Forbidden Attraction

13. Attention?

Amelia's POV: 

The following morning, I woke up to the sunlight streaming through the curtains, and for a brief moment, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. But as I swung my legs over the side of the bed, reality hit me like a cold splash of water. I had to face Mr. Dexter today.

I hurried through my shower, letting the warm water soothe my frayed nerves. Once I was done, I reached for my uniform in the closet, only to find it conspicuously absent.

"What? No uniform?" I muttered to myself, confusion settling in. "Laura!" I called out, my voice echoing through the small apartment. She appeared a moment later, a towel wrapped around her hair and a sleepy look on her face.

"Yeah?" she asked, blinking at me.

"Where's my uniform?" I pressed, a hint of panic creeping into my voice.

"Oh, I washed it for you so you could rest," she replied nonchalantly, as if that explained everything.

"Rest? But Mr. Dexter specifically said I was to work!" I exclaimed, throwing my hands up in exasperation. "What am I supposed to wear now?"

Laura shrugged, her eyes darting to the floor. "These are the only options I have," she said, handing me a shirt and a mini skirt.

I stared at the clothes in disbelief. "This? Are you kidding me? I can't wear this to work!"

"Sorry, but it's either this or nothing," she said, a hint of a smirk on her lips. "And honestly, it looks cute on you."

"Cute? I feel practically naked in this skirt!" I retorted, holding up the mini skirt, which barely covered anything at all.

"Come on, Amelia, you'll look fine! Just wear it with confidence," she urged, clearly enjoying the spectacle of my distress.

"Confidence?" I scoffed. "I can't exactly strut into work like this, not with Mr. Dexter lurking around. What if he makes another one of his snide comments?"

"Then just give it right back to him. You're not a pushover," Laura encouraged, her tone light. "Besides, you can't let him intimidate you. Show him you're not afraid to stand out."

I sighed deeply, weighing my options. I could either accept this ridiculous outfit or risk showing up in my pajamas. With no time to shop or think of alternatives, I felt cornered. "Fine, but I'm asking for forgiveness from the Lord before I put this on," I joked half-heartedly, earning a laugh from Laura.

"Good idea," she said, a twinkle in her eye. "Just remember, you can totally pull this off."

After a moment's hesitation, I slipped into the shirt, which was cute and fitted, but the mini skirt left me feeling exposed. "I practically feel like I'm in a bathing suit," I muttered, eyeing myself in the mirror.

"Stop overthinking it! You look hot!" Laura said, giving me a thumbs-up as she checked her phone. "Now hurry up before you're late!"

With one last look in the mirror, I mentally prepared myself to face whatever Mr. Dexter had in store for me today. With my heart pounding, I took a deep breath and headed out the door, trying to channel that confidence Laura insisted I had.

As I entered Dexter's office, I approached his desk with the files, determined to keep my composure despite the storm brewing inside me. Just as I was about to speak, he cut me off with a sharp, incredulous stare.

"What the hell are you wearing?" he demanded, disbelief etched across his face.

"It's a uniform," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Almost every girl in your office wears something similar."