I had never experienced a morning quite like this.

Nor had I ever felt such peace and happiness in my life.

The sky was surprisingly clear this morning; the moment I opened my eyes, the first thing that greeted me was the breathtaking beauty of the sky. I found myself staring at the sky for half an hour before finally getting up for my morning shower. As I crossed the vanity to reach the shower, a red dangling thing caught my eye in the ocean of white marble.

It was the red dress that Sameer had given me. I had left it hanging on the same golden rack after our rendezvous yesterday. Contemplating whether to text Sameer about the dress or return it to the shop owner, I decided to message him about what to do with it.

However, no reply came from the other side.

Maybe he was busy.

After a refreshing shower, I slipped into a chic black jumpsuit and decided to treat myself to room service. Two butlers promptly arrived, and I handed them Sameer's gifted red dress, instructing them to return it to the mysterious boutique owner named Nina. Their confused expressions didn't deter me; they eventually obliged and left.

Leaving my suite behind, I made my way to the rooftop restaurant for breakfast. Just as I settled in, a buzzing sound emanated from my phone – a text from Sameer.

What are your plans for today?

His texts made my heart jump with happiness, I texted back,

Are you in Zurich?

I saw my text was seen by him, 3 dots danced at the bar and a reply came back,

Yes, with your favorite, Maria Volkner.

This gave me second-hand embarrassment.

I am not embarrassing you, Kay. It's okay to be obsessed with her.

Sameer was not even here, not even seeing what I was doing with my life- he still managed to read my mind.

"How do you even do that?"

"Do what?"

"Read me like that, I am not even with you. You can't even read my face."

3 dots appeared on the screen, and then a reply came,

"Next time, the Surgeon, rip my heart apart or open my skull to see my brain. You'll get your answer."

I nearly threw my phone off the 15th floor from laughing. I was laughing so hard that a few very distinguished rich people gave me a dirty look from other tables.

You little flirt.

I texted him back. No texts came back from him for a few minutes. I was sad that he was too busy to reply to my texts. A thing came from my phone, the sound of new text.

"I am just a little flirt, trying to make you laugh."

"Why?"

"Cause you make me happy."

The last text sent my emotions on a rollercoaster I was not ready for this morning. Leaving my phone on the table, I decided to withhold a response. Sameer was moving at warp speed, falling head over heels too fast. I couldn't figure out if he had some ulterior motive or if he was just plain crazy to be smitten with an average woman like me within a mere five days of knowing him.

Everything started to get murky inside my head.

My gut feeling was telling me he was hiding something.

When you will be here?

I texted him back, I needed to talk to him face-to-face.

Perhaps by 8 p.m. Do you want something from here? Do you like chocolates?

He was clever enough to win me over with food—seemingly discovering the direct route to my heart. Unable to resist, I texted him back,

"What sort of chocolates?"

"Oh, you'll love this, it's from my dad's company."

Hearing that, I realized it would be a crime to say no to him. I couldn't turn down offerings from his father's company.

I placed an order for a few items, including a Croque Madame without the ham. I requested a swap with smoked quail breast meat instead. When the waiter brought it over, I was pleasantly surprised to discover white truffles in the sandwich.

I'd never tried truffles before, and honestly, they smelled a bit like socks. I had my doubts about enjoying the meal. But, with the first bite, those sliced truffles turned out to be the highlight of the sandwich. The chef even threw in a classic French omelet "on the house," as the waiter mentioned

Trust me, that French omelet took me to a whole new level of taste bud ecstasy. I had no clue they could have their own kind of bliss. I practically let each bite linger in my mouth, afraid that chewing would bring this divine experience to an end.

It was like I entered a trance. Forget Earth; I was floating in a universe of eggs, cheese, and white truffles. Everything else vanished as I savored each bite, feeling weightless in the culinary cosmos of my omelet

"WHERE IS SHE!"

The scream of a woman crash-landed me back on Earth, and every other fancy guest on the rooftop restaurant seemed to share my surprise. There she was—a redhead almost my age, with brown eyes, sporting a red tube top and jeans. She darted around the tables in a wild search and abruptly stopped at mine. Slamming her hands on the glass table-top, she leaned in toward me.

"You didn't like my dress?"

I could see she was on the verge of shedding a river of tears, but goodness, she was just too adorable! I had no idea a woman could have the voice of a tweeting bird. Utterly baffled, I stammered, "I'm sorry?"

"You didn't like the dress? What's wrong with it? Nobody ever returned my designs ever! This is the first time," she barely finished her words before starting to cry silently.

Oh, my gosh, is this Nina? Did she design that red dress?

I'd never panicked so intensely before, especially over the idea of letting someone down. I stood up in a fluster and offered her a tissue from the box on the table. But she kept crying as if I had just dumped her like it was the worst breakup ever.

"What was wrong with that dress?" she asked, sitting down in the chair across from me, still crying like a child. It was then that I felt the urge to burst into laughter.

"No, Nina, that dress was gorgeous. I returned it because I thought it was a rental," I replied, attempting to reassure her while desperately trying to suppress a grin.

"A rental? NO! IT WAS A PURCHASE!" She yelled, drawing attention from the other tables. I nearly buried my face in embarrassment. Then Nina grabbed my hand and started pulling me closer to her.

"Get up, I need to see you in that dress. GET UP!" She commanded with a high-pitched voice.

"But my omelet!?" I protested, glancing at the half-eaten omelet on my plate. It seemed to be pleading with me.

"I'll feed you to all the French omelets on Earth, now get up!" Nina insisted, pulling me toward the restaurant's exit. I couldn't help but notice all the uneaten food left behind on the table.

___________________________________________________

As I stepped out of the changing room, a space larger than my apartment in London, Nina cupped her cheeks with her palms and exclaimed, "Aww, Kay! You look so pretty! Like a Red Barbie!! You were born to wear red."

She kept her eyes locked on me, and I noticed Marco slowly tiptoeing behind her like a cat, silently gesturing for me to keep quiet. He peeked around her and whispered into her ear, blowing air with the force of a hurricane. Nina jumped in shock and turned to see her boyfriend, then playfully began to slap him on his arms. Marco tried to escape, but Nina caught him.

I couldn't believe my eyes as I watched these two grown adults chasing each other among the clothing racks. All the other shoppers around us were laughing at the spectacle. I understood Nina's playful nature, but Marco? Marco was the spokesperson for the Volkner group. Why was he acting so childishly?

I stared at the couple, observing their playful fight and laughter, and it hit me: this was the kind of energy I longed to feel. What kind of connection did I deserve with Sameer?

"Marco?" I called out to him and waved my hand. Marco, with a giggling Nina in tow, made his way toward me.

"Now I can see why he chose this dress," Marco admitted.

"Right? And she returned it!" Nina chimed in, her voice carrying a hint of mock sadness.

What a chaotic duo!

"Didn't you like it?" Marco asked me in amazement.

"I didn't think Sameer actually bought the dress. I thought he rented it from Nina," I confessed. Both of them simultaneously slapped their foreheads.

"He got it as a gift for you, Kaya," Marco tried to explain. My heart ached with disbelief.

A gift? A dress?

Really?

Somebody brought a dress for me?

"I don't receive gifts... often. I didn't think it was a gift, sorry, Nina. If I had known it was a gift, I would have cherished it," I tried to explain.

Nina's facial expression shifted dramatically with each word I spoke. It was as if she saw something in me, and her usual giddy self vanished, replaced by an unfamiliar sadness. Marco noticed the change in both our expressions, his brows furrowing.

Nina fell silent for a few moments, and the world around us seemed to fade into darkness as I stared into her deep, black eyes. Then she sighed softly.

"Choose a dress," she commanded. I was in disbelief, and Marco smiled at his girlfriend, who continued to gaze at me.

"Sorry?" I stammered.

"Choose any dress; consider it a gift from me," Nina repeated.

I was utterly shocked. "But why? I didn't do anything to deserve a gift," I protested. Marco almost rolled his eyes at my response.

"Okay then, consider it a punishment," Nina replied with a mischievous tone.

"What did I do?"

"You had the audacity to return my dress. Nobody returns my designs. So, as a punishment for such a crime, you will choose a dress from my fall collection. It's a gift from me."

I was about to object, but Marco intervened, saying, "I've known her for 8 years. If you don't fulfill her demands, she'll make sure you either go without clothes or wear only her designs. She's a bit...you know..." Marco made two swirling gestures with his index fingers near his temples, indicating that his girlfriend was a bit....crazy.

I complied with her order and began searching for a dress, hoping to find something more affordable since I had no idea about the price range of Nina's brand, Aurora.

As Marco left us alone in the shop, I kept the conversation light with Nina, discussing her designs and fashion without drowning in guilt. She was so passionate and easy to talk to. I used to think I knew a bit about fabrics, but in her presence, I realized I was barely scratching the surface.

As we chatted, my eyes fixated on a faceless mannequin.

The dress had the flair of a ballgown but with a twist, hanging delicately between a ballgown and a wedding dress. It embraced a rich dark pink with a hint of purplish fuchsia. The skirt flowed down like a cascade of glass-silk waves, while the corseted bodice added structure. A straight neckline with a mock cowl draped over the corset completed the ensemble.

From afar, the dress resembled warm pink waves crashing onto a shore. I was almost taken aback with awe.

"That one's my favorite too. Would you like to try it on?"

I approached the dress and noticed a tag hanging behind it, indicating its details.

48 fucking thousand euros!

WHO THE FUCK BUYS A DRESS WORTH 48 THOUSAND EUROS.

I looked at Nina, my face might have been the shockwave of the earthquake, She got confused,

"What? This one is cheaper."

Cheaper?

CHEAPER?

Looking at my shocked face, Nina ripped apart the tag, hid it under her palms, and told me,

"You saw nothing, you're getting the dress."

NO!!! I DON'T EVEN EARN THAT MONEY IN A YEAR!

I wanted to scream, but my voice seemed to betray me. Nina swiftly called for her employees, who promptly took my measurements and retrieved the same dress that might have fit me. Still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions, they escorted me to the dressing room and assisted me into the gown. Nina joined me inside and, overwhelmed with excitement, started clapping like a child and shrieking with joy. She instructed her team to pack the dress and send it to my room. Left alone in the dressing room with just my mismatched underwear set, I had to put on my jumpsuit.

Throughout this whole ordeal, I remained in a state of shock and disbelief. I had laid eyes on a dress worth 48,000 euros, and someone had gifted it to me!

I might have lingered in that dressing room, half-naked, for more than half an hour. An employee knocked to check if I needed assistance with my 24-quid jumpsuit from Zara.

"I've never worn such extravagance," I managed to say, my voice trembling. Her face contorted with confusion.

"Your red dress was almost 200,000 euros, ma'am. The tiny beadings on the hemlines and necklines, along with those inner beadings in 3D flowers, were made of real rubies," she tried to reassure me.

I felt like I was about to faint.

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As I entered my room, I noticed my half-eaten breakfast still sitting there, accompanied by two butlers. They stood beside a trolley laden with food plates. I was already in shock over Sameer's lavish gestures. It dawned on me that he might not just be the head of security at this hotel; he could hold a high-ranking position in the entire Caelus chain. It was the only way to explain the generous salaries and extravagant lifestyles. Julia had always dreamt of working for the powerhouse that was the Caelus chain, especially at their Paris headquarters, where salaries and revenues were rumored to be higher.

"We were instructed to return these to your room. Would you like us to warm them up, or will you have them as they are?" one of the butlers asked me. I requested that they leave the food as it was, then I took the half-eaten omelet to the microwave to reheat it.

My phone rang, and I saw Sameer's name on the caller ID. My heart leaped with excitement!

"Sorry, I was tied up in a meeting. I heard you met Nina."

"Yes, when will you be here?" I inquired eagerly.

"Someone seems quite excited to see me," he teased with a wicked laugh.

"Nina gave me a dress," I blurted out.

"I know, I have heard it.Wear it for me tonight."

That last line made my heart flutter.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes?"

"Next time anyone forces you to leave your food, ask the employees to send it to your room. Please do not waste food as much as you can. Many people in the world die of hunger. I will be very thankful to you if you can keep my request. It will make me very happy. You have no idea how much people suffer for just a grain of salt............."

I could not believe my ears.

"........It may sound weird to you why I'm telling you this despite coming from wealth, Trust me I know how lucky I am. Some people are not, and we should be humble for our sheer dumb luck. Don't waste anything... please."

I almost teared up with what he said, so he ordered them to return those breakfasts to my room. Sameer was so unbelievably kind, so much so he could feel basic human needs despite being surrounded by rich people and luxury. I had seen people waste food just for nothing, I had seen people from my country suffer so much in hunger that they committed mass suicide with the whole family as the father could not provide for his kids. When I was in medical school, I had to attend forensic dissections, and I saw how many people had committed due to poverty.

"I'm sorry if you are offended but I really dislike wasting anything unnecessary, I hope you will understand," Sameer said from the other side. I almost whimpered a bit as I was sobbing without knowing.

"You alright?" he asked with such worry in his voice.

"Sameer, your parents raised you really well."

I fought back my tears. The microwave declared that it had warmed up my French omelet with a loud ping.

"Thanks."

"And I think you are going to be a very good father....... with given opportunity," I replied.

A silence floated from his side.

I just realized what I had done; I reluctantly said yes to the proposal he gave me yesterday. Every part of me, body, and soul, wanted to love him, to be with him for the rest of eternity. I craved to belong with him, to have him belong to me and be mine alone.

Remember that wise old lady with cancer I met on my birthday? Recall what she told me. An eternity wasn't enough to be with someone you love?

I just realized how damn right she was.

"I need to go." He spoke as if he was breathing heavily.

"Come fast," I mumbled.

"I'll get on the plane the moment all these meeting ends. I promise. I have so many things to tell you. Please don't get mad at me."He begged; I could feel his yearning from the other side.

My doorbell rang, it opened from the other side as I did not lock my suite. The dresses came in with a lavish golden hanger, dangling as they both were covered with the same dust jacket.

"See you soon," I ended the call and reached for the dresses. I had no idea how I looked in the pink dress, so I decided to catch a glimpse of myself after finishing breakfast.

I followed his instructions like a good girl; I devoured all the food, wasting nothing. Disobeying my father to visit his 'friends' usually resulted in starvation until I complied. The servants occasionally sneaked food into my room, but most days, Little Kaya went hungry.

I couldn't choose my father, but one thing I knew for sure was that I had the power to decide who would father my own children.

And my heart insisted I would choose Sameer, over and over again.

I felt grateful that Sameer had even noticed me, saved me, and perhaps, was even falling for me...

He was everything I ever needed. Where had he been all my life?