Chapter 6 Dress for Me
Elena didn’t move.
Her fingers were still wrapped around the file when the voice sounded behind her, and she jerked.
“You shouldn’t be in here, Elena.”
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs, and the file slipped from her hands, scattering papers that fluttered to the floor like snow.
She turned slowly.
Julian stood at the doorway of the hidden room, suit jacket draped neatly over his arm, expression blank.
He didn’t look angry; his face was actually blank, and that somehow made it worse.
“I…I was…” Her throat closed. “I didn’t mean to—”
“Did you have your breakfast?" he asked coldly, and she nearly froze.
Breakfast?! That's all he could think about right now?
“What's this place?" she breathed softly.
“It’s alright,” he said evenly, stepping inside and crouching to gather the papers. “You must have been startled to find it.”
She stared at him, stunned. “You’re not upset?”
“No.” He straightened and slid the folder back into the drawer. “I forgot some documents at home and came back to grab it. That’s all.”
Her mouth opened, then closed again. “You forgot documents in a secret room behind a bookshelf?”
A corner of his mouth twitched. “It sounds dramatic when you say it like that.”
“That's what it is. A whole room behind your bookshelf.”
“Yes,” he replied softly, like it was nothing.
Elena let out a shaky laugh despite herself. “Julian, there are cameras in this room. Cameras in my bedroom.”
He sighed softly, like someone who had anticipated this conversation. “They’re part of the house’s security system.”
She folded her arms tightly. “Security system?”
“Yes.” He leaned against the table casually. “They installed them after a break-in years ago. I never bothered removing them.”
“You never bothered?” she echoed. "Wait, just how dangerous is this place?"
"It's not dangerous to us, Lena, quite the reverse, it's supposed to protect us."
"All of that?" She asked shockingly.
“They’re inactive,” he said smoothly. “Most of the time.”
Her eyes widened, and she cocked her head. “Most?”
“Only the perimeter ones stay on,” he clarified. “Living room, entrances, garage. Your bedroom feed isn’t monitored.”
“Then why was it on just now?” she demanded, turning to the monitors.
But she was shocked to find them all off, apart from the driveway and the yard.
She blinked. “I could see my bedroom just now.”
He paused for half a second. Just a fraction too long.
“It's just a glitch,” he replied and tapped on the screen.
"I thought I saw my bedroom," she muttered in confusion.
“Because I accessed the system earlier today,” he replied calmly. “I was checking a faulty sensor. You happened to walk in while it was still active.”
Elena searched his face desperately for cracks, for lies, for something that didn’t add up.
But Julian Thorne’s composure was maddeningly flawless. He looked open as a book and was still mysterious as hell.
“I should’ve told you,” he added quietly. “That’s on me. I'm sorry, Lena.”
That's all it took, and she immediately felt guilty.
“I shouldn’t have been snooping,” she said weakly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to invade your privacy.”
He straightened immediately and smiled at her. “This is your house too, Elena. You weren’t snooping.”
She shook her head. “I typed in your password.”
“You typed in your birthday,” he corrected. “That’s hardly a crime.”
Her cheeks burned. “Still.”
He stepped closer, and she could smell his cologne. “You don’t need to apologize.”
She exhaled slowly. The tension in her shoulders eased just a little.
“I really did just come to grab documents,” he said, guiding her gently toward the exit. “It's not a secret. I was going to show it to you once I got back.”
“Are you sure?”
He gave a single nod. “Absolute. Let’s pretend this never happened.”
She nodded quickly. “Yes. Please.”
They stepped out of the hidden room, and with a voice command, the bookshelf slid back into place silently, sealing the secret away.
Julian turned to her with a softer expression. “I need you to dress up.”
Her brows knitted together. “Dress up?”
“Yes. We’re going out.”
She blinked. “Right now?”
“Within the hour.”
Elena hesitated. “Maybe I’ll just sleep in. I’m not really feeling up to—”
“No,” he said, not unkindly but firmly. “You need to come.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“It’s an important function,” he replied. “And you’re my wife.”
The word sent an unexpected flutter through her chest.
“I don’t even know what to wear,” she muttered. “I didn’t bring anything suitable. And I don't think my clothes have been delivered.”
Julian studied her for a moment, then nodded once. “Come with me.”
He led her down a different hallway, stopping in front of a door she hadn’t noticed before.
“This room?” she asked.
“Yes.”
He opened it.
Elena stepped inside and gasped.
The room was stunning. Larger than her own bedroom, with soft lighting, mirrored closets, and a vanity lined with cosmetics she recognized from luxury magazines.
“This is—”
“A guest suite,” Julian said simply. “I thought you might like the closet.”
He walked straight to one of the wardrobes and pulled out a sleek white box, setting it on the bed.
Her heart skipped.
She recognized the logo immediately.
“No way,” she whispered.
Julian lifted a brow. “What?”
She approached the box slowly, fingers trembling as she opened it.
Inside lay a silver dress, elegant and flowing, with delicate beading along the bodice.
Her breath caught.
“I tried to order this,” she said softly. “Months ago. It was sold out everywhere.”
Julian shrugged. “Lucky timing.”
She looked up at him sharply. “How did you know I liked it?”
“I didn’t,” he said easily. “Lucky guess.”
She wasn’t convinced.
Her fingers brushed the fabric reverently. “It’s beautiful.”
“You’ll look beautiful in it,” he replied.
"Do we really have to do?" She hesitated again.
"So it's not really about the dress?"
Her cheeks warmed. “I’m not sure I belong at whatever event this is.”
“You belong wherever I take you,” he said plainly.
That shut her up.
He turned toward the door. “Get dressed. I’ll be downstairs.”