Vicious Obsession

Chapter Twelve

"You're delusional, Gideon," I said right to his face.

I yanked the door open, stepped out, and slammed it shut behind me, taking a brief satisfaction in the heavy thud it made near his nose. I paused in the hallway, taking a sharp breath, only one step away from screaming at the top of my lungs.

He had to be completely out of his mind to think this was a good time to mess around.

Leaving the hallway behind, I made my way outside. I snatched a key fob from a valet, stepping into the cavernous garage where rows of high-end cars sat gleaming under the lights.

I pressed the unlock button, listening for the beep as I walked past the line of luxury models, until a sleek BMW i7 flashed its lights at me. I slid into the driver's seat, hit the ignition, and listened to the engine hum to life. Within minutes, I was out on the highway, driving toward the city.

I pulled up to Sobriety Shopping Mall, the largest retail center in Sable City. It was a business affiliated with our family, catering to everyone, wolves, vampires, humans, and shifters alike.

As I stepped out of the car, a line of staff members had already assembled outside. As I approached, they bowed in unison.

"Welcome to Sobriety Shopping Mall, Miss Vance," they chorused.

I swept past them, pushing through the revolving glass doors. The interior was quiet; the entire building had been cleared out so I could shop without interruption.

At the far end of the atrium, the store manager, Lowell stood waiting, flanked by his assistant. Suited up and beaming, he hurried forward to greet me.

"Welcome to Sobriety Shopping Mall, Sandra," he said.

I rolled my eyes, walking right past him as I gathered my hair to fix the loose strands. "You're acting like this is my very first time here."

"Well, we're simply following protocol, Miss Vance," he replied smoothly, keeping pace with me.

"A polite way of saying you know how much I throw around every time I step foot in here," I remarked, settling back into one of the plush lounge couches.

"Bingo," he said, snapping his fingers.

We locked eyes for a second before I let out a low laugh.

"Why did you have to call me last minute to say you were coming?" he asked, already pointing toward a glass display case. "I almost had that bag over there sold."

Sitting inside was a designer Lourbento bag, rich crimson, glossy, and completely irresistible.

I drummed my nails against the leather armrest, staring at the bag as if it were already whispering my name.

"Ring it up, Lowell," I said.

He flashed me a quick wink. Of course, he always loved when I bought things like these following his recommendations. "What about these?" he asked, gesturing to a pair of sleek, shimmering silver heels. "I practically saved them just for you."

"Ring them up."

He motioned to the attendants, and within seconds, two staff members rolled out a rack lined with high-end dresses.

"Special collections from Lourbento," Lowell explained, running his fingers along the fabrics. "I had them rush a few pieces over the moment you called. And..." He offered a dramatic flair of his hand. "...they’re all in your favorite shades."

"Ring them up."

"Now, *this* one..." Lowell pulled out a striking floor-length gown, letting it drape effortlessly against his arm. "This is a proper date dress."

The sight of it swept my eyes away. It was a deep, sultry shade that clung to the light, crafted from heavy silk that draped like molten glass.

The front plunged into a daring V-neckline, balanced by delicate, crisscrossing silk ties that laced up the open back, while a daring s***h in the skirt promised to show off every inch of leg.

I stood up, stepping closer to run the luxurious fabric between my fingertips. "How did you even know I needed something for a date?"

"I know your style," he said smoothly. Then he paused, blinking. "Wait. A date?"

"Yeah," I replied, taking the dress from his hands and heading straight toward the fitting room.

"With Persie?"

"No."

"Then who?"

"A blind date my mom set up."

"A blind date?" He sounded genuinely stunned. "What? And you actually agreed to that?"

"Do I have a choice?" I called out, pulling the smooth silk up over my hips. The fabric fit like a second skin, but the intricate back ties proved tricky. "Can you step in and help me with these ropes? I can't reach them properly."

Lowell stepped inside without hesitation, his warm hands immediately going to work on the ties behind my back. "So who's the lucky guy?"

"Valerius. Do you know him?"

He snorted, his fingers sliding over my waist and smooth across my stomach to pull the front taut before securing the knot. "Seriously? Valerius? That d**k and Harry?"

"So you *do* know him? How am I the only one out of the loop?"

"You know him," Lowell corrected, adjusting the fit at my waist. "You just don't realize it because he goes by a dozen different aliases."

"I know him?" I asked, turning around to face him.

He leaned in slightly to adjust the structured collar of the gown. "This dress already looks incredible, but it would completely destroy the room with a billion-dollar necklace sitting right on your collarbone."

" Honestly, it's a shame you're wearing all this for Valerius. Does he even deserve this level of effort?"

"Fair point," I murmured.

I stepped out of the fitting room, and Lowell followed close behind. I caught sight of myself in the full-length mirror, but I didn't need the glass to tell me how I looked, the attendants were already staring, completely awestruck.

I touched my bare throat, a slow smile spreading across my lips as I reached up to undo my hair, letting the waves tumble down around my shoulders to frame my face.

"You're right, Lowell. A billion-dollar necklace would make this perfect."

He snapped his fingers, and the attendants dispersed immediately.

"You look breathtaking, Sandra," Lowell murmured, watching my reflection. "Still sweeping every room you walk into."

"You don't say," I sighed, placing my hands on my waist as I turned side-to-side to admire the way the dress hugged my hips. "I was getting so tired of hiding all of this under corporate suits."

"Still working for your brother-in-law?"

"What else would I be doing? Of course I'm still working for him." And he's still as infuriating as ever. I rolled my eyes having to remember him again.

The attendants returned in a silent line, carrying trays lined with an array of high-end jewelry.

"Let me pick," Lowell said, stepping toward the displays. His eyes swept across the sparkling diamonds and gemstone pieces until he paused at a velvet bust.

"This one."

He lifted a magnificent white-gold choker, intricate and webbed with radiant, teardrop-cut diamonds that caught the light with every subtle movement.

"Perfect," I said, holding up a finger-and-thumb gesture.

Lowell stepped up behind me, carefully clasping the heavy weight of the diamonds around my neck.

"You already own the room," he whispered, stepping back so I could look.

I beamed at my reflection, entirely satisfied with the sight.

"Whoever this blind date is, he needs to learn real quick that I'm no ordinary woman," I smirked, admiring the blend of wolf and omega grace staring back at me. "I'm a Vance. He better be ready to throw serious money around if he wants my time. Don't you think?"

"Valerius won't even know what hit him," Lowell laughed.

By evening, my makeup was flawless, my hair was styled to perfection, and I was gliding through the doors of Le Glastonbury, an elite, high-end establishment in the West of Sable City of Noctara.

The main dining room was practically empty, quiet and exclusive. I moved with slow, deliberate confidence until I reached my reserved table near the floor-to-ceiling windows.

I sat down and crossed my legs, letting the high slit of the gown fall open to reveal a flash of smooth skin and the shimmer of my silver heels. Cinderella could never.

Pulling out my phone, I began snapping a few quick photos for the gram, it would be a crime not to document a look this good. I adjusted my posture slightly, letting the necklace draw attention to my collarbones and the sharp plunge of the neckline.

Then, a shadow fell across the table.

There hadn't been a single footstep, no sound of an approach, but suddenly he was just standing there, looming right in front of me.

I lowered my phone, my eyes sliding up his tailored silhouette to take in his face, and my jaw instantly dropped.

"You?!" I gasped, blinking rapidly as I jabbed an accusing finger straight at his chest.