Chapter 271 White Knight
Ella
We didn’t just stop at one store. No, Logan wouldn’t have it. The shopping center was enormous, and Logan clearly had a penchant for spending money. We spent hours in there, perusing each store.
Normally, I didn’t enjoy shopping trips. My dad never really took me on them, maybe once or twice a year we would go out on a shopping day, but Moana was the type to instill in me that money wasn’t everything, and so we didn’t splurge too much. I didn’t mind, though. Her precautions made sure that I never got spoiled, despite the fact that my dad was one of the richest men in the world.
However, I couldn’t deny the enjoyment of shopping with Logan. I hated to say it, but he was… fun. Maybe it was the mate bond surreptitiously slipping rose-colored glasses onto my face, but I liked seeing him smile as we perused the stores. I liked hearing his jokes about silly outfits, ridiculously high heels, and hats with all sorts of bizarre decorations on them. He made me laugh.
At one point, we found ourselves in an even fancier store than the others. The golden gleam of the chandeliers reflected off the cream marble floors, giving the luxury boutique an air of opulence. Logan and I wandered from aisle to aisle, picking out pieces and discussing our preferences. I couldn’t help but notice that our tastes were eerily similar.
“I’ve always thought garish colors were overrated,” Logan mused, holding up a classic navy tie. “It’s much more about the quality and cut of the fabric for me.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” I responded, genuinely surprised. “Bright colors might be eye-catching, but there’s something so refined about muted tones.”
Before Logan could respond, a saleswoman approached us, her eyes immediately sizing me up.
“Miss,” she started, her voice dripping with enthusiasm, “I think this would look absolutely ravishing on you.”
She held out a fiery red dress, the fabric shimmering under the store lights. The cut was low, the slit up the side particularly high, and the entire ensemble screamed ‘look at me.’
“I don’t know…” I hesitated, unsure.
“Please, do try it on!” she implored, her eyes alight with excitement. “With your fair complexion, you’d be the talk of any event.”
Logan’s eyes met mine. “Try it,” he said, smirking. “Please?”
Not wanting to disappoint their fervor, I took the dress into the changing room. As I pulled it over my head and adjusted the straps, a sense of unease washed over me. It was undeniably sexy, but it felt too ostentatious, too exposed.
Yet, I decided to step out and show Logan, if only for a second opinion.
The moment I emerged from behind the curtain, Logan’s eyes widened, and an amused chuckle escaped him. He gave a playful whistle, clearly enjoying the moment.
“Logan!” I exclaimed, my face heating up as | covered my chest with my hands.
“Sorry, couldn’t help myself,” he teased, his eyes dancing with mischief. “But honestly, it’s not you. Too much… red.”
I crossed my arms defensively. “Well, I didn’t pick it out!”
Logan approached a nearby rack, selecting a moonlight white dress that cascaded gracefully to the floor. He paired it with a sparkling diamond necklace, its beauty in its simplicity..
“This,” he declared, “is you.”
My eyes widened at the sight of the dress. It was indeed beautiful, but…
“But I already have a dress,” I said, pointing to the bag from the first store in Logan’s hands. There were several other bags in his grasp, too. He was a bit of a shopaholic, particularly for watches and Italian leather loafers.
Logan simply shrugged. “You could use more than one,” he said, lowering his voice. “This is gonna be a year, after all. There will be plenty of events. And who knows, maybe you’ll like this one… better.”
I sighed, but obliged. After a quick change, I had to admit Logan was right. The dress accentuated my features without making me feel overly exposed. And the necklace, it was a masterpiece in its own right.
The moonlight white dress was, in every sense, magical. It draped over my figure like a second skin, hugging me in all the right places and flaring out gracefully at the hips. Made of a luxurious silk, the fabric had a softness that was almost ethereal, making me feel as though I was enveloped in a cloud.
I admired myself in the full-length mirror, noting how the dress perfectly complemented my fair complexion. The subtle, intricate patterns embroidered near the waist added just the right touch of elegance without being over the top. It was a stark contrast to the emerald dress that I had tried on earlier which, while captivating in its own right, suddenly paled in comparison to this one.
Lost in my thoughts, I instinctively twirled, watching the fabric flare out and then settle around my legs in a soft cascade. The movement was mesmerizing. It was only then that I caught Logan’s blue eyes watching me in the mirror, and I felt a heat creep into my cheeks.
“Beautiful,” he murmured. I turned to face Logan, his attire complimenting mine perfectly. The thought crossed my mind: We looked like the perfect couple. A dangerous thought given his… affiliations.
It’s a pity he’s one of the Mafia, I thought, pushing away the budding warmth in my chest.
Eventually, I returned to the fitting room to remove the dress. Logan had already paid for it before I could have the chance to protest, and the saleswoman now waited patiently to wrap it up and receive her commission.
However, as I tried to immerse myself back into the world of shopping, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched. My eyes flitted around the store, searching for any sign of a threat.
Just then, I caught sight of him. A man skulking around in the background, partially hidden by some shelves. He wore all black, and had a gruff look about him. Upon realizing that I had noticed him, he quickly picked up an item off of a shelf and turned his back to me, pretending to be just another shopper. But I knew better.
“Logan,” I whispered, leaning closer. “I think we’re being followed.” His eyes darkened as he took a quick survey of our surroundings. “Stay close,” he murmured, reaching for his phone.
We continued shopping, albeit with heightened alertness. When Logan went to the counter to pay for some things that he was buying for himself, my eyes landed on a quaint cake shop next door. I quickly realized that I was hungry.
“I’ll be right back,” I called over to him. He didn’t react, maybe he didn’t notice. I thought nothing of it, and walked out of the store.
The sweet aroma of baked goods enveloped me as I stepped out of the clothing store, momentarily distracting me from the unease I felt earlier. Just as I was deciding whether I felt in the mood for a raspberry tart or a chocolate éclair, a loud shout pierced the air..
“ELLA!”
I spun around, just in time to see a billboard detaching from its fixture high above, plummeting straight towards me. Panic surged through me, and everything moved in slow motion.
