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Chapter Three

As soon as we step inside the shop Alex dragged me to, I am in awe at all the stunning dresses. As I walk past, my hand touch the fabric of each one slightly. Iā€™m transported back to shopping with my parents before any big event. She would insist she needed a new dress, and we would shop quickly. Somehow always end up at the ice cream parlour on the second floor, ordering the biggest Sundays we for sure could not eat.

"What about these?"

I turn around to see Alex holding two of the frilliest dresses I have ever seen, one in a weird mauve pink colour, which was similar to the vomit after too many red wines.

"Not really my style there Alex "

The assistant catches us both laughing, taking the dresses from his hand and asking with a polite get grimacing tone if she can help. Alex begins to tell her about the party and his job, and she perks up, obviously changing her mind now she knows he has money.

After that she could not have been nicer recommending cuts and colours that would match my caramel skin tone. Then, she pulls out a stunning cobalt blue dress for me to try.

I head to the changing rooms and once in the dress, I hardly recognise myself as it fits perfectly. The top is a high neck that spreads into a long lace sleeves that reach just past the elbow while the back curves down my sides into a V exposing most of my back. It is then met by a silk Aline skirt that moves like air with every step I take.

As soon as I head outside, Alex's head snaps up and his eyes trailing over me.

"WOW Gen, you look amazingā€.

"Doesnā€™t she just" The assistant swoops down low to spread out the base of the skirt, the top of her chest now angled towards Alex.

"So how much is thisā€.

As soon as she says the price, my jaw drops to the floor. "Okay, maybe not "

I head back inside the changing room. Another small woman helps me get out of it and leaves the dress in her hands as I watch longingly. Once dressed, I head back outside, heading back to the racks where the dresses more in my price range were. Whatever dress I choose, Alex is going to pay for, but I must be able to pay him back.

Pulling a cute looking black dress off the rack, I spin round to Alex.

"What about this one?"

He lifts the bag in his hand and shakes it.

"No need. We're doneā€.

I slam the dress back on the railing and head towards him.

"Alex. You did not just buy that dress! It's way too expensive and Iā€™ll never be able to pay you back for itā€.

He ignores me and carries on walking out of the shop.

"Gen I saw the way you looked at yourself in that dress, and I saw the way you looked in that dressā€.

He pumps his eyebrows at me. So, I thump him in the arm.

"Alex you have to take it back. Thatā€™s a ridiculous amount of money to spendā€.

"Gen itā€™s in my best interests too. This is important for me, so my pretending girlfriend has to look the partā€.

I stop in my tracks, did he just say, girlfriend?

"Alex what are you talking about. You just said your date and nothing about pretending to be your girlfriendā€.

He mutters something under his breath, but I do not catch it.

"Alex"

"Things have changed Gen, and Mia is going to be there with her new boyfriendā€.

He has this painful look on his face, and I know he is remembering her and the time they together.

"Well, in that case, I will be the best damn girlfriend youā€™ve ever had. Get ready for the Gen experienceā€.

I link his arms, hearing him laugh at my words as we continue to walk back to his building.

Greyson

Ever since that woman spilt tea on me and dropped the entire contents of her hand back at my feet, my day has gone from bad to worse.

As soon as I got in the offices, my assistant Vicky was throwing messages at me left right to centre as our new potential partnership with CVH Global is crumbling from underneath me. All because I happened to sleep with his great-niece a few years back, he stated we cannot partner with a company that says family first and then does such things, signalling he knows about the many other women Iā€™ve been with. Who wouldnā€™t though, itā€™s all over the news today.

I head past Vicky, ignoring her and shutting the door behind me.

Funny thing is his niece has been messaging me non-stop since, telling me she can help it go away for just one more night, followed by some rather risky photos of herself.

I head to the bathroom in my office to straighten myself up. My jacket is practically ruined. I leave the room and shout for Vicky. She comes back in, and this time holding a coffee. I motion for her to put it on my desk. She leans in, just a little too far for someone to place down a cup.

"Vicky, arrange for this to be dry-cleanedā€.

I hold out my jacket. As she comes towards me, her skirt sitting higher up her legs than it was yesterday and a few too many buttons are open on her blouse.

"Sure thing, Mr Maddox. Anything else?"

"No, thanks, Vicky. Just sent all those messages through, and Iā€™ll start calling them backā€.

"Okay, Mr Maddox."

She says my name slowly to be seductive, but it fails to affect me. Before she turns to leave the room, her snaking hips viciously hit side to side in an attempt to move her ass, while her long fake blond hair swishes like straw.

Ever since I hired her 4 weeks ago, she has been trying to get me into bed. At first, I was all for it. In fact, it was one of the main reasons that I hired her. When she started working here, I realized that the minute it happened, she will let her face be on the front of every new tabloid. It was a risk I was willing to take.

After an hour of sitting there making phone calls, I head out of my office and into the lift in a last-ditch lunch attempt with Walter, the CEO of CVH. As the lift doors begin to close, I spot that woman from the coffee shop is sitting in one of the office's like she was waiting for someone.

What the hell is she doing here?! Her eyes meet mine as the doors close on the lift, and I am back in that same bad mood I was in before.

Once outside I see my driver waiting for me, I slide into the seat and roll the window down a touch. I am about to tell him where to go when my phone rings.

Pulling it out of my pocket, the name Dad flashes up, and I know immediately this is not going to be a pleasant conversation. By now, he should have seen the news about and the pictures of me and the niece, and Iā€™m sure heā€™s going to have a lot to say about it.

"Dad"

That is, it he lets it all go in my hear shouting at me about running the family image, I start struggling to hear him as there is someone close to the car cackling and joking around, I turn my head to see who it is and there she is again. I just the window ad makes a mental note to step out of the car in a second and let her know she should not stand to close to people on the phone.

"Son, did you hear what I said?"

"Sorry, what was that a truck went pastā€.

There is no noise, and he knows it I just was not paying attention.

"I said if you want to get this merger back on track you need to find yourself a loving all rounded woman to get engaged tooā€.

I go to speak; this guy wants me to get engaged.

"Donā€™t argue with me son, your ways have already done enough damage to the family name, and when I say nice girls, I donā€™t mean one of your many conquests from the clubs. You better be quick with it too Grayson or Iā€™ll pick you someone myself and Iā€™m fairly sure Walters niece is keen nieceā€.

Okay so for sure does not know about that or he wouldnā€™t be suggesting it.

"Greyson, we donā€™t have time for you to mess around anymore. If it keeps going like this, Iā€™ll remove you from the CEO position and your younger brother can take over. He and his wife are settled and will present a much better image for the companyā€.

I grimace at the thought of my weedy little brother. The whole family knows he only got married to that girl because he knocked her up. When no one is around, he practically ignores the woman.

"Donā€™t worry, dad, Iā€™ve got someone in mindā€.

I put the phone down after lying through my teeth. Who am I kidding? I do not know anyone thatā€™s going to be willing to engage with me, at least not anyone my father would approve of.

I have not thought of anyone that way since Elena left me, taking away the ring, the dog and pretty much everything with her. She just reminded me that you cannot trust anyone. They always approach you with purpose, and hers was money.

I give the driver a tap on the back of the chair, signalling him to drive on while I rack my brains for a woman, any woman. Vickyā€™s image appears in my mind. Maybe I will give her a shot after all.

I decide to ask her, instead of my assistant, to come to the charity ball with me to see how she really copes in my world. I email her and wait for the response, which comes back instantly.

Wow, she is keen, and she used my name in her reply instead of the usual Mr Maddox. I reply quickly, letting her know that I will not be in the office the next few days, but the driver will pick her up on Thursday night at 7.30.

The car then stops. I step out and head up to the restaurant, ready to try and repair this deal.

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