CHAPTER 26

**CHLOE DUARTE**

Being my first charity ball in my life, I would hate to dress badly and feel out of place among so many important people in society, so I accept his way of expressing gratitude.

From: Chloe Duarte

Date: July 21, 2021”3:59 PM

To: James Colucci

Subject: Way to express gratitude

Mr. Colucci, your way of expressing gratitude for my work is a bit much, a simple "thank you”would suffice. But I accept your gift and thank you.

PS: I also like gold and black...

I send the last message closing my e”mail box to get my cell phone from my purse.

It is early afternoon, so I know very well that the reception on the first floor of the company is not as busy as at other times.

ME: Do you know the GOLD STYLE store in the shopping center?

SAM: Of course I do! I have passed in front of it a few times, I have never gone in because the prices are absurd, but why?

ME: I need to find a nice dress for the charity ball on Sunday, will you go with me tomorrow?

SAM: No need to ask! Are you up to maxing out your credit card, girlfriend?

ME: No, but it's a long story.

We'll just confirm our date tomorrow before I let you get back to work.

Samanta is my best friend, but I don't know if I will tell her about what happened in the bathroom, but she will ask me how I go shopping in a store where only rich people shop.

My eyes find the beautiful rose and I hold it between my fingers again before I smell its perfume and lose myself in thoughts that should be forbidden.

But I need to get to work and stay focused and go over every detail of the prom arrangements that James sent me as an email attachment.

When I arrive at my apartment after work I go straight to the shower, where I spend long minutes under the hot jets of water reflecting on today.

I close my eyes with my hands resting on the bathroom tiles as I tilt my head back, I haven't seen James all afternoon but I can't stop thinking about what happened in that bathroom and his confession to being the mystery man in the elevator.

As I wash up I think about his words and the touches I felt when I was with him, I can't deny that we have incredible chemistry that complicates his whole situation.

And this had to happen to me!

Huffing in frustration, I turn off the shower and wrap my body in my robe as I leave the bathroom and head to my room.

After putting on one of my comfy pajamas, I walk towards the kitchen to find my kitten taking a nap in her comfortable bed.

I crouch down just to stroke her furry head before preparing something quick for dinner, after finishing my meal I return to the living room with a glass and bottle of wine.

Wine is one thing I always have at home, it helps me with a stressful day and to relax when my thoughts are overwhelming me.

I fill half of my glass with wine and after taking a few sips I leave it on the coffee table while I grab my notebook and log into the platform where I write my story.

I update and write some chapters taking advantage of the fact that I am inspired today, to make my novel a little spicy I add some details that I experienced today.

But of course, the protagonist's life is less complicated than mine.

I read and answer some comments from my faithful readers and when my fingers beg for a rest, I turn off the computer and drink all the wine left in my cup.

Although I am a little exhausted from the previous poorly slept night, I am excited and I don't even know where all this happiness is coming from now.

I could blame the three glasses of wine I had while writing the hot chapters, the alcohol only contributed to and blended with the experiences I had today.

I get up from the couch and in a frightening mood, run into the bedroom and plug my cell phone into my stereo.

I put my favorite songs on and play them, being careful with the volume or I will be thrown out of the building if I end up disturbing the neighbors at this time.

I dance and shake my body vigorously, my muscles beg for a rest, but I don't stop, I just keep on with my amazing performance.

A slow song begins and with the high state caused by the wine mixed with my joy, I dance with slow movements imagining that James is in front of me and watching everything.

It's ridiculous, I know!

As I dance I pick up my cell phone and search for James Colucci's name in the browser finding several images and news about the young CEO who has achieved the career of his dreams.

I zoom in on a photo that appears to be taken by a paparazzi, James is dressed casually walking down the street with a pair of sunglasses.

I scan through a few more images remembering every detail of his face as we stood nearby.

But remembering that he is going to meet this Anna Krinks person makes my mood drop in a quick second, I turn off the music and think about what he asked me when we were at the restaurant.

When he asked me not to have dinner with Albert.

I turn off the stereo and with the cell phone in my hands, I sit up in bed and look for his contact on the messaging application seeing that he is online.

I think for a second if this is a good idea, but end up typing a short message.

ME: I am not having dinner with Albert this weekend.

I send the message expecting the reply to come in a short time.

JAMES: You just made me more relieved?

I am about to type a reply when a new message arrives:

JAMES: I'm not meeting Anna either...

ME: I can't do that with Albert, I can't give him hope when he is not the one I want.

I send the message and put the cell phone to charge without waiting for any more messages, the cell phone vibrates on the table, but I don't check the notification.

I lie down on the bed and try to sleep...

“Chloe, get out of this bathroom, the Uber is coming! “I hear Samanta's hysterical scream as I finish getting dressed inside the bathroom.

I quickly leave and find my friend waiting for me at the door of the apartment, I kiss my kitten and grab my purse before we walk down to the first floor together.

After the car arrives and we get in, I feel Sam happy next to me, ever since I told her about my trip to GOLD STYLE to buy my dress for the ball she has been like this.

“Mr. Colucci was very generous in giving you this gift, I can't wait to enter that rich people's store for the first time!"

I just smile at his excitement, the drive to the shopping center located in the southern part of the city takes an average of almost twenty minutes.

And all the way there I kept mentally praying that Samanta would not ask about my relationship with James because after what we did yesterday I clearly could not hide a fact like that from her.

After paying for the ride, we got out of the car and walked around the sophisticated places and spaces inside the mall itself, and when we finally passed through the double glass doors of the GOLD STYLE store I could almost feel Samanta trembling as she pulled me inside.

My fear of entering stores of this size was always thinking that the employees might treat us with more inferiority than the other customers who usually shop in places like this.

They seem to see that we absolutely cannot afford a simple handbag that would cost my entire salary.

This is exactly what happens when a redheaded saleswoman dressed in the store's black social uniform comes towards us, standing next to Samanta I notice her expression of displeasure at even knowing each other.

It seems that on my forehead is written: Beware, poor in front of you!

“What can I do for you?", she says, opening a fake smile that doesn't convince us.

And realizing the way the saleswoman is about to treat us, Samanta takes a step forward, lifting her chin and opening a fake smile that I feel like mocking.

“My friend needs the most dazzling dress you have, James Colucci makes sure that his style attends to us personally.", I can see the woman's expression change completely upon hearing James' name.

“Oh, excuse me! Please come with me. Miss Miller will be with you in a moment...", we follow her and settle down on a sort of sofa made available in the center of the store.

“Can I get you anything? Coffee, juice, water?"