CHAPTER 98 - THE FITTING AND A SHORT STORY
Lace.
What is up with Dean? He brought me to a shopping center but he isn’t doing any shopping at all. He stares at the window display of Kellerman’s fine jewelry as we walk past earlier. Right now, we’re in a designer clothing boutique searching for unique ties for his father and, a fancy scarf for his mother.
I pause to admire a pink ball gown. “Would you like to try it on?” one of the sales assistants asks me.
“No—” I say but she interrupts me before I can finish.
“There is no harm in trying it on and you are under no obligation whatsoever to buy the dress.” The sales assistant smiles at me and proceeds to take the dress off its rail. She shows me to a dressing room. I glance at Dean but one of the assistants is showing him their finest cashmere scarves. I guess I have no choice but to try on the dress while I wait around for Dean to finish his shopping. Who knows, I may buy this dress if it fits me and wear it to our book launch soon.
***
Dean.
Lace finally tried on the dress she’d been eyeing. It’s a beautiful Disney princess style dress that will probably take a while for her to fit into. I search on her blog for some of her romantic stories to read for more inspiration on how I can plan the most romantic engagement for her.
After a few minutes of searching, I find one of her short stories and immediately begin reading.
***
(Note to Reader: this is a short story Lace wrote that Dean is reading for inspiration)
The Billionaire's Secret by Lace Higgins
Dev Singh is hot enough to match the scorching summer on the East Coast. I suck in my breath and try not to stare as he approaches me.
"Are you all right?"
I’m frightfully aware of six foot five inches of a combination of sheer, masculine sensuality and solid muscle awaiting my response while I ogle him. Deep chocolate eyes appraise me. Damn, I wish I’d worn something longer. My denim jumpsuit clings to my breasts and hips revealing more skin than I’d intended exposing. When Dev had asked me to dress casually for the outdoors I hadn’t expected an outing into the local forest.
"I'm okay," I lie. "It’s just that I've never ventured this deep into a forest before." I hope he doesn’t notice that I can’t stop biting my lips in nervousness. Dev Singh is rumored to be as dangerous and mysterious as the white lions he’s been accused of keeping as pets on his sprawling estate on Florida’s beautiful coast. He recently moved to Love Beach after living abroad for a decade. Every reporter in the country is hungry for a story on Dev. Poor them. If they were half as brilliant as I am they’d be in my place today and on the brink of the story of the year.
I’ve been fortunate enough to secure a top position in Dev's booming empire. It’s a step closer to writing and publishing my exclusive story on the controversial billionaire - a story that will make or break her career. I’ve invested her life savings in this risky venture since turning freelance a few months ago. I spent weeks scouring the internet for the most talked about high-profile figures in South Africa. The media has exhausted stories on the majority of South African celebrities and millionaires. However, nobody’s managed to even secure a flash interview with the elusive billionaire.
I follow Dev down a narrow path thick with bush and undergrowth. Above us, ancient trees rose in a green canopy shielding sunlight altogether. My heart thunders drowning out other sounds. My mouth dries up when Dev carries on trudging through the dark forest as if he knows what he’s looking for.
What if Dev saw through my disguise and he’s taking me somewhere to get a confession out of me? I shudder. His repulsion towards reporters is legendary. I hope to God Dev never finds out I’m actually a reporter in disguise. I’ve been employed as his personal assistant. He invited me to accompany him into the forest to help him write an article for his personal blog on the sanctuary he’d fought to protect. I sigh when Dev pauses to free a bird from a net of weeds.
I’ve seen his softer side more than once during the last few weeks I’ve worked with Dev. Like his kindness to those less fortunate than him and, his empathy for injured animals. That last quality both terrifies me and softens my own feelings towards Dev. It also intensifies the whirlpool of confusion tumbling out of my heart and polling into the soft center of her stomach.
Something has changed inside me since Dev gave me a job. I can’t put a finger on that something but it made me reconsider writing a tell-all story on Dev. I haven’t stopped writing though – I’ve reconsidered the angles from which I will present my story.
I have to admit he pays his employees pretty well. I’ve managed to settle quite a few bills with just one paycheck.
"Krista?"
“Huh?” I realize I’ve spaced out.
Dev pauses and gestures at our surroundings. "What do you think?"
We’ve entered a clearing. A spring gurgles in the background. Sunlight streams in tiny, little beams catching minute, airborne droplets from the spring here and there like little fairy lights. "It's magical...so perfect."
Dev grins. "Fantastic. Your suggestion to create a retreat for newlyweds in a secluded spot, surrounded by natural beauty got me thinking. I've always wanted to share this place with somebody. I’ve never been able to decide what type of people would appreciate this kind of beauty. You are right. Only a couple in love will appreciate this kind of beauty."
I freeze. Oh my God. He's taken my new venture suggestion seriously! He wants to share his secret space with the world because of me. Guilt eats me.
"Isn't it perfect?"
"Yes," I whisper, it is."
"Do you think a log cabin will compliment this place better? Or a cottage?”
"Cabin." I nearly choke the word out. "Log cabins sound more romantic than cottages if you’re also going to allow honeymoons."
Dev smiles in approval. "You're right. I should take pictures of this place and draw up the business plan for the bank tonight itself." He searches for his digital camera in his backpack. "Damn! I left it in the car." He looks at me. "I know a shortcut. Wait here for me. I'll be back before you even miss me."
My head spins. Suddenly the forest seems too dark and claustrophobic. Besides, only God knows what’s lurking in the thick vegetation all around me. Dev is out of sight before I even contemplate protesting. I’m suddenly aware of the stillness and growing silence around me. I pace the uneven ground inside the clearing. It seems like Dev has been gone forever. The thundering crescendo of my heartbeat does little to drown out the sudden sound of furious flapping and scuttling. I shiver. Could someone or something be approaching me?
I listen carefully and hear approaching footsteps. Instinct warns me it’s not Dev. The footsteps are far too heavy and measured to match Dev’s lighter treading. The sound comes from the opening of the picturesque clearing.
"Oh my God!" My breathing turns erratic. "Why's Dev taking so long?" Fear chills my blood. I turn and run blindly to the entrance of the clearing and slam into someone.
"Hey sexy," a strange man whispers. "Fancy finding a beautiful woman all by her lonesome here? Waiting for me?" His breath reeks of alcohol. I briefly wonder how he made it past Dev’s strict security.
Fear burns my blood. The cold, hard barrel of a gun slides against my throat as he grabs me and holds me in front of him. I accept my bleak fate. Best I don’t fight death, I tell myself, it will be less painful that way. I shut my eyes and hum my favorite hymn when the low, guttural growl of a feline beast tears through the air. A white lion appears from behind the trees and walks towards us with a confident grace I’m sure I’ve seen before. It pauses briefly to gaze into my aqua eyes. Instead of feeling scared I feel safe and protected. The lion's eyes seem achingly familiar. It roars an incoherent answer to my thoughts before lunging for my attacker.
My would-be killer freezes and lets go of me. I jump out of the way when his gun falls out his hands and fires blindly.
I jump out of the way of the firing gun as it twirls like an invisible hand is controlling it, seeking me out. The glorious white lion leaps across the space separating us and absorbs the bullet meant for me. It roars in agony before grabbing the gunman by his shirt and dragging him away.