Shattered - Chapter 23: Chapter 23

"Again Mr. Amari, next time you come visit or we come visit, I'd love to meet your wife and kids!" I tell him as everyone gets up and leaves.
"I will try and set something in place in order for you to meet them, they would be thrilled to befriend you." He replies smiling, at the beginning of the meeting he looked stern and monotone until I introduced a subject that he loved talking about.
Soon, the time passed and Nathan was just watching us talk and listening to our conversation. We spoke about a lot, his kids, his wife, how they lived when they were younger. He spoke about how he was helping to create a community garden with the most elegant flowers in Dubai and allowing people to go in, admire it themselves and to spend some family quality time with pictures for memories.
"The next time we are both in Dubai, I'll bring my son as well and we will visit the garden. Thank you for the invitation."
We all walked out saying our goodbyes to each other, when me and Nathan enter the car, we were both put in a good mood.
"That went really well, I've never had an actual civilized conversation with one of your business clients without any mention of their company or bragging. He had something about him that was different, he never tried to impress us and spoke with his heart." I explain to Nathan being amazed by the conversation that just finished with Mr. Amari.
"That is why he is one of the most brilliant man to me, he doesn't flaunt about his wealthiness and his beliefs are what we have in common."
"Okay enough about him, now where are we off to?"
"Ice cream," Nathan smiles.
He drives us to an ice cream shop, we both walk in and start scanning the menu. The sweet smell of the ice cream fills my nose, it was quite chilly as a result of the air conditioning that was blasted to keep the atmosphere cold enough so the ice cream won't melt when they scoop it. Nathan comes to my side putting his arm around me and rubbing my arm softly to create heat by friction.
All the customers and workers had their eyes on me and Nathan, going up to the counter I ask for pralines and cream which was my all time favourite. Nathan decides to get cookies and cream, whispers were heard from all around us which spiked up a little of my anxiety. Slowly my smile went away, my body became tense, "we're going to go somewhere else, we don't have to stay here." Nathan whispers in my ear and I nod with my anxiety slowly dying down.
We got our ice cream after Nathan payed and walked towards the car, he started driving until we pulled up to the mall. "Ready to go shopping?"
Looking at him, he was already finish his ice cream, "how the hell did you finish that fast?" He shrugged his shoulders, "I would keep getting brain freezes, but at least I'm almost done."
Getting out of the car, he makes his way over to grab my hand, I am not one to be all about public display of affection... It was very interesting to see how far couples will go with it, if it was just a little it would of been fine but overdoing just becomes annoying to me.
"What colour do you plan on wearing?" He asks.
"Well I was thinking of a dark blue or maroon, what do you want me to wear?" I ask for his suggestion as we entered the dress store.
"I'm okay with whatever, you pick and I'll match with you." He smiles.
"Hello, are you here today for something in particular?" The lady asks me gazing at Nathan's physique.
It was like he felt my uncomfortable state so he wrapped his arm possessively around my waist, "my wife is looking for a dark blue or maroon dress for an night event. Can you just gather some simple dresses of those colours?" He says with no expression causing her to stop gazing at him and mind her own business.
We made our way to the back to the change rooms, as we walked by there were a few dresses that were very detailed, something I wasn't very fond of...
The lady came back with a huge selection of dresses for me to pick from, all different variety in shades, lengths and small fabrics that created excitement. "So I've gotten you a big variety of dresses, they are very simple designs, let me know if you need anything else." She says with no emotion just keeping her eyes on Nathan the whole time like I wasn't present in the room.
"Thanks," I whisper to her taking a dress and bringing it into the change room with me then closing the curtains.
Placing the hanger of the dress on the hook to my left, I started stripping my closes away leaving me only in my bra and panties, the mirror in front of me with lights on both side shined on my body. My eyes landed on the scar on my stomach from my little baby Leo, it reminded me of all the sadness. Even though me and his father had a misunderstanding, it shouldn't of given him the right to react the way he did, the excuses he is using saying that he wasn't mature.
Being alone in private made every thought a little clearer to me, for example, the fact that I forgave Nathan way too quickly after the treacherous narrow point of view... and for him to have the fucking audacity to think that I was a perfidious partner.
The entitlement he thought he had when debating on filing the divorce papers, this was all so ridiculous, it shouldn't even had come to this outcome, if he wasn't so gullible and doltish this would of never happened. God, I knew I fucking deserved better, it makes my blood boil, it feels like acid is burning through every inch of my body ready to deteriorate this whole situation.
"Alina, how you doing in their babe?" Nathan ask because I didn't notice that I was so deep into thoughts that the time was passing.
"Yeah, just give me a minute," I brushed my thoughts aside, quickly I grabbed the dress putting it on quickly, it was a maroon dress with a simple halter top which were hugging my curves.
Walking out to show him, he turned off his phone, "you look nice," he smiles flirtatiously.
"I don't know how I feel about this dress, I'm not really a huge fan of halter top dresses."
"Okay, then go try on another one that you like."
Going back into the change room to put on another maroon dress which was very different, the top part above my waist hugged my upper body snuggly, it was all lace with an open back. Cutting into a v neck at the front, from my waist the fabric changed into chiffon which was flowy. This was my type of style and made me more comfortable. Only the second choice, we were basically done shopping for the day which was so crazy how fast this took me.
Repeating what I did at the beginning, Nathan looked up from his phone with his eyes wide, "y-y-you look amazing." He got up coming towards me.
"This was way faster then I expected, this was what I was looking for," I smiled twirling around for him to see.
"I love it, you getting this one then?"
"Yeah, I don't really need to try on any other ones."
"You can take it off and I'll pay for it while you get dressed."
"Okay."
Going back to the room to remove the dress to hand it to Nathan to pay for it, I was now left in my bra and panties so peaking my hand out with the dress in my hand. Luckily he took ahold of it quickly instead of me waiting for him, turning back around, I started to get dressed back into my clothes.
Making my way to the cash where Nathan was paying, the lady was trying to show off her breast by leaning against the counter, the irritating laugh that was heard annoyed me more and the way she acted like he wasn't married. The ring was on full display, couldn't she take the hint? He even verbally said that I was his wife, what disturbed me even more was that he was dismissing her nonchalantly instead of making it clear to her repetitively. That is the least that he can fucking do!
"Thank you for the offer, come by any day." The lady finishes saying to Nathan and he comes to meet back up with me.
"Ready to go?" He asks, I was in a bad mood so I just brushed past him not wanting to interact with him at this present time.