TWENTY: PREP

TWENTY: PREP
Juliet was wiping down a table when her phone vibrated in her pocket.
 Looking around her to ensure no one was going to catch her lacking, she quickly took it out to see a message from Damon.
 For a second she paused, reading the message as fast as possible another second later.
 DAMON:
 Should I come over to the restaurant so we can talk?
 We didn’t finish our conversation from yesterday.
Her chest tightened. She didn’t need to overthink it. She quickly replied with the same speed from earlier, her fingers moved swiftly against the keypad.
No, you shouldn’t.
 This is my workplace. I cant be lazing around.
 And no, I don’t want you to wait for me until I’m done again.
She sent it, locked her phone, and slipped it back into her pocket as though it might burn her if she held onto it too long.
She exhaled slowly and straightened. Whatever friendship was blooming with Damon was making her uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable.
 She closed her eyes briefly, remembering how the previous night went. After he’d dropped her, he had offered to wait for Xavier to arrive. For reasons that made no sense to her no matter how many times he tried to explain it.
 If they were truly friends, then he could always visit another time. Or call him to tell him he was waiting. But he refused to go by any of those routes, his hand casually resting on the car door as he anticipated his response.
It took a lot of persisting for him to eventually agree to leave, her phone number and a promise to return his calls and texts serving as a bribe.
 She couldn’t figure out exactly why she felt so strongly about it. The thought of Damon waiting to see Xavier after he’d dropped her off just felt off. So off she wasn’t willing to take that risk.
“Juliet!”
She jolted. One of the kitchen staff was calling her name sharply, already irritated. She hurried over, apologizing under her breath, and got back to work.
But her thoughts didn’t stay there.
 It was easy to get away from thoughts featuring Damon. But Xavier? That was a completely different story.
 The way he had stood in the living room the night before, composed and unreadable, and asked her to go to a party with him as though it were an afterthought. Not a question, really. A decision.
She was never going to say no to him anyways. She owed him too much. A place to stay. A phone. Money. Stability when everything else had fallen apart. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, refusing him hadn’t felt like an option.
But he hadn’t given her the chance anyway.
“I’ll pick you up by nine tomorrow”, he had said. “We’re going shopping.”
That was it.
No explanation. No details. He had gone to bed immediately afterward, leaving her standing there with questions she didn’t know how to ask. And in the morning, when she left for work, she hadn’t seen him at all.
Time passed faster than she expected.
By the time she checked the clock again, it was nine. She closed up for the day, changed out of her uniform and stepped outside.
 Once again, the cold breath hit her. But this time, it was accompanied by a familiar feeling. One that immediately gushed through her veins, the second she spotted Xavier’s car parked right in front of the restaurant.
Her breath caught. It was no coincidence. It wasn’t random. He had told her he was going to pick her up at 9. And just like he said, he had acted.
Carlos was standing by the car, his back straight with his arms folded. He was staring right at the door and the second he spotted her, nodded lightly and then opened the car door.
For Xavier to step out.
Juliet felt it immediately- almost double this time. That familiar, unsettling awareness. The way he seemed to command attention without trying. Dark clothes, sharp lines, effortless composure. Unfairly attractive in a way that made her feel suddenly underdressed and too aware of herself.
 “Xavier,” she breathed out, knowing he wouldn’t be able to hear her. He sent his hands into his pockets as he meet her gaze, sending shivers down her spine despite being several meters away from her. “Xavier.”
She swallowed and uselessly looked around her, giving herself a short mental prep before she resumed walking towards him.
 “Hi, good evening.”
“Get in,” he said simply, his eyes lingering on her for no longer than a second. “We’re going shopping.”
 “What?” she blinked then hesitated, glancing at her phone. He really meant those words. “shopping? By this time? Isn’t it late already? Most stores would closed by now.”
“They won’t be,” he replied, already turning back toward the car. “So, get in.”
He got in and so did Carlos, leaving her with no choice but to mirror their movements.
The drive was quiet. Comfortable in the way silence only ever was with Xavier—no pressure to fill it, no small talk expected.
When they eventually arrived, Juliet was actually shocked.
The store was still open. Bright. Vast. Empty except for a handful of attendants who straightened instantly the moment Xavier walked in.
 She didn’t allow her awe get the best of her as they walked in, the attendants offering warm smiles she could barely return. Xavier led the way and she followed quietly, Carlos walking her not as quietly.
 “Good evening, Sir De Luca. We’ve been awaiting your presence.”
He didn’t waste time. His eyes darted to the clothing size and with a flick of his finger, ordered.
“Clear the racks,” he said calmly then shifted his gaze to Juliet so the attendants could do the same. “Pack everything in her size.”
Juliet stopped short. “What?”
 “Blouses, jeans, dresses,” he continued. “Pack everything you have enough to last her a year.”
 “What?” Juliet was processing everything happening slowly. “Are they for me? I-”
“Most of your things got burnt,” he said, not looking at her. “You’ll need replacements.”
She stood there, speechless, as the attendants moved quickly, hands flying over hangers, pulling down clothes faster than she could process.
Shoes. Bags. Dresses. Coats.
Everything a girl could possibly need.
Her chest felt tight as she watched the piles grow. She had never shopped for clothes. At least, not like that. Her best options were thrifted clothes and she couldn’t even remember the last time she spared herself such luxury.
 Yet here he was, doing it like it didn’t matter. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. Clothes. New clothes. God, the prices- she didn’t even want to imagine them.
 “Xavier-”
No attention was paid to her and by the time they were done, the bags filled nearly the entire trunk of the car.
“Oh my God, this a lot,” she finally managed, turning to him. “I- I don’t know what to say. Thank you, but—”
“Time to get a dress,” he interrupted. “For tomorrow’s party.”
Before she could respond, he handed her over to the attendants. Her eyes widened in both shock and confusion, as she tried to figure out what was actually going on in his head.
 “I don’t need-”
  One glance from him was enough. The attendants understood immediately and grabbed her by the shoulders, taking her into a room before she could even stop anyone.
 The room was just as bright as the rest of the store, its peculiar feature being the giant mirrors hanging around. Another rack of clothes were wheeled in, the attendants checking her out like she was a lab experiment before eventually picking one of out the numerous, numerous gorgeous dresses.
The dress they chose fit like it had been made for her. It was black and simple, yet Juliet could almost say it was the most beautiful dress she had seen her entire life. To beautiful for her to believe she was actually wearing it.
When she stepped out, the attendants turned expectantly toward Xavier. Her gaze fell to the floor for a second, her cheeks heating up at the thought of him seeing her in such a dress.
“Well?” their lead asked. “Is it good enough, sir?”
Xavier looked at her. For longer than a second. For even longer than five seconds.
For a moment, he said nothing. His gaze traced the line of her shoulders, the way the fabric fell perfectly against her frame. The way the shimmering fabric made her glow under the lights. The way both her and the dress could easily pass as the most attractive thing he had seen in a while.
 Something unreadable flickered in his eyes- something that made her heart stutter. Then, as if realizing he’d lingered too long, he looked away.
“It’s fine,” he said with a shrug. “Anything is fine.”
 Juliet felt a flicker of disappointment pass through her. She nodded and followed the attendants back into the room and took off the dress, watching them pack it.
 Still surreal the dress in the bag was hers, she walked up to him slowly. The disappointment had now washed away, replaced with both gratitude and embarrassment.
 “Thank you, Xavier,” she said softly. “This is really a lot. It’s-”
 “It’s not,” he replied, turning towards the exit already. “The party is tomorrow. Ten p.m.”
She nodded.
“Carlos will pick you up from work,” he added. “He’ll take you there. I’ll be waiting for you.”
And just like that, it was settled.
Juliet watched him walk ahead, her thoughts spinning.
She had no idea what awaited her at that party.
Only that there was no turning back now.