Page 44 of His Little Secret in Discretion
She nodded approvingly and motioned me toward the sitting area. “Next time, say it with your chest. Like you mean it.”
I giggled softly, taking a seat just as Penelope returned with champagne.
“I never got your name,” I said as she poured me a glass.
“Lisette,” she replied, handing it over.
I sipped, bubbles fizzing against my tongue, watching as box after box was carried over by employees. Lisette took the first from her coworkers and began setting each jeweled heel in front of me like a queen’s offering.
“So, Ms. Dalton,” she said smoothly, “Blaine Porter, huh? Sounds like you’re in good hands.”
I smiled faintly. “You could say that. He’s been… generous.”
Her brow arched. “Never thought I’d see the day New York City’s most charismatic bachelor would settle down.”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it settling down.”
She didn’t say anything after that, picking up the heels I’d been eyeing earlier. Holding them out, she waited as Penelope handed me a pair of disposable socks. Even these felt like velvet.
Setting my glass aside, I slipped them on and eased into the glittering heels. Standing before the mirror, I stared at my reflection in awe.
Lisette stood at my shoulder after a minute of me staring at the mirror, tilting her head. “Still not sure if you want them?” she teased, already knowing the answer.
My eyes lit up as I bit my lip. “Maybe we can keep a pair at the register… Just in case.”
She smiled gingerly. “Of course, Ms. Dalton.”
For the next three hours, I was pampered and spoiled by the entire luxury floor with Lisette as my guide. My hesitancy faded the longer I stayed at her side, her advice echoing in my ears: flaunt the access to Blaine’s funds instead of hiding in shame. If other women did it with far less money, why couldn’t I?
Standing in one of the final stores, I did my best to ignore the receipt total as the clerk handed it over. Lisette helped gather my bags and even called mall security to escort us outside. As we walked and chatted, I glanced at her, hesitating before asking:
“Why are you so nice to me?”
She tilted her head, waiting, so I pushed on. “Before, people just saw me as a girl working two jobs to scrape by. And when I was in my last relationship, I was labeled a gold digger, even though all I was doing was trying to pay off my uncle’s debt and survive the assumptions.”
She shrugged. “And now that you’re a sugar baby with no responsibilities, no bills, no worries… you think you should be humble about it, keep your head down, because it could all disappear in a second.”
“Well… yeah. Exactly.”
Lisette chuckled, shaking her head. “Maia, honey, people are going to judge you no matter what, whether you’re working yourself to death or walking out of here in diamond-encrusted heels. I judged you when you came in, but then you let yourselfuse what you were given instead of feeling shame from it, and you just gave me the biggest commission of my career. Don’t feel guilty about living the life you once wished for.”
“Even if it could all fall apart? Just like it did before?” I whispered as we reached the curb. Miles was already stepping out, opening the trunk.
Lisette turned to me, her eyes steady. “You’re in control of your life, Ms. Dalton. Despite what men may make you think,you’rethe one walking in fifteen-thousand-dollar shoes. Not them. Before, you were surviving. Now you’re thriving. And whether this lasts or not, you already know both sides—you’ll decide which one you want to go back to, or if you’re going to push forward.”
Her words sank deep, free of condescension, just truth.
Miles opened the door for me, and I slid into the car after bidding Lisette goodbye. She sent me off with a genuine smile, one that felt like permission.
Chapter seventeen
Maia
Entering the penthouse, I dropped my purse beside the mountain of shopping bags before collapsing onto the couch. It was already late afternoon, and I knew Blaine would still be buried in work with Killian. Deciding not to bother him, I let myself drift into a short nap, followed by a long soak in the bath. By evening, I slipped into the kitchen to throw together a quick dinner, wearing a lingerie set that looked like it belonged in a magazine spread rather than on my body.
Lisette’s recommendation, of course.“Ease his mind,”she’d said,“especially after you dropped nearly half a million in one day.”In my defense, Blaine had been the one to assure me there was no spending cap.You reap what you sow, Mr. Porter.
Still, the lingerie wasn’t just about him. I was celebrating. Today I sent the final payment to Felix, wiping my uncle’s debt clean. I’d practically been kicking my feet with glee, wishing I could shove my shiny new black card down Felix’s throat just to show him I was free. No more shackles. No more control. Just me, finally unburdened.
