Page 93 of Lust

I gesture at the one hanging in front of me again. "I want this one in a size four. I don't need to try it on. Just wrap it up, please." I hold out Matthias's card and the boss salesbitch practically rips the card out of my hand and stomps off.

I'm standing by the door for almost ten minutes before she comes back, without a dress.

"Miss. This isn't your card." She doesn't frame it as a question so much as an accusation.

Fucking hell. "No, it's my fiancé's."

"It says it'sMatthias Baxteron it."

I've hit a limit of dealing with her confrontational manner, all I want to do is take Matthias's card back, go home and hide in the cocoon of our bed again. But I have to try one more time. For him. "Yes, that's because he's my fiancé."

The two ladies look at each other and then burst out laughing. But there's no mirth in the laugh, it's empty and cruel.

"I don't think so," she says. "Mr. Baxter is a regular customer here, and I've never seen you with him."

My lungs tighten, and humiliation laces each breath. I put my hand on the counter. "Please. I need this dress. Please, just call him and he will approve the purchase."

She lifts her chin, her harsh features angled in the light giving off a matronly air. "No. I won't be bothering Mr. Baxter. I suggest you leave right now, and we won't report you to the police for credit card fraud."

A security guard steps in behind me before I can even tell her how wrong she is. "Miss?" he says, firmly but not unkind.

It's the nicest thing anyone's said to me since I stepped into the godforsaken place.

I pull at my collar, it's getting hot in here.

And I can't remember the last time I took my psych meds.

Stupid. Stupid Clarissa, getting too caught up in her happiness to take care of herself.

"I... didn't steal the card," I hiss as the sweat drips down my back and I struggle to swallow. Finally, when I don't think I can stand their looks at me for another moment, I flee.

Luckily Kevin's found a close parking spot, and he's Kevin's leaning on the car with a book.

I run over, climbing into the car without a word.

"Ms. Masters? Are you okay?" Kevin asks through the window.

I shake my head and bury my face in my hands.

This isn't a panic attack.

This is pure, unadulterated humiliation.

Outside, I see Kevin pick up his phone. Frantic, I roll down the window and shake my head. "No! Don't tell him."

Kevin gives me a pained look. "Ma'am, I have to. He'll be so upset with me if I don't."

But I don't care anymore. I roll the window back up and slump against the car.

All he'd wanted was to do something nice for me, and somehow, I've managed to even screw that up.

Chapter 29

Matthias

"ThisisMatthiasBaxter,"I say, answering the call, ignoring the angry looks from the other people in the meeting. They wanted to call an emergency meeting on a day that I've cleared to spend with Clarissa, then they can wait for a few minutes.

"Sir, I am calling from Ravel to tell you someone came into the store using your Centurion Amex card. We blocked the sale and confiscated the card. Would you like me to courier it over to you?"

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