Cherry angrily drags herself forward, snatches the garment bag Peter threw on the couch, and stomped into her room. She slams the door behind her and went to sit on the bed. Cherry gets even frustrated with herself for dancing to his tune, again and again, Rex somehow knows how to break her using his own commands and she reluctantly follows every order despite putting up a fight.
When her eyes glanced at the garment bag holding her dream gown something brilliant popped into her mind and she goes to check her reflection on the mirror.
“This old me is getting a once-off makeover.”
Cherry walked into her walk-in closet to fetch some things to get ready then she goes into the bathroom for a quick shower, after a warm scrub she steps out in an oversized towel too heavy to walk about but she still killed it. Cherry pampered her skin with some cream and powder before putting on the royal blue dress and the shoes Peter selected for her.
She goes back to the closet to check the quality of the material on her pale skin. “Fantastic.” She sighs pleased with the details of her dress and how unique it hugs her hidden curves, the only catch to this beautiful outfit is Rex Angelo. Cherry saw the lust, desperation, eagerness, determination, expectation clouding his eyes, nothing said or done can take his mind off his plans when they are already made up.
“Maybe a little too tight for the eyes, Mr Angelo is going to drop dead after he sees me...” She briefly closed her eyes and lets out a calm breath unknown to her she was smiling. “If it happens then I can return home without him always on my neck.”
Cherry lets her hair down and did a few brushes on the scalp and ends, simplicity was her way of life. Everything was in place and set to go, as Cherry steps out of the closet she trips on the hem of the gown and falls to the floor almost fracturing her hip, and at that moment Rex barges in expecting to see her undressed. He really wished she disobeyed him and maybe he could find some insight on how the female body works ‘a desperate pervert’ so he can put the dress on by himself.
Rex froze on spot using his eyes to rake her figure laying uncomfortably on the floor, he was allured by her unique beauty and that DRESS! It did wonders in his mind that can’t be explained.
“Perfect.” He unconsciously breathes out forgetting Cherry needed help with her shoes.
“Um… some help here?” She calls for his attention and he was swiftly taken off his dazed state.
“Why are you on the floor?” He asked with a furrowed eyebrow.
“You tell me, these shoes are the devil’s workshop and you trapped me in these.” She kicks off the shoes to the side.
“Well, you will have to wear that tonight.” He casually says.
“Help me up.” She demands. For a second Rex leaned on the door frame ignoring her demand but then comes to help her up. “You are a jerk.” She tells him which he returns with a roll of his eyes.
“You like gaining attention, don’t worry you will be getting more of that at the party.” He promises her.
“Who wants some attention from you? As you can see I am dressed, happy!” She retorts rudely and goes to put on some flats.
Nothing is making any sense a month ago Cherry and Rex were supposed to attend a business meeting as he promised back in So-Ho but since they arrived nothing has been done, and out of nowhere he says they were to attend a business dinner with one of his clients. This had Cherry confused and suspicious.
“You can’t follow me like that!” He protests.
“What’s wrong with my dressing?”
“Your hair and your shoes aren’t the perfect match for the party.”
“Let me tell you, bossy boss! My hair is in the perfect place and those shoes tried to KILL ME! I am heading out like this, it is not a big deal to me.” She took two steps forward pointing a finger at him.
“Well, it is to me.” Rex opposed. “I can’t have you looking like a local girl at my client’s party and embarrass me.”
‘why am I even arguing with her? I am alpha over the girls I should bend her my way not try to reason!’ Rex scolds himself.
“I am not a local girl perv! I am just your secretary, and how I look only matters to me.” She vaguely disagrees. “You only want me to look good so you can have something to eat at!”
Rex rubbed his hands down his face to control the hurt and anger threatening to escape and tries speaking more politely.
“Sit in front of the dresser!” He used a commanding tone instead.
“You need to drop the bossy attitude.” She tells him sincerely.
“Cherry, we are already fifteen minutes late, I don’t want to force you into that chair and complete the process so please just cooperate with me.” He talks gentler than his previous attitude which makes Cherry soften to listen.
“I don’t have time for you either, just know that I am only sitting on that chair because I want to and not because you commanded me to.” Cherry rolls her eyes at him and goes to sit in front of the dresser. Her arms were folded to show her distaste and disagreement for him.
Rex followed and stands behind her chair, their eyes locked on the mirror creating an unknown tension in the air. Cherry also caught a whiff of his masculine cologne, it enticed her with many unusual thoughts she was incapable of.
Slowly, Rex lifted her hair and placed it to the side, his hands purposely grazed her exposed neck and rubbed small circles on it causing her to shiver. Cherry involuntary closed her eyes and sighed enjoying the smoothness of his skilled hands calming the nerves on her neck, by the time she opened her eyes she found him staring at her in the mirror with a smirk on his lips making her blush.
And also, there was something deep, something untold about the way he looked into her eyes. Cherry can only wish it wasn’t something sinister or sinful because it caused an involuntary spark in her own eyes and she fears it might overtake her entire system one day if she doesn’t prevent it.
"I think it's time to leave." Cherry broke the intense heat emanating from them. She looks away from the mirror to avoid his gaze, nervously touching her new hairstyle to pass time.
Rex cleared his throat nervously. "Yes, we should.” He left the room and brought back a new set of heels he got and helped her wear them like a gentleman. Cherry felt like Cinderella when the prince put on the silver slipper on Cinderella's foot. She watched amusingly as he carefully slides her foot into the five inches heel one by one, she was hypnotized by his strong features the way his jaw tightened and moved.
‘could I have fallen for him already without knowing?’ the questions pops into her mind but there wasn’t any time for an answer because he suddenly looks up at her.
Rex gave a playful smile when he caught her gawking at him, she immediately avoid his eyes even though his own were still staring at her. Rex chuckled liking the effect he had on her.
"Shall we?" He stands up and stretched his hand for her to take. Cherry rose her hand to take his but stopped and retreat. “What’s the matter now?” Rex composedly asked.
“I- I- I don’t know-”
“Just take my hand, you look good, alright.” He tries to pursue her.
“It’s not that…”
“Then what?”
“I just don’t feel I should go.” She nervously looks down at her hands.
“Trust me, you should, and I will be by your side throughout the whole party.”
“I don’t know.”
“I am promising you aren’t I?” He asked and she nods. “So take my hand and let’s go, you are going to do great, trust me.” He says.
“I hope so.” She mumbles under her breath.
After some minutes Cherry carefully takes his hand trying to let go of the nervousness and embarrassment she felt. Despite his words of encouragement, she feels this night won’t be the best kind.