Temporary bride for the demon overlord-Chapter 26: The gift

Alphonse had his team throw a party. It doesn’t matter whose, or what the party was all about.

It could be his grandmother’s birthday or Christmas party for all he cared. But he was satisfied with the outcome.

They’d cobbled up something valid. A launching party for their new product.

He got into his car and drove to a shopping mall. This was one of the several in the city that was owned by him.

He stopped by the entrance, taking a deep breath. He was a demon overlord, feared by all. Why should he be afraid to step into the women’s section of the mall?

Yet, his steps faltered as he was confronted with silks, satin and slew of ornamental geegaws.

"Can I help you with something sir?" A sales attendant smile at him.

"I’d like to see the limited collection of your dinner dress." He grunted.

Her eyes brightened, "Are you looking for a gift for your girlfriend? We have just the thing!"

"Wife." The word came out of their own accord.

"Even better. Here, follow me."

She led him into a section filled with pretty dresses that made him feel sorely out of place.

Honestly, this had better turn out well.

"This," she pointed to a row, "is our newest collection."

Seeing Alphonse’s discomfort, she smiled slyly. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"If you could maybe provide her measurements, skin detail, and preferences, I could help you narrow down your options."

"She’s at least a foot shorter than me, she has a creamy complexion, curvy. I think she’s partial to emerald green or sky blue."

The sales assistant chuckled, then cooed.

"I can tell you adore your wife so much. Your pupils are dilated," she grinned into her hands.

Alphonse cleared his throat and nodded.

"Yeah well."

Thirty minutes later, he was standing outside the mall with a shopping bag held loosely. His face was hot and he blew out a breath.

What was he doing? And why was his palms clammy with sweat? His heart raced as he turned on the ignition.

A glance at his wristwatch revealed the time to be past seven pm.

Well shit. His schedule had ran late.

He got to his house, contemplating his options. Should he perhaps give her the gift in person? Or maybe hide it somewhere in plain sight?

He was shocked to see Karma on the sofa, legs sprawled haphazardly, glasses sliding down her nose as her fingers jammed rapidly away on her laptop.

Her bun was messy and so was the huge shirt she had on.

His shirt, that only reached halfway through her thighs.

He coughed violently at the sight. It sent a ripple of something through him. Something he wasn’t willing to examine too closely.

Karma startled and cursed loudly.

"What the hell?" She eyed him, nervously licking her lips.

"Why are you here?"

A redundant question, considering this was his house. He cleared his throat to dislodged the foot wedged there at this sight.

"This is my house."

"Well..um welcome?" She scratched her chin.

The table was littered with cans of Red bull, candies and drumstick.

"How are you even alive without all these junks you’ve been consuming?" His voice was harder than he intended.

She bristled, his words stung. She shrugged, and stood up to pack her litterings.

"Oh you know. Nothing much, just the blood oath I made with a demon. A few people ask me why I’m still alive each day, I never knew you’d be among someday."

Her laugh was strained and he thought he saw her eyes shinning with tears.

Alphonse cursed himself soundly. Trust him to handle a multimillion dollar deal without battling an eyelash, but botch up simple conversations.

"You can eat whatever you want." He tried to salvage.

"It’s fine. Really, nothing new." She waved it off.

Her laptop under one arm, and the litters in the other, she muttered something under her breath and brushed rudely past him.

Alphonse grabbed her hand without thinking, a surge of delicious electricity spearing his entire being.

She seems to feel it too, because her pupils spilled and her breath hitched.

She snatched her hand away and stared at him.

"What is it?" Her voice was hard, and would have been cutting if not for the slight tremble.

I’m sorry, the words were on the top of his tongue. What came out instead was.

"Here," he thrusted the bag into her face and watched and she flinched.

Heavens above, can’t he get one thing right?

"There’s a party we need to attend together tomorrow. To introduce you to some of my business associates. There’s some scandal going around about us_"

Her eyes widened and he hurriedly added, "I’ve taken care of it. But we better solidify this before something else will come up."

He watched with fascination her eyes brain snapped into focus mode. She chewed on her lower lips and contemplated.

"No." She said simply.

"No?" He asked incredulously.

Whatever he had been expected, this wasn’t it.

She smirked, her eyes lighting up.

"Why should I help you? This scandal is none of my business."

"We agreed to help each other." He growled. "This would be beneficial to you too. Stop acting like you’re doing me a favor. You need an edge over you step sister and this is a great PR for you."

She mused absently and nodded stiffly

"Well, now that you put it like that. I guess I could kill two birds with one stone." She flicked her eyes at him and the gift in his hand.

"Good night."

"Your gift." He called out.

"Thank you very much but no. Send me everything about this party and the stuffs in need to know." She called over her shoulder.

"I already did." He said softly. But she wasn’t present to hear the words.

Well, that went pretty bad. Much worse than he thought.

So he was surprised to see her head peeking out of the door.

She opened the door to her room and stalked out to him.

She snatched the bag and said, "Why should I waste my money getting a new dress? When you’ve gotten one."

Alphonse found himself smiling at her retreating back.