𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 |𝟏𝟖+ (#𝟏)

𝙵𝙾𝚄𝚁𝚃𝙴𝙴𝙽 |

14
AMBER JACKSON
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Shopping is influenced by one's mood, - well for me, specifically.

If I wasn't up to it, the experience would be one of the most unpleasant and unappealing things I could do with my time. If I was excited, on the other hand, it was the most fulfillingly therapeutic thing I did.

Fortunately, my mood was on the brighter side today, but I wouldn't count on it lasting more than a few hours. My social battery was still unpredictable for the most part. I know most people enjoy going out and looking through racks of clothes and trying on various pieces to see what fits, but it just made me cranky and sweaty. For regular day-to-day wear, I ordered online because it not only kept me comfortable in my home environment, but it also prevented my feet from getting blisters from walking around for hours.

However, for an event like this, I needed to find the perfect dress that fit my body like a glove - one that Josephina said would make everyone jealous. It was important to me because it was important to his family. Alessandro and I had just entered the store where we would meet his mother. It was presumably a family friend's designer label that has been showcasing in fashion week and styling celebrities for decades. The owner had apparently flown in to assist us in finding dresses for the gala.

I was getting ready for a met gala for criminals, dons and ceo's.

Since it was fall, I wore an oversized black turtleneck sweater dress that fell mid-thigh, as well as some brown Versace thigh high boots courtesy of Alessandro. The matching Versace brown coat was draped over my shoulders, creating a body-flattering silhouette. Since neither Josephina nor Georgio were to be found, I took my time looking around the store. The dresses were stunning; some were understated and simple, while others embodied a fashion show. I can't even fathom the cost.

Seventy-five thousand dollars.

For one dress. For one night.

My gaze swivels to Alessandro, who was typing a text on his phone when he noticed my stare and looked up. My eyes must have blazed in uncertainty, because he carefully walks towards me, standing by my side with a puzzled expression on his face. "What's the matter, bambina?"

"What's wrong?" I ask with a maniacal laugh. "Every dress here costs upwards of seventy-five thousand dollars. Are you insane? That's one year of tuition for grad school." I tell him, incredulous tones seeping into every word. He looks at me as if drawing a blank and doesn't reply. My hand softly taps the back of his head the way a mother would her son before I cock my neck to the side. "You see no issue with that?"

"Not really, dolcezza." He says, shrugging his shoulders without care, a small smile playing on his lips. "Of fucking course you don't." I scream as softly as possible, noticing the few workers looking at me in shock trying to peer in on our conversation. He takes two steps forward pulling me against him, "You know you talk to my mother too much. You're picking up on her tendencies."

"I'm not." I say pushing him away walking to the other side of the store. His footsteps fall in line with mine before the heat of his body is felt against my back. "You won't be getting anything from down here, so let's go." His large hands encase my slender fingers into his dragging me to the elevator to take it one flight up. "I'm guessing these dresses are more expensive than what's downstairs?" Instead of dignifying me with an answer he smiles keeping his head focused on the opening doors.

"I don't know how I'm going to pay you back for this. I still think it's absurd." Before we turned the corner to the glass doors where I see Josephina, Georgio and two others having a conversation, he stopped our steps lifting my eyes to meet him. "Stop worrying about the money. By the time you've left here, I will have made it back in fold ten times over."