too much to bear, a sheer test of the resolve he wasn't sure he even possessed.

Asher sighed in relief at being in public; at home, restraint might have been more challenging.

Understanding the yearning of a man who's never known the touch of a woman is an enigma to many.

Having finally completed their shopping spree, Asher emerged from the department store, arms overloaded with packages, nearly hanging from his neck. Thankfully, Stella Turner showed some mercy, taking some off his hands after basking in her great mood.

Exhausted, they returned to the car, panting as they stowed the bounty of bags in the trunk and backseat. Asher settled into the driver's seat, took a deep breath, and turned to ask, “Where to next?”

“Time to grab some food, and then maybe another round through the mall?” Stella hesitated a bit before adding.

“More shopping?” Asher exclaimed in disbelief. “What else do you need? It'll be dark soon… don't tell me you plan to spend your entire birthday here?”

A blush crept onto Stella's cheeks, her discomfort evident. She had indeed considered it. After all, she was still new to New York and had been caught up in work since her arrival. Coupled with her natural inclination to stay home on weekends, either lounging around or visiting her mom, she hadn't become acquainted with the city just yet.

“So, what were you up late researching last night?” Asher asked incredulously.

“Spending money, of course! I planned on buying twenty dresses, going on a shopping spree. I have to spend according to my budget, right? Calculating the cost of dresses, accessories... I had no idea you’d cover for me,” Stella said with a mix of annoyance and gratitude.

Asher was speechless. Was footing the bill for her now a mistake?

Finally conceding, Asher suggested, “Let's eat first, then take a drive to the beach for a change of scenery. We can't have your birthday be this dull.”

“Let's go eat now, I’m starving,” Stella said hurriedly, exiting the car with a vigor that again left Asher speechless, especially with her insistence that he was treating.

“Hold on, you’re not planning to fleece me today, are you?” he asked, unable to hide his suspicion.

“The thing is, I just put a down payment on a new house, so I’m pretty strapped for cash,” Stella confessed, a mix of honesty and awkward guilt in her voice.

It all clicked for Asher; no wonder Stella was only planning a birthday raid at the mall—she was broke.

He admired frugal women like her and Avery. They pursued beauty within their means, never splurging beyond their budgets on things they couldn't afford.

"It's settled then. Today's fun is on me. Let's go eat," declared Asher, confident with the billions resting in his account.

In a couple of days, Asher would head to Red Resort, and he was actually worried he might kick the bucket before he got to blow any cash.

"Thanks so much, boss! You're truly a saint!" Stella Turner exclaimed excitedly, wrapping her arms around Asher's arm in an affectionate embrace.

Asher rolled his eyes at the scene, feeling like he had unintentionally signed up for a sugar baby. The irony was, this woman happened to be the vice president of his company!