After helping Heather with her makeover, Aurora led the two upstairs to browse the men’s clothing section. Ian had never gone shopping with a woman his age before, let alone someone as special to him as Aurora. The experience made his heart race, a mix of excitement and anticipation.
Aurora had just chosen clothes for Heather-did that mean she was about to pick something for him? The thought made his pulse quicken.
Aurora brought him into a long-established suit shop. The sales assistant quickly approached with a polite smile. “Sir, may I help you? These are our latest collections. Feel free to try them on, and we can adjust the fit if needed.”
Although Ian’s current attire was unimpressive, the staff assumed he might just prefer to keep a low profile.
Ian, however, felt out of place-just as Heather had earlier. He had never stepped into such a luxurious store, and his limited budget made him hesitant to even look around.
Aurora, unfazed, selected a suit from the racks. “Try this one on,” she said, handing it to the sales assistant.
This particular store had been around for over a century, known for both ready-to-wear and custom-tailored suits. Julian, for instance, only wore their bespoke pieces, every seam perfectly tailored to his frame.
“Right away, Miss,” the sales assistant replied, retrieving the suit and handing it to Ian. Without hesitation, Ian took the clothes and headed to the fitting room.
He wanted to stand closer to Aurora. He knew that to do so, changes were necessary.
When Ian emerged from the fitting room, Aurora couldn’t help but marvel at the transformation. It was true-clothes could truly make the man. Ian enjoyed sports like basketball, and his athletic build had always been hidden beneath baggy t-shirts and loose-fitting pants. Even for his job interview, he had worn poorly chosen, cheap clothes that did nothing to highlight his physique.
Aurora, meanwhile, was browsing tie clips to gift Julian. Over time, she had come to see herself as Julian’s wife. Despite their lack of concern for price tags, the gifts they exchanged always carried deeper, unspoken meaning. She wanted Julian to wear something she had chosen for him.
“Ian, you should’ve dressed like this long ago,” Aurora said, smiling at him. The transformation was remarkable-he went from looking like a nobody to a magnetic figure in seconds.
“Does this look okay, President?” Ian asked, still adjusting to the snug fit of the suit.
“Okay? It’s perfect! You look amazing,” Aurora replied, her praise sincere. She couldn’t deny that good looks could be a powerful asset in the business world. With Ian’s features, negotiations with prospective clients-especially women-would be much easier.
“Really?” Ian asked, scratching the back of his head, clearly embarrassed.
“Hold still-your tie is crooked,” Aurora said, stepping forward to fix it. However, she quickly reconsidered, realizing the gesture might seem too intimate. Instead, she gestured for the sales assistant to help adjust Ian’s tie.
Looking in the mirror, Ian saw himself standing next to Aurora. Without his glasses, he looked sharper and more confident. For the first time, he felt like he might be worthy of standing by her side.
At that moment, a group of people emerged from the elevator.
“Mr. Barnet, here are the sales figures for the mall’s last quarter. Let me know if you’d like any adjustments or improvements,” the mall’s manager said, trailing behind Julian.
Julian’s vast empire spanned industries across the nation, and this chain of malls was just one of his many assets. He rarely conducted on-site inspections, making today an uncommon occurrence.
When he spotted Aurora in the distance, his mood brightened immediately. Fate, it seemed, had brought them together.
But then his eyes fell on the man beside her-a young, fresh-faced man who appeared somewhat nervous. They seemed to be picking out clothes together. Why else would they be in a men’s suit store?
A surge of jealousy rose in Julian’s chest, cutting through the manager’s chatter like a blade.
“Mr. Barnet, is there something wrong with this floor? If you have suggestions, I’ll make sure to address them immediately,” the manager asked nervously, sensing Julian’s sudden change in mood.
Julian ignored him, striding directly toward the suit shop.
Behind him, Rocky adjusted his glasses, his instincts telling him that trouble was brewing. “This is bad,” he muttered to himself. “Fireworks incoming.”
“Rocky, did I say something wrong? Why does Mr. Barnet look so upset? You’ve worked with him longer-can you give me some advice?” the manager whispered, sweat beading on his forehead.
“This has nothing to do with you,” Rocky replied, steering the group toward the elevators. “Let’s wait for him downstairs. He has some personal matters to handle.”
“Understood.”
Meanwhile, Aurora was helping Ian try on a tie clip she had just picked out. As she adjusted the accessory, Ian looked down at her gentle features, her unique fragrance filling his senses. His heart raced as if it might take flight.
“This one will do,” Aurora said, satisfied with her choice. It was similar to the tie clips Julian typically wore.
Just as she was about to remove it, a cold voice cut through the air.
“Aurora.”
The voice was frigid, sharper than she had ever heard it. It sent a chill through the room, like snow suddenly falling in June. All eyes turned toward the source.
Julian stood at the entrance, dressed in a gray shirt and matching vest, exuding an air of elegance. Yet the icy aura surrounding him made everyone feel uneasy.
“Julian,” Aurora said, surprised but delighted to see him. She had just been thinking about him, and now here he was.
She walked toward him, her expression alight with joy. Julian’s sharp eyes caught her genuine excitement.
If she really had something going on with that man, how could she look so happy to see him? He realized he might have been jumping to conclusions.
Julian’s keen instincts allowed him to read people with a single glance. Aurora’s reaction was enough to dispel most of his doubts. The coldness in his demeanor softened slightly.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“I’m heading to finalize a contract soon, so I brought them here to buy some clothes and spruce them up a bit. What do you think of Ian’s suit?” Aurora explained honestly.
Julian’s lingering suspicion finally eased. So that’s what this was about. He was glad he hadn’t acted rashly-misunderstanding Aurora would have been a grave mistake.
Still, Ian’s gaze toward Aurora hadn’t escaped Julian’s notice. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arm around Aurora’s waist.
“Your taste is impeccable, as always,” Julian said smoothly. “Though I must say, Ian is like a completely different person from when I first met him.”