323: FASHION FLIRTATIONS ARIEL’S POV I stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around my body, and I was getting ready for work. Yesterday, Andre agreed with me to take my spot back at his company. He was such a wonderful friend. If it were some folks, they’d go ahead to do something that was not on the right side. Luke was walking around the room, making a phone call. I just stood, watching him until he was done. He let out a sigh since his talk on the phone was more of an argument than a conversation. But staring at me, he smiled. “Is it just me, or do you look absolutely pretty whenever you step out of the shower?” He walked closer to me. “Oh really, you think so?” “You haven’t noticed?” he raised an eyebrow. Oh, right, I forgot. You can’t look at yourself unless you go and stand close to a mirror. “There’s a mirror right there.” I gestured towards the mirror fixed on the wall in the room. “Go take a look at yourself then.” Luke grinned at me. I sighed and moved towards the mirror. The cool air of the room contrasted with the warmth still radiating from my skin. Luke followed closely behind, his presence a comforting fervor at my back. Standing in front of the mirror, I caught our reflections. The contrast between my towel–wrapped form and his casual, everyday attire highlighted the intimacy of the moment. Luke’s hands found their way to my shoulders, his touch gentle. Our eyes met through the mirror; his gaze was soft yet intense, making my heart flutter. “See?” he said quietly, his voice soothing to the fullest. “Absolutely stunning.” I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face, feeling a blend of bashfulness 523 FASHION FLIRTATIONS and confidence. “I suppose the mirror does add a special touch,” I teased, meeting his gaze in the reflection. His low laugh resonated through the small space between us. “It’s not the mirror,” he insisted, leaning in so his head was just over my shoulder. It’s you. The mirror just reminds you of what’s already there.” The sincerity in his voice, coupled with the affection in his eyes, wrapped around me like a baronial embrace. Our reflections in the mirror–a snapshot of our relationship- seemed to capture more than just the physical aspect of us standing there. It was as if the mirror reflected back the depth of our connection, the silent communication and understanding that had grown between us. Luke’s gaze shifted from our reflection to meet my eyes directly, an unspoken question lingering in the air. The world seemed to narrow down to just this room, this moment, with the early morning light casting a soft glow around us. Right here, in this small, seemingly inconsequential moment, I found a profound sense of peace and mirth. With Luke behind me, his hands on my shoulders, I felt grounded, as if everything in my life had led me to this point of greatness and elation. “Thank you,” I whispered, not just for the compliment but for the comfort, the love, and the shared life that seemed to promise so much more. Luke’s response was a gentle squeeze of my shoulders, a wordless promise of his own–to be there, to support, to cherish. As I leaned back slightly, feeling his solid warmth, I realized that no mirror was needed to see the beauty of what we had together. It was right there, in the way we stood, in the way we looked at each other, and in the silent promises we made for the future. After that, I had to tell Luke about me trying to choose a dress for work today, and guess what! It didn’t take long before Luke rummaged through my bag, a goddamn grin right on his face. “Alright, let’s see what we have here,” he muttered, pulling out a dress and holding it up for inspection. I leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, and raised an eyebrow. “Please tell me you’re not going to suggest that I wear that neon pink disaster again.” Luke chuckled, tossing the offending dress over his shoulder. “Not a chance. J 223: FASHION FEIRTATIONS learned my lesson the last time.” He continued his search, pulling out dresses of varying colors and styles, each one more outrageous than the last. “Are you trying to torture me?” I exclaimed, shaking my head in mock dismay. “I think- you’re secretly enjoying this.” “Guilty as charged,” he admitted with a grin, holding up a sequined monstrosity that seemed to glitter under the room’s fluorescent lights. “But hey, at least you’ll be the shiniest person at the office.” I laughed, swatting the dress out of his hand. “I’d blind everyone within a ten–mile radius. Let’s aim for something more subtle, shall we?” Luke feigned disappointment, dramatically throwing his hands up in defeat. “Fine, fine. But where’s the fun in subtle?” he teased, finally pulling out a sleek, black dress from underneath the bag. My eyes lit up as I took the dress from him, inspecting it with a critical eye. “Now we’re talking,” I declared, holding it up against myself in the mirror. “What do you think?” Luke pretended to ponder for a moment, tapping his chin with his finger. “Hmm, let me see…” he trailed off before bursting into a grin. “You look absolutely stunning, as always.” I rolled my eyes playfully but couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at my lips. “Flattery will get you everywhere, you know.” He shrugged. “Just stating the obvious. Now, let’s get you ready to conquer the day.” “Thanks, that means a lot to me.” I kept on smiling at him.. “And you mean a lot to me,” he told me, with his voice soft before he slowly pressed his lips against mine. ANDRE’S POV Dark days, beautiful days, wonderful days, I had seen it all. Gone through so many great experiences, what did it mean to feel lonely and broken? Wouldn’t you be hurt realizing that your own brother was a monster? Yes, we might not usually do things 123 FASHION FLIRTATIONS. together and argue regularly, but blood was still blood. Ariel had told me all these things, and I believed her. Because Mason… he was just so… god, I didn’t even know what to say; how to bring out the expression in this one. But it pained my heart to know what my younger brother had done. Suppose I could see him right now if only I had a clue about his location. I wanted to talk to him face to face so we could settle this, and I wanted him to put an end to his terror. And if that happened, then he should leave the country. I stood outside my company, watching people as they stepped out of their cars, my workers unfolding one by one. Michael and Rose showed up. I greeted the beautiful couple before they walked inside the building. Seth showed up, and we exchanged. greetings. And then, after a few minutes, the beautiful lady arrived. Slowly stepped out of her car, looking absolutely gorgeous in her sleek black dress.
