CHAPTER-4

No, My Maid you remember. Lauren answered. "And make sure to tell Sophie that I need the dress quickly," Lauren added, aware that Sophie often arrived home late due to her third job. Orion didn't quite understand why she said that, but he simply replied with an "Okay." Within 10 minutes, Orion parked his car in front of the city's largest Fashion Emporium, with a prominent board displaying the brand name "Rachel's." The emporium was expansive, resembling a luxurious township rather than just a store. Amid the bustling crowd, Sophie stood out as the only simple-looking girl, patiently waiting for her sister's call in a corner. As Orion arrived, he was greeted by many people, as he was considered one of the wealthiest men in the beautiful city. The entire crowd there seemed to be there solely to shop for his party. But Orion's eyes were only searching for Sophie amid the crowd. Unable to reach Lauren due to network issues, Orion went straight inside and approached the reception. When Orion showed the bill to the receptionist, she became flustered. It was the same dress that a girl had come to collect earlier, but she hadn't handed it over. However, she had kept it aside because she didn't know that this dress was meant for Mr. Orion Fortier. "Sorry, sir. Due to the rules and regulations, I didn't give this dress to that girl. But if I had known that this dress was meant for someone special like you, I wouldn't have stopped her," the receptionist explained apologetically. "Doesn't matter. It was your responsibility. Orion replied with a smile.

Where is she?" Orion asked, his tone firm as he sought to locate the girl who had come for the dress. "She was talking to someone. Just a while ago, she was standing near the lift. When she looked around, She saw Sophie helping an elderly lady pick up her belongings that had fallen,

"Looks like she's over there," the receptionist pointed out, indicating Sophie's direction to Orion. Seeing her, Orion couldn't help but think that she seemed like such a simpleton, helping others while wearing such large glasses. He considered Sophie to be rather foolish. The receptionist received a call and informed Orion that Rachel Mam was calling him to her office. Orion nodded in acknowledgment and also gestured towards Sophie as he instructed the receptionist. "Excuse me, miss, please go to the 3rd floor to collect the dress," the receptionist instructed Sophie politely. Sophie was confused as she had no idea why the receptionist, who had refused to provide any information earlier without the bill, was now directing her to the 3rd floor.

Sophie then headed towards the lift and reached the 3rd floor as instructed.

"Orion, you should bring your girlfriend so I can see the fittings. This dress is custom-made for her only. You know, it's not just about the design; the demand for dresses also lies in how they look on the person who wears them," Rachel, a beautiful 35-year-old woman with tall, blonde hair, said as she sipped her coffee. She was not only a designer but also a very attractive young woman. "It's late, and she's preparing for her exams to get into a good university, so she strictly said no," Orion explained, blushing slightly as he spoke to Rachel.

"Oh, she seems hardworking," Rachel remarked.

"Yeah, she truly is. Her dedication to everything she wants made me fall for her. I think she's the perfect match for me," Orion explained to Rachel with a smile and red ears, speaking as a friend.

Rachel listened to Orion patiently, like a supportive sister, as he spoke about his girlfriend. "What's her name?" Rachel inquired.

"Lauren," Orion proudly spoke her name.

"Come in!" Rachel instructed as Sophie knocked on the door.

Sophie entered the office, noticing Rachel's gaze and the awkward silence in the tastefully decorated pink-themed office with heaters. I am here to pick up Lauren's dress.

"The receptionist left me outside," Sophie explained nervously. Rachel exchanged a glance with Orion upon hearing Lauren's name. "Who are you? I mean, how do you know Lauren?" Rachel inquired, curious about Sophie's connection to Lauren."I am her..." Sophie was about to say "sister," but when she noticed Orion's sudden attention, she quickly corrected herself, "... house helper." "Is your size similar to Lauren's?" Rachel asked Sophie as she was about to leave the office. Sophie turned to Rachel and replied, "No."

"I am a bit larger than Lauren. My upper body is stronger than hers. Lauren has a good figure, but I am a bit healthier," Sophie explained honestly to Rachel. Orion felt that Sophie's comparison might have inadvertently made fun of Lauren's physique, implying that being thinner was somehow superior.

"No, from my 10 years of experience, I felt that your figure is similar to what Lauren described," Rachel reassured Sophie before she could reply.

Frustrated, Orion interjected, "Please try on the dress. I want to see the fittings and assume that you have the same figure as Lauren." Rachel and Sophie exchanged confused looks in response to Orion's frustrated request, unsure of why he was insisting on Sophie trying on the dress. Sophie clarified, "No, what I meant to say is that Lauren usually gives me her dresses to try on, but they're usually a bit tight on me. She has to make adjustments before wearing them." Sophie was puzzled, unsure of what had offended Mr. Orion to make him this angry. "Just go and try on that dress," Orion insisted firmly, his frustration evident in his tone. Sophie looked towards Rachel, who handed over the dress to her and directed her towards the personal changing room. Rachel understood that the situation was a bit different and stressful, so she wanted to give Sophie some space. Suddenly, what happened to you? She didn't say anything that would make you so angry. She didn't say anything offensive. Orion remembered Lauren's words about Sophie, where she mentioned that Sophie was jealous of her.

"You don't know anything. She just made fun of Lauren's figure. She thought she was sexier than Lauren. "Orion explained, his frustration evident. Rachel laughed lightly as Orion explained, finding his protective demeanor endearing. However, she also explained to him that Sophie had no intentions of insulting Lauren; on the contrary, she was referring to herself as "fat." "And even if you think she is sexy, I also find her attractive. She has long hair. The only problem is her dressing sense and the large frames on her face," Orion admitted, taken aback by his thoughts and shocked at why he found Sophie attractive.

"I didn't mean to say that," Orion clarified, wanting to explain that he didn't find anyone attractive other than Lauren, but Rachel raised her eyebrows and smiled. "It's not wrong if someone is attractive and they get noticed. However, love is a bit different," she remarked.

"Mam, I need help," Sophie called out, interrupting Orion just as he was about to say something. Rachel eventually went inside to help Sophie with the dress.

"It has laces, and I don't know how to tie them," Sophie admitted, ashamed. The dress was a bit revealing for her comfort, so she put her hands around her chest to support the dress. As Rachel was tying Lauren's dress lace, she noticed that Sophie was not comfortable. "The dress looks beautiful on you. You have nice curves. Why so shy? Remember, you have to go outside to show him the dress, and believe me, Orion is a gentleman," Rachel comforted Sophie.

Rachel felt proud as her measurements were accurate. She opened Sophie's hair and tied it into a loose bun, as the dress was off-shoulder and looked great with a bun. "Can you just take off the glasses until the dress trial?" Rachel asked sweetly. Sophie, touched by Rachel's kindness, complied with her request. (The dress was an exquisite off-white gown adorned with intricate hand embroidery and real pearls. It had taken a total of 1500 hours to create, showcasing the meticulous craftsmanship of 56 artisans. This new design was specially custom-made for Lauren, as per Orion's orders, ensuring it was tailored to her perfectly.) However, the gown looked phenomenal on Sophie. Even without any makeup, she resembled a princess. Her skin was clear, and she had a round face with sharp features. Her eyes exuded the innocence of a child, complemented by full lips and a perfect smile. She wasn't fat, but rather had a naturally proportioned body, with no enhancements or silicon. Her long black hair added to her natural beauty. Rachel was completely taken aback by how stunning Sophie looked in the dress and couldn't take her eyes off her. Rachel herself was undeniably beautiful, but it was evident that she appreciated true beauty without any trace of jealousy. On the other hand, Sophie wasn't sure if she should go out wearing such a revealing dress with cleavage and a backless design. "Come on, Sophie," Rachel instructed as she led the way out. As they stepped outside, Rachel gestured towards Sophie with her hand. Orion was on the phone, engrossed in conversation, but when he saw Sophie, he was momentarily stunned. Without cutting the call, he gently placed the phone on the table. Orion couldn't seem to take his eyes off Sophie, which made the situation a bit awkward. He approached Sophie and said, "The dress is customized for Lauren, and I'm pretty sure this beautiful dress can make anyone look beautiful. Imagine how stunning Lauren would look in it. Her beauty could elevate this dress even more." Sophie smiled and nodded in agreement, but Rachel sensed that Orion's words were an insult to Sophie. However, she chose not to interfere and crossed her arms, standing firm.

"I think the dress is showing too much. Could you make some corrections?" Rachel debated, addressing the topic of the cleavage. "Come on, Orion, I didn't expect this from you. This is normal, and this is what women are. I think it's perfect."

Sophie, feeling uncomfortable after hearing Orion's words, quickly ran back to the changing room.

Feeling a mix of emotions, Sophie couldn't help but smile as she felt a bit foolish. However, her excitement for Lauren, who would wear such a beautiful dress, overshadowed her discomfort. Sophie couldn't help but wonder why Orion would offer Lauren such an expensive dress. As she untied the lace at the back, her thoughts raced, contemplating the reasons behind such a lavish gift. Struggling with the last lace, which had a double knot, Sophie found herself both concentrated and agonized at the same time.

Knock! Knock!

Relieved at the sound of the door knocking, Sophie assumed Rachel had arrived to help her. "Please come in. I need your help," she called out, unaware that she had inadvertently assisted Orion to enter. With Sophie focused on the lace, Orion has her glasses in his hands. Sensing Sophie's struggle and Rachel's absence, he entered and attempted to open the lace. Sophie, oblivious to his presence, stood facing the opposite direction. As he worked on the lace, Orion couldn't help but notice the moles on both of Sophie's shoulders. After five minutes of concentrated effort, he finally managed to open the lace.

Relieved and happy that the lace was finally open, both Sophie and Orion shared a moment of relief. "Thank you," Sophie said with a smile, turning around to express her gratitude to Rachel.

"Welcome," Orion replied, raising his eyebrows in pride at successfully opening the stubborn lace. However, his satisfaction turned to surprise when Sophie suddenly shouted, expecting Rachel but finding Orion in front of her instead. Panicking, she covered her chest with both arms and continued to shout with her eyes tightly closed. After a few seconds of enduring her frustrated shouts, Orion reached his limit. He closed her mouth with one hand while the other supported her head, effectively silencing her. "Shut up and listen," he commanded firmly. "I'm only here to return your glasses. Your manager said you had bad eyes. And trust me, I've seen the best," he added, gesturing towards her chest. "So, don't flatter yourself."

He put Sophie's glasses on her and left abruptly. Sophie was left shocked by what just happened. She quickly changed her clothes and went to find Rachel. "I don't think you need to do this alteration," Sophie asserted. "As I said before, my upper body is stronger than hers, and it fits Lauren well."

"Okay," Rachel nodded in understanding. She then pointed to her staff to pack the dress and shoes and hand them over to Sophie. "Sophie, formalities are done, you can take them," Rachel said before leaving after instructing her staff.

Sophie was starstruck by the interiors of the store; she had never seen the inside of the showroom before. Enjoying the view, she watched as two people handled the dress and other items. Once everything was packed, they went outside and placed them in the cab that Sophie had booked. She instructed the cab driver about the address and then left on her bicycle for her tuition. Orion observed Sophie from a distance, puzzled by her actions. He noticed that she went in the opposite direction of the cab and was riding a bicycle. This left him confused, wondering about her intentions. Orion, still puzzled by Sophie's unexpected departure, decided to leave in his car. Sophie arrived at a well-maintained house where she found both of her students diligently working on their homework. Their dedication made Sophie proud as a teacher. As soon as she entered, they both smiled warmly at her.

At 10:00 p.m., Sophie decided it was time to head home. She hopped onto her bicycle and began her journey. The night was dark and a bit intimidating, but she felt reassured knowing that a car was always trailing behind her, provided by the parents of the children she tutored for her safety. The car would accompany her until she reached the bottom of the hill, where she felt safe enough to continue on her own. Sophie was the one who gave instructions to the driver, as she knew her route and preferred to handle her safety measures herself.