I shot back up to the surface and gasped for air, inhaling as much of it as I could.
As I finished my bath, I wiped away tear after tear, knowing that if Jonathan was here, he wouldn’t let me cry; he would find a way to make me laugh.
I blew out the candles that surrounded me and climbed out of the tub. Holding back the rest of my tears, I wrapped myself in a robe, the same one he’d seen me in when he first came over.
I opened my closet and thumbed through my dresses—stopping once I saw the ones he’d bought me for the IPO ball:
“I like this one...” I twirled around in a one shoulder white gown that barely touched the floor. “It doesn’t make me look like too much of a bride though, does it?”
He leaned back in his chair and shook his head.
“Are you going to be like this all day? You haven’t said anything about any of the dresses I’ve tried on. Do you not care what I wear to the ball? Are you using your silence to tell me that you don’t want me to go with you anymore?”
He raised his eyebrow.
“Miss Gracen? Are you ready for the next dress?” the attendant asked. “Mr. Statham picked out another one while you were trying on this one.”
“Are you going to speak to me at all today?” I narrowed my eyes at him, waiting for him to answer, but he didn’t say a word.
I rolled my eyes and turned around, following the attendant back into the dressing room.
I slowly slipped out of the white gown and watched as she unzipped the black bag that hung over the door. As she removed the dress from the plastic, I gasped.
“Stunning isn’t it?” She smiled and signaled for me to raise my hands above my head. She took her time pulling it over me—zipping up the back, and aligning the strapless top.
I looked at myself in the mirror and shook my head. The dress was flawless. It was a nude colored gown that accentuated my every curve. It was covered in sparkling crystals and the sweetheart neckline gave way to a skirt that fell in soft satin waves, a skirt that made it appear like I was floating as I walked.
“Miss Gracen?” The attendant held the door open for me. “Are you ready now?”
I nodded.
I walked into the studio room, immediately feeling the pressure of Jonathan’s eyes on my body with every step I took. I stepped onto the small platform and moved in front of the tri-fold mirror.
“Are you going to say something about this one?” My eyes connected with his. “Why haven’t you said anything? You don’t like any of the dresses?”
He blinked. Then he stood up and walked onto the platform, circling around me like he was assessing every inch of me.
“You’ve looked beautiful in every dress you’ve tried on today—every single one.” He trailed his fingertips across my bare shoulders. “I’ll buy them all.”
“But I can only wear one to the IPO ball. You’re supposed to help me choose which—”
“I will.” He pressed his finger against my lips. “After you try them on for me again at home...”
I flipped past all twelve of those dresses and picked out a small little black dress. It was extremely simple, but it had a few elegant details along the straps that made it stand out.
I snapped on a bra and pulled the dress over my head. As I was doing my make-up, the doorbell rang.
It’s only six o’ clock... He’s an hour early? “Ashley! Caroline! Go get the door!”
I put on a thick layer of mascara and a touch of blush. I brushed glittering bronze over both my eyelids and the doorbell rang again.
“Ashley and Caroline, get the door please!” I took out a tube of red lipstick. I was about to place it against my mouth, but the doorbell rang again.
Ugh! Are they sleeping or something?!
I rushed down the steps and opened the door. Jonathan.
He was wearing black slacks and a white button down shirt—with the sleeves pushed back to his elbows, with the top buttons undone. He didn’t look too happy to see me. He looked enraged, like he was about to hurt someone.
My heart started racing and I tried to say something—anything, but no words came out of my mouth.
“Hello, Claire.” He seethed.
Silence.
He looked me up and down, narrowing his eyes at me. “You look really nice...Are you going somewhere?”
“Yes...”
“And where would that be?”
“I’m...” I took a step back. “I’m going out on a date...”
“Really?”
“Yes...”
“You sure about that?” He shut the door and moved forward.
“Jonathan, I’m—” I felt his lips against mine, his arms possessively folding around me.
I murmured as he slid his hands underneath my dress, as he whispered, “You’re not going anywhere” against my neck.
My knees started to buckle and he caught me before I could fall. He assaulted my mouth with his tongue until I couldn’t breathe, and then he carried me upstairs to my room.