Lina tried to focus on the dresses. She really did.
But how was anyone supposed to concentrate after hearing "I want to see you stunning" coming from Adrian Luce's mouth… while he was still holding her hand?
Impossible.
She was in a full state of internal combustion.
Adrian, on the other hand, looked perfectly calm — or at least pretended very well — watching every piece she touched as if it were more important than any million-dollar meeting.
The boutique was elegant, with racks organized by color and style: long dresses, short ones, casual, formal, romantic, classic…
Lina brushed her fingers over a white dress — thin fabric, with subtle lace details around the waist. Pretty. Simple. Delicate.
She already imagined it on her body, but hesitated.
"That one?" Adrian asked behind her.
"I-I was just looking…" Lina murmured.
"I like it."
She slowly turned around.
"You… like it?"
"Yes."
"But I haven't even tried it on yet…"
"I don't need to see it on you to know you'll look beautiful," Adrian replied, without a hint of irony.
Lina nearly melted into the floor.
"I… I'll try it on then," she mumbled, practically fleeing into the fitting room before he said anything else that could finish off the rest of her sanity.
INSIDE THE FITTING ROOM
Lina put the dress on carefully, trying not to sweat from nerves.
The fit was perfect. The lace at the waist highlighted her body without exaggeration. The white brightened her skin and brought attention to the ribbon Adrian had tied in her hair earlier.
She turned to the mirror.
It really did look… beautiful.
But one thought crossed her mind:
"What if he doesn't like it?"
Her stomach flipped.
"Lina?" — Adrian's voice came from outside. "Is everything alright?"
"Y-yes! I'm just… adjusting something…"
Silence.
And then:
"Can I see?"
Lina held her breath.
She should say no. She should ask for a minute. She should prepare her heart.
But the truth was…
"Okay," she answered before thinking.
The curtain slid open.
And Adrian stepped inside.
Just stepped in.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
He stopped right in front of her. And Lina saw herself reflected in his eyes before the mirror.
For three full seconds, he didn't breathe. Didn't blink. Didn't move.
He simply… looked.
Slowly. From head to toe. As if memorizing every detail.
Lina started to panic.
"D-does it look weird? I think it doesn't really—"
"Lina."
His voice was low. Controlled. Intense.
"You look…" — he stepped closer — "absolutely…" — another step — "breathtaking."
Her heart skipped.
"It's… it's just a dress," she tried to laugh, nervous.
"No. It's not just a dress." — He touched the ribbon in her hair with his fingertips. — "It's you. And you look beautiful."
She turned completely red.
"Adrian…"
"And that look," he continued, leaning in, "isn't helping."
"W-what look?"
"This one," he said. "The one you make when you're trying to pretend you don't know the effect you have on me."
Lina's knees weakened.
"I… I don't know what effect—"
"Yes you do," Adrian murmured, his voice brushing her skin.
Lina forgot how to breathe.
"A-Adrian… someone might walk in…"
He pulled back slowly, but stayed close enough that his scent wrapped around her.
"Then choose fast," he said. "Because if I stay here too long with you like this… I won't guarantee anything."
Her eyes widened.
"What?!"
He just smiled.
His smile.
That small, dangerous smile that messed her up completely inside.
Lina turned to the mirror, trying to collect herself, but Adrian stayed there, leaning on the wall, watching as if he were admiring art.
"We're taking it," he said, certain.
"But I didn't even… see the others…"
"I don't need to see the others to know this one is the right one."
"How do you know?"
He stepped closer again — Lina backed up, bumping into the mirror.
Adrian tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Because," he said softly, "this is the first dress I've seen you truly love."
Lina froze.
He noticed. Again. As always.
"So… we're taking it?" she whispered.
"We are," he replied. "And after that, I want to have dinner with you."
She blinked.
"D-dinner?"
"Yes." — He stepped back, giving her space. — "Today is your day, remember?"
Lina opened the curtain slowly, still dazed.
And Adrian, behind her, thought something he didn't say aloud:
From now on… it will be every day.