A/N: 50 POWER STONES + 2 REVIEWS = 1ST BONUS CHAPTER
Enjoy the chapter.
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An hour later, Sharon came out of the deeper part of the shop, her look changed from what she had left the apartment with. At that moment, Alex put down the third magazine he had leafed through and was in the midst of picking another one to continue his survey on the fashion market when the sound of footsteps caught his attention. He raised his head, and was taken by the sight she was presenting.
Gone was the strict and tasteless bun. In its place were waves left to fall down on the back and the shoulder, neither too long nor too short, enough to rest on the prominence in front as if on a seat. The new light beige pants suit enhanced the otherwise soft golden tone of her hair, and gave her a classy and elegant vibe she did not have in her previous getup.
Alex pulled his hand back and stood up to get closer. He looked at her up and down, and went around her, before he stopped a few inches before her. He gave her a thoughtful look, and instead of commenting, he reached out for the button of her jacket.
Sharon's breath caught in her throat as she looked at Alex with uncertainty. His proximity was making the temperature change from the comforting cool of the shop into something that was preventing her brain from processing what he was doing. Before she could react, she froze when a finger brushed the underside of her chest, and the button of her jacket was undone.
Alex opened the jacket, and spread it apart, then adjusted the collar of her silk blouse after adding one button to the last one left open. It was after he was done that he stepped back, and Sharon reacted. Her heart pounded, as the hand she had been raising up froze.
While she forced herself to calm down, Alex returned to observing her. He looked at her from head to toe, paying no attention to her expression, then shook his head when his gaze arrived below.
Sharon displayed a range of expressions on her face, before she reflexively lowered her head to find the point of dissatisfaction Alex had once again spotted. However she saw nothing out of place.
When she raised her head with her eyebrows raised in confusion, Alex was pointing at a shoe on display beside the transparent window of the shop.
"Bring me that."
"Yes, sir."
A moment later, Sharon looked at the dark straps heels at her feet, then at Alex. He urged her with his brown eyes. She took a breath, and exhaled, before she changed into the new shoes. Despite herself, she found them comfortable, and when she looked into the mirror, she could not find fault with Alex's choices.
For a moment, her mind returned to the time when she had still been able to take care of herself despite all the burdens. Involuntarily, a small smile made its way to her face while Alex turned to pay at the counter.
As he took his card out for the payment, he asked:
"Have you packed everything?"
Hale's hands froze, and she smiled apologetically:
"Yes, sir, but your companion did not choose any underwear. She said there is no need, nor is there a need to specifically inform you."
Alex paused, glanced back, then gave his card to the woman while instructing:
"Pack one piece of each female underwear you have according to her size, and have them delivered along with the rest of the items. Include shoes as well."
Hale's smile could have lit up the whole mall:
"Yes, sir!"
She adjusted the data on the receipt, and swept the deceptively heavy credit card with vigor as she heard the sound of her own commission falling coin after coin in her account. Even if it had to be shared, it remained substantial.
Her happiness undisguised, she held the card out to its owner:
"Your card, sir. Thank you for your patronage."
Alex nodded with a smile. If not for his selectiveness with his partners, he would not have missed the chance to receive the deep gratitude of the woman before him.
With one hand in his pocket, he turned around and called out to Sharon:
"Let's go."
They retraced the path they had taken an hour ago. When they passed by a brand of watch, Alex slowed down slightly, and Sharon panicked. She looked at the luxurious shop, and pushed him forward with one hand on his back as she exclaimed:
"Stop! Don't buy anything for me anymore ! I don't even know when I will finish paying back for what you bought already! You are eating through the salary I have not even received yet! How will I pay the rent like that?"
Alex glanced at her, in part speechless, in part amused. Not knowing if he would argue, Sharon preemptively shut him down:
"I don't need a watch to keep your image from being tarnished! Let's go!"
Alex stopped feeling speechless. He shook his head with his amusement plain on his face, and resumed walking at normal speed.
Outside, Lance immediately drove over when he saw them. Alex raised an eyebrow at his diligence, and smiled in amusement. He opened the door and sat down inside, leaving only Sharon for whom Lance opened the door as he hurried out.
Alex rolled his eyes at his behavior. If he had always been so sensible, how would he have been in trouble with his father to the point of having to run away from home?
He turned to look outside, at the crowd coming and going in and out of the mall, and lightly instructed once Lance returned behind the wheel of the car again:
"To the office. Take your time, don't drive fast."
Lance froze, and his lips twitched, because now it was clear that the delay until now was deliberate, whether it had been planned for or not. With a suppressed chuckle, he pushed the buckle of his seatbelt into the groove with a click.
He said nothing, and responded to the instructions with his actions. He shifted gears, drove away with poise, and entered the competition for the most law-abiding driver in the traffic.