The Devil is My Roommate

Chapter 8

"Louis! Louis, over here!"

"Louis! Is this your official girlfriend?"

"Louis! Are your playboy days over? What are your plans for the future?"

"Miss! What is your name?"

Reporters were yelling questions at us from every direction. Louis has a protective arm around me as we pushed through the crowd. When we got to the car, Louis stopped and turned towards the reporters. His hand rested on the small of my back.

"Some space, please," Louis said firmly. The reporters hushed and took a few steps back. "The rumors are true. This is my girlfriend, Megan Prieto. We've been dating a while but kept it under wraps until I could successfully launch 'The District: LA'. Megan has been my support system in my business and I will continue to be her support system in her acting career as well as her biggest fan," Louis said with a light smile. I smiled softly at him.

He was pretty good at this. He seamlessly snuck in the fact that I wanted to act while sounding like a loving, dotting boyfriend. He kissed my forehead before moving to open the door for me as the reporters jumped to spout off more questions. Louis closed the door behind me before going around to the other side and getting in. A driver was already positioned behind the wheel. I sighed and turned to Louis. He was calm and collected as we drove away.

"You're pretty good at that," I noted. He only shrugged wearing his signature smirk.

"I've had a lot of practice," he replied. We drove until we reached a designer boutique. Going inside, Louis led me straight to the changing rooms.

"Aren't we going to pick out things first?" I asked confused. He chuckled.

"I called in with your measurements ahead of time. Some choices are already waiting for you. If you don't like them, we can ask for more," he explained. I was used to shopping for myself. This was quite different. I went into the changing room as Louis sat on a couch nearby. The first dress I tried on was a silver sequins mermaid dress that flowed out to a train. It was strapless and had a heart-shaped neckline. Once I was zipped into the dress, I stepped out to show it to Louis. He eyed it for a moment before shaking his head. That happened again, and again, and again. By the sixth dress, I was over it. All of these dresses were gorgeous but they didn't fit Louis' criteria.

I had to be laced into the next dress by a store employee. It was a silk off the shoulder black mermaid gown that belled out near my knees into a minor train. The neckline was a simple u-shape that dipped just enough to show off a little cleavage. I stepped out tiredly and waited for Louis to reject it like the multiple others before it. He sat up and eyed the dress before a smirk appeared.

"That's the one," he said happily. I turned to look at myself in the mirror. I was shocked. I looked like a mature woman. The dress showed off my curves and accentuated all of my best features. The black of the dress was dark and I knew it would fit whatever Louis planned on wearing.

"This... I look beautiful," I said in surprise. My hands smoothed over the front of the dress as I moved to try and see the back.

"Of course you do," Louis said as he stood. He motioned to the store employee before I was dragged back into the fitting room to be helped out of the dress. Finally, I was allowed to change back into my normal clothes. When I cane out, Louis was already at the register.

"What do you plan on wearing?" I asked curiously.

"There's a Burberry tuxedo being tailored to me as we speak. I just have to go for the final fitting today," he explained.

"Mr. Iso, just the one dress for you today?" The store clerk asked.

"No, we'll take all of them," he answered.

"All of them?" I repeated as my eyes widened. He wouldn't let me see the price tags for the dresses but I knew they had to be expensive.

"You're going to need other gowns for other events. And don't forget, you're supposed to be singing 'the District' as well. I've seen your wardrobe, you need more sophisticated pieces," he answered me before turning his attention back to the store clerk.

"Please have the dresses delivered to my address," he said as he finished paying. I managers to catch a glimpse, it was over $25,000. I felt like I was going to faint. Louis grabbed my hand and led me out of the store.

"Are you out of your mind?!" I whisper-yelled at him. He smirked.

"It's just money, Megan. Its pretty much worthless to me anyway. Don't think too much," he said as he pulled me down the street and into a Burberry store. It was my turn to sit as Louis did his final fitting. It was actually interesting to watch. I'd never seen a suit fitting before. After he finished his fitting, he just walked around the store pointing at things and store employees would rush to grab it for him. Most of the stuff he picked out was for me, despite my objections. We visited eight more stores, doing the same thing before Louis finally led me to the car waiting out front of our last store. I was exhausted and stressed out. Louis bought so many things for me. It was unreal. The more he bought, the more I felt like I owed him. Finally, arriving back at 'the District', I collapsed on the couch. I wanted to pull my hair out or eat a shoe.

All that money...

"I need to take a breather," I muttered as Louis sat next to me.

"Where are you going? Our things will arrive soon," he asked.

"I'm just going to the first floor. I saw a piano down there and I need to calm down," I answered. My feet dragged me to the elevator and down to the club floor. Everyone was switching over for the club tonight already. I managed to get out of the café rush because of the shopping day with Louis but that only made me feel even more guilty.

I sat at the piano and let my finger move across the keys. I didn't even know what I was playing, I just knew I had to get out of my head for a while. I adjusted myself on the piano bench as my fingers took me to a new song. It was one of my favorites. I played the opening flawlessly.

"Tell me somethin', girl.

Are you happy in this modern world..."

Someone began singing from behind me. I continued to play even though the person who started singing pulled me out of my own thoughts. The male vocal continued until it was right next to me. I looked over to see Louis sitting on the bench with me. His fingers stick the keys, adding a fuller sound. I was too mesmerized by his voice to stop. I moved over a bit to give him room on the bench as his part came to an end and my part began.

"Tell me somethin', boy.

Aren't you tired tryin' to fill that void?

Or do you need more?

Ain't it hard keeping it so hardcore?"

I lost myself in the song, letting my voice do what it knew to do and following the melody. Louis jumped in and harmonized in all the right parts. Our voices mingled and complimented each other as both of us played along on the piano keys, respecting the chords and melody of the song. For a moment, everything felt right. Everything felt real.

"We're far from the shallow now..."

As our song ended, I finally turned to look at Louis properly as the last chord resonated throughout the room. He gave me a soft smile, a real one this time, not a smirk. I couldn't help but to smile back.