A Ruthless Bargain

Chapter Eight

Amelia.

I could not utter a single word throughout the drive. Lucien's last words had shoved every word at the tip of my tongue down my throat.

He didn't tell me where we were headed, just kept driving nonstop.

I wasn't even dressed to go out. Still my blue jean and top and honestly that just added more to my migraine. I snapped my head to where Lucien sat, ''I'm not dressed for any event and besides you have Stephanie...'' I paused when his jaw clenched and unclenched.

''..you can go with her rather than I who's inexperienced and for f**k's sake I am just a contract.'' I sighed wearily.

The whole thing was stressing me out.

Lucien's gaze flickered, over to me and back on the road. He was annoying as hell, I was here stressing out and he sat sat there like a stone, like his mouth was set on a machine and sewn together.

''For the dress, we would sort that out now.'' he said simply.

The car screeched to a halt and my eyes moved to the building that towered above us. A boutique?

And not just any boutique, I had seen this on Tv and commercials several times! I wanted to give up and just faint but Iris was not here to save me if I did that.

I realized myself only when I saw Lucien walking in. When did he step out and why was my ass still glued to the seat?

My phone lit up with a text just then and it was from him. It sent something to my intestines seeing someone else's name pop on my screen other than Iris and Madam Grace.

Now this was new.

''Are you going to sit there glued or walk out?'' another text came again.

I hurriedly exited the car and rushed to where he stood now by the door. He swiped a card and the doors opened, my jaw dropped the next minute.

The lights were blinding, colourful, elegant women moving around in practiced poses. I didn't have time to process because Lucien's steps were ten times faster than mine and I had no option than to run towards him every now and then.

We used an elevator and in no second, arrived at the last floor.

''Mr Cross,'' a lady bowed slightly, showing us the way.

She didn't as much as glance in my direction until we stopped at a door. Her gaze met mine for a second before she withdrew.

''Is this the maid Miss Stephanie said would get clothes for her later today?'' she directed her question at Lucien who glared daggers into her skin.

Maid. The word wouldn't stop repeating in my head.

But that was the truth, I was a maid. I had always worked like a maid in my Uncle's house all my life and now I was working my butt off to pay off a debt.

I tried to hold back the sting of tears that threathened to spill from my eyes but a tear slipped down before I could. I kept my head low and heard Lucien saw something to the lady before she scurried away.

If he saw me cry, he said nothing about it and honestly I preferred it that way.

He turned the knob, gestured for me to go in and he followed behind slowly. A lady in a similar dress with the other one earlier walked up to us and bowed slightly.

''You're welcome again, Mr Cross.''

Again?

This was not his first time in a female boutique. And somewhere behind my head, I registered the words.

''Bring all the dresses you have.'' Lucien made himself comfortable on the available couch, placing one leg above the other while I stood there awkwardly.

Different racks were pushed forward, one after the other and my jaw literally dropped. There were about nine of them presented with dresses I had never worn before, never dared to look their way because their prices alone could cost a fortune. But here I was, presented with racks to do what with them.

''You can leave, I'll call you if you're needed.'' Lucien dismissed the staff.

Now we were the only ones left in the room, with Lucien's preying eyes trailing me. And that act made me realize we had not spent more than a few minutes in a room, together.

''Pick what suits you.'' He gestured to the piled up dresses.

''I'm not going to any event, especially not with you.'' I stood my ground.

I had said it and will repeat it. I was not going to anywhere, not to any unknown couple event and not with Lucien.

''Darling,'' his eyes darkened, a stark contrast to his tone. ''this is not the time to prove stubborn.''

''I will not—'' I opened my mouth to protest again but he cut me off.

''You have ten minutes.'' He glanced at his wristwatch.

I stood there, too stunned to speak.

''Look, Mr Cross, this—''

''Nine.''

I drew my hand into my hair, turning the bun messier.

''Eight.''

That was it. I turned and picked the nearest dress before storming into the changing room. It didn't even have a door, just a silk curtain that barely covered it.

''Expensive my foot.'' I sighed, visibly annoyed at everything.

I undressed hurriedly, finally out of my simple outfit and wore the dress. It was a green dress, one that hugged me tight from the top and stopped right below my hips, all my curves prominent before flaring down.

I stepped out after looking at my reflection in the mirror for what seemed like hours. He was on his phone when I drew the curtains but his eyes moved up my body slowly and stopped right at my face.

Something about his expression almost gave him away.

''Change.'' He said after a beat.

What did he mean by change?

Was this a contest or something.

''Five minutes,'' his voice cut through the train of my thoughts.

I turned, scanning the dresses before settling on a black dress. It did not look revealing and neither was it skimpy so I took it. But when I wore it, there was just one issue.

The dress showed too much cleavage, way too much for me. But the color, it suited my skin in every inch. I stepped out again and expected to find him sitting but no, he stood beside the rack with a different dress in hand.

He walked closer to where I stood, circling me like his prey before stopping right in front of me.

''Amelia Darling,'' his eyes burned into my skin.

He trailed his fingers slowly from my face and his thumb grazed my lips a little before moving downwards again. My breath hitched with each act, his touch searing fire into my skin.

''I don't want people to see my wife like this.'' His fingers brushed my cleavages slightly.

Just feather light, but sending enough electricity down my spine. This was new.

''Mr Cross,'' I opened my mouth to speak but my voice betrayed me.

His name on my lips came out as a plea rather than a warning.

''Wear this.'' He handed me the dress he held.

I took it and turned on my heels before any other thing would happen. Because I wanted more, more of his touch.

Ethereal.

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror again. Perfect.

The dress was ethereal.

It was a deep wine colored dress made of pure silk. Comfortable, with a slit that ran from my thighs below. My whole back was bare and the dress ran down from my waist.

It was perfectly made for someone who had never looked like this before.

This time around I stepped out and he was leaning against the door, his arms folded and gaze already on me. He stretched one hand lazily and I placed mine on his without thinking.

He led me to a floor to ceiling mirror, our reflection giving perfect couple when in reality it was the total opposite.

''Here, much better.'' He set my hair loose, letting it fall across my back and down my waist.

I stared, because that was the only thing I could do.

His warm hands crawled up to my neck and fixed a necklace there, one that glistened with each turn, catching its silver reflection in the mirror.

I looked different.

No, this was not Amelia Nightshade.

I was Mrs, Alexander Cross.

He planted a soft kiss on my bare shoulders, sending sparks of electricity down my spine and I closed my eyes momentarily.

''We can go now,'' he whispered, his breath hot against my ears.

My throat was dry, rule number two not even anywhere near my brain.

He pressed a button and the door opened a few minutes later and the staff re-appeared. Her eyes widened as the size of saucers when she saw me but regained her sanity immediately.

''Box all the dresses for her.'' Lucien said.

What the heck was he saying? Was I hearing properly?

Dominic bought dresses and filled the closet and now he was getting every single dress here.

Was he insane or? He could just give me the money to settle off the debt, or rather why did he accept me as a bargain when eighty million dollars was nothing to him.

Holy f**k.

But before I could say anything, the dresses were being packed into different shopping bags and pushed outside. When I was sure there was no one left in the room except us, I turned in his direction again.

''Lucien,''

''Let's go.'' He drew me by the waist and led me back down to the car. But there was a different car parked by the side again, the same car that came to pick me up that faithful day.

Dominic stepped out and bowed slightly. ''Mr Cross.''

He opened the door to the other waiting car and Lucien slid in first before I did. There was a chauffeur there and the car revved to life.

The drive was quiet left for the faint hum of the conditioning not until I felt Lucien's hand slid into my thighs through the exposed part.

I froze. Every hair in my body rising and my n*****s rising at his touch, clearly evident on the dress I had on.

''Lucien,'' I whispered. ''we are breaking the rules.''

''Tonight,'' his words came slowly. ''you are my wife and while that happens, play your role.''

I opened my mouth to speak but he caught up to me and the car came to a halt.

''We're here, play your role properly wifey.''

That was the last word he said to me before I felt the heat of his lips on mine.