One Weekend with the Billionaire novel Chapter 17

Cindy is such a nice person. She makes me feel absolutely welcome as we stroll along next to each other in one of the most expensive shopping districts in the city. It’s as if I’m with a friend.

We don’t talk about the proposal Mr. Merriweather has made to me. We really don’t talk about him much at all, except for when Cindy says how nice he is and how glad she is to work for him. She says he’s the best boss she has ever had, the best boss she could hope for. She also says not to worry about spending too much money, that Mr. Merriweather will be disappointed if I don’t get everything I want.

I find it hard to unabashedly spend someone else’s money, but I do buy a few things I really like. Cindy won’t let me look at the price tags as she makes a collection of dresses for me to try on. When I go into the dressing room to try them on, she makes me promise not to look at the price while I’m in there either. I try to keep the promise, but it’s hard. At least I try on the first one before I look. It is a short, black cocktail dress, and even though I believe what Jeff tells me about my butt being too big and my boobs being too saggy, I don’t think it looks too bad on me. I think I might get it. Cindy asks me to come out so she can have a look.

I can feel my face turning red as I step out in front of her, afraid of what she might say. "Oh, Julia! That’s breathtaking!" she says. "You must get it. Mr. Merriweather will love you in that."

The thought that she is helping me pick out a dress for someone to love me in that is not my husband might bother me if I hadn’t already seen that Jeff signed that contract before I did. He already agreed to this before I did, after all. What did that tell me? That he was more concerned about his job than his wife, that’s what.

"Thank you," I say to Cindy, still not sure about the dress. "Do you think it’s too short?" It lands about four inches above my knees. I don’t think that’s too short, but Jeff would say it was for sure.

"No. It’s perfect!" she says. "Go try on the red one."

I smile and go back inside, taking the dress off carefully, but then, I accidentally look at the price tag and almost stop breathing. "Cindy!" I say in a voice that will give me away. "I don’t think I can get this one."

I can’t believe what she’s said. That’s probably about half our rent, and Jeff says we live in an expensive apartment, not that I know for sure. But I do what she says. The red is even more stunning, and she agrees. By the time I am finished, I have four new dresses, a couple of casual outfits, including some jeans that look great on me, and lots of new undergarments that fit so well and make me feel like a feminine princess. I am not used to having such nice things. Cindy also insists I get new shoes for each outfit and a new handbag or two. I get new jewelry and a new watch. I think I’ve spent about a hundred thousand dollars, and she doesn’t even bat an eye. All of my purchases will be delivered to Mr. Merriweather’s house, except for the black dress, which she thinks I should wear for dinner that night. She’s already called a salon and scheduled an appointment for a make-over. She says we can eat lunch while we are there so we’ll be sure to make it back to the office in time.

There’s just one thing left--lingerie. We already have undergarments for the outfits, but Cindy thinks it is a good idea to pick out a few negligees. I am nervous about that. The only man who has ever seen me in outfits like that before is Jeff. But when we make our way to the right department, I am awestruck by all of the choices. We pick out a couple and pay for them, and Cindy arranges for them to be delivered to Mr. Merriweather’s house. Then, we head for the salon.

I think about what it might be like to be in Mr. Merriweather’s bedroom--with him. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be with another man. It cannot be worse than Jeff. What if it’s not awful? What if it’s wonderful? What if Braxton Merriweather is as much a god in the bedroom as he is in the office?

If you would’ve asked me this morning if I would ever consider sleeping with another man, I would’ve told you you were crazy. But now… this is something I think I can do. Something I think I might want to do.