Marry Me Mafia

Shopping Plans

After changing again, they left the hotel and went shopping. Renee had changed into a calf-length ivory silk skirt that hugged her hips, a matching silk camisole with an overlaying crochet lace top also in a matching ivory. Nico had simply changed his shirt from black to white, leaving the grey 4-piece suit in place. They'd been to two boutiques in 3 hours and still had nothing to show for it. Renee had tried on nearly every semiformal dress in the last store, and she could tell that Nico was getting bored and agitated. To be honest, Renee hadn't felt very comfortable during the shopping excursion. At first, she thought it was going to be her own "Pretty Woman" moment, but the sales clerks had still been dismissive of her regardless of how Nico treated her or rather, not, treated her. She had just taken off the last of the dresses the clerk had sent back. The dresses she had sent were all gaudy, sequined, and extremely low cut. Granted, if she were walking the streets at 2am in the dresses she had tried on, then they would be appropriate, but meeting Nico's family for a formal dinner... no. It didn't help that the last time she'd walked out of the dressing room, the clerk had been sitting on the arm of the couch where Nico was sitting, flirting with him while his security guys just f*****g stood there. Renee had been playing the southern bell, sweet tea fiancée, but when she saw the clerk adjust Nico's handkerchief in his breast pocket, the peaches turned sour really fast. She quickly changed back into her own clothes, grabbed her handbag, and opened the changing curtain hard. The scraping sound of the brass rings holding the curtain, made everybody in the showroom area jump abruptly, but Renee didn't slow her steps. She walked right past Nico and the sales clerk, not giving anyone a chance to react, she walked right past the security detail and out onto 5th Ave. She could hear the scramble of footsteps behind her, as she turned right and walked a block, crossed the street and saw another boutique dress store. She pulled the door open herself and walked right in. The place was light and airy, with tall ferns potted in the corners, there were benches for someone's boyfriends or girlfriends to enjoy their shopping experience as well. The walls were arrayed with hundreds of dresses, some simple, some extravagant. The sales clerk was a middle-aged dark-haired woman in a cleanly tailored black suit. She smiled at Renee, and asked if she needed help, to which Renee told her what she wanted and what the occasion was. The sales clerk, whose name was Cynthia, asked her what styles she preferred, and what colors. Once they had settled on her answers, Cynthia walked around and picked up 3 dresses; each more beautiful than the last. One was a deep wine-colored silk dress with a respectful cowl neck and plunging back with small clear monofilament line crisscrossing the back with tiny teardrop crystals along the strings. Another was a black cocktail dress with a black lace overlay, cap sleeves, and a matching lace and chiffon shoulder wrap. The third, and the one Renee chose, was a midi-length asymmetrical silk satin gown with a single sleeve, off the shoulder and a tail-like short train. In the dressing room, alone she sat, and a weighted feeling overwhelmed her that she couldn't describe. She looked like a woman that belonged in this life, here in New York City, and still, at that moment, alone was all she felt. Cynthia was so kind, focusing on her needs the entire time, she brought her a necklace that looked like hundreds of tiny strands of gold threads, a matching pair of earrings and even matching red heels in a similar asymmetrical style as the collar on the dress. Nico had given her a black card to pay for things, but Renee didn't want to owe him anything at that moment. Though she was more concerned, he would use the credit card usage to track where she had disappeared to. The dress, the jewelry and the shoes came to just under a grand; it was more than she had ever spent on clothing for herself, but she wanted to make a good impression on his family and most of all not embarrass Nico. When she walked out of the shop, she wasn't surprised to see the SUVs parked across the street, with the driver's window down. Renee just put her head down, and crossed the street. The driver got out and opened the door for her. Nico was sitting inside. "Why did you run off like that? Did something happen?" She could tell he was confused and angry at her. "No, nothing, I just wasn't finding anything I liked in the shop, and you looked busy, so I just thought I'd go on to another store. Didn't want to waste time." She could tell he wasn't satisfied with her answer, but he didn't press her further. He was reading something on his phone. The ride back to the hotel was done in complete silence. Renee could only stare out of the tinted, armored windows and try to calm her hammering heart. The entire trip was very important to Nico, and she didn't want to be the reason anything went wrong. She kept her head down through the hotel lobby just holding the bags, as they slipped into the suite elevator. "I hope you were able to find what you needed," he remarked in the elevator. She nodded, but stayed silent. When the elevator door opened, she walked straight into the bedroom's closet, and hung up the dress, setting aside the boxes of jewelry and the shoes.

When Renee had inexplicably run from the store, Nico and the security team scrambled. He had been asking the clerk about any dresses that had not been put out yet. The clerk had taken him to mean something else entirely, and proceeded to sit on the arm of the sofa beside him. She had reached for his jacket pocket, and that movement made him acutely aware that she was flirting with him, regardless of the fact that the woman who came in with him was a few feet away. So when Renee had just flung the curtain back, and without a word left the store, everyone was caught off guard. At first, she seemed to disappear in the crowd, but when she had crossed the street a block down, they spotted her. Security got the car, while Nico ran after her. He had just made the corner, when he saw her disappear inside the store. He called the driver and told him to make the block and park outside the shop. Nico watched her inside the store, the clerk saw him through the window, but didn't say anything to Renee. The SUV pulled up a moment later and Nico stepped inside to wait for her. When she came out, she looked smaller somehow, her eyes were distant, like she was thinking about something. When she looked up and saw the car, her shoulders dropped little, she walked over and calmly got into the car. Her excuse had made sense, but it didn't satisfy him. Nico could tell something had upset her, but he didn't want to push. The rest of the drive back to the hotel and all the way into the suite, she didn't say a word. She just walked past him into the closet, and laid out her things. The dress she'd found was beautiful. It looked like a minimalist Italian sculptor had been at work with the collar, and the vibrant red color was entirely appropriate, he thought. She probably looked stunning in it, but he knew he'd have to wait to see for himself.

Nico was sitting on the sofa in the suite, and he was getting nervous. Renee had been in the 2nd bedroom since they'd returned from shopping. She hadn't said two words to him since they came back and that had made him even more nervous. Was she mad at him? He could hear her moving around in the bedroom; he glanced down at his watch and saw they had 1 hour to get to a restaurant across town. Nico stood up and walked to the bar, ready to pour himself another bourbon, when he heard the door behind him open. He turned, and he couldn't find his breath at that moment. Renee looked like the goddess of love. The red dress clung to her so beautifully, but could never be described as lewd. The gold necklace laid flat on her collarbone, as if it were made of liquid gold, simmering in the light even when she barely moved. She had pulled her hair up in a low bun with soft tendrils framing her face. Her makeup was subtle even for the evening, but she looked radiant. When their eyes met, Renee afforded him a smile and asked, "Is it OK?" Nico took a beat and swallowed the bourbon in one go, and walked towards her, taking her hand in his, "You look stunning, Bella. Absolutely stunning." He couldn't seem to catch his breath around her. He walked over taking her hands in his. His smile was so soft and endearing, that for a moment, Renee's mind went silent and all of her concerns left like shadows at midday, "Thank you," she whispered. As he looked down, he noticed the dress's neckline hadn't hidden the scar from the gunshot. In reality, it seemed to accentuate it. Absently, his fingers traced the scar inches below her collarbone, his mouth twitched for a half second, he kissed her temple and spoke softly, "I wish I would have known you back then. I would have been there to protect you, Bella." Renee smiled, tears peeking at the corners of her eyes. "It's OK, does it make me look dangerous?" Nico dipped his head down and kissed her deeply, stealing her breath. Her tears spilled softly down her cheeks. He broke the kiss, his chest heaved raggedly. He breathed softly into her ear, "Very dangerous," he smiled. Nico took out a silk pocket square from his suit and dabbed her eyes, "No tears tonight, Bella."