Strange Bedfellows
~ ch. 10, concluded ~

This was a version of heaven that Dara could appreciate.  She stood at the entrance to the ballroom and just allowed her gaze to slowly sweep the room.  A wide assortment of designer items was arranged throughout the ballroom like silent guests.  Some, like the Carolina Herrera suits, the Nicole Miller separates and the Michael Kors casuals, were recognizable to Dara by their distinct appearance alone.  But others, she consulted the card in her hand, had unfamiliar names like Narciso Rodriguez, Carlotta Jensen, and Monique Uhuillier.

Dara tore her gaze away from a nearby display where a vast assortment of Jimmy Choo shoes sat enticingly displayed.  “Ignoring for the moment that all this was remarkably presumptuous of you, there is no way that I can afford the majority of things on display here today.”

Stefan blithely dismissed the attorney’s protest.  “You may consider it a bonus.”

“But I-”

“Miss Jensen, I had hoped for more time so that you might grow completely comfortable with the agreement you have made.  But that is not to be.  So you must decide to trust me in such mundane things as this.  When compared to the endeavor before us, matters such as your wardrobe or your staff are minor issues easily settled by a single decision from me.”  Stefan’s green eyes were piercing.  “If you will just allow it.”

Above the bells and whistles sounding in her head, Dara heard herself say ‘Fine.”  She pointed a warning finger at Stefan.  “But you and I definitely need to establish some guidelines on just how far your input will go.”

Stefan nodded.  “Of course. And we shall.  But for now,” he turned his attention back to the assorted designer lines, “you are to select whatever you find appealing.  I believe you will find the majority of items to your taste.  I have seen to the choices personally.”

Intently Stefan observed Dara as she moved about the room.  The young attorney took time to finger the material and occasionally held up an item against her body in silent consideration.  When she paused to slip on a rich plum colored jacket, Stefan remarked, “As you can see, each item of clothing has already been tailored to your size and specifications.  Those you choose will be added immediately to the wardrobe in your suite.”

Dara shook her head in bemused resignation.  “What did you do, give them some of my clothing as a guide to my size?”  She nodded to the waiting clothier that the jacket was to be added to the other items she had chosen.

“Hardly.”  Stefan assessed Dara from head to foot.   It was a slow, thorough examination that left the attorney feeling a bit warm.  “Over the years I have grown …adept at ascertaining a woman’s measurements.”

Dara would have jumped at the opportunity to explore Stefan’s statement if she had not been so engaged with the ramifications of his words.  Her enigmatic host had just admitted to examining her figure so closely that he was able to determine the very dimensions of her body.  For Dara, it was a disconcerting thought.

But not as disconcerting as the elaborate display that next awaited her.  Set up in the far corner of the ballroom, she had somehow overlooked it in her initial scan of the room. 

The situation had just gone from bad to worse, Dara thought as she reluctantly continued her tour.  She pasted on a smile as Stefan introduced the two representatives of the Cosabella and Chantelle designer lines.

  Back | Next