The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire(94)
“Why would I want to do that?” A bemused smile curved her lips. “I don’t think I could even if I wanted to. Look how fate put us together again.”
Fate. Maybe there was something to the idea. He hoped so. But their time together felt like that drawn out, ticking moment before a bomb exploded.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sophia didn’t want to go shopping with Josephine Martinez, but Dane refused to budge on the matter. “If I let you go alone, you’re going to buy the cheapest things you can find off a clearance rack,” he said, scarfing down a big plate of breakfast eggs and bacon.
“What’s wrong with shopping at sales? Don’t you like saving money?”
“Penny pinching.” He shook his head. “It’s cruelty to copper, you know.”
“What?”
“Copper has feelings too. Just because it’s strong and silent…”
“Seriously?”
“…can’t blush, since it’s already red…”
She laughed. “Did you dump some rum in your coffee?”
“It’s for a good cause. Gives Josephine a job. Surely you don’t object to that.”
She sighed. This was a small battle not worth fighting over. The real one would be when she saw the fashion consultant and tried to set a strict budget.
“Don’t worry. She has a great taste,” Dane said.
“If by ‘great’ you mean ‘expensive,’ I agree. I’ve seen how Josephine dresses.”
“I’ll send you a driver at around ten.”
“Does he know where we’re supposed to meet?”
“She’s going to text him the address. Preferably someplace exceptionally tasteful,” Dane said, getting up to leave for work. “I’ll see you for lunch.”
Shaking her head, Sophia put on the simple sheath dress that Salazar had bought her for the wedding. Despite Dane’s insistence, she hadn’t gotten rid of it yet. She would’ve preferred to wear one of her old things, but she didn’t want to embarrass Josephine by being turned away at the door of some fancy boutique. No Pretty Woman moments if she could avoid them.
Right at ten, a uniformed driver arrived with a black limo. Sophia stared. It was much too extravagant, but she bit her tongue. Not the chauffeur’s fault.
It took a little less than an hour to reach their destination. Or…maybe not.
“Aren’t I meeting Josephine Martinez?” she asked, staring at the two-story residential building outside as the limo engine died.
She’d figured they’d meet at a mall or somewhere similar. But this place was something between a house and a mansion complete with a garden. Double columns framed the main door. An elaborate bronze lion-head knocker shone in the sun. She couldn’t imagine what kind of shopping could be done there.
“Yes, ma’am.” The driver opened her door. “This is the address.”
She got out and knocked.
A comfortably rounded middle-aged woman answered the door. She wore a white t-shirt and khaki shorts. If this was the kind of place you went to get a gown grand enough for the opening night at an opera, Sophia was the empress of China.
“Hello,” the other woman said with a friendly smile. “You must be Sophia Reed. Please come in. Everyone’s waiting for you.”
Everyone?
The woman led Sophia down a long hall. A few interesting contemporary art pieces hung on the walls. The interior was bigger than it looked from the outside. At the end was a living room. Josephine was standing with her arms crossed. Just like at the grove, she was impeccable in a sea-green dress—the latest design from some famous brand undoubtedly. Sophia hadn’t seen the woman in anything other than the most fashionable clothing. Josephine’s thick dark hair hung loosely, a shaggy look that was emphasized by the way she was shaking her head.
“Absolutely not, Vanessa. That’s the craziest idea I’ve ever heard.”
“Oh for god’s sake, I’m the client!”
“And I have a professional duty to stop you when you’re about to commit a fashion faux pas.” Suddenly she turned. “Hey, there you are.”
Vanessa swung her head so she could see Sophia over the back of her couch.
“Um… Hi.” Sophia waved.
“Tell her, Sophia. Tell her she needs to listen to me unless she wants her newborn to wear the most hideous outfit ever,” Josephine said.
“No, tell her the customer is always right.”
Oh boy. “You should listen to the professional,” Sophia said. “But at the same time”—she turned to Josephine—“you should select items that reflect the taste and sensibility of the client.”