Mars

Pine

Alenia was left speechless as she watched her boss turn back to his computer screen, seemingly dismissing her presence. She couldn't deny the thrill that coursed through her at the thought of attending a gala with Rhys by her side, but she also couldn't shake off the feeling that she was in over her head.

Swallowing hard, Alenia made her way back to her desk and hastily typed out an email to Dr. Sampson, apologizing for Rhys' absence and explaining that an urgent matter had come up that required his attention. She hit send and grabbed her purse, ready to face whatever awaited her at the Pine boutique.

As she walked through the doors of the boutique, Alenia was immediately struck by the opulence and luxury that surrounded her. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and plush velvet chairs were arranged throughout the store. She had never been in a place like this before and felt completely out of place.

A young woman approached her, introducing herself as the stylist assigned to her by Vincent, the owner of the boutique. She was petite with big, brown eyes and curly hair that cascaded down her back. "Hi there, my name is Maria. Mr. Crawford called ahead to let us know you were coming. We have some absolutely gorgeous gowns picked out for you to try.

Alenia felt her stomach drop as Maria showed her towards a dressing room. She had never worn anything so expensive or beautiful, and she couldn't help but feel self-conscious about her less-than-perfect figure. But she swallowed her nerves and put on the first dress that Maria handed her.

It was a stunning emerald green gown that hugged her curves in all the right places. As she stood in front of the mirror, Alenia couldn't believe how elegant and sophisticated she looked. The dress had a neckline that showed just enough cleavage to be sexy without being inappropriate, and a slit up the side that revealed a glimpse of a shapely leg when she walked.

Maria was ecstatic with how the dress made Alenia look, but she insisted they try on a few more options before making a final decision. Alenia was hesitant--she didn't want to waste their time or money--but Maria was insistent, assuring her that it was all part of the process.

Alenia tried on several more gowns, each one more exquisite than the last. There was a deep blue strapless dress that made her feel like a queen, a sleek black number that made her feel powerful and almost dangerous, and even a pale pink dress that made her feel like a fairy princess. But as much as she loved each one, none of them felt quite right.

With only one dress left to try on, Alenia was nervous. It was a deep burgundy color with delicate lace details and a full skirt that flowed elegantly around her legs. Maria suggested pairing it with a pair of silver strappy heels and Alenia obliged, slipping her feet into the shoes and standing in front of the mirror once again.

As soon as she saw herself in the burgundy dress, Alenia knew it was the one. The color complemented her skin tone perfectly, and the lace details added just the right amount of femininity to the elegant silhouette. She couldn't help but twirl around, feeling like a princess in a fairytale.

Maria beamed, "That's the one! Mr. Crawford is going to love it."

Alenia couldn't deny the thrill that ran through her at the thought of impressing Rhys with her outfit. As she changed back into her regular clothes, Alenia couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within her. This was going to be the night of her dreams, she just knew it. She thanked Maria for all her help and left the boutique feeling like a completely different person.

As she made her way back to the office, Alenia's mind was racing with thoughts of what the gala would be like. She had never been to an event like this before, but she was eager to see the world that Rhys inhabited beyond their small workplace. No she told herself, you don't have feelings for him.

She didn't see Rhys for the remainder of her day. As she was leaving

*Ping

Your clothes will be delivered tomorrow afternoon. A car will arrive at 7pm sharp to transport you to the gala.

Alenia's heart skipped a beat as she read the message from Rhys. Tomorrow was the day of the gala, and she was both excited and nervous. She had never attended such a high-profile event before and didn't know what to expect.

The rest of her evening was a blur as Alenia tried to distract herself from her nerves. She cooked herself a nice dinner, caught up on some reading, and even painted her nails to match her burgundy dress. Despite her efforts, she couldn't stop thinking about Rhys and the gala. This was her moment. To begin to set the trap. She could do this, she could seduce her boss.