Page 34 of Bidding For Her Curves

We’re in no hurry, and by the middle of the afternoon, we head back to my car, my idea to make for my favorite shopping district.

Hoping they have jeans.

There’s a message waiting in the car, from my phone service. That direct line that’s supposed to be for emergencies only…

“I gotta check this,” I tell Jules, who doesn’t mind at all, but I do. Today is supposed to be all about her, but I only get direct line calls when shit’s hitting a fan somewhere.

It’s Fitch from legal and finance. I figure he wants confirmation on the email requests I asked Nicholas to forward him about the development deal.

He doesn’t mention it, but he does mention a huge sell-off of shares from the company in charge of the development though. It just went bust after dropping to less than a cent per share… the ones that are left that is.

Mine.Chapter NineteenJulesI’m no genius, but when I hear the message playing in Mason’s car, I know it’s not good news.

He doesn’t look too surprised though, and I’m not sure what it actually means.

“We can…” I start, but he smiles, shaking his head.

“No. Today is our day. I told you that, plus we really do need some kickass clothes for that meeting now,” he muses, half to himself.

I decide to zip it and let Mason do what he has to do, but I’m still not sure what I can do to help with this development or even the charity for that matter.

He makes one call while driving, to Nicholas, his PA who doesn’t answer.

Mason goes quiet after that until we hit the main strip of the downtown shopping district.

I’ve only ever seen this end of town from the bus, all the high end fashion house stores. Places I could never afford to even look in the windows.

Mason perks up once we pull up to what he tells me is his favorite place for just about everything.

“They do all my suit and watches, they have a jeweler right inside,” he says excitedly, adding, “They do women’s stuff too.”

“Aren’t you worried?” I ask him, wondering if he should be spending any money if one of his companies just went broke.

“The only thing I’m worried about is if they still have any food left,” he says, winking at me.

“Food?” I protest, thinking he might not have heard me properly.

“Yeah,” he says eagerly. “They almost always have something going.”

I feel a moment of complete hesitation. I’m wearing sweat pants and track shoes, I can’t walk into a high end boutique store…

“Its fine, Jules,” Mason says, putting his hand on my arm.

“I practically keep them in business, my watches, it’s a thing I have,” he says bashfully glancing at his wrist, but it doesn’t do much for my anxiety.

How can a boutique have food anyway?

Mason parks right out front, and to my surprise, we’re greeted by two uniformed doormen who open each side of the car and welcome Mason as if they’ve spent all day waiting for him.

The outside of the building is almost blink and miss it, with the huge brass doors being the only give away that there’s even anything inside.

Once inside though, I literally need Mason to hold me up by my arm. Craning my neck I almost topple over, looking up.

“It’s beautiful!” is all I can say.

At least three floors of glittering glass and marble staircases, each with a stylish, modern theme for men’s, ladies, and general fashion.

I think. I’m no fashionista, but the whole place reeks of class, style… and money. Lots of money.

There’s a jeweler, just as Mason said, with an armed guard tipping his hat to Mason when he sees him. But best of all, there’s the smell of fresh roasted coffee, bread, bacon, cookies, and everything else that just smells like home.

Not my home, but what I wish my house did smell like… if I even baked or cooked.

“Mr. Mason!” A warm, deep voice calls out.

An older man, impeccably dressed appears out of nowhere, taking the hand Mason’s offered and then looking to me with nothing but the same warmth and respect.

“This is Ms. McPherson, Giles. She’s working under me directly and we’d like a new wardrobe for her,” Mason says casually.

“Jules, this is Giles, my tailor and watch dealer and very dear friend. He’ll have someone size you and we can grab something to eat.”

I don’t know what to say, but once Giles snaps his fingers, two women, as well dressed as he is appear and usher me upstairs.

Before I let go of him, Mason whispers that they’re safe and won’t bite and that he’ll be along in any minute.

I can hear Mason telling Giles that I’ll need formal, business, and casual wear, “And a watch, of course… Oh! You don’t do jeans by any chance?” he adds, and I turn to see an amused look on the tailors face as he holds an open hand towards the jewelry counters on the ground floor before I disappear into another world.

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