Page 19 of The Bargain

I snorted, she didn’t know that man was a mental and emotional terrorist whose sole goal was to steal my child…yes a real prince.

I reached behind me, trying to unzip the black and white dress, but it was stuck.

Fuck it!I wanted to get out of here as soon as possible and end this nightmare. I would just take the first dress she brings and be on my way.

“Could you help me, please? The zipper is stuck.”

Dean finally looked up from his phone. He looked at me for a second, his eyebrows slightly raised in surprise.

He cleared his throat. “Yes, turn around.”

He stood up, walked behind me, and brought my zipper down slowly.

I couldn’t help but shiver when his knuckles brushed my spine, and I hated myself for it.

I looked at him in the floor-length mirror. His head bent closer to my neck as if he was going to kiss me. I froze. This was not happening; he despised me.

He straightened sharply, as if he’d finally remembered who I was.

“What is that smell?” he asked sharply, almost accusingly.

I frowned. That was not the reaction I’d expected.

“Victoria’s Secret aqua kiss body cream,” I replied, closing the curtain of the changing room and slipping out of the dress.

“I see… No money for food, but money to entice men. I guess that is your business.”

I rolled my eyes and thought about ignoring him, but yet...“We trade favors.”

“I see... Sex for body lotion. You went lower than I’d thought.”

I bite my bottom lip as tears start stinging my eyes. I knew it would be pointless to justify myself to him. He was obviously a stubborn man and once his opinion was made, nothing could change it. I didn’t know why I kept justifying myself to him, why I tried to make him understand and yet, I couldn't seem to help myself.

“No, most of us don't have money, so we trade favors. My friend owns a small drugstore. I help her with marketing. I update her website, Facebook page, and other social media in exchange for free products and makeup that are close to their expiry date.”

He didn’t have the chance to reply as Sabrina came back with the dresses. I tried the first one, not even bothering to see how it looked in the mirror. All I knew was that it was red.

I was done. I’d taken enough punches for the day, I wanted to go back to the only person who would ever love me unconditionally, my Timmy.

Putting my clothes back on, I exited the changing room.

“Are you not going to try them?” Sabrina asked, carefully taking the dress.

“This one’s fine,” I let out emotionlessly. I was done playing nice for the day. Just an hour with him had exhausted me emotionally.

Dean looked up. “Done?” But the bastard was not looking at me; he was looking at Sabrina.

“Seems like it.” She smiled so brightly at him, I suspected that today’s commission would probably be worth a month’s pay to her, if not two. I had everything already packed and ready to go. “Two of our shop assistants are waiting by the checkout counter. They’ll take everything to your car.”

“Perfect.” Dean stood up, putting his phone back into his interior jacket pocket. “Let’s go.”

Standing behind him, I almost choked on my own saliva when the total was announced. Almost $10,000. Dean handed his credit card over as if he was paying for a five dollar purchase.

“Give her the coat now.” He turned to me. “Just give them your poor excuse of a jacket to burn.”

Did he know that everything he said came out as an order? I didn’t think I’ve heard him ask for anything.

I slipped into the coat and couldn't help releasing a little sigh of comfort when we stepped out of the store and the wind didn’t affect me.

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