Chapter 27

Allison's POV

I don't know what I expected Xander's request to be, but it wasn't this. He had told me to meet him at a different noodle shop from the one we went to last time.

I figured it would be a date of some sort, even though he was being very mysterious about his intentions.

The last thing I expected was for him to drive us to, of all places, the biggest mall in the city.

I stare at the large building through the car window, then turn to stare at him with my mouth open.

"What are we doing here?" I ask.

"What does it look like?" he replies, already about to get out of the car.

I grab his hand before he can open the door, staring at him in shock.

"We can't go in there," I say desperately.

"Why not?" he asks, giving me an odd look.

"People would see us together," I reply.

Why is he acting like he doesn't realize that? I think.

"They won't," he says.

"Why, does being Alpha grant you the power to blind people?" I ask, too scared to bother about how the question sounds.

"No," Xander says with a chuckle. "But it does give me the influence needed to have a private shopping experience."

"A private…" I blink. "I don't understand. What?"

"You'll see," he says. Then looks pointedly at where my hand is still gripping his on the door handle. 

"As soon as you let us leave the car," he adds.

Blood rushes to my cheeks, no doubt turning them a bright shade of red. I let go of his hand like it's burning mine, and my cheeks grow hotter when he chuckles again.

"I'm so glad that you find me entertaining," I mumble.

Only for him to chuckle yet again!

I'm about to die of embarrassment at this point. Thankfully, he chooses that moment to get out of the car. I take a deep breath to calm my racing heart, then turn to my door only to see him already holding it open. My heart skips a beat at that, and I can only stare for a full moment.

"Allison?" he calls.

I blink, then gulp, looking up at those intense hazel eyes. For a moment, I lose myself in them, and find myself fighting the urge to lean forward and claim those full lips with mine…

Yeah, no, I think, scolding myself firmly. Get a grip, Allison.

"Thank you," I say, stepping out the car.

My heart is racing again, but I'll dig a hole and bury myself in it before I let him know that. So I slap a big smile on my face like I usually do when things get awkward.

"So," I say, knowing I sound way too cheerful, "why don't we take a look at this private shopping experience?"

……

I'm used to walking around while shopping, going from aisle to aisle and taking the clothes that catch my eye to the dressing room. But Xander just takes me to a large, tastefully furnished room where all I have to do is sit in a comfortable sofa and sip from a tall glass of chilled orange juice while several young women bring out several lovely outfits for me to try on.

The sight of all these clothes I can't afford even now is too much for me. I can't help leaning over to speak to Xander in a low voice.

"What are the clothes for?" I whisper.

"The Tech Wizard competition," he replies. "You have a better shot at getting the judges to take you seriously if you're dressed elegantly. And we're going to make them take you very seriously."

I gape at him.

"So the thing you wanted in return… was for me to let you do my shopping for the Tech Wizard competition?" I ask.

It's too hard to believe.

"Well," he shrugs, "you wouldn't have let me do it if I hadn't used that opportunity, right?"

My cheeks flush.

He's right, I wouldn't have let him, I think. Even now, I want to reject the offer. He's my superior, and we're not really dating. I don't want to take advantage of his wealth like this.

But I can already tell that he won't listen to me if I raise these concerns. I just have to admit that he has outsmarted me on this one. I don't have any other choice at this point.

So I obediently try on every outfit they hand to me. Each time I step out of the changing room, I can't help the shiver of pleasure that goes through me at the look in Xander's eyes. He finds me beautiful, and that alone makes taking these outfits worth it.

I don't know how long it takes, but when we're finally done shopping, two of the young women carry the bags of clothes and walk us to the car.

"You don't have to," I say. "I can do it myself."

But they just smile and politely wave my offer aside. After they've dropped the bags in the backseat and gone back inside, Xander and I sit in the car for a while.

I would have worried that someone would see us, but luckily the windows are tinted.

"Thanks for the clothes," I say. "You really didn't have to."

"I know," he replies, a small smile on his lips. "But I don't mind doing things for you, Allison."

I don't know why those words make me blush. I turn away to hide my reddening cheeks from him, pretending to be looking at something outside.

"Anyway, um…" I say, feeling awkward. "Thank you. Really."

"Sure," he replies.

I'm grateful that he doesn't ask why I'm staring so intently out the window. He just reminds me to put on my seatbelt, because of course being flustered comes with forgetting something so simple. I put it on, feeling my cheeks growing hotter as he puts the car in motion.

"Is there something you need to do after this?" he asks.

"No," I respond.

"How lucky," he smiles at me, and my heart nearly leaps out of my chest, "I know a good place we could have lunch."