A Wonderful Kind of Love (Kinds of Love 2)

I looked down at the spot where her desk met the floor. I had no way to pay for an expensive suit.

“It goes on the company credit card,” Kathryn informed me. “Don't you worry about the money. It counts as a business expense.”

I shifted my weight as she focused her attention to the phone conversation. I liked my clothes, but I understood Kathryn's point. It was time to dress to impress. With clients worth billions of dollars, she needed me to look like I belonged among them.

“Claire, schedule a fitting with Raoul this evening for Lena...” she ordered. The person on the other line responded and she frowned before putting her hand over the mouthpiece. “What are you doing right now?”

“Um, whatever you tell me to.” I shrugged nervously. “I just finished the last item on the list you gave me”

Kathryn's eyebrows raised in approval. “Excellent. Remind me to give you more tomorrow.” She focused back on her phone. “Yes, now will work.”

The phone call ended with a click. My palms were sweaty and I was glad I had double checked all my work. If I hadn't, I would have really been freaking out that I had missed something. As it was, I was just partially freaking out. I wanted to be good at this.

Kathryn scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to me. “You are to go to this address and do whatever Raoul says to do. He's going to make you look like the McDonald, Smith and Ward employee that you are. Understand?”

I nodded. “Do I need to bring anything?” I was really glad I had chosen to wear my newer underwear this morning.

“Just your smile and my name,” Kathryn replied. “Go have fun.”

The address was one of the Magnificent Mile's fashion boutique. As the company cab pulled up, I nearly called Kathryn to confirm I had the right place. It was the kind of shop that looked so expensive window-shoppers had to pay a fee.

A soft bell chimed on the door as I stepped inside. White walls with artsy black and white photographs hung at strategic intervals throughout the store, but there was a surprising lack of clothing. I picked up a sequined covered dress on a nearby hanger to see a price tag that would pay my rent several times. I nearly dropped the hanger before realizing that would be even worse.

“You must be Kathryn's,” a man said, emerging from a back room. He wore simple black pants and a black shirt that hugged his thin frame with a bright blue scarf around his neck.

“That's me,” I replied with a laugh. The man grinned, his teeth white against his dark skin. He came closer and I realized he had the most amazing blue eyes. “I don't really know what I'm doing here.”

“Well, the clothes out here aren't really for you.” He motioned to the sequined dress. “I doubt Kathryn would appreciate that in her office.”

I giggled at the image of me sparkling while preparing her legal documents. “No, probably not.”

He held out a friendly hand. “I'm Raoul.”

“Lena,” I replied, taking his hand. His fingers were calloused and his grip strong.

“Come with me, Lena.” He grinned. “I'm going to make you look like a star.”

Three hours later, I had tried on more clothing than I had ever even owned in my entire life. I was exhausted. I had no idea how just putting on and taking off clothes could take so much energy. Suddenly, I could see how the socialites of the world stayed so skinny. All they did was change their clothes.

The door leading to freedom opened and Kathryn walked in. “How's it going, Raoul?”

“Fantastic. I think we have a good base,” he answered, handing her his bill.

“A good base?” I repeated quietly, looking at the pile of clothes I had tried on. It was a mountain, yet all I had to show for my work was three suits, two dresses, some dress shirts, four pairs of shoes and the appointment card for another fitting. Apparently, despite trying on fourteen sets of suits that I thought looked great, Raoul felt I needed to get some custom made. I was due to come back for round two in a couple of days.

Kathryn signed the bill for my clothing without even looking at it. I had a feeling I didn't want to know how much it was for. If I did, I wouldn't dare breathe in any of it for fear of ripping a ten thousand dollar stitch.

“Lena,” Kathryn asked suddenly. “Do you have a swimsuit?”

“Uh- swimsuit?” I imagined myself walking through the halls of the office in a skimpy bikini. I couldn't imagine why I would need a swimsuit for this job. I was fairly sure that Kathryn was in to men.

“I have some in stock,” Raoul said helpfully. “It's off season, but everything is at this time of year.”

“Go ahead and bring it out,” Kathryn told him. “Can't have her wearing a three-thousand dollar suit to the meetings and a ten dollar bathing suit to the beach.”

“Bathing suit?” I asked once Raoul disappeared into his storage room. Kathryn sat down on the couch next to me. “Beach?”

“You are accompanying me to the Travel, Inc. legal meeting,” she informed me matter-of-factly.