My Husband Chose His Ex I Became His Regret novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Lila

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The woman listed under Simone’s contacts is Margot; she arrives at my suite at precisely 8:00 am with what appears to be an arsenal of weapons, but in fact is just a rolling rack of designer clothing.

“Lala Stark” She comes into the room without waiting for permission. She is a tall, late-thirty-something Asian woman dressed from head to toe in black clothing that oozes expensive style. Her eyes survey me in the outfit Simone picked out for me yesterday and she says, “Good, you can follow directions. That’s half the battle

I stand very close to the doorway of my suite – or rather Aidan’s suite – and feel like an unwanted intruder in the room. “I don’t think I need…”

“You need everything.” Margot is already unloading garment bags on the sofa. “Aidan forwarded your measurements and a ‘brief’ to me. He told me to create your professional wardrobe as well as a day wear. evening wear and accessory wardrobe.”

Margot continues. “Wearing the right outfit gives you credibility before you even say anything. On the flip side, wearing the wrong outfit makes you virtually invisible.” Margot pulls out a cream-coloured satin silk blouse. “For example, these shoes. She stares at my sensible flats. “Are invisible.”

My phone vibrates on the counter top. Aidan texted me.

‘Margot isn’t usually difficult to deal with, let her do her job..

So I responded, ‘She’s scary as hell.’

Aidan responds, ‘Good; so are you. You just don’t realize it.

I have to read Aidan’s text two times then Margot snaps her fingers at me.

“Focus, we only have six hours to try on thirty pieces.”

“What?”

“Strip down to your underwear.” “I need to see what I have to work with.” She’s already digging in her bag to pull out a tablet, and the stylus is primed for action. “We need to talk about body type, proportions, what you look good in and what doesn’t suit you.”

I’m completely flush with embarrassment. “I don’t want to do this.”

“Lila.” Her voice softens a bit. “I am a designer for women, I have worked with all body types, seen insecurities, and have seen all the imperfections. Nothing you do will shock me. I’m not here to judge you. I am here to help you look like the strong woman you will become.”

I think back to Patricia’s homework of only making a decision based on what I want.

Do I want to sit in oversized cardigans forever? Do I want to apologize for being here?

15:22 Tue, May 12

Chapter 17

No.

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I take off the outfit Simone chose for me and stand there in my Target underwear feeling like I’m being cut

open.

Margot circles me like a hawk. Not mean but clinical.

“You have good bone structure, are slender but do need to eat more, your legs are good and you’ve been hiding your legs, you have an hourglass shape and we will accentuate your waist. I will put a note that your posture is bad and we will fix that through tailoring. More importantly, Lila, you are beautiful and you dress like you are trying to hide from the world.”

My throat constricts, “I was!”

“I understand.” She hands me a garment bag. “This is the first outfit to try on. Valentino. This will change your life.”

The first outfit is a very dark navy-blue suit; it almost looks black. It feels like water on my skin; I am going to look great in this. These trousers are pulled up high on my waist, so my legs look like they go on for a while. The coat I’ve got on nips in at my waist and gives me a bit of shape, but isn’t stiff.

I

gaze into the mirror.

Everything about me looks strong, confident, serious, and capable of holding a seat at a table with other strong, confident, serious, and capable individuals.

“Perfect,” Margot says. She fiddles with my collar. “This suit is your tool, your armor, to help you win people over at Storm Industries. Wear this suit, and people will pay attention to you when you talk.”

“How much is it?” I ask.

“Does it matter?”

“Yes.” I whisper the word. “I can’t pay for…”

“Aidan Storm will pay,” Margot says. “This is a corporate suit, remember?”

“But this…” I look down at the price tag that I can’t believe is still on the coat. $4,200. My mouth is completely dry. “That’s way too much money for me to let him use on me…’

“Why?” She asks.

“Because I don’t deserve…” I stop and hear Patricia saying; You deserve to take up space.

Margot stares at me with impatience. “Your ex-husband made you feel guilty to spend any money and questioned your purchases. He demanded that you justify every purchase that you made.”

I nod my head in silent agreement.

“And before that, you grew up as a little girl who would have had to be grateful when you received a few crumbs while your step-brother and step-sister were getting everything.”

15:22 Tue, May 12

Chapter 17

“How do you know this?” I ask.

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“I have dressed many, many women, just like you. Women that have been told they are not worth the investment.” She hands me another garment bag. “What I do know is this; if Aidan Storm has decided to give you money, it is because he has a reason to do so, and he has seen something in you that is worthy of the investment “I contemplate my reflection in the mirror. The woman in the Valentino suit looks like she could accomplish anything; she looks like she’s worth $4,200.

“I’m trying.” I whisper.

Margot, who has been unzipping the next bag, reveals what is inside. “Try Givenchy. It’s a nice look on you.”

How is it possible that I spent the past three hours trying on clothes that added up to more than I paid for my entire college education? And so much of it just sitting there for me to pick out. I found all kinds of dresses. blouses, suits, trousers, skirts, etc., in beautiful colours like emerald green, deep burgundy, and rich camel. And the way they felt, the silk, cashmere, and Italian wool, was almost sinful.

“There’s no question this is it!” yells Margot, as she makes yet another trip around me in my fitted sheath dress. “It’s your revenge dress.”

“My what?

“Every woman needs a revenge dress. You wear it when you want your ex to look back at his mistake and choke on it.” Margot adjusts my neckline, bringing it down just enough to be elegant, but not sleazy. “You wear this dress to a gala where Mark Knight is, and he will never forget what he lost.”

I look back at myself in the mirror. The woman staring back at me looks completely different. She is sophisticated, elegant, and dangerous.

“I look…”

“You look amazing,” says Margot. “Say it again.”

“I look amazing.” How ridiculous I sound.

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