Boutique

Entering the room on the right, Lillian finally understood that this was not some shady business operation, but rather what appeared to be an extremely high class clothing boutique. Fancier than anywhere she'd ever shopped before by a long shot.

The room was set up with a french style beige sofa and armchair placed off center on the side of the room with a low wooden table inviting them to sit with small plates of delicate cookies and biscuits beside two empty teacups.

"Coffee or tea, Ms. Grace?" One of the assistants turned to her and patiently waited for a reply.

"Ms. Grace?" Lillian amusedly whispered under her breathe. She still could not believe she was in a place like this and was feeling giddy and shy by the unfamiliar formalities. Peering over at Andrew who was now settling himself on the sofa, she answered the assistant, asking her for coffee and thanking her for the efforts.

She made her way to the armchair and sat down, taking a moment to turn her head and observe all of the clothes hanging on the stands along the walls of the room. All of the items were designer, though Lillian could only discern that the articles appeared to be high quality and expensive. She feared that just one of the dresses in that room probably cost more than her entire wardrobe put together, remembering the $2000 purse her brother's girlfriend begged him to buy for their third anniversary.

There were also a few mirrors with a stand set up next to what appeared to be a changing room through a door in a corner of the room. Lillian sat there a bit awkwardly, not sure what to do. She was about to try starting up a conversation with Andrew when he received a work related phone call and had to excuse himself from the room. A minute later, the assistant came back with freshly brewed coffee and poured it into the empty cups. She added in a little cream and one cube of sugar then handed it to Lillian, after which she took a step back and joined the other assistant standing ready and on call at the side of the room.

Lillian sat there sipping her coffee, occasionally looking up at the two assistants who were attentively watching her. She wasn't quite sure what to do, so she anxiously smiled and tried to direct her eyes elsewhere.

A couple minutes later, Andrew returned to the private room. He noticed Lillian sitting, anxiously shifting her feet from side to side. He made his way next to her and poured himself a cup of black coffee. "Are none of the garments to your satisfaction? You seem to be more interested in your drink." He spoke with Lillian in a business like manner, as if sitting down at a negotiating table with an overseas investor.

"Hm? Ah, no. They all look wonderful!" Lillian enthusiastically replied to hide her nerves and took a powered biscuit from the table.

"I see... We'll take everything. Please arrange a delivery with my secretary." The two assistants bowed their heads and started organizing the items hanging in the room.

Lillian narrowly missed dropping her biscuit all over herself and blurted out, "Wait! I didn't mean I want everything. I don't even know if they'll suit me."

Oh My Gosh is this man insane? Who just buys a wall's worth of clothes? Does he even know how much they cost? Sure he has money, but this is just crazy.

Andrew nodded and waved to the assistants to stop what they were doing. "Then, please, pick out the pieces that suit you." He took a look back at the clothes hanging behind them then turned back to face Lillian. "Are you sure you don't want everything? It is certainly no problem."

"Haha, I'll go try some on to see if anything fits." Lillian jumped up and scurried over to the hanging clothes and picked out a few to bring to the dressing room.

"I doubt anything wouldn't suit her," Andrew mumbled under his breathe as he proceeded to pull up the latest stock numbers on his phone.

The two assistants helped Lillian pick some outfits to try on and passed them to her in the changing room. The first outfit she put on was a checkered pattern blazer and pantsuit set that made her look like a stylish business woman ready to take on the world. The sharp V-neck line cut deeper than she felt comfortable with, but one of the assistants convinced her that it looked great and she could where a shirt underneath if desired. The next few outfits were much like the first. Well tailored business attire for the modern day woman.

After stepping out in her fifth suit combo, the mistress of the establishment, who had greeted them at the door earlier, came to check in.

"Ms. Grace, that suit looks perfect on you. May I suggest you try this piece next. It was designed by the same designer for his newest spring collection." She passed one of the assistants a strapless emerald green dress.

Lillian politely smiled and followed the assistant back into the changing room. While the dress was beautiful, she did not see a reason to try it on as there would be no occasion to wear it for. Since the only place she needed nice clothes for was work, she was glad to just try on the work appropriate suits.

I guess it doesn't hurt to try it on though. It's not like I have to buy it. She excitedly stepped into the dress, thinking an opportunity like this would never come again, and zipped up the side

It was if the room got a little brighter as Lillian stepped out to model the floor length dress. The fabric perfectly draped over Lillian's skin with an effortless elegance and the shine of the emerald dress made the green specs of color in her warm hazel eyes pop in a way that sent sparkles soaring through the rest of the room.

"Oh! I knew this dress would look amazing on you!" The boutique's mistress clapped her hands together and showered Lillian with compliments, asking her assistant to grab a pair of bronze colored heels to wear with the dress. "Young man, don't be shy, tell the young lady what you think." She winked at Andrew, who had unconsciously stood up from his seat, his eyes fixed where Lillian was standing.

Lillian could feel her ears starting to redden with embarrassment as she stood there in the floor length gown. Andrew's gaze, though just as intense as usual, felt markedly less cold and much more tender, she was not sure why but she was beginning to feel shy with him looking at her like that, though she was equally as eager to hear what he thought. "You look-"

"Cold! I look cold, right? Hahaha. This dress is truly beautiful, but it's too thin for the winter weather isn't it? I should quickly go change, so I don't catch a cold." Something about his deep voice had shocked her in that moment, triggering her to cut him off before he could finish his statement. Lillian hopped off the mirror stand and rushed back into the dressing room, sliding to the ground once the door was shut behind her. She reached her right hand up to her chest. She could feel her heart beating fast, thumping forcefully in her chest.