A new dress

The next morning… 

Esme was too lazy to wake up. Nestled into the softness of her pillow, she savored the comfort of slumber. It was Sunday, and she had no plans to stir from her cozy nest anytime soon. But fate had other plans. 

Ding-Dong-Ding-Dong…

The loud doorbell echoed through the apartment, jarring Esme awake. She sat up with a start, her brain foggy and disoriented. For a moment, her mind grappled with the dissonance between dream and reality.

'Maybe it was in my dream,' she mumbled to herself, trying to dismiss the sound.

Ding-Dong-Ding-Dong…

Before she could settle back down, the doorbell chimed again, snapping her out of her drowsy state. It was indeed not a dream, and Esme realized this abruptly.

"Who's here now?" Esme grumbled as she reluctantly dragged her lethargic body out of bed, trudging towards the door. She rubbed her eyes, hoping to dispel the lingering sleepiness. When she opened the door, she was taken aback by the sight of Silas standing outside.

Unable to believe her eyes, Esme rubbed them again, thinking that maybe she was still dreaming. But when she opened them, Silas was still there, looking as handsome as ever. He was dressed in a pair of track pants and a sweatshirt, with a towel around his neck, giving the appearance of having just returned from a jog.

Esme's mind raced, trying to process the situation. Why was Silas here so early in the morning? Confused and a bit annoyed, she crossed her arms over her chest, trying to hide her dishevelment.

"Good morning," Silas greeted him with a grin. 

"You! "What are you doing here so early?" she asked gruffly, hoping to mask her confusion.

Silas raised the packet he held. "I brought you breakfast." With that, he casually sidestepped her and entered the house, his steps light and confident. "Aren't you glad to see me?"

Esme's eyes narrowed. She didn't appreciate his presumptuous behavior, nor did she enjoy the way he acted like he owned the place. "This is my house," she snapped. "You can't just walk in whenever you feel like it."

Silas stopped and turned to face her, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Really? But this is my house too, isn't it?"

Esme's mouth twisted into a scowl. She didn't want to admit it, but he was right. In reality, she didn't own the house; her residence there was a result of her employment as his assistant. Without her role as his secretary's assistant, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to reside in such a spacious house in the desirable neighborhood.

Silas took a step closer, a playful glint in his eye. "You are my girlfriend, aren't you? Your house, my house."

Esme rolled her eyes. "Fake girlfriend," she corrected him, trying to sound casual despite her growing frustration.

Silas chuckled and continued to advance towards her. "Whether it's fake or real, you're my girlfriend."

Esme sighed and shook her head, feeling defeated. "Ugh... You win."

She turned and stormed into her room, slamming the door shut behind her. She could hear Silas's laughter echoing in the hallway, and she knew he was enjoying every minute of this.

"Don't be late," he called out, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm hungry."

"Then eat. Don't wait for me," Esme shouted. 

Esme stormed into the bathroom. She cursed him under her breath, wishing she could escape this strange, complicated agreement they found themselves in. But deep down, she knew she couldn't. Not yet, at least.

When Esme caught sight of her reflection in the mirror, she froze. Her hair was disheveled and wild, giving her the appearance of a madwoman. A smudge of saliva marred the corner of her mouth, and dirt streaked her eyes. Instantly mortified, her complexion paled. She had just paraded in front of him looking like this. What must he think of her? She must have seemed like a lunatic fresh out of an asylum.

"Ewe, Esme!" She hurriedly moved closer to the mirror, attempting to fix her unruly hair with her hands. "Look at yourself. You're a mess."

Her eyes shifted downwards, noticing she was clad in shorts and a tee. The white fabric of her top was transparent, revealing her nipples. A deep flush crept onto her face, intensifying her embarrassment. Memories of the night she had spent with him resurfaced, furthering her discomfort.

"Oh, God. How am I going to face him again?" She covered her cheeks with her hands, blinking at her reflection in dismay.

After a brief respite, Esme finally emerged from the bathroom, looking somewhat refreshed. She donned an overcoat and combed her hair with her fingers before venturing out of the bedroom. 

Silas was seated at the dining table, engrossed in his phone. Esme lowered her head and pulled the coat, covering her breasts. 

"Hey, have you freshened up?" he asked, glancing at her over his shoulder. "Come, eat your breakfast." 

Esme hesitated for a moment before approaching the dining area. 

"Before you start eating, please brew some coffee for me," Silas said, his tone imploring. 

Esme let out a small sigh and headed into the kitchen, trying to avoid Silas's gaze.

Silas continued to scroll through his phone, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Once the coffee was ready, Esme poured it into a cup and handed it to Silas. He expressed his gratitude and took a sip, savoring the flavor. He started liking the sweet coffee. 

"Where's your breakfast?" Esme inquired, observing that there was only one sandwich on the plate. "Aren't you eating?"

Silas chuckled and replied, "I'm an obedient type of boyfriend, you know. You told me not to wait for you, and I was starving. So, I already ate my sandwich." He smirked mischievously, taking another sip of his coffee.

Esme lowered her head and quietly ate her sandwich. "Do you go jogging every day?" she inquired after a brief silence.

"Yes. You should join me. It'll keep you in shape and let you enjoy the beautiful surroundings," Silas suggested.

Her mind wandered back to the past. She reminisced about the days when she and Julian would go jogging together in their hometown. 

Those were wonderful times, filled with smiles and shared moments. But ever since Julian had left, she had stopped her morning jogs and barely remembered what it was like to wake up early in the morning.

Silas's words prompted Esme to consider resuming this routine. She decided she shouldn't halt her life just because Julian had moved on.

"I'll think about it," she replied. 

"Good." With that, he stood up to leave. "We are going to my parents' place today evening. Be ready at six o'clock, my dear girlfriend." He winked at her before walking out. 

Esme was left speechless, watching him leave; his playful and casual attitude left a lasting impression on her heart. She was undoubtedly annoyed with his flirtatious nature, but she appreciated his friendly and lively personality. With a smile on her face, she finished the rest of her sandwich.

In the afternoon…

Esme found herself in a dilemma as she tried to choose an outfit for the dinner. The newly purchased designer dress felt too revealing for meeting Silas's parents, and her other dresses seemed either too simple or not suitable for the occasion. Frustrated, she slumped onto the bed, feeling a pang of longing for Adelynn's company. 

Adelynn would have been a great help in selecting an appropriate dress or might have even offered one from her collection.

"I've to go shopping again with Adel," she murmured with a sigh of dismay.

Ding-Dong…

The doorbell interrupted Esme's thoughts, prompting her to answer it. To her surprise, Caleb stood tall on the other side.

"Hi. What a pleasant surprise." She mustered a smile. "Please come in." She welcomed him in, assuming he had come to check on her or the house.

Caleb, however, declined her invitation. "No, I'm not coming in." He handed her a carrying bag, explaining, "I'm here to give you this. Mr. Sullivan has arranged a dress for you." 

"Is that so?" Esme was surprised by the unexpected gesture.

"Please be ready on time. He doesn't like being late," Caleb added before turning to leave. 

Esme stood there, staring at the bag, feeling a mix of surprise and curiosity.