By Your Side

What was I thinking? Why did I open up to him again? How could I betray myself like that?

Having sex with my ex husband was a big mistake, I should've known better. We cannot stand each other, we can't be in the same room without arguing. How could I forget the way he treated me?

"Madison?"

I am really disappointed in myself right now.

"Madison? Hey?" I hear Nathan and turned to look at him frantically. "You alright there?" He asks with a concerning look in his eyes. "What you thinking about in that head of yours?"

I turn away from him and sigh. "I made a mistake and I feel so dumb about it, I don't know anymore."

"A mistake being here with me right now?" He asks carefully, sounding very concerned.

I turn to him, realizing that we arrived at our destination -The boutique he brought me to. "No, Nathan." I look down. "You're great to be around, we're friends right?"

It takes him a while to agree staring at me, "Friends."

I'm unsure of what I want and I don't want to let my emotions get the best of me, I'm no longer thinking with my heart, I enjoy Nathan's company but I can't risk that chance with him.

I think I will agree to his terms and then we'll have to be strictly professional.

Strictly professional Madison...

Tonight Nathan is taking me as his guest to a jewelry exhibition, and I hope it goes well tonight.

"We're here. Hopefully you find something you like for tonight, this is one of the most luxury boutique here in the city, my ex always used to shop here... with my card." He looks past me at the store.

My eyes wide I stare up at him. "With your card?" He nods, "Did you two love each other? Or was it planned like the media said?" I can't help my curiosity.

Nathan takes a deep breath in. "We kind of grew up together since our parents knew each other and once I took over the company our parents arranged us to get married since it would look better for the company and all that shit. I didn't love her, I'm glad I didn't get married to her." He says frowning.

I'm surprised he's telling me all this, but I have one more question to ask. "Why are you glad you didn't get married to her?"

He thinks on my question for a moment and looks at me. "I'm not supposed to be in this position." He lightly chuckles, "Nevermind I- she was just really immature, always blaming others for her mistakes."

I look at him carefully, I feel like he's hiding so much away.

I nod slowly.

"We should get inside, I booked us with a stylist."

Before I can say something, he gets out of the car and so do I, and waits for me so we can walk up together.

...

Nathan~~

It's too soon to let her in, I can't just tell her everything that has happened in my life, she will think I'm crazy. We're friends and we'll keep it that way. For now my focus is the company.

Once we're inside the boutique a stylist greets us and leads us up the stairs to the second floor where all the evening dresses are and a few dressing rooms, there's also a sitting area facing roof to floor mirrors with a circle step in the middle.

The stylist asks Madison a few questions on her preferences and if she has a certain style in mind for the event, and eventually takes her to pick a few dresses out.

I go ahead and take a seat on the couch, suddenly staring at myself in the mirror and then at the two flute glasses of champagne on the table in the middle.

What am I doing right now?

This is so unlike me, taking a woman out shopping? I've never done this before.

Is there a certain way I should act? Certain way I should look at her when she steps onto the round step in front of the mirror? Do I tell her she looks beautiful?

I take me a glass and sip it slowly.

What do I do?

I close my eyes, mentally groaning at myself. I shouldn't overthink this, this is just a normal thing right? A man taking a woman shopping...totally normal. We're just friends.

Madison~~

"You can step out whenever you're ready Mrs Monroe." I hear the stylist's voice from outside the changing room, she helped me try the dress on and handed me a pair high heels, and then politely left for me to take a few minutes for myself.

The dress is absolutely gorgeous but I don't know if it's me. I really don't recognize myself in the mirror anymore, have I really changed that much? I constantly look sad and exhausted, I am disgusted with myself and I've realized in these few minutes that I ruined the dress. It's beautiful, but just not for me.

But I'm still going to step out I decided and as soon as I do I see Nathan turn his attention towards me and it just makes me want to dig a hole in the ground and hide.

I make my way towards the sitting area and on to the round step, I look up at my reflection in the mirror and see the embarrassed red tint on my cheeks.

I watch Nathan's reflection as he takes a slow glance up and down for the back of the dress, he frowns as he slowly drinks from his glass.

The stylist now beside me asks, "So, what do you think? Is it comfortable for you?"

I infact hesitate to answer her because I am highly uncomfortable.

I force a smile while eyeing the dress. "I-i like it."

There's a long silence.

"Would you like to try on a different dress Madison?" I turn my head in Nathan's direction, his eyes pierces into mine, silently demanding me to answer him.

I turn back to the stylist, "Do you have anything in a soft blue perhaps?"

She smiles and says, "Of course, let's head back to the aisles of dresses."

I smile and step down the circle and follow her, but before I completely exit the room I glance over my shoulder at Nathan. I once again catch his eyes on the back of the dress.

As if feeling my eyes on him, he glances up watching me closely with a small smirk on the corner of his mouth.

I turn back and exit the room feeling my cheeks flushed with redness.

After trying on the second dress I'm left alone again in the dressing room, and I can't take my eyes off the dress, it is absolutely beautiful and most importantly I feel very comfortable in it.

I step out and the stylist is waiting for me and walks with me to the room where the mirror is.

I enter the room and I immediately feel his eyes on me but I don't look up at him, there is an unweilding confidence over me as I stride over onto the step. I smile when I see my reflection and lightly touch my breasts as the dress cups them comfortably.

"I see you like it?" The stylist asks smiling.

"I love it." I say smiling wide and turn to look at the back of the dress, it hugs my curves perfectly.

"Give us a moment." I glance up at Nathan as he suddenly stands up.

The stylist leaves and closes the double doors at the entrance of the room.

It seems like time is moving painfully slow as he makes his way towards me. He picks up a glass of champagne I think and finally reaches me his eyes still on mine, he doesn't say anything as he stands behind me. He glances up and down the front of my dress and eyes me again. He hands me the glass.

"You're awfully quiet." I tell him.

He smirks and licks his bottom lip before responding. "I'm just in shock."

I frown. "Why?" I take a sip.

He places his chin on my shoulder and I tense up.

"I never knew you were hiding these curves under those baggy clothing." He whispers in my ear.

I look down at my hand fiddling with the silky material of the dress, trying to hide the embarrassment on my cheeks.

Nathan places his hands on my waist and turn me around to face him, the action surprises me and I tense up even more.

He puts his index finger under my chin to make me look up at him. That daring sultry look in his green eyes makes my heart beat faster.

"In other words, you look very beautiful, Madison." He says.

I'm definitely surprised because this is the first time he's ever told me that I look beautiful.

He places a strand of my hair behind my ear, "This color suits you perfectly, I can tell it's your favorite."

"Thank you." Is all I can say and look back at myself in the mirror, knowing damn well if I continue to look into his eyes and allow him to say such words to me I might do something stupid.

Nathan smiles knowing very well I'm avoiding him. "Don't worry, tonight will go by smoothly. I'll be right by your side." I nod listening to him carefully.

Tonight will be my introduction to his world. I don't know what to expect which makes this situation even more tense. His world will see me for the first time and will probably be judging my every move, is that really something I'm prepared for?

"Can I ask you something, Nathan?"

"I'm listening."

Biting my bottom lip, hesitating. "How do you handle it? Being in the public eye all the time?"

Although I don't know much about him, I'm pretty sure I can just type in his name in Google and his whole biography will pop up. I mean, if I were in his shoes and it was my life being displayed like that I'd loose my mind.

But thank God I'm just a regular person, and that my business is my business only.

"Well, that's a pretty specific question." Nathan thinks for a moment, "I don't let things get to me, I guess. I remain unbothered about alot of things, but there are things I care about."

"Like?" I press, wanting to know more.

"My family."

I look at him, and realize that he's been dealing with the press probably since he was a child. I suddenly feel myself being sad for him.

"Madison?" Nathan's pleasing voice breaks me out of my trans.

I give him a small smile, "Don't leave my side tonight."

He smiles back, "I won't."