Chapter 6 Shopping

“Executive assistant for Michael Powell? The Michel Powell? The Billionaire who made headlines buying a $30 million house on the Upper East Side?” Mia has an urge to cover Sophia’s mouth for being so loud. People who are watching the ducks glare at them.

“Did I just scare the ducks away in the Pond?” Sophia chuckles with humor in her tone, seeing the ducks waving their wings and flying away. They are casually strolling in Central Park.

“Yes, you do,” Mia laughs while shaking her head. Typical Sophia.

“Girl, I’m so happy for you. You deserve it.” Sophia gives Mia a genuine tight hug.

“This job must pay well. Isn’t it?” Sophia eyes her with a huge mischievous grin.

“Well. The pay is a lot better than my last job.” Mia admits.

“We are going shopping! You will need new clothes to dress for the new job!” Sophia clamps her hands excitedly. As a fashion designer, nothing excites her more than clothes and shopping.

Mia is a little hesitant. Sure, she needs new clothes to dress properly as the assistant of the Pinnacle conglomerate President. But she doesn’t want to squander money away on clothes when everything is not certain. She may be fired on her first day at work or a few days later. On her list of necessities, clothes always come last.

Knowing exactly what is going on in Mia’s mind, Sophia nudges her. “I know a great thrift shop. They sell designer clothes at an outrageously low price. They should get sued for that. And I can even get an additional discount.” Sophia winks.

Mia sends her friend a grateful smile. Sophia is the kindest person she has met in her 25 years of life. Mia never thought she and Sophia could be close friends. After all, their worlds are in stark contrast, like day and night. Sophia isn’t like any spoiled or entitled upper-middle-class kids. She was the first person that spoke to Mia in their Latin literature class which turned out to be attended by rich kids.

Mia almost feels guilty that she has kept her secret from Sophia. She never told Sophia about Mr. Powell and the deal she made with him eight years ago.

The thrift shop, which is in an unimpressive residential building in Williamsburg, turns out to be a great shopping place. Sophia couldn’t help but marvel at her ability to find shops with tastes. Maybe this is a designer thing.

Mia finds two suits, a pencil skirt, and a white silk blouse that looks professional for work. The prices for each item are as affordable as Sophia says. But adding them together will still be a large sum for Mia.

Mia looks at the clothes in her shopping basket, uncertain which one to buy and which one not to.

After giving each item careful thought, she hangs the silk blouse on the rack. It is then she spotted a royal blue velvet dress. It looks stunning with its luster and graceful off-shoulder design.

“It is a beauty, isn’t it? It is a vintage dress.” Alice, the owner of the shop, approaches her, asking proudly.

“Yes, it is beautiful,” Mia couldn’t keep her eyes off the dress.

“Whoa. It will look very good on you!” Sophia appears from a sea of clothes and comments excitedly.

“Try it on,” both Sophia and Alice urges her.

“I think I’ll pass,” Mia says shyly. She doesn’t want to overspend. She only needs to buy what is necessary.

“You know what? Beautiful dresses need an equally beautiful owner. I can give you a considerable discount as a thank you to Sophia. Sophia has brought many clients as well as clothes to our shop.” Sophia and Alice exchange a knowing smile.

Mia blushes at Alice’s compliment. She never owns any formal dress since she always tries her best to avoid any ceremonious parties or social events that cost money. But this dress is so lovely and beautiful. She wants to own it. As a symbol that she can have things that are beautiful and worth having. It could mean a new beginning in her life. A better life.

Mia takes the dress off the rack and walks to the fitting room.

“Whoa. You look hot, hot, and graceful. I never knew they could coexist.” Sophia exclaims when Mia puts on the dress and walks toward the mirror.

Mia smiles and looks into the mirror. She blinks hard. Is the elegant lady in the mirror her?

The blue velvet compliments Mia’s fair ivory skin and adds a shine to her dark lively eyes. Her luxuriant hair falls gracefully around her shoulder, dancing with every moment Mia makes. The dress hugs her every curve, accentuating her thin waist and round buttock. Even her B-cup breasts look bigger. She looks like an exquisite goddess.

“You are not leaving without taking this dress,” Sophia insists.

Mia hesitates. She checked the price tag in the fitting room. $500 is too much. She would rather spend it on their rent.

“I don’t think I’ll have the occasion to wear that.” This is an excuse Mia uses every time she finds some beautiful clothes she couldn’t afford.

“Nonsense. You’ll definitely need a dress for your new job. Think of the parties with handsome men in suits. Your Mr. Right might be among them. ”

Mia rolls her eyes. Sophia is a hopeless romantic.

If she couldn’t have the dress, Mia decides she could save the silk blouse.

Walking to the cashier with the clothes she intends to buy, Mia finds Sophia is holding a big shopping bag.

“What is in it? Did you buy a winter jacket?” The bag is so big.

“You will know later.” Sophia winks. She is all mysterious again. Mia shakes her head.

“Wanna have dessert? My treat.” Mia wants to thank Sophia for the discount she gets from the shop.

“How about ice cream at McDonald’s? You know how crazy I’m about it. ” Sophia tucks Mia’s arm, a big smile flashing on her face.

Mia could never tell whether Sophia really likes McDonald’s ice cream or simply because it is cheap. Whenever Mia proposes dessert at her expense, Sophia would choose McDonald’s.

Sitting in a quiet corner in Mcdonald's, Mia and Sophia are quite content with the ice cream, French Fries, and chicken nuggets in their trays after a day’s walk and shopping.

“How are you with Jonathan? I haven’t heard you talk about him for a while?” Jonathan is Sophia’s boyfriend. They met in a bar.

“Well, we get along. But I feel something is missing. You know, the kind of raw physical attraction. But I never felt it with any of my ex-boyfriends. So maybe it is overrated.” Sophia winced.

“Have you felt it with any guy? Tell me!”

“You know I’ve been only with two guys. ” Mia sees that Sophia is raising her eyebrow.

“Have you fantasized about that Chris guy?” Sophia couldn’t hide her mischievous grin. “You know, Mia, you are not good at lying to your friends.”

Mia feels embarrassed for not telling her good friend her true feelings. Sophia has been so good to her.

“He is different. Different from all the men I’ve met. But I cannot say different in what way. He makes me feel nervous and lightheaded, in a good way, even though we only knew each other for less than a day. When he accidentally touched me, I felt electricity.” Mia confesses.

“Whoa. That is amazing.”

“This is only a crush. We’ll never meet again. I don’t even know his last name. And he left without saying goodbye. I think it says the feeling is not mutual.” The memory saddens Mia.

Suddenly, Sophia’s eyes brighten. “There is one way you could find out! When you are trapped in the cabin, you used his cell phone to call me, right? I haven’t cleared my call history!”

Mia’s heart flutters. So there is a way to get connected to Chris? Why hasn’t she thought of that? But does she want to make a call first?

Sophia immediately takes out her cell phone and checks her incoming calls.

“There, I just sent you his number.”

Mia flusters at the ring of her cell phone. What should she do? Should she make the move?

As if reading her mind, Sophia pinches her arm lightly. “You don’t have to make a decision now. You have plenty of time to think about it.”

Mia smiles back Mia, silently thanking her friend for being considerate. Then their conversation moves on to other topics.

It is already late when Mia gets home. Calvin is already asleep. Mia tiptops to her room, trying not to wake up Calvin who is constantly troubled by light sleeping and insomnia.

Putting her newly-purchased outfits on the rack, she sees Chris’s jacket again.

Mia paces back and forth in her small, cramped room. Should she call? Mia has never been the type who makes the first move. But with Chris, is she willing to make the first move with possible outcomes of self-embarrassment and even humiliation?

Then it dawns on Mia that Chris would have Sophia’s cell phone number as well. If he is interested in her, he could call Sophia and ask for her number.

Mia's heart aches. These feelings are one-sided. She shouldn't let herself fixated on a man she barely knows. She should focus on what is more important: her new job.