“What is it?” Deedee asked as she took it to her desk.
“I have no idea.”
Deedee ran her hands over the closed box. “It’s definitely not flowers.”
Rosalyn chuckled. “You think?” She shook her head. “Well, open it before we tear it open for you.”
“Oh no. No one will be tearing anything.” She gently opened the box and found a note inside: Wear this for me tonight. I know it will look delicious on you. Love, Andrei.
She folded the note so she could keep it for herself. Her friends didn’t need that bit of information. Instead, she pulled out the covered item for them to see.
“Lover boy sent you that?” Rosalyn asked.
“Well, damn,” Deedee said.
The item he’d had sent was a dress that felt like butter in her hands. It was slightly gold but as she turned it over it seem to take on different colors as the sun shined through her office windows.
Although she had a few fancy evening dresses for nights out, the last thing she ever had money for was something as expensive as what she held.
“Your man has taste,” Rosalyn said. “That’s for sure.”
Victoria laughed as she held the dress in front of her. “I can’t argue with that.”
“Hell, good thing you stayed,” Deedee said. “Otherwise, someone who gets that for his woman wouldn’t be single long.” Deedee leaned over the box. “Something else is in there.” She pulled out a smaller box that was underneath the tissue paper and lifted up a heel that matched the dress.
“He got you shoes, too?” Rosalyn asked.
Deedee scoffed. “Girl, these aren’t just shoes.” She ran her hand over the shoe. “This is fine, Italian leather at its best.”
“How would you and your empty bank account know anything about Italian leather?”
“My paycheck doesn’t know anything about two-thousand dollar shoes, but my Pinterest account loves some Italian leather and French silk. That’s my porn these days.”
“Two thousand dollars?” Rosalyn grabbed the other shoe and analyzed it. “I’m clearly dating the wrong men in this city.”
“Does Mr. Lawyer have any friends?” Deedee asked.
Victoria laughed and took her shoes out of her friends hands. “Maybe, but I have to get to work so I can finish early. Otherwise, I won’t be enjoying any of this.”
Her friends left eyes her gifts. Usually, something this extravagant would make her uncomfortable, but Andrei had told her she didn’t know how to be taken care of. She ran her hands over the material. Accepting this felt like a good start.
When Victoria finally left her building, most of the other employees were gone. Only Rosalyn was left along with a few others. She felt a little awkward wearing such an expensive outfit. If the shoes were worth two thousand dollars, she didn’t want to think about the value of the dress. That didn’t mean she didn’t feel beautiful after putting everything on, and she didn’t want to disappoint Andrei. She’d done enough of that already.
Rosalyn whistled, and Victoria had never heard the woman whistle.
“You look amazing.” Rosalyn said. “Like a princess or something.”
“Thank you,” Victoria said. She ran her hand down the front of her dress. It made her brown skin seem ethereal as the golden material sparkled. “I feel all giddy, and I’m never giddy.”
“Good,” Rosalyn said. “You deserve to have a good time out tonight.”
“Thanks.”
“Say hi to your boyfriend for us.”
She so had to get used to that term, but it was growing on her. “I will.”
Chapter 20