Chapter 3

Sage Slade

How is a cunning guy like that so easily charming to everyone around him? It took me a week to figure him out. The women who cling to him are so blinded by his wealth and good looks that they don't even realize they're being played, even after he kicks them into the curve.

"Are you ready? Mr. Blackstone is waiting outside for you." My Dad informs me, his expression depressing to look at. He hates every moment I am forced to leave this house and be around someone I hate. Every day this week I've been coming home complaining and talking about how awkward it is being in class since I now know the Professor for my favorite subject, Astronomy, has slept with my fiance. Professor Daniell, so far, is a great teacher and seems just as passionate about space as I am—even more. However, it's hard to take her seriously when I see her ring finger has an actual ring, and then there's also the image of her being all sexed up that will never leave my brain.

I pull my hair into a ponytail. "More ready than I'll ever be, the quicker I leave, the quicker I'll get this stupid shopping done." Today Greyson is forcing me to shop at some expensive, over-the-top boutiques for a gown to wear at the event this Saturday. I'm still unsure what it's about since everyone refuses to explain it to me.

"Should I make dinner? Or do you think..." Dad pauses, then crosses his arms, looking at me silently.

I scoffed. "I'm almost a hundred percent sure Greyson's going to force me to eat at some ridiculously costly restaurant to teach me proper etiquette. So, yeah, you don't need to make dinner, as much as I'd prefer eating with you, the moment I refuse that jerk, he's going to be all over me like white on rice."

"Alright." He smiles lightly at me, then walks over to me and kisses my forehead. "I'll go to the den and work on my projects. See you later kiddo." Dad leaves the room and I sigh, although this hurts him inside, it's better than financially hurting this family.

So I sucked up my inner hatred for Greyson Blackstone and left.

******

"You're seventeen years old and have the body of a child." Greyson scoffs, leaning back into his leather chair. This is the hundredth dress I've tried on and for every single one, he's come up with some insult towards me for wearing it. Either I'm too short, I'm too flat-chested, I am scrawny, or I look like a twelve-year-old. Admittedly, I am all of those things, but that does not mean I'm unhappy about it. He's too picky when it comes to his women because all of them either have to look like Victoria's Secret models or hot porn stars. O frowned. "You do realize that I'm seventeen years old and not 25, my body is still maturing your ass." Sometimes I wouldn't be surprised to find out Greyson is some misogynist lower the lower, given the way he treats me. His brows snapped together. "Do I have to personally teach you how not to curse? If we are to attend this event, you must learn to be ladylike and not a barbarian." I crossed my arms. "Maybe it's too late for me to be lady-like since I was raised the way I was raised and all. If you think I'm a barbarian, find some other floozy with big boobs to take my place."

"You don't know how much I'd love to do that. I cannot believe my Father thinks you are outside of all the women that are suitable for me." He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. The owner, Gale, walks into the room with several more dresses, his eyes wide.

"Darling," he starts and shakes his head. "that dress does not suit you one bit. The color and everything, who gave that to you?" I'd hate to throw anyone under the bus but his intern Ariana did and it seems like Gale is super uptight about his fashion business.

So I answered. "I just found it and wanted to try it on." Greyson's eyebrows shoot up, he knows that's a lie but chooses to stay quiet.

"Well, it took some major searching but I know your dress has to be in this pile," Gale tells me and places the pile on a hanger rack. "Try them on, I'll fetch some jewelry to go with it. I hope you like our choices, Mr. Blackstone."

"I hope so too," Greyson says under his breath.

Gale walks out of the room, leaving me alone with the Black Prince again. I rolled my eyes and walked back inside to try on the pile of dresses given to me. The first one was too loose. Gale informed me that even though the dress may not fit if I liked it, he'd resize it for me. That was not the case with this dress, so he walked out to show Greyson so that he'd be able to shoot it down.

Just as expected, he scoffed and his head fell back irritatedly. "Does ANYTHING look even remotely decent to you?"

This went on through five more dresses.

"It doesn't suit your character."

"Maybe if we had the dress resized, but it seems to be made for bigger-chested women."

'That dress is way too childish for you."

"You look like a five-year-old."

"You're joking, right?"

This was getting stupid. I've been trying different dresses all day from all kinds of places. If these last few dresses don't work, then we'll have to go to another boutique. It's ten o'clock at night, the party is in two days and I have a class in the morning—early morning. So, whether he likes one of these gowns or one of them or not, I'm going to take them home.

Then I turned around and picked up one of the most beautiful gowns I'd ever seen. The kind I see celebrities wear at the New York Gala on blogs or Twitter. It was a gorgeous royal blue, long and flowy. The fabric was expensive because of its soft and silky texture. The dress was not only strapless but looked suitable for my body type.

I slipped out of what I was wearing and, without hesitation, I pulled on the gown. Immediately it came to my attention that it fit like a glove, it was tight and hugged every curve that I didn't even know I had.

Reaching for the back to zip it up, it stops and gets stuck. I try forcing it so that it'll go through but it doesn't. It seemed like a bad idea to fidget with it some more until Gale came. I wouldn't want to mess up such a pretty gown.

"What's taking so long?" Greyson asked, his tone sharp.

I gulped. "Well...I can't...can you get Gale?"

"He's busy searching for more dresses and jewelry. What's the problem?"

After taking a deep breath, I answered, "The zipper of this dress got stuck and I need help."

Silence.

Then suddenly the door opened and I jumped, caught off guard to see Greyson walking into the dressing room as if he owned the place—owned me. His expression was stoic as he walked over to me and I felt my heart speed up. "What are you doing? You can't be in here. This is my dressing room. I'm not completely dressed yet—"

Greyson gently turns me around and swiftly moves my hair to the side. One hand was on the small of my back and the other fidgeted around with the zipper until it finally slid upwards. When he finished, I turned around and felt his body heat.

He was too close

Way too close

Greyson backed up, then I watched his eyes do a full body scan on me. My heart was doing somersaults every second he stood quiet. After agonizing moments of pure silence, his eyes met mine and an approving expression appeared on his once stoic face.

"I see that my time was not wasted at all, you are rather capable of looking more enticing than the rest." And for the first time since I met him, his voice was gentle and accepting. Greyson wasn't mad or irritated like he always is but looked relieved. This wasn't a forced feeling either. He genuinely meant what he said and although I hate him, hearing those words from him left me speechless.

My eyes dropped to the ground.

"I'll tell Gale we fou, done," Greyson informed me, turning away and walking out of the room. Leaving me alone to calm myself down from that unexpected moment we just shared. I don't ever want to experience that again, it'll only make me believe usually be a decent human being. I have got to remember Greyson Blackstone is far from that a fact the worst kind of man out there.

Yeah, I just have to remind myself.

That's it.