Page 24 of The High Price Of Loneliness

“Oh, yes,” Angelica responded, remembering the second part of her shopping assignment. “I need to get some lingerie. Something irresistible for this weekend. What would you suggest?”

“Oh, that’s another department, but I will call my friend Elise who runs that area of Saks. She is excellent to work with and will take great care of you.”

The two left the evening wear and shoe department with Angelica carrying her bags and boxes proudly like trophies from a shopping safari and headed over to meet Elise, who was more of Angelica’s age.

“Elise, I have a guest who needs your assistance—a very special guest. This is Angelica Hart.”

“Hello, Angelica!” flowed Elise’s voice with a soft French accent.

“I will leave you in great hands, Angelica. Elise will take good care of you,” Sandra said, giving her a quick one-arm hug as she left for the next customer.

Angelica turned to Elise to begin again, “So, I need some elegant lingerie. Something nice to wear for someone exceptional,” she said with growing confidence now. She remembered how Edward wanted to be surprised by this part of the request, and she wanted to make sure he was pleased.

“Oh, the way you describe this to me suddenly becomes very simple: Agent Provocateur or Dolce Gabbana. Either way, you cannot go wrong,” purred the French accent from Elise. “What colors are your favorite to wear?” They started examining the delicate lace and satins from some of the world’s finest lingerie brands.

Elise guided her in such a friendly and helpful way after the VIP introduction from Sandra and poured options across the wooden table for her to select and then try on. Angelica did not realize that lingerie could cost thousands of dollars also—for a single piece.

She was not supposed to text Edward photos of the lingerie, but perhaps the prices? Should she get his okay before spending even more? She decided to keep the cost more moderate on the lingerie after spending so much on dresses, shoes, and accessories.

Elise was very accommodating, and it still was much more than she had ever spent on lingerie. But a couple of the pieces she thought he would absolutely love on her in the Red Playroom. With no questions about using Edward’s card, Elise rang her up again, given Sandra’s special introduction.

This was the next level of shopping with essentially an unlimited budget, treatment that she was unused to. She realized she was more than just a bit out of her element in his world. Walking to her car, she carried all the bags and boxes from Saks Fifth Avenue, turned a few heads in the parking lot, and filled her backseat. She put the top up on her convertible, not wanting anything to happen to her new treasures on the drive home.

She pulled out and texted Edward, “I just left the store. May I call you?”

Her phone rang almost immediately. “Hello, Edward?” she answered as she pulled out of the parking lot.

“Yes. How did it go with your shopping assignment?” Gray asked her.

“Oh my gosh, everything is so beautiful! But it was so expensive. I don’t know what to say,” she stammered a bit.

She heard his deep reassuring voice come soothingly through her phone, “It’s okay. It is for an exceptional event, and there will be other opportunities to wear them. I will be proud to see you in them,” he explained.

“Well, ‘thank you’ doesn’t seem quite enough to say to you right now, Edward. No one has ever done this for me before. Ever.” Angelica could feel the emotion in her voice rising as she spoke and was worried he would hear her tearing up.

“It is my absolute pleasure, Angelica,” he assured her with gracious and kind energy in his voice. “Did you do both parts of the shopping assignment for me?”

Her energy switched to a more joyful and flirty place inside her, knowing that this part of the assignment was a bit more for his pleasure and enjoyment, and she responded enthusiastically, “Yes, I did! I think you will just love what I have to show you.” She teased playfully, “When would you like me to model them for you?”

Gray’s energy shifted to a more serious tone, “I like to do things one of two times—either now or right now, Ms. Hart.”

“I can head there right now,” Angelica said smiling, her heart beating at the thought of seeing him again.

“Excellent. Plus, I think this evening is the perfect time to continue your training if you are open to that, Kitten.”

“I am open to anything with you, Edward. I trust you,” she said softly, her heart filled with hope. Edward ended the call with, “Drive safely. I will be here waiting for the princess.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

The Fashion Show

The drive back to Gray’s oceanfront estate felt different. She wasn’t sure how to feel about all the shopping and the “spoiling” he had showered on her today. Who wouldn’t be happy and excited with a dream shopping spree? But Angelica felt torn between a bit of guilt about spending so much and, on the other hand, excitement for him to see her in those dresses. Would he see her as more glamorous and exciting for a man like him? She was now feeling a bit intimidated by all this and feeling that she was way out of his league.

But then, looking over in the passenger seat at the elegantly wrapped boxes holding the new sexy lingerie that Edward asked her to “surprise” him with—she smiled. She hoped he would love it as much as she did. How could he not? It was gorgeous and sexy and showed off all the feminine curves he was drawn to when they first met.

The moment of truth was about to arrive soon. Angelica texted him,Pulling in now.

Her red sports car, once again, glided slowly into Gray’s circular driveway, loaded with trophies from the evening’s shopping spree at Saks. As the front door to the palatial estate opened, so did Angelica’s car door. As she gracefully stepped out of her car, her long tanned leg reached out to touch the ground, revealing her shimmering soft skin for Edward’s viewing. She waved to him briefly, her smile beaming with excitement. Then she turned and bent over fully to retrieve the rest of the bags and boxes from the back seat.

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