The shopping center is already busy when our car pulls up.
Glass doors slide open and closed every few seconds as people move in and out carrying bags, drinks, children, and the general chaos that seems to follow malls everywhere.
Marcus parks near the entrance while Aaron steps out first, scanning the area out of habit before opening my door.
"You sure you want to do this?" he asks quietly.
"Very."
He gives a small nod like he expected that answer.
Inside, the mall is loud and bright. Music plays faintly from overhead speakers, as people weave through each other, and the scent of perfu from one of the costic stores floats through the air.
I barely have ti to look around before I hear soone shout my na.
"Elaine!"
I turn just in ti to see Ivy running toward . She’s practically glowing with excitent, a couple of shopping bags already swinging from her hands. Her hair bounces behind her as she rushes across the floor and before I can even open my arms, she throws herself at .
"Hi!" she squeals, hugging tightly.
I laugh, hugging her back.
"Easy there."
"I missed you!"
"You saw this morning."
"Still."
She pulls back and studies my face like she’s checking to make sure I’m actually here.
"You ca!"
"Well you invited ."
"Yes but I didn’t think you actually would."
I smile faintly.
"Well surprise."
Ivy grabs my hand imdiately.
"Co on."
"Where?"
"Shopping!"
And just like that she drags into the nearest store.
The place is huge with racks of clothes everywhere, bright lights overhead, soft music playing while employees move between custors offering help.
Ivy is already digging through a rack before I even catch up.
"Oh my God look at this jacket."
She holds up sothing ridiculously expensive looking.
"It’s cute," I admit.
"I know right?" She tosses it over her arm without hesitation.
I follow her through the store slowly, running my fingers over fabrics and glancing at price tags.
Then I rember sothing.....: the black card Zane handed much much earlie.
His voice echoes in my head...use jt if you need anything.
A slow smile creeps onto my face.
Alright then, let’s see how generous he really is.
I pick up the first dress I see that catches my eye. Rhen another, then shoes, then a bag.
Ivy notices quickly.
"Oh we’re serious today."
"You have no idea."
We move from store to store after that.
Clothes, shoes, jewelry, accessories.
The piles in our arms start growing quickly as Aaron and Marcus trail behind us like two very unwilling pack mules.
Marcus holds three shopping bags in one hand and two in the other while Aaron has a stack of boxes balanced against his chest. Neither of them look particularly thrilled about it.
"This is ridiculous," Aaron mutters at one point.
I grin over my shoulder.
"You’re doing great."
"I didn’t sign up to be a shopping assistant."
Marcus shakes his head quietly.
"I carry weapons for a living..... not this"
"And today you’re carrying shoes," I tease.
Aaron groans.
"Thi is abuse."
I laugh as I keep shopping.
At so point I rember Mrs Margaret and the girls. They’re always so kind, so I start picking things for them too.
Scarves, perfus and a couple of dresses.
Ivy watches curiously.
"You’re buying a lot."
"Yes."
"Planning to open a store or sothing ?"
"Sothing like that."
By the ti we finally stop, both of us are exhausted as we collapse into a pair of chairs near the checkout counter surrounded by bags.
Ivy kicks her shoes off slightly.
"My feet are dead."
"You insisted on the heels."
"They were cute!"
Aaron drops another bag onto the pile.
"Please tell we’re done."
"Yes," I sigh.
Marcus looks relieved as we gather everything and head to the register.
The young man behind the counter freezes slightly when he sees the mountain of items.
"Uh..."
He looks at the bags then at us, then back at the bags.
"That’s... quite a bit."
I grin.
"Yep."
He starts scanning items one by one.
The total climbs quickly, even Ivy leans closer to watch.
"Wow."
When everything is finally scanned, the number on the screen is..... impressive.
The cashier clears his throat.
"That will be..." He says the number carefully.
Aaron whistles under his breath.
I pull the black card from my purse and slide it across the counter.
The cashier picks it up and the mont he reads the na on it, his expression changes.
"Excuse for a mont," he says.
He steps away from the counter and walks toward the back office.
I lean against the counter casually and ivy bumps my shoulder.
"You’re evil."
"Why?"
"You’re smiling like a villain."
"Am not."
"You are."
Aaron mutters quietly.
"She definitely is."
Zane’s POV
I’m halfway through reviewing a contract when my phone rings.
Thomas glances up from the chair across my desk as I check the screen... it’s an Unknown number.
I answer anyway.
"Yes."
A nervous voice answers.
"Mr. Whitmore?"
"Yes."
"Sir I’m calling from the luxury retail center downtown."
I lean back slightly in my chair.
"And?"
"There was... a rather large purchase attempted on one of your cards."
My eyes drift to the window.
"How large?"
"Like fifty four thousand dollars large."
Thomas’s eyebrows rise slightly.
But I don’t react.
"Who made the purchase?" I ask calmly
"There’s a lady here, sir. She identified herself as Elaine."
I feel the corner of my mouth twitch.
Of course.
The cashier continues nervously.
"She’s using a card with your na on it. Because of the amount we just wanted to confirm if the transaction should be permitted."
I lean back further in my chair as a quiet laugh slips out of .
"Permit it."
"Sir?"
"Approve it."
The man hesitates.
"Yes sir. Imdiately."
I end the call as Thomas looks at curiously.
"What was that?"
I set the phone down.
"My wife."
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