“Excuse me Miss?”

I turn from tidying up the display of thongs some teenagers just rampaged to face the customer. “Can I help you?”

“Kind of. I love those shoes! Where did you get them?”

My cheeks flame red remembering this morning.

After Grant woke me up with his head between my legs, he brought me into his office after we showered together. I’m starting to think the man loves giving oral. In his office was bag after bag labeled with designer names. I’m talking Gucci, Michael Kors, Chanel. My hands started getting clammy just looking at them. I may be a self-professed nerd, but I still love fashion. But on my budget the most I can handle is Walmart, sometimes Target if I’m feeling frisky.

“What’s all this?”

“You said you needed clothes for work.” He pulls me by the hand towards the pricey merchandise.

“I needed one outfit, not sixty! I can’t wear this stuff.” I pick up a shirt in one of the bags and my eyes bulge when I see the price tag. “This shirt costs more than my rent… for two months!”

“They’re just clothes Aggie. Pick something out.” He bites his bottom lip, clearly excited but waiting for me to freak out some more.

I stop rummaging through the bag and drop it to the ground. After jumping and wrapping my legs around his waist, I lay a whopper of a kiss on him. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I just want to give you the best.” He places me back on the floor and walks me over to some bright pink bags. “Now these were a special request and mostly for my pleasure.” He reaches in and pulls out a bunch of frilly lace.

I gasp. “You went to a different store?”

“Well, I mean… I know you work at another lingerie shop…”

“It’s okay.” I laugh. “If I could afford this stuff I’d be all over it.”

“Well, now you have some.”

After Grant helped me pick out an outfit, well he picked out my unmentionables, he tells me his driver will be out front when I’m ready. I excuse myself into the bathroom to finish getting ready. If he pawed at me anymore I’d never make it to work on time.

“Holy crap is this soft.” The sundress I picked out feels like I’m wrapped in a cloud.

I’m ruined. Ruined for all the clothes that are in my closet at home. The luxury is astounding and I need to stop thinking about how soft this is so I can finish getting ready for work.

I emerge from the bathroom to find Grant in a pair of dress pants and nothing else. His shirts laid out in front of him and he looks deep in thought.

My arms wrap around his waist from behind and he places his hands on them giving them a slight squeeze. “Thank you.”

“You already thanked me.” His voice is gruff.

“What’s the matter?”

“I have to catch a plane.” He groans when my hands start tracing circles on his abdomen. “I can’t think when you’re touching me baby.”

I go to pull back but he locks my hands in place. “Didn’t say to stop.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“A couple days, maybe longer. I might check out a few of my places since I’ll be on the west coast. When’s your next day off?” He pulls one of my arms until I’m standing in front of him, his hands on my hips.

When is my next day off? Hmmm. “You know, I don’t know.”

“You don’t know when your next day off is?” He laughs.

“Well, I don’t get too many. So, I probably made sure to give myself one in a few weeks. If I go more than two or three weeks I start getting burnt out.”

“You work every single day?”

“Um… yeah. The only time I make sure I’m off is Friday nights when I go see my Mimi.” He looks ticked off and his hands tighten on my waist.

“I want you to fly out for a few days while I’m gone. And before you say anything, I’ll make sure its days you’re at the restaurant and I’ll find you coverage.”

I bite my lip wanting to say yes so badly but don’t want to sound like a gold digger.

“I don’t ever want you to think I’m using you for your money. I’ll try to find coverage and I’ll pay for…”

“Nothing. You’ll pay for nothing. Let me do this for you Aggie. We haven’t known each other long, but let me do this for you. Can’t a man pamper his girlfriend?” He bends down and kisses my forehead.

“Oh alright. If you insist.” Little does he know he’ll win any argument by calling me his girlfriend.

“Oh, I do. I also insist you pack only bikinis when you come see me.”

“Depends where I’m going.”

“Vegas.”

“What?” I shriek. “Are you kidding me?” I start mentally tallying the money in my bank account so I can buy a ticket to see Britney Spears while I’m there.

“Nope, I just opened a place a few months back. But it seems… well I won’t bore you with the problems that have come to light. Just say you’ll be there.”

“I’ll be there. Just let me know when.”

Now I’m at work, in my new designer dress when I really want to be with Grant. This whole work things for the birds when you have a boyfriend. I can still feel his goodbye kiss on my lips from earlier.

“Excuse me?”

Crap I forgot about the customer. “Sorry, my boyfriend got them for me.” I look down at my new pair of red bottoms. They’re nude. Completely elegant and understated.

“Lucky girl. Don’t let that one go.” My cheeks flame again as I thank her.

I have a surprise for Grant and I can’t wait to tell him. It’s not the norm for me, but I took a few days off from here so I can spend more than two days with him. It’ll be a much-needed mini vacation.

It’s a few hours later when the door jingles and I see my BFF Jill running through the door waving something in her hand.

“Why haven’t you called me?” She shrieks then slams the magazine on the counter in front of me.

“I was gonna call you when I left today.” What’s this? Holy crap! “That’s me! On the front page!”

“YES! I’ve been trying to call you!”

As if they were in waiting for this moment, a hand full of photographer’s rush through the front door of the store.

“Holy hell!” They come right up to me at the register and start taking my picture. “What do I do?” I whisper shout to Jill as they get closer. They start shouting questions at me, loud as hell trying to talk over each other.

“Is it true you’re Grant Donovan’s new lady?”

“Can you confirm he closed down several stores last night to take you on a shopping spree?”

“What about Michelle Jones?”

I huff. How annoying.

“I’m gonna have to ask you all to step outside! This is private property and I’m calling the cops.” Jill holds up her phone and the photographer’s take a couple more pictures before stepping outside, but not leaving. They remain on the sidewalk.

The few customers in the store are looking at me funny. I’ve never been so embarrassed or confused in my life. Within ten minutes, the paparazzi have doubled and I’m not sure if they’re waiting to follow me home or what?

“You need to call him.”

“I know. This is just a lot to take in. We only just became an us yesterday! Plus, he’s only a wealthy restaurant owner, why are they so interested?”

“You need to read that article girl.” She slams it in front of me again but I already have my phone out.

After hitting Grant’s contact, I wait while it rings. “Hey baby, I’m about to take off. What’s up?”

“That’s okay, I’ll talk to you later.”

I quickly hang up even though I hear him yelling for me to wait.

“He’s busy and I’m not going to bother him with this. We’ll figure something out.” I shrug my shoulders.

The work phone starts ringing and I pick it up with the standard greeting.

“Why’d you hang up on me Aggie? What’s going on? I can hear the panic in your voice.”

“I don’t want to bug you…”

“You never bother me, what’s going on?”

“A few photographers are outside.”

“They what?” He growls.

“It’s okay, it’s all under control. They’re outside on the sidewalk. I kicked them out, well, Jill did.”

“They were in the store?” He growls again.

“I told you, it’s mostly under control. I’ll just head out through the back door. My shifts up in fifteen minutes.”

“Someone will be there soon.”

“Wait, no that’s crazy. They don’t really care about me.”

“Don’t fight with me baby. They can be ruthless and I need to know you’re safe.”

“Fine. But you can’t have someone follow me around. I’m sure they’ll just go away.”

“They won’t.” He sighs.

A shiver races up my spine. Why the heck are they bothering with me? A Boston girl who works at a lingerie store and moonlights as a waitress. I’m as boring as they come. Grant calling my name takes me out of my thoughts.

“Focus baby, there’s gonna be a change of plans. Talk to your boss and tell her the situation. You need to come out here now. I need to be with you and explain everything.”

“Well, I’ll try but I can’t promise anything.”

“Just do it Aggie.” His voice is clipped.

“Don’t be bossy.” I warn.

I can hear him breathing heavy through the phone and imagine him running his hand through his hair. It’s weird how much I do know him already after such a short period of time. And I thought I knew nothing.

“Baby please, you don’t know how bad they are. I haven’t been with someone publicly in a long fucking time and they’ve been chomping at the bit waiting for this. I should have known, then I could have prepared you.” I hear him yell at someone. “I’m holding the plane for you but you need to be here within the hour.”

“What? That’s 45 minutes!”

“Better get your shit done. I’ll see you soon baby. The driver will be there shortly.” The phone goes silent and my jaw is still on the floor.

“What’d he say?”

“Looks like I’m going to Vegas.” I shrug my shoulders, they’re getting a workout today.

“Holy shit! It’s really happening, you’re really dating Grant Donovan! Wait, what happened to the Big D? I thought you were hung up on him?”

“Grant is the Big D.” I groan. There’s so much I need to do. I call my boss first and explain the situation to her and she’s very understanding telling me to take all the time I need. As I’m hanging up with her, Lizzy the night manager walks through the door in a huff.

“What the hell? Is there a celebrity around?” She looks around hoping she’s right. Lizzy’s an aspiring actress.

“You’re looking at her.” Jill says laughing.

“Stop it Jill!” I look back to Lizzy. “Hey, I can’t really explain, but I need to get out of here ASAP. I’ll see you later.” I’m running for the back room when I hear Jill telling her to read the article, that it will explain everything.

“Hold up! What’s going on? You haven’t told me anything. Grant Donovan is the delivery guy?”

“Yes, and I promise to call you once I get to Vegas so I can explain, but I have to get to the airport right now. I love you!” With that I’m running out the back door into the waiting black car that Grant texted was here.

“Hello Miss Fletcher.” A pleasant older man says while opening the door.

“Hey!” I dive in the back seat out of breath. My adrenaline is pumping and I find this life is strangely thrilling! I feel like James Bond.

“I’m Steve, Mr. Donovan’s driver. We’ll get you to the airport in no time.” With a warm smile, he closes the door and pulls out of the back alley.

With my back sinking into the plush seat, I take a deep breath for the first time in the last hour. Even though the shit’s hit the fan, well if that’s even the case. I don’t know how severe this situation is. I’m certainly excited to go on vacation for the first time since I was a teenager. My phone chimes and I look down to see a message from Grant.

 

The Big D: Don’t worry about your belongings, I took care of it already.

Me: If you only packed me bikini’s I’ll castrate you.

The Big D: You love my Big D too much.

Me: #truth

 

Vegas here I come!