My Priced Darling.

"Alexis, does this dress make me look fat?" Rose asked me for the umpteenth time as she stepped out of the dressing room.

I smiled at her. This was the fifth wedding gown she was looking for and she says it doesn't have the feeling in it.

"You look gorgeous, Rose." I replied to her as I browsed the texture of the material. I knew my fabrics and this was another reason why I was here.

"You said the same thing for the last five dresses I wore." She said pouting and admiring herself in the giant mirror.

"Andrew is the one marrying you, he'd have escorted you to come test out wedding dresses." I replied as I adjusted her veil. Rose was a magazine girl type of beauty. All eyes would be held at attention as soon as she walked in. A shining light. Next to her I was a candlelight waiting to be quenched. But I have never been jealous of her.

"You know it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding day." Rose retorted as she picked the next dress and walked back into the changing room.

"No, it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before they get to the altar on the day of the wedding." I replied.

"Same thing." She yelled out.

She had chosen me to be her chief bridesmaid. As her immediate family, were against her marriage to her highschool sweetheart, Andrew Grant.

I lowered my phone as she opened the changing room curtain.

"Wow." I said without even processing it mentally.

"The dress is amazing Rosey." I said with a big smile on my face. I recalled what she had said when she was testing out the gowns earlier. You'll feel a tingle, if it was the dress for the occasion.

"You feel the tingle too?" She asked, smiling at herself in the mirror.

"Yes, yes I do. You're so lucky Rosey." I told her tho doubted my words.

She was lucky that she met a man that loves her but Andrew, wasn't financially buoyant to hold up a family. This was the reason her family didn't want her to marry Andrew.

"This dress is absolutely gorgeous. You have to get it." I told her as I signaled the sales girl over to our side.

"How much is this?" I asked her. She excused herself briefly so as to check the price.

"It's £5,000 misses." She said as she returned.

I swallowed my saliva and saw Rose's face, pale a bit. She proceeded to take off the dress. I could see it in her eyes that she was going to exchange it for one with a lesser price.

"We'll take it." I say without registering it.

Again. I tend to act before I think.

The sales rep walks away with a smile on her face.

"Alexis. I don't have that much money to pay for this gown. It's just a wedding dress."

"A wedding dress that puts such a bold smile on your face? Sure we'll take it." I retorted.

"I only have £2000 combined with what Andrew gave me to pay for a gown. Alexis, I don't want you breaking the bank for me." Rose whined. She had always looked out for me like an elder sister.

"I can add up £3000 and we'll take the gown darling." I told her.

"I won't let you pay such an amount, it's too big. Even for you." I knew she didn't mean the last statement.

I spot the salesgirl coming our way and I retrieve my ATM card from my purse and hand it over to her.

"Check the £5000 from it." I told her.

I can see Rose's face getting red from anger.

"Alexis Amelia Roberts. How dare you?" She said,

"Because I could soon to be Mrs Grant."

"But-"

"But nothing. You'd easily do the same for me and it's only logical I did something big for you. Since our college days, you've always come through for me. Books, clothes and even my school fees. Please let me do this." I pleaded with her.

"But you were saving up to open your store. You've already done a lot for the wedding preparations." Rose said.

"I know. But you're worth every single penny. And that gown looked tailored for you. So let's go pick up your princess gown."

I stood up and ready to walk away and then I was enveloped with a hug from behind. "Thank you." Rose whispered.

I turned and hugged her back.

I knew my bank account would cry from this much spending but who freaking cares? She is my best friend.

We walk up to the cashier desk and the dress is already packed up.

"Thank you." I say as my card is returned to me.

We take our package and leave the store.

The busy streets of Campshire greeted us as soon as we stepped foot outside.

"How would it feel to live in a quiet and reserved environment?" I asked Rose as we weaved our way through the crowd and took the stairway leading to the train station.

"At a point, it becomes tiring. Trust me." She replied.

Of course she'd know. She was born and brought up in luxury. I had been to her family's penthouse a lot.

The train we boarded drops Rose first at her station where I wave her good-bye while I drop off at the next station.

Wednesday nights were not the community standard club night but 'Creed club' made it worthwhile.

Dressing up in one of my favorite night voyage gowns and prepping up my face. I was out of my house and swirling glasses of red wine in no time.

Wednesday's club environment was calm and cool. Not like Friday that had loud music and rigorous dancing.

I did what I usually do while out drinking. Sip. Check the gram. Awwn at happy couples. Save vacay and food pictures. My routine. Until someone cleared their throat signaling my attention.

I drop my gaze from my phone and set it on the newcomer. I wouldn't say he was very good looking. But, he had a certain charm. Especially his jawline which accentuated his face.

"Hi." The newcomer said flashing a smile, handing out a hand to shake me and with his other hand, holding his drink.

"I'm Ethan." He said.

I shake his hand and he gives my palm a little squeeze.

"Hi, I'm Alexis, nice to meet you." I plaster a smile on my face.

Ethan happened to be a mechanical engineer who was in town on contract which would last a couple of months. He was a sweetheart until he put his hands on my thigh in the most uncomfortable way.

I calmly removed his hand from my thigh, made my way to get up when he added pressure to his hand and pulled me back to my chair.

"Let me go. You asshat." I say wiggling myself out of his grip. The club was somewhat desserted. Of course it was a Wednesday. People who came in were mostly those who needed to unwind.

I could only spot a few people at the VIP lounge.

"We could do this the easy way or the hard way." Ethan muttered as his hand crept further up my thighs. I was gripping my glasses ready to break it on his head.

As it came closer to reach his hand, I felt another grip on my wrist and was hit with the smell of some musky male cologne.

"Don't get your hand dirty mama." The voice behind me said.

Ethan had backed up immediately as if he could tell the newcomer spelt trouble to him.

"Let me handle this." The newcomer said as he moved in front of me fast standing toe to toe with Ethan. I was behind him so I couldn't see his face.

I don't know if they were having a staring contest or something but it was barely two minutes and Ethan went scurrying away.

"Thank-" before I could finish my appreciation, the newcomer walked off towards the VIP lounge.

I didn't wait to book a ride, I just went outside and took the first cab I flagged down home.