The Arrangement

Chapter Nine

Taylor's POV

I continue to shop in the store, not finding one white or black dress for the gala.

"Excuse me," I ask the store worker as she's passing by. "Do you guys have any white or black dresses available for purchase?"

"Let me go check in the back for you," she smiles.

"Thank you so much," I say, sitting down on the bench, waiting for her to come back.

I had already bought a beautiful black masquerade mask for the gala and I want to find a dress that'll match my mask perfectly.

When the store worker tells me that they don't have any dresses stored in the back I groan in frustration and try another store, only to be told no again.

I text Nicolas and tell him I can't find any dresses those particular colors. He responds a few seconds later.

Nicolas: Keep looking. I'm sure someone is selling it, Thomas.

You: Ok

I sigh in exhaustion and gasp as I look to my left, a beautiful black dress displayed inside the window. I walk over to it and gawk, not believing I found the perfect dress on sale, for tonight.

A slim, black no-strap dress, the chest area cut into a slight v-neck.

I immediately walk into the store and look for the dress, seeing it hanging on the wall.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" I ask, talking to the clerk at the front desk.

"Yes? What do you need?" She looks up from her paper, clearly annoyed.

"Could you please get that black dress off the wall for me?" I ask sweetly. She stares at me and gets up, grabbing a stick and walking over to the dress.

"This one?" She asks.

"Yes," I nod, smiling. She gets it down and hands it to me. "Thank you," she walks off and sits back down.

I go to the fitting room and try on the dress. It's the perfect size and I couldn't be happier.

I put the dress back on the hanger, and walk up to the lady at the desk again.

"I'd like to buy it please," I tell her. She rings it up and takes the hanger off, putting it into a bag.

"The total is $107.23," she says. I reach into my purse and hand her my credit card.

"Here you go," I smile. She swipes my card and hands it back to me, also giving me the bag. "Thanks again."

"No problem sweetie," says, grabbing a nail filer and filing her perfectly manicured nails down.

When I exit the store, I head to my car and drive to Sophia's apartment.

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"And where are you going?" Sophia asks me as I put on the dress.

"Out," I say plainly, grabbing my make-up bag and my curler.

"Out where?" She asks, leaning against the doorframe.

"Out with someone," I say, feeling bad for lying to her. It's best if I don't tell her right now.

I don't want to freak her out and she's just going to try to convince me to stop helping Nicolas because she wouldn't want me to get hurt, and I don't feel like taking that lecture right now, especially not from her.