TANGLED HEARTS.
- HE WON’T MIND.
BONUS chapter sponsored by Vee Aviwe❤️
When Amerie was invited to the Christmas event for S.M designs she thought it was just another chilled gathering where the staff meets and had a good time, so she thought she would simply put together an outfit or buy one from one of the shops that she frequents but she quickly learned that things are a bit different in Shane’s company. He told her that it’s a black tie event and she had to resist the urge to laugh because she thought it was more of a braai and coolerbox situation.
Since then, she’s had to think long and hard about what to wear, she figured she could still get a dress and shoes from the regular shops but he wasn’t having that either, instead he wanted them to go look in boutiques and so that is what they are doing right now. He drove them to Sandton where they would have plenty boutiques to go into and check. This is rather unusual for Amerie and she loves the experience it all feels fancy and she won’t deny that she loves to experience it. Each boutique that they enter, they are assigned an assistant even though the shop itself isn’t that big. There aren’t plenty people or long lines but she still catches a few eyes whenever they enter a shop. She knows what this looks like. A girl whose strolling from boutique to boutique with an older man, here in Sandton. She knows exactly what the picture screams but she handles herself well and reminds herself that this is what life will be like now that she’s with him. Some will judge quietly and others upfront about it.
She chose this for herself which means that she must be willing to withstand the dirty stares as well and not sulk about them because there’s really nothing that Shane can do to stop it from happening. She’s also expecting the same thing to happen at this event, she knows that some will look at her and see a gold digger , hopefully no one will try to act smart and say it in words. She just wants to enjoy the evening, sitting next to her man and helping him celebrate this year’s success even though she wasn’t there for it. Hopefully she will be here in the following year.
She finds nothing she likes in the third boutique and he tells her that they can go to a fourth one.
“Are you sure you’re not tired? I could always go shopping with Leona,” she tells him, feeling sorry because she knows she’s impossible to get along with when it comes to shopping. Isabelle complains about it too but Leona? Now that’s a twin from another mother because they are exactly the same. They are undecided and will go to six shops to look for a certain item, only to go back to the very first shop they visited and buy something from there.
“I don’t mind, I’m the one who suggested that we come here so it’s okay,”
“I know, but I also know myself. I don’t want you to run out of patience with me,”
Shane looks at her and gives her a side smile “Do you think I’m capable of running out of patience where you’re concerned, Amerie?” it’s the way that he’s looking at her that has her blushing like a teenage girl. A new relationship is exciting, please, she doesn’t want to ever outgrow the phase that they are in right now.
Shane has her hand in his and he leads them to the next boutique, this one is bigger than the ones they’ve been to so she has hope that she will find something. He stops her by the door and looks at her “I don’t want you picking out a dress and shoes you don’t entirely like simply because you are worried that I’ll get tired. I cleared this day to come shopping with you and I’m enjoying the show each time you try something on, baby, feel free to take your time,”
“I knew there is something you enjoy about this whole shopping experience,” she lightly smacks his arm and he laughs. His woman is gorgeous, why wouldn’t he enjoy watching her try on different dresses? It feels like he’s watching a fashion show that’s only featuring his woman and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
They go inside and are welcomed by an assistant who offers to help Amerie find the perfect dress while Shane settles on one of the couches near the changing rooms after Amerie picks out a couple of dresses. She tries the first two and comes out each time to model it for him while he gives an honest opinion, he also has an idea of what he would like his woman to look like, next to him but will leave it to her to make the final decision. On her third try, she puts on a black glittering off-shoulder dress with a fishbone waist, it goes all the way to the floor like a draping sash but it isn’t too dramatic, just enough to give off glamorous. Shane’s favorite part of the dress? It has a side slit that goes a little higher than midthigh, it isn’t tight all the way down so she’s not completely going to be exposed and the off shoulder also offers a bit of bareback.
“What do you think?” She twirls for him. In her heart, she has already chosen this dress. She feels beautiful, gorgeous, confident. This dress just gives her power she never even knew she needed, she feels like she can step in a crowd confidently, next to him.
Shane gets up from his seat and joins her where she’s standing, not once taking his eyes off his woman who has unknowingly demanded that he stops thinking about everything else and only sees her. “You are breathtakingly gorgeous, love. No doubt you will be the most beautiful woman in that room,” she says and she laughs
“You don’t know that,”
“Oh, but I do. Look at yourself,” he makes her turn around to face the full length mirror. He stands behind her closely, his head is lowed closer to her neck and face so his warm breath fans against her skin, setting her heart racing. “I love this dress on you, you make every detail on it stand out.” he kisses her shoulder “it hugs hugs all the right places,” he moves his hand lower from her waist, touching her ass and then he keeps it moving “It gives just the perfect allowance for my hand” He slips his hand in the slit and her breath hitches. She looks at their reflection through the mirror and it turns her on. She doesn’t know how he always manages to get her like this, hot and bothered. She remembers that they are in public and might have people looking at them “Shane,” she whispers while breathing out the air she was holding and her labored breathing creates this movement on her chest where her breasts move up and down as she breathes, catching Shane’s eye.
“You’re perfect, baby.” he removes his hand but stays closely behind her “Is this the one you’re going with?”
She swallow hard “Yes…”
“Do you want anything else? Even if it’s not for the event?”
“You don’t mind?”
“Not at all, love,”
“And you’re sure that you’re not buying anything?”
“No, today we are shopping for you,” he kisses her cheek and she knows to take what she then he goes to pay.
.
.
.
“Amerie, this house is a dream. Oh my gosh,” Leona says for the umpteenth time and Amerie smiles, it also took some time for her to get over the wow factor, even though she doubts that she’s truly over it because each time she comes in here she can’t help but repeat the words that Leona just said.
“I know, right. Each time I step inside I’m just blown away,”
“I feel you, if it were me, I would have already posted every corner on Instagram.” Leona says playfully and they both laugh.
“I don’t think Shane would approve, he likes his privacy,” She wants to laugh at herself as she says this because for a private man, he sure does like doing things outside.
Leona repositions Amerie’s face so she can get the perfect curls as she does her hair. Instead of hiring another make-up artist, Amerie went with her friend who is still learning. Leona had love for everything beauty and she had this dream of owning a beauty parlor one day. That dream is coming along slowly because she doesn’t have the capital and she has her nine to five which takes up most of her energy but on some weekends she does get booked to do house calls, the extra cash comes in handy too and Amerie wasn’t about to overlook her best friend and take her business elsewhere, she’s keeping the money close.
Leona orders her to stop goofing around or she will ruin her curls so she sits still while she gets glammed up.
“Sooo, are we excited to meet daddy Shane’s workers?” Leona asks.
“We are but we are nervous too,”
“Why is that,”
“I don’t know, I just feel a little nervous,”
“I guess I understand, you don’t know those people and you have to spend an evening with them,”
“Exactly,”
“But you know daddy Shane, and he makes you feel safe, right?”
“He does,” she accidentally nods and Leona taps her shoulder
“I’m warning you for the last time,” She threatens and Amerie fights off a smile.
“I’m sorry, I’ll sit still,”
“And don’t forget to mention me when those high rollers ask who did your hair and make-up,”
“What’s that saying again about having your name mentions in the right rooms?” Amerie asks with a smile.
“That’s right, that’s what I’m talking about,” Leona says playfully. They keep chatting until she’s done and then they take a couple of pictures that they both post on their social media accounts and tag each other, they are serious about growing this small business and Leona outdid herself, she knows her friend too well and went with everything that she loves, she didn’t force her to put on eyelashes because they irritate her eyes, she didn’t go heavy on the make up, her curly long hair is perfect and Amerie is a happy client.
Shane comes in to join the ladies and the smile on his face just says it all “Your friend said you’re still learning, it doesn’t look like that to me,” he praises Leona and she’s all for it with the widest smile. It feels good to hear someone praise her work.
“Thank you, you’re too kind. I just tried my best,”
“You need to stop doubting yourself if you’re going to grow your business, you outdid yourself,” he says and she takes it serious coming from a business man and Amerie smiles at the interaction because for the first time in forever, her friend is rendered speechless by a compliment.
” Will you give me your banking details so I can pay you? “Shane asks and Amerie is about to say something when both Shane and Leona give her a look. Leona takes out her card and he copies her details from it and soon enough there’s a notification coming in.
” Uhh, I think you made a mistake – ”
“I didn’t, you did a house call. Your prices aren’t meant to be the same as when a client comes to you. You always charge double for a service when someone requests that you make things easier for them and meet them at the comfort of their own home,”
Okay, now she feels like she’s being schooled. “I just did it for my best friend -” she stops her sentence when she just knows what he’s going to say and then she corrects her statement “Who also happens to be a client that required a house call. Thank you, ”
“You’re welcome,” his phone rings and he checks it then looks at Amerie “I have to take this. Leona, it was nice seeing you again,”
“Same here and thanks for the business!” she says then turns to her friend “Is he always that bossy? Damn, that’s fine. Does he have a friend?”
“I’ll find out for you tonight,” Amerie jokes while shaking her head because she can only imagine what’s going on in Leona’s head right now.
Even though she was paid more than enough, Amerie still insists on covering the traveling part by asking Aaron to drive Leona back to her place. They hug and say their goodbyes after Amerie promises to send hundreds of pictures of the night then she goes to find Shane.
Amerie moves from the guest bedroom that she and Leona had set up in and she goes to find Shane in his bedroom. He’s been gone for a while now which means he was getting dressed too. She walks in and finds him fixing himself in his closet. She leans against the door frame and her eyes eat up all this handsomeness that he has to offer. Shane is a handsome man, she knows that and she has seen him in suits many times but right now he looks even more handsome and sexy as he dons his tailored suit that’s matching her dress color. A white shirt, his black shiny shoes and a black bowtie. He also trimmed his bead and lord, this man could command her right now and she’d give in, not that she’s never given in.
“Are you loving the view that much, love?” he asks when he finds her staring with a face that tells him that she has wild thoughts running loose in her head.
“I’m jealous that other women will get to share this view with me,”
“They can look but no one will be sharing anything with you, love. I belong to you only,” he walks to where she’s standing and she straightens up. While his hands go around her waist, hers are plastered on his chest.
“You’re a handsome man, Mr. Matthews and tonight you’re just showing off,”
This hypes Shane up in a way he can’t describe. He knows that he gets looks from women but having his own look at him the way that she is, and use her words like that… It’s a different type of feeling, he’s afraid his ego might just inflate.
“I’m glad I managed to capture your full attention, baby. That’s all I aim for,” he kisses the side of her neck and breathes in her perfume, it’s sweet and gentle to the nostrils, he loves it.
He drives both of them to the venue and it’s not too far from his house. The organizers found a restaurant that was willing to rent out it’s second floor to them and cater for them. Shane didn’t bother with the logistics of it all, he never gets involved because there’s a committee for that and Frank is responsible for checking that everything is in order.
When they step out, in the restaurant’s parking lot, Amerie shivers a bit from the evening breeze and Shane catches this “Are you okay?”
“Yes, the breeze just took me by surprise,”
“I could-”
“No, don’t worry about it. I could do with the fresh air,” She insists and he briefly looks at her before proceeding to walk inside, hand in hand with her.
She gets nervous when she realizes that the room is filled with people but then she remembers that half of these people are guests, just like her. A lot of them turn to look at the two of them as they enter but no one approaches, Amerie has to fight to keep her head held high, she’s not used to having so much attention on her.
Almost like he’s sensing her fears, Shane gently squeezes her hand in reassurance. She decides to focus her eyes on something else, like the setting in here. There’s a couple of round tables that have been set up, the deco people surely got the memo because everything in here screams rich people christmas party. They went ahead and incorporated a few Christmas decorations but it isn’t overwhelming. There isn’t an exaggerated tree in the middle of the room that’s stealing attention.
Shane exchanges greetings with people as they continue walking and she just keeps a calm face and sometimes a smile when they smile at her. They come to stop at a front table where one of the men sitting there is the first to approach Shane “Hey, you finally made it,”
“I hope we didn’t keep everyone waiting” Shane says.
“Not at all, you’re right on time and besides, you’re the boss,” The man says with a smirk and then his eyes fall on Amerie just as a woman comes to stand next to him. She assumes that the woman is his wife considering how close she’s standing.
“Shane, you’re here!” she says happily and comes in for a hug that takes Shane by surprise too, she quickly pulls away and looks at Amerie “And who might this be?”
“This is Amerie, my woman,” He puts a protective arm around her “Love, this is Frank and his wife, Judith,” Judith cannot believe her ears and eyes but she keeps a calm composure. Is Shane going through some kind of mid-life crisis? Why would he be calling this girl his woman. Oh lord, she’s probably with him for the money. She thinks to herself.
” It’s lovely to finally put faces to the names,” Amerie says and Frank smiles.
“Why? Does he mention us a lot?” Frank asks her.
“Just a couple of times,”
“Well, I hope you’ve only heard good things about us. We are pleased to meet you too, right honey?”
“Yes, yes…although Shane has never mentioned you to us,” Judith says with a fake smile plasters on her face. She’s trying to say that Amerie isn’t that important for Shane to mention and she sees right through it.
“I don’t discuss my life, you know that. Shall we get seated?” Shane says and starts moving without waiting for a response.
Just Amerie’s luck, she finds herself sitting next to Judith who keeps giving her dirty looks but she smiles whenever Shane looks. She wonders what her problem is. She’s a married woman , she’s married to a man who considers Shane to be a friend or something along those lines, it can’t be that she wants him, right?
The event starts and the speakers get on the mini stage. Soon, Shane is asked to go up and address his people. Amerie blocks everything and everyone out for this moment. She watches as her man stands in front and with one look, he has everyone’s attention. When he starts speaking, he just has a way to command attention and he also has a way with his words, he keeps you glued to him.
She takes out her phone and goes to the camera, after making sure that the flash light is off, she subtly starts taking pictures of him. Judith catches sight of this and gives her a disapproving look “I don’t think Shane will like that,” she says quietly and Amerie matches her voice.
“He won’t mind,”
“But this isn’t the place for that,” Judith persists.
“Are photos prohibited in here?” Amerie asks while looking at her.
“No, but that’s not how we behave,”
“Are you part of the staff?” Amerie asks. Yes, she’s doing this on purpose because she sees the way that Judith has been looking at her.
“No but I’ve been with them for the longest time and by now I know how everyone is expected to behave, please put your phone away before you embarrass Shane in front of his employees,” She says cheekily and Amerie looks at her, snaps two more pictures and only then does she put her phone away then she gets comfortable on her chair, throwing one leg over the other which opens up the slit of her dress a bit. Judith catches her husband staring and she not so subtly clears her throat, Frank finds his wife staring daggers at him before throwing Amerie another dirty look and Amerie just sits there, clutching to her purse and listening to her man address his people but deep down she knows, it’s going to be a long night.