This seemed to strike a chord with Emma. She remained in silent contemplation for the entire duration of our elevator ride.
“Hey Emma, we’re here.” She jolted from her thoughts at my gentle reminder, and she left the elevator in a jog.
“Thanks for the reminder. I almost got caught between the doors.” Emma patted her chest in relief before she suggested, “Since we haven’t been out in a while, shall we go shopping? We can visit the mall.”
I remembered Summer’s pleas for some new stationery, and I agreed. Women were born shopaholics. The impulse to shop sustained itself on the never-ending introduction of newer products to the market.
I had initially planned on visiting the kids’ section, but Emma had different ideas. She dragged me into a luxury goods store once we reached the mall. She tried on no fewer than ten outfits but wasn’t impressed by any of them.
“This set looks good. John would like it.” Bored, I decided to tease her a little.
“I didn’t say I was wearing this for him.” Her lips had hardened into a flat line, but she was obviously checking herself out in the mirror. I could tell from her eyes that she was imagining John’s amazement at her appearance.
Women will always doll themselves up for men that they love. I guess this saying holds even now.
I smiled to myself but didn’t call her out on her behavior. I walked to the men’s section.
Ashton was now in the upper echelons of K City society, but his stylists couldn’t keep up with his image requirements. They always dressed him in formal suits. While his build and features could easily carry off such a get-up, it made him seem stiff and unapproachable.
I took a turn around the men’s section but nothing caught my eye. Just as I was thinking about hiring a dedicated fashion designer for Ashton, I spied an impressive sample display in the distance. I picked up my pace as I walked toward the display in excitement.
Just then, the phone in my purse began ringing. I stopped as I rummaged for my phone. The number seemed familiar, but I couldn’t recall who the caller was at that very moment.
When I lifted my head again, I saw an elegant-looking lady summoning a salesperson to help her pack up the outfit I had had my eyes on.
Oh well, I guess I was just a bit too late.
I answered the call in a fit of impatience. “Hello, who is this?”
“Ms. Stovall, it’s me.” Zander’s Koandrian accent gave his identity away.
His call reminded me of the apprenticeship. “I’m sorry I haven’t called you back. I’ve been busy lately, so I forgot all about the apprenticeship.”
“That’s ok. I’m calling you now to remind you about it. I hope you didn’t forget how I made a grand promise to my superiors to keep a precious talent in our apprenticeship program. They even agreed to keep your slot even though you would be going on maternity leave. Please don’t tell me you’re backing out now?”
I could tell that his goodwill was a front for his urgent hope of my confirmation.
Since becoming a lawyer was my lifelong dream, I chose not to call him out on his attitude. I confirmed my participation as well as the reporting time and date for my apprenticeship.
After I hung up, I thought back to the outfit I had seen, feeling a tinge of regret at the missed opportunity.
I walked toward the cashier in a poor mood, curious about the person who had snagged such a great outfit.
When I saw the couple paying for the outfit, though, my heart sank.
Emma had just come over as well, and her eyes followed my gaze. “What are you looking at?”
When she saw them, her reaction was stronger than mine. She took in a few deep breaths to calm herself down.
Our eyes followed Hunter in utter disbelief as he entered the elevator, holding hands with a mysterious lady as he held a large shopping bag in his other hand.
Under our watchful gaze, it seemed that Hunter felt a twinge of guilt at his actions. By chance, he glanced in our direction and met our stares. Awkwardness flashed across his features before the elevator doors closed.
“Letty, please pinch me and wake me up from this nightmare. I must be seeing things, right?” Emma’s jaw had dropped at the scene.
I frowned, my emotions a chaotic mess.
Emery and Hunter’s relationship had always been the envy of many. Emma herself was always going on and on about Hunter’s penchant for romance and humor. What we had seen today was a huge blow to her fantasies.
