Gina stood in front of the bathroom mirror, wrapping herself in a fluffy white towel. Her hair was damp, and she could see the reflection of her brown eyes staring back, filled with uncertainty. On the bed was the package delivered by Mark's assistant. She approached it cautiously and unwrapped the contents, revealing a stunning blue sleeveless evening dress with a pair of elegant shoes. She lifted the dress, feeling the softness of the fabric between her fingers. It was beautiful, sensual, and quite provoking.
"Such a beautiful dress." She muttered as she kept feeling the softness of the dress, sizing it with her big in front of the mirror.
She slipped into the dress, adjusting it to fit her curves perfectly. The mirror revealed a striking image, the dress clinging to her body, accentuating her figure in all the right places. She twisted her hair into a loose bun, leaving a few strands to fall on her face, and added a touch of makeup to enhance her natural beauty. The shoes completed the look, giving her an air of sophistication and poise.
"Why would he ask me to wear this to lunch?" she muttered to herself, feeling both alluring and puzzled by Mark's intentions. Gathering her courage, she stepped out of the room, her phone in hand. As she walked down the hallway, her phone buzzed again. It was Williams, her ex-husband's name that flashed on the screen, but she silenced the call without hesitation. She had no intention of letting him disrupt her day further, especially her dining with Mark Hughes.
The mansion was grand, with high ceilings and orange decorations that spoke of wealth, and as Gina wandered through the hallway, she accidentally bumped into a maid carrying a pile of laundry. Clothes scattered across the floor and Gina panicked.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" Gina exclaimed, bending down to help.
The maid, a petite woman with dairy hair, tied in a neat bun, shook her head. " No, please. You mustn't touch the master's clothes. Only I am allowed to handle them." The maid said as politely as possible to save herself.
Gina stepped back, puzzled by the strict rules. The maid quickly gathered the clothes neatly and hurried away, leaving Gina standing there, feeling slightly bewildered.
"Need some help?" A voice came from behind.
Gina turned to see the pink-haired man, Mark's assistant, watching her with an amused expression.
"Yes. I was trying to find the dining hall before the accident." Gina replied, grateful for the assistance.
"Follow me." He said with a nod. "Just so you know, avoid getting in touch with the maids." The assistant informed Gina politely without soaring her a glance as Gina couldn't help but notice the man's confident demeanour and the way he carried himself with proper poise. He wanted just any assistant, there was something more to him.
The dining hall was even more majestic than the rest of the mansion. The hall was vast, with high ceilings adorned with intricate frescoes depicting classical scenes of gods and heroes. Crystal chandeliers hung majestically from the ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow across the room and reflecting off the polished marble floor. The walls were lined with rich, dark wood, panelling, intricately carved with floral motifs and gilded accents. The windows offered a breathtaking view of the sprawling gardens outside where manicured lawns and blooming flowers created a Serene backdrop.
While she couldn't stop staring and making descriptions of the majestic dining hall in her head, her eyes fell on Mark and the empty plates that were arranged for just Mark who was sitting at the head table, and for the other seat beside him which she guessed was her seat.
Mark was already scrolling through the food menu on his iPad. When he looked up and saw Gina, his expression remained neutral, giving nothing away.
Gina didn't expect him to give a compliment about her wearing the dress he bought for her, but she expected him to say something about it.
His assistant left immediately he had brought Gina to the dining hall, leaving her all alone with Mark and the maids who were ready to take their orders.
"Sit," he said, gesturing to the chair beside him. Gina said down, feeling slightly self-conscious under his scrutinizing gaze. He handed her the iPad. "Choose what you want to eat and pass it to the maids."
Gina scanned the menu and selected a simple salad and a grilled chicken dish. They ate in silence for a while, the atmosphere thick and tense.
She watched him eat with the corners of her eyes, stealing glances at him. He ate gracefully as she was already satisfied with watching him eat even though she barely touched her food.
"Have you thought about what you'd want me to do for you now?" Gina finally asked, breaking the silence.
Without glancing at her, Mark shook his head slightly. "Not yet."
Gina couldn't understand his cryptic demeanour. What did he want from her?
She couldn't focus on her food because she was dying of curiosity. What if he wanted something bad from her or something she couldn't afford? At the moment, Gina knew she couldn't afford anything and had not even a single penny to show for it. Williams had left her with nothing.
Speaking of the devil, suddenly her phone started buzzing again. The sound broke the silence and Gina's heart skipped a beat. Mark's expression hardened as he glanced at the phone on the table.
"No calls allowed at the dining table," he said sternly before returning his gaze to his food.
"I'm sorry," Gina murmured, reaching for her phone, but the caller was persistent, and the phone buzzed again. Seeing the worry and fear in her eyes, Mark's expression softened slightly.
"Hand it over," he said, extending his hand. Gina hesitated for a moment before passing the phone to him. Mark glanced at the screen, seeing Williams' name. He looked back at Gina with a questioning look on his face.