The car ride felt tense, silent, and suffocating. Estelle stared out the window, trying to make sense of what was happening. It had barely been an hour into her first day at Celeste Thorne’s law firm, and already she was being whisked away on an impromptu shopping trip—courtesy of Celeste’s disapproval of her outfit.
When the car finally pulled up in front of a high-end boutique, Estelle glanced up at the sign and felt a knot tighten in her stomach. The boutique was the kind of place she’d only ever seen in fashion magazines—expensive, glamorous, and completely out of her league. She hesitated for a moment as the driver opened the door, but Celeste didn’t wait. She stepped out with her usual air of authority, not looking back to see if Estelle would follow.
With a sigh, Estelle got out of the car and followed Celeste into the store, feeling completely out of place among the luxurious surroundings. The shop was quiet, with soft music playing in the background and rows of designer clothing lining the walls. The sales attendants were dressed impeccably, glancing up as Celeste walked in with an air of command.
Celeste didn’t waste any time. She approached one of the attendants, her voice firm and commanding as she spoke. “I need a selection of dresses and suits. Varying styles, but they must be professional and elegant. Don’t waste time.”
It wasn’t a request. It was an order.
The attendant nodded quickly, clearly sensing the authority in Celeste’s tone, and hurried off to gather options. Estelle stood there, awkwardly shifting her weight from foot to foot as Celeste turned to her with a critical eye.
“Why do I feel like this is over the top?” Estelle muttered under her breath, feeling entirely out of her element.
Celeste’s lips twitched into a small, knowing smile. “Because you’re still under the impression that how you present yourself doesn’t matter. It does. In every situation. And when you work for me, you will look the part.”
Estelle opened her mouth to argue but closed it again, knowing it was pointless. Celeste’s mind was already made up. She wasn’t going to let Estelle walk into the office in anything less than what she deemed acceptable.
Within minutes, the attendant returned with an armful of dresses and suits, all in various cuts and colors, each one more luxurious than the last. “These are some of our best options, ma’am,” the attendant said, handing the collection to Celeste.
Celeste eyed the options briefly before handing them to Estelle. “Let’s start with these,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Go try them on.”
Estelle sighed, taking the pile of clothes from Celeste’s hands. “I’m sure they’ll fit fine without me trying them on…”
Celeste’s gaze darkened slightly, a hint of warning in her eyes. “No, Estelle. You’re going to try them on.”
Estelle groaned, rolling her eyes. “Fine. Fine.”
She followed one of the attendants into the fitting room, where she found herself surrounded by mirrors and soft lighting. With a deep sigh, she began trying on the dresses, one by one, each one fitting more perfectly than the last. But each time she came out, Celeste would look her over, either approving or shaking her head with silent judgment. The tension between them grew thicker with every outfit, as if this entire process was another layer of control Celeste was exerting over her.
After what felt like hours of trying on various dresses and suits, Estelle reached the final dress—a sleek, form-fitting number in a rich navy blue that hugged her curves perfectly. She struggled with the zipper, pulling it up as far as she could, but it wouldn’t budge past her shoulders.
“Uhm… Celeste,” Estelle called out from the dressing room, her voice unsure. “I need your help.”
There was a brief pause, and then she heard the soft click of heels approaching the dressing room door. A moment later, Celeste entered, her eyes immediately locking onto Estelle’s reflection in the mirror. For a second, her expression softened—just slightly—before she closed the door behind her.
Without a word, Celeste moved behind Estelle, her hands immediately going to the zipper at the back of the dress. Estelle held her breath as she felt Celeste’s fingers brush against her bare skin, sending a wave of heat through her body. The proximity, the touch—it was all too intense, too charged.
Celeste’s fingers lingered for just a second longer than necessary as she pulled the zipper up, the tension between them palpable in the confined space of the dressing room.
“There,” Celeste murmured, her voice low, almost intimate. “Much better.”
Estelle swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way her skin tingled under Celeste’s touch. She looked at herself in the mirror, and for the first time since they’d started this shopping trip, she actually felt… good. The dress fit her perfectly, and she had to admit—it was professional, elegant, and undeniably powerful.
Celeste stood behind her, her eyes meeting Estelle’s in the mirror. There was something unreadable in her gaze—something that made Estelle’s heart skip a beat.
“This is the one,” Celeste said softly, her voice filled with quiet approval. “You look… appropriate now.”
Estelle turned slightly, still looking at Celeste’s reflection. “Appropriate, huh? Is that your way of saying I look good?”
Celeste’s lips twitched into a small smile, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she reached for Estelle’s hand and pulled her gently out of the fitting room, leading her toward the counter.
“We’ll take this one,” Celeste said to the attendant, who nodded quickly and began preparing the dress for purchase.
Estelle stood there, still feeling the weight of Celeste’s touch, the way her fingers had brushed against her skin. Everything about this day had felt surreal, from the moment she’d walked into the office to the impromptu shopping trip. But now, standing beside Celeste in a dress that made her feel powerful in a way she hadn’t expected, Estelle realized that things between them had shifted again.
Celeste wasn’t just her boss. She wasn’t just her professor.
She was something more. Something dangerous.
And Estelle wasn’t sure if she was ready for what that meant.
Comment