Chapter 42 Wardrobe Change

Chapter 42 Wardrobe Change

Melanie's POV

" Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod!” We grasped each other's forearms as we screamed and hopped happily.

“Wait wait wait…” Ross gasped, looking up at the ceiling, " They have really small cameras in places like this. They could be watching us right now.”

"You're right. Act cool.” We both let go of each other and tried to put on our best uninterested rich people face.

“There’s cakes and champagne.” Ross commented, trying hard to contain her excitement.

" Don't they know we aren't old enough to drink?”

" Oh well, we've only got like a year left. Doesn't count." Ross grabbed the bottle off the table while I sank into the plush sofa.

“Any idea how to open this?" She asked.

“Camera's Ross. You wouldn't want them seeing you fiddling with a champagne bottle." I whispered urgently and she nodded in agreement.

“Cakes it is."

By the time the personal shopper arrived, Ross and I had eaten half the tower of finger sized cakes.

“Hi. I'm Peggy and I'll be your shopper for today.” The peppy blonde said with the most genuine smile we had gotten since we arrived. " Let's get started.”

Peggy had me weighed,took my measurements, asked questions, made me stand in front of different mirrors while she walked around me with a clipboard. And this was all before I tried on any dresses. She was very thorough and did it all with a smile and cheerleader voice.

“Your colours are royal blue, warm scarlet, Emerald and Ivory." She announced,tapping her clipboard. “But of course this is tentative. We'll never know for sure until we start trying dresses on. I'll be back in a few minutes with your first haul."

“I didn't know we get assigned colours. That's so cool." I whispered to Ross.

" Yeah. She said haul. How many dresses are you buying?”

" I …well I don't know yet."

Peggy's first collection was stunning. I loved all the dresses. Blues,reds and greens were truly my colours. She'd thrown in a few yellows and pinks just to try on and I loved them too. Peggy, not so much.

She walked around me, making tsk noises and mumbling fashion terms like accents,drapes , bodice or whatever.

“We want classy and elegant but also ready to party. This only fulfils one of those." She said about a long red dress I thought was perfect.

" Ok but can I keep it?”

" Well yeah. You can take as many as you want but after my work here is done.” She handed me a blue dress, " let's try this.”

As many dresses as I wanted? It was just for one party. Did William intend to buy me other clothes?

Peggy's next collection confirmed my thoughts. Jeans and tops. Casuals.

" Um,..it's for a classy party…" I protested.

“One of the outfits, yeah. But we were paid for a wardrobe change."

“Wh…?!" My mouth hung open in shock.

“You weren't told? Prince William called us and made specific requests."

“He…wh…” I raised a hand to my chest.

“Can we take a ten minute break, please Peggy." Ross hurriedly said, coming forward to hold my shoulders before I toppled to the floor.

“Certainly. Take all the time you need."

“Ross,..he…a wardrobe change?" I gasped. And then gasped again. “I can't accept it. I just…I can't.”

" Are you crazy? Of course you can. And you will.” She led me to the sofa and helped me sit.

" No. I can't let him do this. I mean, how much do these even cost?” I grabbed one of the dresses and took a look at the price tag.

My stomach dropped down to my feet. " Oh my ….these prices are ridiculous." I gasped. I hadn't thought to check earlier because I thought I was just going to get one dress.

“Yup. I thought so too when I saw them. But Mel, this is the Royal family we're talking about. He's rich enough to buy the entire store.

“He…” I gulped as I looked around. " That's not the point, Ross. Why is he doing this? I just need one dress for the party. He never said anything about a complete wardrobe change.”

" Are you sure he didn't?”

“He didn't. He keeps saying i need to change my wardrobe but he never said he was going to do it for me.”

Ross rolled her eyes, " And you keep insisting there's nothing between you two.”

" But there isn't! He's only helping me….”

" Get his twin to fall in love with you, right. And you really think he would go all this way, buy all this stuff, if he wasn't…at least a little attracted to you?"

I opened my mouth to answer and then shut it again. I looked around me, the plush cream colored couch, the soft Persian rug that your toes just sink into, the exquisite chandelier that I could almost swear was made of real gold, soft jazz coming in from hidden overhead speakers, the expensive clothes all around me…..

No. William and I had a deal. He didn't want me as a mate, I wanted Conner and I couldn't properly feel the mate bond anyway. He was only trying to move this along faster. Waiting for me to change my wardrobe myself could take ages. For us to pull off this plan, we needed instant physical change.

That's all this was. A faster route to achieving our goal.

I would've liked if he'd told me first of course but maybe he didn't because he knew I'd refuse or protest. Much like I was doing now.

I took in a deep breath and released it slowly, “It's all part of it."

" Part of what?”

" Our plan.”

" For God's sake, Mel.” She groaned and slapped a hand to her face, “You're smarter than this. Please tell me you don't truly believe there's nothing….”

" Yes, I do. This is a little extreme and he should've discussed it with me. But I guess he didn't want to give me the option of turning it down.” I got to my feet and smoothened out the pink backless dress I'd tried on.

" Ok, let's assume that's true. It's all part of his plan. Why not the mall?” Ross placed her hands on her hips.

“The mall?"

“Yeah. They sell clothes there too. That's where everyone gets their clothes from even Eva and her girls. They have personal shoppers and stylists. If this was a casual move, why not there? Why at Jolene's?"

“I don't know, Ross. He's the Alpha's son, I'm sure he only shops from the most expensive places and didn't really think much about it." I shrugged, “I'll talk to him about it tomorrow. And I'll get only a few clothes from here, turn down his generosity a bit.”

Ross held my gaze for a long time and then sighed. " Fine. If you wanna keep being delusional about this,I won't stop you."

Peggy popped her head through the door, " Ready to try on more dresses,Miss Melanie?”