12

Jennifer.
After Mr. Tomas discovered the real me and how I truly look, he decided to take me to a shopping mall for a massive wardrobe overhaul. The task? To buy new clothes for me to wear while I worked for him. Sure, I was already his personal secretary, but now I had a new, unexpected title: *his fake fiancee*. How absurd! The concept felt utterly ludicrous, but I found myself with no other choice. I had deceived him, and the stakes were high-losing this job would mean losing my only source of income. Reluctantly, I accepted my new role.
As we arrived at the first store, I felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
“Jennifer?” Mr. Tomas called out, snapping me from my thoughts.
I turned to him, “Yes, sir?”
“Let’s start shopping now. These awful clothes you wear are so ugly! From this moment on, you are my fiancee,” he declared with an air of authority.
I stared at him, feeling a flutter of disbelief. “But sir-”
“I don’t want to hear any excuses, Jennifer. Now let’s buy some new dresses. Up until now, I still don’t know what your real body looks like. You keep wearing oversized clothes,” Mr. Tomas said, a hint of frustration in his voice.
“Maybe I’m overweight, sir!” I raised an eyebrow, half-joking but also half-serious.
“Maybe, Jennifer! But deep down, I feel you’re hiding a sexy body!” he replied, raising an eyebrow in a teasing manner before turning and entering the first store. “Follow me, Jennifer.”
As we stepped inside, I was greeted by a flurry of activity. The store was bustling, and everyone seemed to recognize Mr. Tomas. To my utter shock, I realized he owned not just this store but the entire shopping mall! *Dammit! He practically owns the city,* I thought, a mix of admiration and disbelief washing over me.
“Jennifer?” he called again, pulling me from my thoughts. I rolled my eyes, trying to wrap my head around what was coming next.
“Go try all those sexy dresses!” Mr. Tomas pointed to a stand filled with vibrant outfits.
“What?! All of these?! Mr. Tomas!” I opened my mouth in confusion, feeling overwhelmed.
“Yes, all of them, Jennifer! Now!” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“Okay, sir.” I took a deep breath and approached the stand. The dresses were all red, short, and daringly designed. It was clear Mr. Tomas had a preference for bold colors.
I picked the first dress and headed to the fitting room.
“Jennifer! Come out and show me every dress!” Mr. Tomas’s voice boomed from outside.
“But why?” I asked, feeling a bit silly for even questioning him.
“What? Why? Just show me now! Come out in your first dress,” he insisted, clearly eager.
“Okay, Mr. Tomas, I’m coming. But don’t be shocked, please!” I warned him, trying to brace myself for his reaction.
“Oh, I will absolutely be shocked!” he murmured, a hint of amusement in his voice.
As I stepped out of the dressing room, I saw his eyes widen in disbelief.
“Holly cow! What is that body, for God’s sake?! You look gorgeous! Why were you hiding all this beauty?” Mr. Tomas stared at me, his eyes sweeping from my feet to my hair as if he were seeing me for the first time.
I felt a rush of heat flood my cheeks. I was happy, and I couldn’t quite understand why. It wasn’t the first time someone had complimented me, but this felt different-more genuine.
“Uh, sir, I think I’ll try the next one,” I said, quickly changing the subject as I slipped back into the fitting room to try on the next dress.
This one was perfect. I stepped out, feeling more confident than ever, and a smile crept across my face.
Mr. Tomas laughed. “Dammit, Jennifer! I like this dress too-please continue!” he encouraged me, his tone warm and inviting.
I changed into another dress, but when I emerged, his expression shifted. “No, Jennifer, it doesn’t fit you.” He widened his eyes, a stern look crossing his face.
“But Mr. Tomas, I like it!” I protested, my brow furrowing in confusion.
“I said no, Jennifer. You will never wear this,” he reiterated firmly.
I huffed, muttering under my breath, “Oh, possessive boss.”
He narrowed his eyes at me but then grabbed another dress from a nearby rack. “Now try this one, Jennifer,” he said, handing it to me.
The dress was long, and I felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension as I tried it on. When I came out, Mr. Tomas’s reaction was unexpected-he was speechless, mouth agape, staring at me as if I were a vision.
“Wow, Jennifer, you look exactly like my fiancee now! Adorable-like a princess, actually!” he exclaimed.
I admired myself in the mirror, turning to see how the long dress flowed around me.
“Now try this one, Jennifer.” He handed me another dress, and I slipped it on. It was simple, exactly my style.
“This is perfect, Jennifer-now keep this dress on. Don’t take it off,” Mr. Tomas commanded.
“What? Why?” I asked, genuinely perplexed.
“Because you are my fiancee now, and you can’t walk next to me in those ugly outfits!” he explained, his gaze locked onto mine.
“But I thought these dresses were for nighttime events!” I protested, eager to clarify.
“No, Jennifer! They’re for any time I wish! Just do what I say,” he replied, his voice firm.
I crossed my arms defiantly. *What a rude boss,* I thought, but I couldn’t help but feel a thrill at his intensity.
He pulled my hand gently, guiding me to the next store. “Now come with me; we still have all day for shopping,” he said, his tone lightening.
He paused to speak with the store manager. “I want all the dresses she tried on,” he commanded with an air of authority, and I felt a mix of embarrassment and excitement.
“Now, Jennifer, show me your best in casual wear, please,” Mr. Tomas said as we entered the next store.
I picked a few items from the stand and headed to the fitting room again. When I emerged, he grinned.
“Wow, Jennifer! I like white on you! It shows your radiant, tanned skin!” he complimented.
“Thank you, sir!” I replied, feeling a flutter in my chest.
“No, Jennifer, we’re engaged now! Call me Tomas! Just Tomas!” he insisted, a smile spreading across his face.
“Okay, Tomas,” I said, feeling the weight of our new dynamic.
As I tried on more outfits, he admired each choice. “Wow, I like this too, Jennifer-choose whatever you want and try it all on at home,” he instructed, his enthusiasm contagious.
I opened my mouth in surprise. “What? All, Tomas?” I asked incredulously.
“Yes, all! I’m rich!” he reminded me, a playful glint in his eye.
I chuckled lightly, feeling buoyed by his generosity, and I picked out everything I wanted. He directed the manager to pack it all up and send it home.
As we left the store, I felt the weight of my new dress and the excitement of our shopping spree. He gently pulled my hand, and I glanced up at him.
“You are my fiancee now, Jennifer. You have to hold my hand,” Mr. Tomas said, his voice steady yet soft.
We walked side by side, our hands intertwined, sharing smiles and laughter.
He stopped at a diamond store. “Wait here, Jennifer,” he instructed, signaling the guards to stay close.
I watched him as he entered the store, anticipation swirling in my gut. “Jennifer, come in now,” he called.
I stepped inside, and before I could fully process what was happening, he took my right hand and slipped an exquisite solitaire ring onto my finger.
I gasped. “Um, what is this, Tomas? It’s so big!”
“It’s our engagement ring, Jennifer,” he said, looking deeply into my eyes.
In that moment, happiness washed over me like a warm wave. I felt genuinely thrilled, as though this were real. I momentarily forgot that I was just his *fake* fiancee.
The man in the store congratulated us. “Congratulations, Mr. Tomas! Congratulations, miss, on your engagement!” he beamed.
We continued to gaze at each other, lost in the moment.
Then, Mr. Tomas took my arm, bending it around his back, and we walked out of the shopping mall together, heading toward the limo.
This time, something felt different. He opened the car door for me, and I looked at him in surprise.
“What? You are my fiancee now, Jennifer!” he stated, a hint of playfulness in his tone.
I slid into the passenger seat, and he drove us home.
On our way, we didn’t talk much. I found myself staring at his profile as he focused on the road, my fingers absentmindedly playing with the massive ring on my hand. I was lost in dreams, imagining a life where this was all real.
Before we arrived home, he turned to me. “Jennifer, take a nap because we’re going to a nightclub at midnight for a business meeting. I want everyone to know you are my fiancee,” Mr. Tomas said, his tone serious.
“Everyone?” I asked, shocked.
“But sir, I thought this was just for Maya!” I couldn’t help but question him.
“First, I’m just Tomas! Second, no-everyone in the whole world must know you are my fiancee now to make it look real! To convince her! So get ready for the news; everyone will be talking about you, and gossip will fill the town,” he said with a wink, a slight smile playing on his lips.
As I walked to my room, my mind raced with thoughts and overthinking. What had I gotten myself into?