20 An obnoxious lover goes shopping

Raymond finally took Ariel out of the mansion. First, he bought her a phone and then went to a boutique where he asked her to pick whatever caught her eyes.

Though Ariel was a bit hesitant, she decided to follow his words. It was part of the rules.

But she always kept this saying in mind, 'Remember to give as much as you're given'.

She was supposed to give to him as much as he was giving her but she had absolutely nothing to give him in return. This was why she so adamantly wanted to trade with her body.

'He won't sleep with me.' She thought to herself, mindlessly picking out whatever looked pretty. 'Is my acting enough of a trade? He said he wouldn't touch a girl who is almost ten years younger than him.' she peeked at him, seated with his legs crossed. White was standing beside him with a few of the boutique attendants waiting on him. 'How old is he anyway?'

Raymond pointed at a design on the magazine he was holding.

"Get me this in every color." He said and the attendant nodded, taking the magazine from him.

He noticed Ariel staring and beckoned her to come to him and she did.

"Did you pick out all that caught your eye?" He asked and she nodded, going straight to sit on his legs that he had uncrossed on her behalf. She sat comfortably and hooked her arms at the back of his neck.

"I did but there isn't anything here that I can wear to the party." She said, looking sad.

"Then should we just go to someplace else?"

"I'd rather you buy out everything in here and make me the manager. I bet I can order better clothing than all what I see here." She eyed the attendants who tried not to break out of character and stand still.

"You know I can't do that." Raymond said.

"Why not?" She asked, pouting and he placed his hands on her waist. She flinched but it wasn't so much that anyone would notice except him.

"If I make you the manager then," he kissed her arm and rested his head on it. "...you'll have to work. I don't want my baby working."

"Jeez, you're right." She said, trying her best not to blush and removed her hands from the back of his neck. "But we still have to get something nice."

"Let's go then." He got up, carrying her as she was and started leaving.

White made the payout for everything Ariel picked out, as well as what Raymond picked out and gave them the address of their mansion.

"Send them to this address." He said and left to trail after his master.

Once out of the boutique and inside the comfort of their car, Ariel burst out laughing.

"Haha, did you see the expression on their faces?" She asked as she kept laughing. "I bet they've never met someone of my caliber before."

"You acted perfectly." Raymond complimented, simply nodding to her performance.

"You didn't do too bad yourself." She said and drew closer. "I think you've been taking secret practices. Do you read novels by chance?"

"How am I going to get better at it if otherwise?" He asked, adjusting his tie then turned to her. "But you still seem to tense up each time I make contact with you."

"I'm just not used to it." She said, looking away.

"There's just a few days left. You have to get used to it."

"I don't think I will." Ariel muttered.

"And why is that?"

"My body is very unfamiliar with your touch." She mindlessly admitted and realizing it, her eyes widened. "Oh, I meant..."

"I said I won't touch you, Ariel." Raymond reminded her and she nodded, looking aside once more. "But we can't avoid body contact while acting as lovers. It may even get to the point of us kissing so I guess I can not avoid it."

"Then we just won't kiss." Ariel said. "No matter what, no one can tell me to do what I don't want to, right? There's a price to pay for watching me kiss my lover in public, they should know." She sounded okay but didn't dare meet Raymond's gaze.

He wondered what her thoughts were but couldn't get it so he nodded and said,

"I suppose you're right."

"So, are we going to another boutique?"

"There's no need for that. I already ordered your dress from a famous designer in France." He said and she tilted her head. "The rich usually get gossiped news from boutiques so this was the best way to spread rumors without looking too obvious about it."

"Then, can we go to a jeweler next? I want to get a really expensive and good looking diamond necklace." She said and he immediately agreed, nodding his head to her.

Due preparations were made and at the end and of the week, the first stage was set.

Marco had invited everyone from his workplace, also his boss, by sending one of the secretaries the invitation to deliver to him. Though he did not have high hopes that his boss would attend, he hadn't even seen him before, but he still sent the invitation.

With this invitation, Raymond was going to bring Marco's nightmare to him.

When they got to the venue, Raymond got down from the car first, adjusting his coat accordingly and then stretched his hand towards his partner who instantly took it and got out of the car.

Ariel, in her leafy green dress that had white edges, got down and glanced at the venue. It was huge.

It was clear that the Albert family spent a fortune on this wedding because she could not get how Marco was able to get so rich and gain the Albert family's approval.

Nevertheless, she would gradually get answers to all her questions. There was no rush.

"You look great." Raymond complimented and she stuck close to him, holding on to his hooked arm.

"Awn, thanks hubby." She said, "You don't look too bad yourself." She smiled and he gave a light nod.

Raymond was wearing a white suit, having the edges in the green color Ariel was wearing. Anyone could see that it was a couple's outfit.

"Then, shall we?"