**ROSEANA**
I've been ignoring Damon for a week. I've also been acting busy for a week to avoid him. But during that whole week, I didn't have a hard time because my good husband seldom came home to our house.
I doubt that he even remembered that he had a wife waiting for him to come home. Since the last conversation about him forbidding me to talk or approach Lavigne, his friend, I suppose, we haven't been able to talk.
He leaves early and comes home late. Sometimes there are instances where he doesn't come home anymore, all without even messaging me. I feel like we are going back to the way we were when we were just in the early months together.
I can't explain how much boredom I feel staying here alone at his house. I want to leave or have fun, but I have nowhere else to go. I also don't want to go out of the house alone because, besides being sad, I'm also afraid of being found by people who are looking for me.
I checked my outfit in the mirror. I am wearing a white floral midi skirt that reaches below my knees. I paired it with a brown tube with a thin strap. My chest is slightly illuminated, and a furrow between my boobs can be seen. My breast is not very big. It's only in medium size.
While looking at my overall look, I'm still thinking about whether I'll continue what I'm planning. "Should I wear a cardigan? It will be cold inside the mall.” I converse with myself. I rummaged through the clothes that one of Damon's female employees had bought for me. I looked for something to match my outfit.
Before I left the house, I put on a simple pair of shoes with a height of two inches. I grab my phone and wallet, then I wait for a taxi. The white cardigan I had chosen was hanging in my hand.
"To the Ayala Mall, sir," I politely ordered the taxi driver.
I looked outside the window when the car started to move. I'm not sure if I'm just blind, but I seem to see Damon's assistant calling me.
I shrugged my shoulders. It might not be him. What will Martinez do here at this time? It's four p.m. when I decide to have fun at the mall. It was often morning when he went to Damon's house.
I amused myself by walking. The truth is that I don't have a plan for what I'm going to do. I just want to leave Damon's house. I feel like I'm suffocating.
I stopped walking when someone caught my attention. It is a classic watch for men. The image of Damon wearing it immediately came to mind. I'm sure it will go well with his office suits.
I was still thinking about buying it. I am sure that such watches are expensive. I have no money of my own.
I nibble my lower lip as I try to decide if I'll use his card to buy that watch. Maybe he won't be angry, right? "I’ll spend his money for him. It’s not like I’ll be buying the watch for myself," I convinced myself. Besides, he told me to buy the things I wanted with this black card.
"Will you take it, ma'am?" the woman who assisted me in choosing a watch asked me. Her voice woke me up from my reverie. I was so deep in thought that I almost jumped when she spoke.
I hesitated to smile at her. "Ahem, yes." My answer.
"Okay, ma'am." She made me choose a watch box. I didn't know there were still processes. I thought that there was only one box where they would put the item case, but it turns out that this is not the case.
"It's different when you're rich." That's all I can say to myself after going through some details about how I wanted the watch to be packed and the box where it will be placed.
"Do you want to stay in our lounge while we prepare your order, ma'am?" the woman asked me. Turns out, I still have to wait a few minutes before I get my purchase. “Okay.”
He led me to what she said was a lounge. I looked up. I didn't think there was a separate room for customers and their shop itself. I couldn't stop admiring the luxury displayed before my eyes. There are round tables arranged in the spacious room, and there are also individual chairs. The interior of the room is magnificent, and at first glance, you will know that it was well designed. The theme of this room is leathery brown, black, and white. It screams money and power for me.
"Roseana, right?"
I looked up from the magazine I was reading when I heard a familiar male voice calling me. For a moment, my heart suddenly thundered with nervousness. I thought he'd be one of those goons after me.
Lavigne raised her eyebrows when he saw the fear in my wide eyes. I quickly hid it by giving him a small smile.
"Hi," I greeted him.
I can hear Damon's lecturing voice telling me to stay away from Lavigne, but I can't just ignore this man, can I? I don't want to be rude.
"It's you! I thought it was just someone who looked just like you." He came to me and sat on the chair near me. "What are you doing here? Are you alone? Where is Damon? Are you with him?” His questions came one after the other, and I didn't know which one to answer first.
He chuckled when he saw my confused face. Fortunately, that woman came with the watch that I bought. I can still feel Lavigne's gaze on me, even the way he looked at me from head to toe when I stood up to pick up the watch that was already in a small paper bag with the name of its beloved brand written in gold.
"I will go ahead, Mr. Lavigne." I addressed him formally. I felt awkward calling him by his name. I can call him Lavigne in my head without voicing it out. I can feel that he is not just Damon's friend, so I have this urge to give him respect, even though I can feel him openly staring at my body. It's a good thing I'm wearing the cardigan because it slightly covers my exposed arms and chest.
I was about to leave when Lavigne stopped me. I was forced to stop walking when he called me.
"Can I at least invite you for an early dinner?" he asked me. A glint of risk can be seen in his playful eyes.
Even before my mouth opened, I was already thinking of an excuse to reject him.
"Don't worry. I don't mean to harm you. I also told Damon about this so he wouldn't get angry," he said. He quickly showed me his cellphone. I did see that he messaged Damon, but I didn't see what they were talking about because of the speed of his hand.
I looked at him hesitantly, weighing whether I should believe him. His playful smile never disappears from his face. Lavigne is mischievous, based on my observation.
"Come on, Rose. You are too obedient to Damon. Cut yourself some slack."
I ignored his last words. "Rose?" My nose wrinkled at what he called me.
"Yeah, I'm too lazy to pronounce your name," he reasoned out. "So?" he asked later.
I let out a deep breath. I guess there's nothing I can do but go along, right? Damon himself let me.
"Fine."