A Little Bit Married

Hand Me Downs

I stood in the midst of the white and black flurry of dresses. I had almost forgotten the only dressing rule Gray had. No colours. I wasn't sure why, but seeing how it looked like he had so much more depth to him than I would ever be prepared for, I knew better than to cross it.

But he had been fine with the dress from their fay, during his birthday party. Right?

I shook my head. I need to go down before that snake Samantha does because I know she would try to make yet another move on my husband. I pushed through the clothes till Ì found a beautiful black dress. It was barely past my knee and had large off the shoulder white sleeves that allowed for a necklace to go with.

I fixed my hair and dusted my face off before wearing the dress. I looked presentable. The pear earrings and necklace matched the vibe of the dress, and I slowly went downstairs, trying my best to not seem as nervous as I was.

I wasn't even sure why I was feeling this way because I was about to see someone that I would probably be sering for the... well, the duration of this marriage.

That part of the arrangement was still chronically unclear, but I wished, hell, I wished.

I walked down the stairs and then turned towards the door that closed off the dining hall. I took a deep breath and started to walk forward just as someone brushed my shoulder.

I turned, expecting an apologetic maid, probably rushing towards the dining room. I met a smug fiancee snatcher, and apparently, dress thief too, because she was wearing the light pink dress I had worn to Gray's birthday party.

My eyes hardened as I took her in. I had to admit that the dress could make anyone pop, and if she wasn't such a f*****g snake, Samantha would be a truly beautiful woman.

She had also accessorised it well, and since I was a little curvier, she seemed to have had it fitted to her body.

I gave a small snicker, and she gave me a smile.

"You don't look too bad, Evangeline."

I nodded. "Of course, I don't. I am not wearing hand me downs."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Hand me downs? Your nonexistent position in this family was a hand me down. That ring that signifies your marriage... Gray picked it up with me in mind. Talk about hand me downs some other time, sweetie."

I let out a shaky breath that helped me keep my cool and not pull every strand of hair remaining in this girl's scalp.

"I mean, in the end... you are now begging for those things, are you not? And apparently, stealing them too."

"I didn't steal..."

"Don't worry," I said, cutting her off. "I am a very generous person, and my husband happens to like buying these sorts of things for me. So... I will graciously let you wear the dress since I already wore it first."

Her eyes widened, and I turned away and continued to walk down to the hall.

"Is that what you want?" She suddenly asked from behind me. I stopped in my tracks, then turned, my brows furrowed. She slowly covered the distance to me, her eyes meeting mine. "Is it Gray's money that you want?"

"What?"

"I can give you ten million. Hell, I can even give you one of the resorts he put under my name. China, Sweden, and Macau, choose a location. Just f*****g leave Gray."

I opened my mouth to say something, but the door suddenly opened behind us.

"Sweetheart."

I turned, my eyes wide. Gray was standing by the door, wearing a loosely fitted large sweater that had a large buttoned up neck and black pants. His hair fell in front of his face in the dreamy way they did when he woke up from sleep, and I immediately smiled.

"I am coming," I said, and he nodded, then turned away, leaving us.

I turned back to Samantha, who looked even more agitated than she had been before Gray came, and I knew it had to do with what he called me.

"Did you hear that? I need to go to my husband. If that money or resort was making you happy, you wouldn't have stooped so low as to steal a dress, just so you feel like me."

"How dare you..."

I turned away before she could finish, my fists clenched as I walked down the hall. Two maids opened the door, and I stepped in, not nothering even once to turn back and check if she was coming or if her dignity clock had rewinded and she would get out of that dress.

Aunt Maureen and Aunt Althea were sitting some by side on Gray's left while he sat at the head of the table.

His eyes were cold and hard, but when he looked at me, his eyes softened, and his lips curled up in a tiny smile.

I felt my heart flutter, and I wish I could tell him just how unfair it was for me that he knew how to stir my heart like it was nothing.

"Here," he said in a whisper as he tapped on the seat closest to him.

I sat next to him, and he leaned away. A man whom I hadn't noticed at first was sitting next to Aunt Maureen.

He was wearing a grey suit, his hair slicked back. I could tell he was an official of some sorts. Probably a lawyer.

"This is my wife, Evangeline Gray Gavin," Gray said, turning to the man. "Honey, meet the family lawyer, Jeremy Sanders."

"It is nice to meet you," Jeremy said, extending a hand to me. I took it with a smile.

"Nice to meet you too."

He nodded and took a seat again, just as Samantha walked in. She was still wearing the dress, her eyes thin as she took a seat right next to me.

I could see the battle between her wanting to be as close to Gray as possible and her hating the fact that she would have to sit right next to me in order to achieve that.

"Let's eat," Gray said, then leaned close.

I thought something was on my dress, but he put his hand under my chair and pulled it closer to him till I was only one step away from him.

My heartbeat went wild, and I saw Aunt Maureen send a glare my way. I didn't quite care as I turned to Gray just as he leaned up, smiled, and turned to his plate.

Hell, this was going to be one hell of a dinner.