Chapter 16
1011 Words
The journey wasn't too long. As we walked down the corridor, I glanced around frequently to ensure that Ronald wouldn't come back and ruin my plans.
Finally, we arrived in a room where another assistant awaited us.
"Welcome, Miss Laurie. My name is Elain, and I'll help you choose the perfect dress," she greeted me warmly before turning to Kevin. "Mr Jackson, please leave Miss Laurie with me. I promise she will be in the best hands."
She smiled at Kevin, who looked at me and, acting like a loving partner, leaned closer to kiss my cheek. The frustration was still visible on his face, though he tried to hide it. "I'll see you soon," he said, then joined the first assistant, who stared at us with adoration.
If I didn't know that Kevin was cheating on me with Zoe, I might have missed the glance he gave Zoe before leaving the room with the first assistant.
"Miss Laurie, please take a look at the dresses and choose what you really like," Elain said.
"Please, call me Erin," I said before stepping toward the dresses hanging neatly on the hangers, each covered in colourless nylon to protect the fabric from accidental stains or dust.
As I started examining them, Zoe stepped next to me and began looking at the gowns as if she needed to pick one for herself, too. I stood there in silence, and I tried to ignore Zoe beside me. Even Elain seemed hesitant to interrupt us. But when my gaze lingered on a particular dress, Zoe exclaimed, "This is it, Erin!"
She stepped into a red gown and pulled the nylon cover off to feel the material. "Erin, this gown is gorgeous, and I think it matches you perfectly. If you choose this one, you'll look stunning at the ceremony."
While all the gowns were beautiful, I particularly disliked that one. What I really wanted was to tell Zoe that she had no business being there and that she would be the last person I'd listen to regarding fashion. I did my best to act normally.
I approached the gown and, glancing at Elain, noticed her disapproval. It was clear she didn't like the dress either.
"Zoe, this gown is lovely, but I've never been a fan of red clothes, and I don't think it would be suitable for an Alpha's succession ceremony. Just look at the neckline!"
Zoe shook her head. "Erin, you have a perfect body. If you showed it off a little more, I bet Kevin would be more into you than ever," she said, which made me fume inside, but I tried to remain calm.
"Zoe, I don't think this gown is conservative enough for such a ceremony. I've never liked to expose what I've got, so I don't want to wear this one."
Zoe rolled her eyes. "This is what I've been trying to tell you. I think you've spent so much time in the hospital in scrubs that you forgot all about fashion. Kevin likes it when a woman looks like a woman. This dress would be the most suitable for the ceremony," she said, sounding quite aggressive. For a moment, I wondered if she genuinely liked that dress or wanted to put me in a difficult position that I would remember for the rest of my life. Perhaps she hoped Kevin would dislike my outfit, leading to an argument between us that would thrill her.
"Okay, let's ask the expert for her opinion," I said, knowing Zoe would dislike it, but she crossed her arms, confident that Elain would agree with her.
"Elain, may I ask what you think?" I smiled at her, and she returned my smile as she stepped closer to us.
"I agree with you, Erin. This dress is beautiful, but I don't believe it's appropriate for an occasion like the Alpha's succession ceremony. I would recommend a more restrained gown," she said.
Zoe's expression shifted, and the way she blushed indicated that she was seething inside. I was sure she wanted to give me a hard time with her advice, and she hated that her plan hadn't worked.
"Alright, if you think my advice isn't useful, then I will leave you with your assistant," she huffed.
"Zoe, I didn't say that..." I started, but she cut me off by raising her hand to stop me from speaking.
"You don't need to correct yourself, Erin. I understand. I think I'll check on your other half. Perhaps he would appreciate my advice more," she said, glancing at the assistant before elegantly walking out of the room.
I glanced at the assistant, who shook her head before turning to me. "Let's choose a suitable gown then," she said with a smile, as if she had been waiting for the moment Zoe left the room to begin her work.
"I think this gown would fit you best. The colour will complement your eye colour and hair beautifully, and it will also emphasise your perfect shoulders and waistline," she remarked as she led me to a stunning dark green gown. It was truly gorgeous with its long skirt. "If you wear this, all the pack members will adore you. And I must say, all our suits pair wonderfully with this gown."
"I think this gown is gorgeous," I replied, which made her smile even wider. She carefully took it off the rack and removed the nylon cover before handing it to me.
"Let’s try it on," she suggested, motioning for me to follow her. The dressing room was connected to this area, and I quickly stepped inside. However, I struggled a bit with pulling up the zipper at the back. Holding the lightweight material in place over my chest, I finally stepped out of the fitting room, hoping to find the assistant waiting for me. To my shock, I found myself face-to-face with Ronald, who stared at me with a broad smile on his face.
“May I help you?” he asked as he took his first step towards me.
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