"Oh, sure. Let me know if you need any assistance," the shop manager replied to me with a polite smile.


    After the manager and the other staff took their leave, I turned to face Hayden once more. Maybe if we talked, I could get his view on what he was looking for or if there were any issues that he could see.


    "Umm…guess you didn’t like any of the dresses? Is there something that you have in mind?" I asked softly as I stood in front of him.


    Hayden looked up at me and his eyes were a little cold and emotionless.


    "Which dress do you like?" he asked.


    Well, they all looked fine except for a few that were too heavy and too extravagant for my tastes but all in all any of them would work fine for me.


    "I think they’re all fine. They’re all beautiful so…" I replied softly.


    "Exactly. They all look decently the same. You’re the one who will be wearing the dress and even you don’t have a preference. How do you expect me to have a preference?" Hayden asked rhetorically.


    Maybe he was right…


    "Well, then…what should we do?" I asked, lost about how to proceed with this.


    "Let’s get something designed and tailored to fit you," Hayden suggested decisively.


    "But the time constraint…" I voiced my concern softly.


    "Time is money. Money can also buy us time," Hayden said as he stood up from the sofa that he had been sitting on.


    "Do you have something in mind for the tailor design?" I asked curiously.


    "Maybe…" he replied.


    Before I could say another word, Hayden had exited the room to head back to the front of the store. I looked down at the wedding dress that I still had on before I heaved another long sigh. I need to take this off before I could follow him anywhere.


    …


    "We will try our best to have the dress that you want tailored. For now, we need to take her measurements," the shop manager said as she turned to me


    I had just walked out of the dressing room back to the front of the boutique and had no idea what Hayden had been saying to the shop manager.


    "Take my measurements? Ok…" I said while still confused.


    Hayden nodded at me and before I could ask him anything, I was being ushered back to the dressing room at the back of the boutique. The shop manager and the other staffs in her team took very detailed measurements of all parts of my body.


    "What did he say to you about tailoring the dress?" I asked as I lifted my arms up from the side of my body as instructed.


    "Oh…that’s a bit of a surprise…" the shop manager replied with a smallugh.


    What are they trying to keep from me?


    "Umm…did Hayden have some designs in mind?" I asked, hoping to understand what was going on.


    "You could say that…" the shop manager said before she smiled warmly at me.


    In the end, I couldn’t get anything out of the shop manager at all and it left me wondering if Hayden gave them a life-threatening warning for them to keep quiet to keep everything a secret from me.


    "We’re done," I announced when we returned to the front of the boutique.


    "Good. Let’s go," Hayden said as he got up from his seat and offered me his hand.


    Slowly, I slipped my hand into his and he held it firmly. Hayden turned to thank the shop manager and her team, and I did the same.


    "You’re more than weed. Thank you for choosing to trust us for such an important part of your wedding. Please bring Miss Malissa back here to try on the dress. I’ll give Miss Malissa a call," the shop manager said before bowing to send us out.


    "Thank you…" I mumbled.


    "Sure, thank you," Hayden readily agreed before he pulled me after him and out of the store.


    …


    We were in the car together on our way to have a meeting with the wedding organizer. It had been a long while since I’ve really been outside. With the wedding preparations that we needed to do Hayden had decided to allow me out as long as I travelled with him at all times. I was beyond thrilled to regain my freedom again and I didn’t mind spending the extra time with Hayden.


    It seemed like forever since we were able to go out and about together like a normal couple like this.


    Afraid that Hayden would regret and revert his decision, I never questioned him about the situation between the gangs. Since negotiations broke down between Hayden and Ethan on that day, I haven’t heard anything about the situation. It was probably too optimistic of me to wish that things were all smooth and well between the two gangs.


    Hayden didn’t seem worried that we were out and about alone, though.


    "Wee, it is an honor for us to work with you on preparations for your big day," a beautiful woman said before beaming a gorgeous smile at us.


    "Thank you…" I replied softly.


    We followed her into a private meeting room that was as luxuriously decorated as the rest of their office. After taking our seat, the woman got to work immediately on grilling us on what we wanted or our wedding.


    "My name is Lucy. As I mentioned over the phone earlier, it would help us a lot if the bride and groom-to-be could give us some ideas on what you are expecting for your wedding day. Some references, theme or even just colors that you like would help us greatly toe up with a n for you given that we are little tight on time…" the woman said before smiling once again.


    I nced over at Hayden as I waited for him to voice if he had any preferences. Hayden remained silent while I tried my best to ster a polite smile on my lips. Despite the fact that he came along with me, it didn’t seem like Hayden was going to participate more than absolutely necessary. I recalled that he did tell me to leave everything except for the outfits to the organizers.


    --To be continued…