Fallen Actress' Comeback: Torn Between the Director and the Mafia Lord-Chapter 27: Fashion Crime

Chapter 27

~Xena’s POV~

Ever since that day at the company, when Xade and I almost kissed, I had kept my cool and tried to practice my lines at home after reading the movie script.

Though I had my hands full, with visiting Nancy in the hospital and also caring for Skai, due to their holiday break, I was still happy evading the two men who made my brain confused.

Two days later, I was busy folding laundry in my daughter’s room, when my phone buzzed on the bed.

I glanced at the screen to see who was calling, half expecting it to be Dominic Grey but I was shocked to see Drake’s name on it.

Great.

I answered reluctantly. "Hello?"

"Mi stella," he crooned, too cheerful for someone who hadn’t done half his job, "I need you at Apex Dream Entertainment in the next thirty minutes."

"For what?" I pressed the phone closer with a frown.

"For work, obviously." He sighed dramatically. "Just get here. And dress well."

He hung up before I could ask more.

Perfect. Just perfect. I glanced at Skai where she lay in the living room, watching some tutorial video online.

As much as I wanted to take her with me, I didn’t want to include Xade into her life like Xavier had done.

Just when I was contemplating calling my neighbour, Skai walked in, with a big grin on her face.

"Mummy, you can go. I’ll be alright. I still have cake and juice in the fridge to eat. Then I have videos to keep me company."

My lips pulled back a little as I crossed the room to where she stood by the door and hugged her. "Thanks. Mum will make it up to you."

**~~**

By the time I arrived at the company, and took the elevator to Xade’s office, I found Drake waiting near the door, typing on his tablet.

He glanced up when he head my footsteps and then frowned... Deeply.

What the...

"You look..." He tapped his chin. "...very... Xena."

"That’s supposed to mean?"

Before he replied, a familiar cold voice slid into the space.

"Terrible," Xade said flatly as he opened the door wider.

I turned my head in his direction. And there he was in a tailored black suit, watch glinting, eyes pinning me to the carpet like I owed him rent.

He assessed me from head to toe with a slow, irritated drag of his gaze.

"That outfit is a fashion crime," he declared.

My jaw dropped. "Excuse you?"

He didn’t bother responding. Instead, he pulled out a platinum black card and flicked it toward Drake.

Drake scrambled to catch it, barely.

"Use that," Xade ordered. "Get her a new wardrobe."

"Hey."

Xade ignored me and my tantrums. "Everything she picks from now on reflects on me and the film. Fix it."

I crossed my arms and glared. "No. I’m not changing my clothes because your royal highness feels offended."

Xade’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if amused.

"Since when," he asked coldly, "did you start helping me save money?"

I blinked. "What...? Help you save... No, no, no. Don’t get things wrong or twisted."

"I said change your wardrobe," Xade continued, stepping closer, "because every appearance, every photo, every outfit you will be seen on henceforth will be tied to me. So behave, Xena. And don’t make me drag you shopping myself."

I scoffed. "I’d actually love to see you try."

His eyebrow twitched. Then that slow, lethal, annoying smirk of his appeared.

"Good," he said. "Dominic," he called out and immediately Dominic, stepped out fo his office, with a tablet in hsi hand and a damn... hot glasses. "Get the car ready. We’re going shopping."

My brain short-circuited. "Wait, what?"

"What?" he teased lightly. "Too scared now, kitty?"

I squared my shoulders. "Nope. But don’t get mad if my poor fashion sense rubs off on you in the media."

Xade straightened, still smirking, and closed the gap between us, brushing past Drake.

Every step was deliberate, controlled and Predatory.

When he stopped in front of me, I felt my spine straighten on instinct.

Without warning, he slid his hand to my waist, pulled me a notch closer, and lifted my chin with one hooked finger.

His breath brushed my cheek.

"I could just strip you here," he murmured, "and put you in my suit jacket instead. If you’d prefer that red-carpet look."

My entire breath lodged somewhere between my ribs.

I stepped back instantly, clearing my throat so hard it hurt. "I’m not complaining. Let’s go."

Xade’s smirk deepened. And just like that, he turned on his heel. "Good," he said. "Follow me."

I rolled my eyes and released a deep breath. I did not plan to start my morning this way, but I knew better than to complain.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Drake chuckling silently at my predicament.

"Traitor," I mouthed, making sure he saw it. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The ride to the boutique was painfully silent. Xade didn’t speak or look at me the entire ride. He didn’t even glance my way.

And somehow that made it worse.

His presence filled the car in that heavy, controlled, and annoyingly magnetic manner. I could feel him there, even without turning.

When we arrived, the boutique wasn’t just any boutique.

It was one of those high-class, upscale, "You-do-not-breathe-near-the-fabric-if-you-are-broke" places.

The kind with security cameras, glass doors, and mannequins wearing clothes more expensive than my rent.

Great.

Before we stepped out, Xade handed me a stylish shade but did not give any instructions. And the second we stepped out, I knew why, thanks to the series of cameras flashing.

Paparazzi.

They appeared out of nowhere like cockroaches with lenses.

"Director Xade! Who do you have with you?"

"Is that Ms. Xena?"

"Are you two dating?"

"Mr. Xade, is this your new actress or a new lover?"

"Look here!"

Xade didn’t slow. He just placed a hand on my back and guided me through them like they weren’t worth acknowledging.

The touch burned through my clothes, and I hated how aware it made me.

And then before we got into the boutique, Xade leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Stop tensing like a scared rabbit. If you can’t handle this, how can you handle the spotlight... my new lover?"