Chapter 304: Master of Disguise
Kayden
After we left Dr. Amara’s clinic, the heavy tension that had filled the examination room finally evaporated, replaced by the quiet hum of the luxury SUV’s engine.
Rhys had wanted us to return home and rest for the rest of the afternoon, but I didn’t want to just yet. As I stared at the afternoon sun through the heavily tinted window, all I could think of was going on a date with him.
I was just tired of staying at home all day.
While I was staring at the sun, he was on his phone, probably discussing with Anderson Park about the improvements Raymond had been making lately.
I shifted in my seat, feeling a sudden restlessness settling deep into my bones. Being cooped up in the house all week was starting to make me stir-crazy.
In such cases, I would have invited Leo out, but he was on vacation, and the last thing I wanted was to be selfish and bother him—even though I didn’t know why he and Miller had gone.
"It’s confidential. We can’t say it," those were his words the day before he left, and goodness, I missed him so much.
I shifted again and turned towards Rhys. "Hey," I said, nudging his shoulder with my elbow to get his attention. "Tell the driver to pull over instead of going home. I want to go out for fun, maybe shop a little."
Rhys immediately snapped his head up, his blue eyes widening as they met mine. Then he frowned.
"Shopping? Absolutely not, Kayden. The public eye is completely on us right now, especially with the pre-season camps kicking off and the media tracking every move the Northern Avalanche makes. If the paparazzi catch you crowding into a public space right after a clinic visit, the rumors will spiral out of control within ten minutes. We don’t want that now, and besides, I don’t want anything to affect you, please."
I rolled my eyes, leaning against the leather headrest with a confident smirk. "Oh, please. The public eye only sees what we let them see. We can always disguise ourselves. It’s not that hard to blend into a crowd if you actually try."
"A disguise?" Rhys countered, letting out a short, incredulous laugh as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You’re a high-profile athlete, Kayden. People recognize the way you walk from a mile away. What exactly is your brilliant plan? A baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses? That just makes you look like a celebrity trying—and failing—to hide."
"I just want to be able to walk outside without a security detail forming a literal human wall around me," I insisted.
Rhys just stared at me, and the look he was giving me was too hard to read; I couldn’t understand if he was going to support me or not. "Do you really want to go out, babe?" he asked, raising his hands to cup my cheeks, and I nodded in response.
"So, what is your big plan?" he asked.
A mischievous grin spread across my face as I brought out my phone and started typing. "I already have everything planned out, and trust me when I say that this disguise will be so great that no one will know it’s me. Not even the die-hard Avalanche fans."
Rhys raised an eyebrow, his gaze suspicious as he watched my fingers fly across the screen. "What disguise, Kayden? What are you up to?"
Instead of answering him directly, I tapped Raymond’s contact name and placed the phone against my ear.
It rang twice before Raymond’s familiar, amused voice answered from the other end.
"Hello, brother," I said into the receiver, my smile widening. "Is it ready?"
On the other side, Raymond let out a low chuckle. "Yes. Everything is completely set up and waiting for you. I called up my buddy who owns that high-end boutique downtown. The venue is entirely cleared, and he has the inventory laid out just for you two."
"Thank you," I said excitedly. "We are on our way now," I added before hanging up the phone, completely ignoring the way Rhys was staring at me.
His eyes were narrowed to slits as he pointed a finger at the screen. "Are you two seriously plotting behind my back? When did you even talk to Raymond about his friend’s place? What the hell is truly going on?"
I shook my head innocently, letting out a soft laugh. "We are not plotting anything against you, Rhys. I figured that it would come to this, so I planned earlier with Raymond about this."
Before Rhys could launch into a full cross-examination, I leaned forward and tapped the glass partition separating us from the front seat. "Caleb," I called for the driver’s attention. "Please take us straight to the Make It Yours boutique that is downtown."
"Yes, ma’am," Caleb responded.
"So you are not going to tell me what is happening? What you and Raymond are planning?" Rhys asked.
I shook my head. "It’s a secret," I responded as I winked at him.
Rhys let out a heavy, defeated sigh, leaning his head back against the seat, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward against his will.
When the SUV pulled up to the rear entrance of the massive, modern clothing boutique, the area was completely deserted. Raymond’s friend had arranged for a private, after-hours shopping experience, ensuring the entire floor was closed off to the public to guarantee absolute discretion.
The moment we stepped through the private security doors into the main showroom, Raymond’s friend was already standing there, leaning casually against a glass display case with a smug, knowing grin on his face. He looked between the two of us, his arms open in a welcoming gesture.
"Welcome, guys," he said, his eyes glittering with pure mischief as he walked over to greet us. "I am Randall. Raymond called ahead and explained the situation. I have spent the last two hours preparing the absolute perfect disguise for this little excursion of yours. If you two want to experience the city like normal, boring civilians without a single camera flashing, you have to completely alter your look."
Rhys stepped forward, looking around the empty, luxury clothing racks with a deeply skeptical expression. "If this involves putting us in neon tracksuits or oversized vintage coats, I am dragging him straight back to the car."
"Oh, it’s much better than that," Randall promised, gesturing toward a pair of private dressing rooms at the back of the pavilion where several garment bags and accessory boxes were neatly laid out.
"Kayden, your selection is in the left room. Rhys, yours is on the right. Don’t question the process—just put the pieces on and let the magic work."
I didn’t need to be told twice. I grabbed my garment bag and vanished into the left dressing room, bursting into a quiet fit of laughter the moment I unzipped the fabric and saw what had been put together.
It was brilliant, ridiculous, and completely foolproof. Just what I wanted.
Ten minutes later, I stepped out of the dressing room, smoothing down the fabric of the outfit. He had selected a highly fashionable, oversized bohemian-style feminine ensemble. It was a long, flowing floral skirt paired with a loose, elegant cream-colored knit sweater that completely hid any trace of my early pregnancy silhouette.
To top it off, he had provided a high-quality, long brunette wig that framed my face perfectly, accented by a wide-brimmed sun hat and subtle, natural-looking makeup that softened my sharp, athletic jawline.
I looked completely different. If I didn’t speak, I looked exactly like the elegant, wealthy wife of some corporate elite out for a casual weekend stroll.
A second later, the door to the right dressing room creaked open, and Rhys stepped out.
I took one look at him and had to physically slap my hand over my mouth to stifle the scream of laughter bubbling up my throat.