Chapter 20: Protecting Love
Chapter 20:
Sheridan had a smile from ear to ear. She had convinced Luis and the four FBI agents to let her go shopping. When she told them she could arrange that she be the only shopper in any boutique they agreed. They wondered how but they all agreed
She was the only woman among the five men, she knew they would complain after she tried on the second outfit. She looked over at Luis, he was having such a good time talking to Agent Robert Logan. She could tell Luis was seriously thinking about the FBI, all of the agents agreed he was just the type of man the FBI needed. She wanted him to go for it, she hoped he did.
The limo pulled in front of an expensive looking boutique. Sheridan hopped out, she hadn’t been shopping for awhile. Luis and the other agents trailed behind her, wearing looks of doom. When the men walked in the first thing they recognized were that the clothes looked expensive, very expensive.
“Sheridan.” A man called her from some distance. Luis noticed that a smile lit up her face immediately at the sight of the unknown man. Unwanted jealousy coursed through his body. The man came over to Sheridan and pulled her into a hug as he planted a kiss on her cheek.
“Giorgio, it’s so good to see you.” Sheridan said excited. She pulled back from the hug and looked him over. He was excellently dressed, she was sure in some designer label. “You look great Giorgio.” He twirled Sheridan around.
“You’re still as beautiful as ever, especially in this Donna Karen, it’s so stylish.”
“Well you know I try.”
“So what is it that I can do to improve upon perfection?” Giorgio asked, Sheridan grinned.
“What you do best Giorgio…dress me.”
“It would be my pleasure.”
Luis was about to blow a gasket, as they were all led back to a changing room. They guys sat down as Sheridan stepped behind a black silk curtain that was embroidered. Giorgio disappeared and returned fifteen minutes later. He carried five dresses on his arm.
“Here you go Sheridan.” Sheridan stuck her arm out and Giorgio laid the dresses on her arm. “Try the blue one first.”
“Okay.” Sheridan said from behind the curtain.
“It’s an original John Galiano, when I first got it I thought about you.” Sheridan just laughed as she slipped into the dress. She smoothed it down her body and stepped out barefoot.
“So how do I look?” Sheridan asked spinning around. She looked at herself in the mirror, she loved it. The dress was pretty much the color of her blue eyes. The color looked great against her tanned skin. The dress itself was breaded; the front had a low cowl neck, which showed off some ample cleavage. It also had a long slit down the right leg that started at the top of her thigh.
“You look beautiful Sheridan.” Giorgio said giving her the praise she wanted.
“Thank you Giorgio.” She then turned to the ‘law.’ “Gentlemen?” She was looking at Luis in particular. Luis saw it and finally picked his jaw up off the floor as well as the FBI agents. They quickly told her how beautiful and gorgeous she looked. The FBI agents were careful about what they said, they knew that Luis and Sheridan were an item. Who wouldn’t know after all the screaming of his name earlier during the throes of passion? Sheridan had blushed five shades of red when she and Luis came out of her room, the agents were clapping and whistling.
The next couple of dresses were equally beautiful and Sheridan added them to the ‘buy’ pile. The guys looked bored out of their minds. She rolled her eyes, she wondered what they would do if she were to really go shopping. She decided to put them out of their misery, she slipped into the last dress. She knew this dress would make Luis and the agents sit up, they had been slouching for a while.
When she stepped out she got the exact reaction she had been looking for, she heard gasps. The dress was strapless in a nude color, it was practically see through except for the material that covered her breasts, lower front half and buttocks were covered. That wasn’t the best part, the best part were the diamonds that were attached to it. She herself was in awe of the dress.
“You look absolutely gorgeous Sheridan.” Giorgio gushed.
“Thank you Giorgio.” She turned around in the full-length mirror. “How much is it?” Sheridan asked looking at herself. Giorgio laughed.
“That’s a first, Sheridan Crane asking for a price.” She glared at him and told him to shut up. “It’s worth $2 million dollars.” Everyone in the room gasped, all except Sheridan.
“I want it.” Sheridan said shocking the ‘law,’ especially Luis. “I don’t care how much it costs.”
“You didn’t let me finish, it’s a one of a kind Versace. Donatella said she wanted you to have it and model it in her upcoming fashion show within the next couple of months. I was planning on coming to Harmony, but since you’re here there’s no need.”
“Done.” Sheridan said jumping up and down. “I would love to model for Donatella, I’ll call her when I get back to Harmony. I’m going to go change back into my clothes.” She went back behind the curtain and changed back into her Donna Karen dress. She came back out and handed the dressed to Giorgio. “I want them all plus the accessories to go with them.” Sheridan said as she pulled out her wallet and extracted on of her many credit cards. She handed the car to Giorgio, he took her card and dresses and left the room. Sheridan then turned to the ‘law.’ “That was fun.” Sheridan said smiling.
“How much did you spend Sheridan?” Agent Logan asked. “Of course you don’t have to tell me.” Sheridan just smiled.
“It’s a good thing I don’t have to tell you because I don’t know.” She said shrugging her shoulder.
“What do you mean you don’t know? This is a designer boutique, those dresses have got to cost an arm and a leg.” Agent Logan was blown away.
“I don’t know, we’ll just see when the bill comes.” Sheridan said. Just then Giorgio came back in with a piece of paper and pen.
“Here you go Sheridan.” Giorgio handed her the piece of paper and pen. She looked at it and smiled.
“About $300,000, not bad.” Sheridan said as she signed her signature. Luis’ eyes as well as the other men’s eyes bugged out at the amount of money she had spent and she made it sound like the total was cheap.
She and Giorgio said their goodbyes, they were now on their way back to the villa. Luis followed Sheridan into her room where she headed to her huge walk in closet. Luis was shocked, her closet was bigger than his room, about five times bigger. The walls and shelves were lined with clothes, shoes, purses and other accessories. He didn’t even want to know the total amount of the things in that huge closet.
Ever since Luis had developed an interest in Sheridan one question had always lingered in his mind, ‘what could he possibly give Sheridan?’ Now that question was weighing heavily on his mind, like a 100lb weight. He knew he would never be able to give her the life she had been born into, that was a definite.
They were now sitting outside, the day had gone by quickly. She and Luis were watching the sunset. Sheridan watched with rapture, she loved everything about Rome. She was glad to relax, she had cooked a big dinner for Luis and the agents. She looked over at Luis and could tell he was deep in thought, she could also see a sort of stressed look on his face.
“Luis, what’s wrong?” Sheridan asked scooting closer to him. He turned and looked at her.
“Nothing.” He answered, a direct lie to her face and Sheridan knew it.
“Don’t lie to me.” Sheridan bit out.
“Okay, Sheridan. What do you think about money?” Luis asked.
“Huh?” Sheridan was confused.
“What do you think about money?” Luis repeated.
“I don’t think about it.” Sheridan answered with her brow furrowed. Luis knew that was going to be her answer, she spent money like there was no tomorrow.
“Sheridan do you realize how much money you spent in that boutique. I mean you almost spent $2 million dollars on a single dress.”
“This is about money, isn’t it?” Sheridan asked sorrowfully.
“Yeah, it is. You just spent $300,000 in two hours, it would take me more than a decade for me to earn that much. I love you Sheridan and I want to spend the rest of my life with you but I could never give you the life you’re used to. As much as I want to, I can’t”
“I never asked you to Luis, I’m capable of providing for myself. I have my own money.” Sheridan said not seeing Luis’ point.
“That’s exactly it Sheridan, I don’t want you spending Crane money when we get married. You know how I feel on the subject.” Luis said referring to the talk about a rich man and a poor guy, the one he started with Hank when Sheridan had to do community service at the center. To Luis the man would be seen as a user for dating a rich woman. Sheridan just scowled at Luis.
“Well that’s just too bad Luis, it’s my money. If we get married it becomes our money.”
“I don’t want Crane money.” Luis spat with hatred.
“Oh God forbid you spend a little Crane money but I guess you don’t want it seeing as its soaked in blood.” Sheridan sarcastically said.
“Yeah it is blood money.” Luis said with a bitter tone. Sheridan rolled her eyes.
“It might be blood money but it’s my money to spend and I plan on spending it, hell it’s the least my father can do. Are you seriously going to let Crane money come between us?” Sheridan asked in an incredulous tone. Her voice softened, Luis decided to take another approach.
“Alistair doesn’t like me, he thinks I’m not good enough for you. What if you and I get married and your father cuts you off? What will you do then without Crane money?”
“First of all my father would never cut me off, no matter how much he dislikes you, father can’t stand bad publicity. Secondly if he were to actually cut me off I have money of my own.”
“How do you have money of your own?”
“My mother left me a very healthy trust fund that has grown over the years. Even without Crane money I’m still rich. Since you seem to have a problem with Crane money we can spend Smith money.” She said thinking that she had solved the money situation.
“No, we can’t. I don’t want your money period.” Luis growled out. Sheridan rose up angry, it was time to take off the gloves.
“What’s the real problem Luis? Hmm? Are you mad because I have more money than you? Does it hurt your pride to know that I don’t need you financially? It always has to be your way or the highway but not this time. I won’t bend to your will, now or ever.” She finished disgusted with Luis. She quickly turned on her heel and went back into the house.
To Be Continued...
