Coming Home

Chapter 10

"What do you think of this dress?”Venice pointed to the A-line silhoutte dress in the magazine that showed a fitted bodice and flowed out to the ground, showing the beads and pearls stitched on the midline of the dress. She could barely keep her eyes off the price and wondered whether she should choose a much cheaper dress. When Janine had come in this morning with her daughter, carrying piles of wedding magazines, she’d been afraid to have a look, knowing that each design they showed her cost more than what she could pay for.

“It's nice but it doesn't compliment your body,” Eunice answered before flipping through the magazine.

“How about this one?” Janine showed her a mermaid dress that had a V-neck line that displayed a great amount of cleavage.

“I don’t think that would suit me at all,” she said, eyeing the dress.

“Why not?” Eunice stared at her, laughing when she saw her expression. “You’ve got the boobs for it. I’m sure my brother would love the V-neck on this one.”

“Eunice!"Janine exclaimed, pretending to disapprove of her daughter’s action but smiled at her secretly. “Have you thought about wearing something tighter in the bust area?”

She made a face. “I don’t particularly want anything tight around my female parts. I don’t want to pass out on my wedding day.”

“We can always have your measurements taken and get it done by a favorite tailor of mine,” Eunice suggested.

Venice gnawed at her lip, calculating the cost. “Wouldn’t it be too expensive if I get my dress done? I’m more than happy to choose from one of these dress.”

“Nonsense!” her soon-to-be mother-in-law waved a hand in dismissal, already grabbing her phone and making calls in the next five minutes.

The tailor Eunice had been talking about turned out to be the best tailor in the country, and who’d also be the person making her wedding dress. Hance John--a familiar designer from a show she’d once watched stood in front of her half-hour later, holding a measurement tape, stroking his chin absently, as he examined her body.

“I think a sweetheart neckline would do,” Hance said after a second. “With the bodice and waistline tight to show off her figure. Maybe strapless too.”

She opened her mouth to interject when he wrapped the measurement tape around her waist, and tugged gently to measure her waist, then her hips before moving up to her breasts. She was so wrapped up in how the dress would look like, that she missed Max’s entrance whom greeted his mother and sister before leaning against the wall, quietly watching her, oblivious to his presence.

“Don’t make the bodice too tight,” her boss said from the side. “I don’t want every man watching my fiancee’s boobs jiggle as she walked along the aisle.”

She looked up with a start before blushing madly when his words sank in. “How long have you been standing there?”

“I just got here.” He pushed off the wall and strode towards her, eyeing her face as she felt her ears and face warm. “I thought you were planning on choosing from one of those dresses.”

“I was supposed to but Eunice and Janine thought it’d be a good idea if I get my measurement taken.” She should have stuck with the dresses in the magazines, she thought as his face remained blank. She didn’t want him to think she was taking advantage of the situation; although, she’d be more than willing to have a share in the expenses. “I can always just pick from one of them if you want.”

He gave his head a shake, slowly, as strands of hair fell on top of his eyes. “I want the dress to fit you, darling.” He drawled; the endearment rolling off of his tongue as easily as he’d said it. “I’d rather you get your dress personalized according to your taste than get you to wear those awful designs.”

“Hey!” Eunice reacted. “I chose those designs because I thought it would suit her.”

His mouth quirked up. “You have great taste, sis. But I don’t think they would suit your sister-in-law’s.”

She made a move to defend herself but both women only smiled and nodded. Max stepped aside and continued to watch as Hance took the rest of her measurements. She felt an abrupt sense of nervousness under their scrutiny, which was ridiculous since the Smiths had never judged her.

“If you’re willing to tell me what kind of designs you were looking for, then I can get started on the making tonight and get it done within a week.”

Her eyes almost bulged out of their sockets as she said, “a week?”

The Smiths laughed, including Max, at her expression. Eunice was the first to speak. “Hance is great at making things, hence why he’s my favorite tailor.”

“Oh, no need for that, sweetheart.” Hance said, pretending to be bashful.

“Well, I think I’d like a similar design to this.” She pointed to the one she’d been looking at earlier and made clear points in wanting to change the pearls into beads instead. But max had other ideas as he instructed to have the beads swapped for small diamonds instead, which was something she couldn’t agree on.

“That’s not necessary to have, Max.” She said hotly, not liking the idea of having something so expensive and exquisite on her attire. What if they ended up falling off?

Hance must have read her mind for he smiled at her and said, “you don’t have to worry about the diamonds falling off. I’ve got a technique on keeping them in place.”

As soon as the dress was settled, the designer waved goodbye and left to start on her dream wedding dress. It might not be a real wedding for her boss, but she’d like to make the most out of the experience. This might be the only wedding they might ever have in their life, so it was better to make it a great experience for all.

“I’m starving, mom. Can we go out and eat?” Eunice said as she slipped her phone inside her pocket.

“Only if Venice is ready to come with us,” Janine said.

“Oh, you guys can go ahead. I still have a few errands to run for today.” It was Saturday morning and luckily, Max hadn’t gone out last night partying. She’d had a full 8-hour sleep last night, which didn’t always happen, especially not when she had her fiance as her boss.

“Can’t you postpone it for tommorow? My brother’s coming to have lunch with us as well.” Eunice didn’t give her the chance to respond when she grabbed her arm, hauling her out of the shop already.

They’d ended up dining in a small Italian restaurant that was close to her apartment. She hadn’t seen that old place in months since she’d moved in with Max. He’d helped her with moving the majority of her stuff, and provided her a room that was bigger than studio-apartment she’d left behind. He also let her design his kitchen and living room to make it more of a homey-feeling, and the times his family had visited, they’d all commented at the sudden change his penthouse had undergone.

Venice had to admit that this was the first time she didn’t have to worry about her bills and other expenses. There was food in the fridge that she enjoyed cooking every night, and preparing great meals for Max to eat. They’d fallen into a comfortable phase that required no physical benefits, which sometimes made her wonder, where he went to satisfy his need.

She’d seen a few rumors of him meeting a woman in tabloids even shortly after the announcement of their engagement. She’d paid no attention because of two reasons. One, it was because they weren’t a real married couple. There was no place for her jealousy or nagging as he’d simply stated in the beginning. And the second one was that they’d agreed to keep things professional between them; which was getting hard to do because she was also human. She was bound to make mistakes and had a self-control to maintain or lose to the attraction that sizzled between them.

They went home after saying goodbye to his mom and sister, and went directly back to the penthouse. Max locked himself in his room, leaving her alone in the sofa, unsure of what to do for the rest of the day. Back in her old apartment, she’d have welcomed the extra time of rest he’d have given her, but today, she felt uneasy, restless for no particular reason.

“What are you doing standing there?” Max asked after he went back five minutes later.

“I don’t know what to do,” she answered.

His brows furrowed. “I thought you had errands to do this morning.”

“Well, yeah. But most of the shops I need to visit are most likely closed by now or about to.”

He glanced at his watch before looking back at her. “It’s only five in the evening.”

She’d been planning to make a trip to the local underwear store to pick up a few undergarments, but it was postponed by the sudden pick-the-dress galore. “The shop I want to go to is closed, Max. I’ll just go tomorrow then.”

“What shop is it anyway?”

Why was he being so nosy today? He’d never really paid attention to where she went so long as she told him what time she’d get back.

She fought the redness creeping up on her face and down to her neck. “Oh, it’s just this small place I want to see. Nothing to worry about.”

His eyes narrowed. “It’s not a*****e for illegal drugs, is it?”

“What?” she exclaimed. “Of course not!”

“You usually tell me where you’re going,” he recalled slowly. “Would you like me to come along?”

She shook her head. “I think I can manage myself.”

“I’ll come with you anyway.” He made a start toward his room again when she stopped him. He stared at her, annoyed. “What?”

“You don’t have to come with me,” she said out of desperation, hoping he’d already take the initiative. Please, Max. Don’t come with me tomorrow. I’d die of humiliation.

“Now that just makes me more curious,” he crossed his arms and fixed her a look. “You’re not going out to meet a lover, are you?”

“I’ve already told you I don’t have one of those,” she huffed.

“Then I’m coming.”

ccc

“Is this the reason why you don’t want me to come with you?” Max asked, staring at the Victoria’s Secret sign.

Max didn’t leave no room for an argument last night after he’d walked out on her. She’d spent the whole night worrying about what he’d think of her, and the main reason why she didn’t want to bring him along was because of his reaction. She didn’t want him thinking she was hinting something; she’d never pass for someone who could seduce a man she was attracted to.

“Look, maybe we should just go home and I can do this some other time.” She wanted to run and hide herself.

“Some other time? When is that exactly?” they’d already walked into the shop where a saleslady waited, eyeing her fiance without shame. “When I’m at work so you can do your dirty little secret?”

“It’s not a dirty little secret,” she said, irritated, as she followed him to the aisle of panties. “And I’ve never gone shopping with a man before.”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Never?”

Venice gave a nod. “My past relationships hadn’t lasted that long for me to bring them shopping with me.”

They came across a black, lace underwear set that Max saw first, walking directly to it, leaving her to follow him. There was a rose design stitched on the front of the bra that was supposed to cover the n****e, but the thin lace material barely kept the doll’s boobs in place.

“What about this one? It looks good.”