6- The Art of Buying A Hoodie

My eyes fall on the big picture of Amber as soon as we enter the shopping mall. My heart swells up with pride, seeing my sister's accomplishment. I've been told that she is a successful designer but I never got to see her in action. Her big picture in front of the fancy store screams how valable she is in her field of work.

While my eyes sparkle with joy and pride, Elliot's case is different. He looks disgusted as his eyes land on the banner where Amber is smiling, surrounded by her designed clothes. If looks could kill, Amber would be ashes by now. My blood boils in anger, seeing him disrespecting my sister like this. He has no right to judge Amber based on his little knowledge while possessing a nasty personality himself.

"Let's go to some other store." Elliot urges, already walking away. But I refuse to take even a step in the other direction.

Acting like I didn't hear him or even if I did, I didn't find his offer appealing enough, I rush into the store that has Amber's picture. My eyes roam around different products around the store. Everything looks so expensive that I'm afraid I will be charged just for laying my eyes on them.

"I was thinking of taking you to the Gucci store. It's far better."Elliot drones behind me, his agitation is evident in his strained voice.

Once again, I decide to ignore him and walk around the store. Amber has eyes for details. Each piece of her spring collection is full of pretty colour. My greedy self wants them all. But I know there lies from problems. Elliot promised to buy me a hoodie to compensate for my hoodie and all of these are pretty dresses. Secondly, If I go home with dresses, Amber will shoot me hundreds of questions. By now, it doesn't take a genius to know that I'm too broke to buy expensive clothes on my own.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" I swiftly turn behind to face the lady who is smiling at me politely.

"Pets aren't allowed inside the store." She politely informs me, hiding her annoyance behind a pleasant look on her face. She appears as if she really didn't enjoy her job.

Her request makes me hesitate a bit. I don't want to keep Milo away while I'm here. In some way, he is my comfort system. With him being in my arms, I feel like anxiety slipping away from me. It's another matter that I don't have anyone who can keep him safe for the time being while I choose a hoodie for myself. I don't trust Elliot with my baby.

"I hope you can make an exception for us." Elliot comes to the rescue, giving her a charming smile as he strolls closer to me.

"And why would I do that, sir?" The salesperson questions, a tiny bit of politeness that hung in her tone when she talked to me is already abandoning her voice. She sounds harsh as she stands in a challenging position.

"Because I'm politely asking." But he is anything but polite. Even though he sounds calm and collected, his eyes hold a disastrous storm inside them.

"I beg to dif-" She closes her mouth shut when her eyes fall on me, or someone behind me.

Someone emerges from behind, wearing a nametag with his position written just below it. He is the store manager. His authoritative figure and the fact that the lady has chosen silence over arguing back provide me with the sense that she is in trouble and the manager knows who Elliot is and how much power he holds.

"I apologise from her behalf, Mr. Ivanov." The middle aged man looks second away from pleading on his knees, causing me to narrow my eyes.

"I take no offence, Mr.-" He looks at the name tag briefly before continuing, " Mr. Gomez." Elliot lets him know in such a voice that certainly sounds like he took an immense amount of offence.

"She is still new so doesn't know her way around and how to handle customers." The manager tries his hardest to please the billionaire in front of him which only makes me want to break his huge ego. He is really an asshole.

"Do you know who he is?" The manager turns to the poor girl who is shaking in her shoes, fearing for her minimal wage job.

And suddenly guilt hits me. She is in trouble only because of me. Apparently, Elliot is big of an asshile who likes to practise his power over simple people who won't stand a chance against him. I stroke Milo's fur as my mind keeps racing, trying to come up with a solution to get rid of the dispute and show Elliot his place.

"He is Mr. Elliot Ivanov. The youngest billionaire the world has seen and the most capable businessman of the decade." The manager announces. I can't help but scoff as a proud smile spreads through Elliot's lips.

Elliot's hands are shoved inside his sweatpants' pockets as he witnesses the manager worship him. I won't be too surprised if the same man talks shit behind Elliot's back and calls him an arrogant prick.

"He is also the fiance of Amber Lovelace, the main designer of our company." The manager informs the girl who already looks regretful for mouthing off to a rich business man.

"It's alright, Mr.Gomez." Elliot pries in, probably not liking the idea of being introduced as Amber's fiance.

When I was in elementary school, I liked to act a little too much. I used to mimic my parents' voices and what not. Even though I'm fully aware that I don't possess that gift anymore, I really need to talk.

Clearly my throat, I prepare myself to adapt my voice and sound different than I actually sound. There's a significant chance that I will get caught but I created the mess. The poor girl was just doing her job. She doesn't deserve crap for doing her job perfectly.

"Oh? Then why did you bring me here, Elli?" I ask Elliot, feeling victorious because I sound nothing like myself.

Elliot's confused eyes fall on me, trying to understand what I'm talking about or he is just surprised thatI decided to talk.

"Are you cheating on your fiance with me?" I dare accuse him and I swear his eyes turn a shade darker at my bold attempt, causing me to gulp a little.

Satisfaction is whatI feel when I see a dumbfounded manager and hear a snicker from the sales lady. No matter how much I try to cling on to the satisfaction, Elliot's darkened eyes take the cake. He looks like anything but a gentleman that he pretends to be as he continues to glare at me. The awkward air surrounding us is so sharp that it can cut through the hardest metal. However, an amused smile appears on his lips soon enough, his eyes twinkling with malicious glint. Oh no! What will he do?

"Come on, Reg! Just because I can't make you my best man at my wedding as you are not a man, not a biological man at least, it doesn't mean you will put me through an awkward situation!" Elliot exclaims, placing his arm around me, giving his usual charming smile to the confused employees.

My skin is set on fire at his touch. How dare he touch me? My face turns as red as a rotten tomato. Once again, I'm glad that I'm wearing a mask. I elbow him, trying to get him away from myself. His touch. It's like something that is making me feel weird. I miserably fail to understand if it's a good thing or bad.

Elliot pretends to be hurt by my elbow, holding his stomach. "My best friend has one of her screws loosened. Don't mind her." Elliot explains to them, making me glare at him.

With his one gesture, the two employees who look like they were held hostage against their wish, scatter around. Elliot takes his hand off me as soon as they walk out of our line of vision and glares at me.

"Come on, Reg. Let's see what my dear fiance has designed! I hope she can make a fashionista like you happy." Elliot utters a little too loudly, probably to let those two hear, clearly mocking me for my poor choice of fashion.

I walk away from him to a corner of the store, finally finding some hoodies in the collection. As soon as I touch a hoodie, Elliot breathes down my neck, making me lose my balance as he manages to scare the shit out of me. I thought he stopped trailing behind me but he thought appearing behind me like a gene would be a great idea.

I'm about to fall on my ass on the tiled floor but Elliot's strong arm holds my waist, saving me from the embarrassment of falling flat on my ass. I make the mistake of feeling thankful and being lost in his blue eyes as he saves me from the fall. Before I know it, he lets me fall when he feels eyes on us.

"Awww." I moan in pain, pulling off my most intimidating glare at Elliot who appears to enjoy it rather than being even a little guilty.

"Oh, Reg! You are so clumsy!" Elliot mutters, shaking his head in amusement.

When I fell, Milo jumped out of my arms and started running around the store. For a matter of fact, I know that the manager doesn't appreciate it but he is forced to look at us with a professional smile. I believe I will turn into an asshole as well if I keep hanging out with Elliot. I pick myself up quickly.

"Pick Milo up before I spread your dirty laundry here." I threaten him, using the voice which I used before. I'm convinced that I sound exactly like my mother. Seems like my mimicry is finally coming handy.

Like the asshole that he is, he shrugs his shoulders and looks back at the poor manager, silently telling him to get Milo. The man looks hesitant.

"Get the damn cat." The manager barks orders at the sales lady instead.

Throwing a nasty glare his way, I take control of the situation and pick Milo up after running behind him for a minute. I bow down before the manager, giving him my sincere apology for creating a nuisance for him and others.

"My best friend is an asshole. His money can buy him everything but manners." I say to them, laughing a little awkwardly to make it look like I'm just pulling his leg like a friend, going along with his play.

"When he was born he wasn't naked like everyone. Nope. He had arrogance, selfishness and foolishness draped around himself." I say a little louder so that it can reach Elliot's ears.

The manager only manages a weak laugh, not really knowing what to do in this situation.

"I'm sorry for breaking the store code and bringing my cat here." I apologise to the lady before walking out of the store. To hell with his hoodie. I refuse to breathe the same air as him.

"What was that?" Elliot demands to know, walking behind me. He doesn't sound angry or annoyed, rather curious. And that makes me angrier. He doesn't even realise how he forces other people to do his work using his billionaire status.

"Fine. I'm sorry for dropping you. It's not my fault that you are heavy." Elliot comments in a matter of fact voice.

This makes me turn around and witness his grinning face. He is enjoying it too much. I honestly don't know what to think of right now. He is a confusing character with a hint of mystery and tons of arrogance and ignorance.

"You are an asshole." I remind him, cursing him in a careful tone, trying my best to hold my hatred for him in check and use a neutral voice which won't give my identity away.

"You started it." His joyful voice turns serious suddenly, making me shudder.

His tall frame towers over me as he inches closer to me. But I refuse to cower beneath him, no matter how scared and intimidated I'm right now.

"I bet your friend Leo must share the same opinion as me." I mutter, subtly reminding him of his dirty laundry.

"Fine. I'm an asshole. You win. Big deal." He shrugs his shoulders. I turn around, not wanting to tolerate his nonsense anymore.

"At least let me compensate for the hoodie." He yells behind me, finally stopping stalking behind me.

Without looking back, I lift my arm over a little and flash him a middle finger. I swear I hear him snicker instead of being offended but I decide not to react to it and leave the mall. If anything good yielded from the whole fiasco, it's that I'm now sure now how unfit Elliot is for Amber. I must stop this alliance from forming. Amber deserves better.

As in que, I get a call from Amber. My heart starts beating loudly against my chest as I stare at my phone screen. When I finally gather the courage to pick up her phone, I hear Amber's worried voice.

"Yeah…. I will handle it. Don't worry." I assure her, despite knowing I may not be successful.

Telling myself to just suck it up, I increase my pace and take a cab towards Amber's apartment. I need to take care of the situation. Amber needs it. I need it. It doesn't matter if I'm not ready or not. I need to do this.