Chapter 45 The Man's Scent
The sound of a zipper being pulled up echoed through the room, unnervingly clear. Alison wanted to leave, but her feet felt glued to the spot.
The store's luxurious decor made it hard for Alison to believe that the fitting rooms would have such a flaw, allowing sounds from the neighboring room to be heard so clearly.
Everything was transmitted to Alison's ears without any filter.
She glanced at the wall connecting her fitting room to the next and noticed a tiny hole, about the size of a pea.
This must be the "masterpiece" left by some previous customer. Although the store primarily sold women's clothing, it also had a small selection of men's suits, shoes, and wallets, likely to keep men occupied while their partners tried on clothes.
A clever marketing strategy, perhaps.
The sounds from the next room were so bold that Alison had no choice but to hear them, whether she wanted to or not.
She wasn't in the habit of eavesdropping. If she took just one step forward, she could see everything happening in the next room through that tiny hole, but she did nothing.
Sometimes, not being able to see, only hearing, can spark the imagination even more.
Like a blind person, who, though unable to see, can sense every sound around them.
Alison had read countless tabloid stories about Jack, but being here in person, the evening gown in her hands slipped to the floor involuntarily.
The silent fall mirrored the heavy, burning pain in her heart.
"Jack, you're so bad," a woman's voice, breathy and playful, came through.
"If you don't like it, I'll leave right now," Jack's cold, slightly arrogant voice followed. Alison knew that voice too well; it sent shivers down her spine.
"Jack, no, just sit there. I want to kiss you there."
Alison felt her strength waning. This was a fitting room, not Jack's bedroom or office, yet the woman was so bold, wanting to kiss him down there... She couldn't bear to listen any longer.
She had to leave, now, not a moment to waste.
Looking down, she realized the evening gown had fallen to the floor at some point.
She quickly picked it up and put it on. She needed to hurry; if she could leave before Jack and the woman, she wouldn't have to face them.
The dress was on, but the zipper at the back wouldn't budge. The more anxious she got, the harder it was to pull up.
Just then, Aidan's voice came from outside, "Alison, are you done? What's taking so long? There's no sound at all."
Aidan sounded genuinely concerned, but Alison knew he was doing it on purpose.
As she snapped back to reality, her eyes fixed on the hole in the wall, wondering if Aidan had made it.
She didn't dare breathe, afraid Jack might hear her. She tugged at the zipper with all her might, thinking that once it was up, she could slip out, and Aidan wouldn't be able to stop her.
But the zipper seemed to be working against her.
"Alison, what's going on? At least say something, don't make me worry. Otherwise, I'm coming in!" Aidan hadn't planned for Alison and Jack to meet today, but it was a coincidence. Jack had swapped cars with him to attend a wedding, and Jack's girlfriend had dragged him into the store to buy an evening gown for tomorrow's event.
Well, fate had its way, and Aidan decided to use this chance to clear things up, sparing himself a night of torment.
Aidan was pushing her to speak.
If she made a sound, Jack in the next room might discover her.
She frowned, knowing she had to leave quickly, or Jack would surely run into her.
Suddenly, she had an idea.
"Ah..." She let out a fake scream and then collapsed onto the fitting room floor with a thud.
Her scream startled the woman in the next room, who muttered, "Jack, where did that sound come from?" The woman was so engrossed she hadn't realized it came from the neighboring fitting room.
Alison's heart pounded as if it would leap out of her chest.
"Damn, these fitting rooms have no soundproofing," Jack said with a hint of annoyance.
"Jack, you mean... we're being..." The woman left her sentence unfinished.
"Baby, hurry up and get dressed. We need to go," Jack patted the woman's back, and the sound of clothes rustling followed.
Outside, Aidan's anxious voice called, "Alison, are you okay? Did you fall?"
"Yeah, I twisted my ankle," Alison replied.
"Open the door, hurry up and open the door!" Aidan shouted, his voice full of worry.
Hearing Aidan's voice, Alison suddenly thought of a way to avoid Jack, but she needed Aidan's help...
As soon as the door opened, Aidan rushed in, not realizing how panicked he was. To him, women were just a spice of life; he thought he only wanted to possess the woman in the fitting room.
He hadn't considered anything else.
"Alison, are you okay?" Aidan knelt beside her, checking her ankle.
"It hurts, it really hurts," Alison whispered, feeling a bit guilty. Her ankle wasn't actually hurt; it was her heart that was in pain.
The sound of clothes being put on in the next room was piercing, making her heart ache.
Aidan scooped her up, "Alison, I'm taking you to the hospital."
"No... no need, just take me back to the office to rest," she insisted, not wanting to go to the hospital and blow her cover.
"No way, if it's a bone injury, it won't heal easily. We need to go to the hospital, be good," Aidan's voice was gentle, his eyes showing concern and a tenderness he hadn't even noticed.
"Really, it's nothing. My bones have always been fragile. Just get some ointment from the pharmacy, and I'll be fine after a bit of rest," she didn't want to fake an injury for too long, but she could endure it for an hour or two.
"Alright, I'll take you back," Aidan said, carrying her towards the fitting room door. A female attendant had already packed her previous clothes into a bag, and Aidan hooked the bag with his finger as he walked towards the Chanel store's entrance. Just as he took a step, the door of the neighboring fitting room opened.
Alison's heart raced; she could smell Jack's cologne, the one he used to love.
Subtle, yet intoxicating.
She nervously clutched Aidan's shirt, suddenly remembering her evening gown's zipper was still undone, her back exposed. She whispered to Aidan, "Boss, the zipper isn't up yet."
Aidan realized his hand was touching her bare back. He frowned and quickly told the attendant, "Please zip up Miss Fairchild's dress."
"Of course," the attendant replied, carefully zipping up Alison's dress.
"Second brother, is this the new employee you mentioned?" Alison had hoped Jack would walk away, but he stood there, scrutinizing Aidan and her.
She buried her face deeper into Aidan's chest.
She had to keep up the act.